LESSON 7 *November 9–15
Blessed Are Those Who Believe
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: John 8:54–58, Gen. 12:3, Rom. 4:1–5, John 12:1–8, John 19:4–22, John 20:19–31, Daniel 2, Daniel 7.
Memory Text: “Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’ ” (John 20:29, NKJV).
Throughout his Gospel, John has a diversity of people—people with different backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences—all testifying to who Jesus was.
“ ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ ” (John 1:36, NKJV). “ ‘We have found the Messiah’ ” (John 1:41, NKJV). “ ‘We have found Him of whom Moses . . . wrote’ ” (John 1:45, NKJV). “ ‘Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ ” (John 1:49, NKJV). “ ‘Could this be the Christ?’ ” (John 4:29, NKJV). “ ‘We ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world’ ” (John 4:42, NKJV). “ ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life’ ” (John 6:68, NKJV). “ ‘I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world’ ” (John 11:27, NKJV). “ ‘Though I was blind, now I see’ ” (John 9:25, NKJV). “ ‘Behold your King!’ ” (John 19:14, NKJV). “ ‘I find no fault in Him’ ” (John 19:6, NKJV). “ ‘My Lord and my God!’ ” (John 20:28, NKJV).
Who were some of these people, and why did they testify as they did to the identity of Jesus?
* Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 16.
EGW Notes — SATURDAY ↓
Sabbath Afternoon, November 9
Lesson 7 - Blessed Are Those Who Believe
In the human brotherhood it takes all classes of talents to make a perfect whole; and the church of Christ is composed of all ranks, all classes, and varied talents. God never designed that the pride of men should dissolve that which his own wisdom had ordained,—the combination of all classes of minds, of all the varied talents that make a complete whole. There should be no depreciating of any part of God’s great work, whether the agencies are higher or lowlier. All have their part to act in diffusing light in different degrees. There should be no monopolizing of what belongs, in a measure, to all, high and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned. Not a ray of light must be undervalued, not a ray shut out, not a gleam unrecognized or acknowledged reluctantly. Let all act their part for truth and righteousness. The interests of the varied classes of society are indissolubly united. We are all woven together in the great web of humanity, and we cannot without loss withdraw our sympathies from one another. It is impossible for a healthful influence to be maintained in the church when this common interest and sympathy does not
exist.—Gospel Workers, p. 314.
It is in the order of God that persons of varied temperament should associate together. When this is the case, each member of the household should sacredly regard the feelings and respect the rights of the others. By this means mutual consideration and forbearance will be cultivated, prejudices will be softened, and rough points of character smoothed. Harmony may be secured, and the blending of the varied temperaments may be a benefit to
each.—Signs of the Times, September 9, 1886, par. 2.
Today let the question come home to the heart of every one who professes the name of Christ, “Dost thou believe in the Son of God?” . . . Many accept Jesus as an article of belief, but they have no saving faith in him as their sacrifice and Saviour. They have no realization that Christ has died to save them from the penalty of the law which they have transgressed, in order that they may be brought back to loyalty to God. Do you believe that Christ, as your substitute, pays the debt of your transgression? Not, however, that you may continue in sin, but that you may be saved from your sins; that you, through the merits of his righteousness, may be re-instated to the favor of God. . . .
You may say that you believe in Jesus, when you have an appreciation of the cost of salvation. You may make this claim, when you feel that Jesus died for you on the cruel cross of Calvary; when you have an intelligent, understanding faith that his death makes it possible for you to cease from sin, and to perfect a righteous character through the grace of God, bestowed upon you as the purchase of Christ’s
blood.—The Review and Herald, July 24, 1888, par. 4, 5.
SUNDAY November 10
Harking Back to Abraham
Jesus was not shy in declaring who He was, nor in calling on witnesses
to testify to who He was, even witnesses who were long gone,
including Abraham. “ ‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day,
and he saw it and was glad’ ” (John 8:56, NKJV).
Why was Abraham’s witness so important that it was included in John’s
gospel? (Gen. 12:3, Gen. 18:16–18, Gen. 26:4, Matt. 1:1, Acts 3:25.)
* Your notes will not be saved!
“Through type and promise God ‘preached before the gospel unto
Abraham.’ Galatians 3:8. And the patriarch’s faith was fixed upon the
Redeemer to come. Said Christ to the Jews, ‘Your father Abraham
rejoiced that he should see My day; and he saw it, and was glad.’ John
8:56, R.V., margin. The ram offered in place of Isaac represented the Son
of God, who was to be sacrificed in our stead. When man was doomed
to death by transgression of the law of God, the Father, looking upon His
Son, said to the sinner, ‘Live: I have found a ransom.’ ”—Ellen G. White,
Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 154.
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation. He received the promise
that, through him, all nations would be blessed. This blessing came
through the Messiah, born through his lineage.
Abraham was also the father of those who respond to God in faith
(Heb. 11:8, 17–19). His willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis
22), the son of promise, was not only an evidence of faith but a window
into the plan of salvation.
When Jesus said, “ ‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day’ ”
(John 8:56, NKJV), the leaders responded, “ ‘You are not yet fifty years
old, and have You seen Abraham?’ ” (John 8:57, NKJV).
Jesus’ answer was astounding. “ ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before
Abraham was, I AM’ ” (John 8:58, NKJV).
Jesus uses language reminiscent of what God said to Moses at
the burning bush. This was a claim to be God, the self-existent One.
No question, the leaders understood the implication of what He said
because they then “took up stones to throw at Him” (John 8:59, NKJV).
Read Romans 4:1–5. How does Paul use this story of Abraham
to reveal the great truth of salvation by faith alone, without the
deeds of the law? How do these verses help us understand the
idea of Abraham as the father of those who live by faith?
EGW Notes — SUNDAY ↓
Sunday, November 10
Harking Back to Abraham
[Abraham] offered up the most earnest prayer that before his death he might behold the Messiah. And he saw Christ. A supernatural light was given him, and he acknowledged Christ’s divine character. He saw His day, and was glad. He was given a view of the divine sacrifice for sin. Of this sacrifice he had an illustration in his own experience. The command came to him, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, . . . and offer him . . . for a burnt offering.” Genesis 22:2.Upon the altar of sacrifice he laid the son of promise, the son in whom his hopes were centered. Then as he waited beside the altar with knife upraised to obey God, he heard a voice from heaven saying, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me.” Genesis 22:12. This terrible ordeal was imposed upon Abraham that he might . . . realize the great love of God for the world, so great that to raise it from its degradation, He gave His only-begotten Son to a most shameful
death.—The Desire of Ages, p. 468.
“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”
Here Christ shows them that, although they might reckon His life to be less than 50 years, yet His divine life could not be reckoned by human computation. The existence of Christ before His incarnation is not measured by figures.
“Before Abraham was, I am.” Christ is the preexistent, self-existent Son of God. The message He gave to Moses to give to the children of Israel was, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto
you.”—Lift Him Up, p. 17.
The reward is not of works, lest any man should boast; but it is all of grace. “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:1–5. Therefore there is no occasion for one to glory over another or to grudge against another. No one is privileged above another, nor can anyone claim the reward as a
right.—Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 401.
MONDAY November 11
The Witness of Mary
Six days before Passover, Jesus came to visit Mary, Martha, and their
brother Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised to life. Simon, who had been
healed of leprosy, hosted a feast in appreciation for what Jesus had
done for him. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was sitting at the table
with the guests (John 12:1–8).
What was the significance of Mary’s actions here? How was this a witness
to who Jesus really was? (See John 12:1–3.)
The perfume was very expensive, worth about a year’s wages for the
common laborer. Mary probably brought this gift as an expression of
gratitude to the Savior for the forgiveness of her sins and for the resurrection
of her brother. She intended it to be used someday for the burial
of Jesus. But then she heard that He would soon be anointed King. In
that case, she would be the first to bring Him honor.
Mary probably did not intend for her gesture to be noticed, but John
notes, “The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” (John
12:3, ESV). Judas responded with a quick rebuke, stating that the perfume
should have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. Jesus immediately
put Mary at ease by stating, “ ‘Let her alone; . . . The poor you have
with you always, but Me you do not have always’ ” (John 12:7, 8, NKJV).
A recurring theme runs through the Gospel. Jesus knows what is in
people (John 2:24, 25; John 6:70, 71; John 13:11; John 16:19). In this
instance at Simon’s feast, Jesus knows what is in Judas. John is careful
to point out who Judas is—a self-serving thief (John 12:6).
“The fragrant gift which Mary had thought to lavish upon the dead
body of the Saviour she poured upon His living form. At the burial its
sweetness could only have pervaded the tomb; now it gladdened His
heart with the assurance of her faith and love. . . . And as He went down
into the darkness of His great trial, He carried with Him the memory of
that deed, an earnest of the love that would be His from His redeemed
ones forever.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 560.
Jesus knew what was in the heart of Mary and the heart of Judas.
He knows what’s in your heart, as well. What should this truth
tell us about the need of Christ as our righteousness, transforming
us and covering us, as well?
EGW Notes — MONDAY ↓
Monday, November 11
The Witness of Mary
I was carried down to the time when Jesus ate the Passover supper with His disciples. Satan had deceived Judas and led him to think that he was one of Christ’s true disciples; but his heart had ever been carnal. He had seen the mighty works of Jesus, he had been with Him through His ministry, and had yielded to the overpowering evidence that He was the Messiah; but Judas was close and covetous; he loved money. He complained in anger of the costly ointment poured upon Jesus. Mary loved her Lord. He had forgiven her sins, which were many, and had raised from the dead her much-loved brother, and she felt that nothing was too dear to bestow upon Jesus. The more precious the ointment, the better could she express her gratitude to her Saviour by devoting it to Him. . . . This act of generosity on the part of Mary was a most cutting rebuke of [Judas’s] covetous disposition. The way was prepared for Satan’s temptation to find a ready reception in the heart of
Judas.—Early Writings, p. 165.
At great personal sacrifice she had purchased an alabaster box of “ointment of spikenard, very costly,” with which to anoint His body. But now many were declaring that He was about to be crowned king. Her grief was turned to joy, and she was eager to be first in honoring her Lord. Breaking her box of ointment, she poured its contents upon the head and feet of Jesus; then, as she knelt weeping, moistening them with her tears, she wiped His feet with her long, flowing hair. . . .
Mary knew not the full significance of her deed of love. She could not answer her accusers. She could not explain why she had chosen that occasion for anointing Jesus. The Holy Spirit had planned for her, and she had obeyed His promptings. Inspiration stoops to give no reason. An unseen presence, it speaks to mind and soul, and moves the heart to action. It is its own justification.
Christ told Mary the meaning of her act, and in this He gave her more than He had received. “In that she hath poured this ointment on My body,” He said, “she did it for My burial.” As the alabaster box was broken, and filled the whole house with its fragrance, so Christ was to die, His body was to be broken; but He was to rise from the tomb, and the fragrance of His life was to fill the earth. Christ “hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.” Ephesians
5:2.—The Desire of Ages, pp. 558, 560.
[God] always knows much better than we do, just what is necessary for the good of his children, and he leads us as we would choose to be led if we could discern our own hearts and see our necessities and perils, as God sees them. . . . If we will trust him, and commit our ways to him, he will direct our steps in the very path that will result in our obtaining the victory over every evil passion, and every trait of character that is unlike the character of our divine
Pattern.—Signs of the Times, May 25, 1888, par. 9.
TUESDAY November 12
The Unwitting Witness of Pilate
Time and again, John records the attempts of the religious leaders
to seize Jesus, to bring Him to trial, and to sentence Him to death. A
theme in John’s Gospel, stated often by Jesus, is that His time or hour
had not yet come, by which He meant the time for His crucifixion
(John 2:4; John 7:6, 8, 30; John 12:7, 23, 27; John 13:1; John 17:1).
Now the hour had come. Jesus was arrested in the Garden of
Gethsemane, brought before Annas, then Caiaphas the high priest, then
twice before Pilate.
John has called upon many witnesses from every walk of life to testify
that Jesus was the Christ. Now John calls upon Pilate, the governor
who tried Jesus. This was an important testimony because Pilate was a
Roman, a governor, and a judge; most of the other witnesses were Jews
and commoners.
How is Pilate’s verdict connected to the theme of John’s Gospel? John
18:38, John 19:4–22.
Jesus was brought to Pilate early on Friday morning (John 18:28).
His plan was to dispatch the prisoner quickly to His fate. But Jesus’
demeanor drew Pilate’s attention. The governor questioned Jesus
closely and heard from His lips, “ ‘For this purpose I was born and for
this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth.
Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice’ ” (John 18:37, ESV).
Though the governor ultimately condemned Jesus to death, he
nonetheless three times proclaimed Jesus innocent (John 18:38; John
19:4, 6). And over the cross he wrote the words “ ‘Jesus of Nazareth,
the King of the Jews’ ” (John 19:19, ESV), completing his witness to
who Jesus is. And yet despite his testimony of Christ’s innocence, he
nevertheless condemned Jesus to death.
Pilate had the Truth Himself standing before him and yet—allowing
the mob to bully him—Pilate sentenced Jesus to death anyway! What
a tragic example of not following what your conscience and heart tell
you is correct!
What can we learn from Pilate’s example about the dangers of
allowing popular sentiment, even pressure, to keep us from doing
what we believe is right?
EGW Notes — TUESDAY ↓
Tuesday, November 12
The Unwitting Witness of Pilate
From the first, Pilate was convicted that Jesus was no common man. He believed Him to be an excellent character, and entirely innocent of the charges brought against Him. The angels who were witnessing the scene marked the convictions of the Roman governor, and to save him from engaging in the awful act of delivering Christ to be crucified, an angel was sent to Pilate’s wife, and gave her information through a dream that it was the Son of God in whose trial her husband was engaged, and that He was an innocent sufferer. She immediately sent a message to Pilate, stating that she had suffered many things in a dream on account of Jesus and warning him to have nothing to do with that holy man. The messenger, pressing hastily through the crowd, placed the letter in the hands of Pilate. As he read, he trembled and turned pale, and at once determined to have nothing to do with putting Christ to death. If the Jews would have the blood of Jesus, he would not give his influence to it, but would labor to deliver
Him.—Early Writings, p. 173.
“When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just Person: see ye to it.” In fear and self-condemnation Pilate looked upon the Saviour. In the vast sea of upturned faces, His alone was peaceful. About His head a soft light seemed to shine. Pilate said in his heart, He is a God. Turning to the multitude he declared, I am clear of His blood. Take ye Him, and crucify Him. But mark ye, priests and rulers, I pronounce Him a just man. May He whom He claims as His Father judge you and not me for this day’s work. Then to Jesus he said, Forgive me for this act; I cannot save You. And when he had again scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be
crucified.—The Desire of Ages, p. 738.
Pilate then wrote an inscription in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, and placed it upon the cross, above the head of Jesus. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.” . . .
[The priests] said, “Write not, The King of the Jews; but that He said, I am King of the Jews.” But Pilate was angry with himself because of his former weakness, and he thoroughly despised the jealous and artful priests and rulers. He replied coldly, “What I have written I have written.”
A higher power than Pilate or the Jews had directed the placing of that inscription above the head of Jesus. In the providence of God it was to awaken thought, and investigation of the Scriptures. The place where Christ was crucified was near to the city. Thousands of people from all lands were then at Jerusalem, and the inscription declaring Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah would come to their notice. It was a living truth, transcribed by a hand that God had
guided.—The Desire of Ages, p. 745.
WEDNESDAY November 13
The Witness of Thomas
Read John 20:19–31. What can we learn from the story of Thomas
about faith and doubt? What major mistake did Thomas make?
Christ appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, when they
were shut up together in a room because of fear. Thomas was not with
them. Later, he heard the reports of the Resurrection from the other
disciples, but he despaired. It did not fit his picture of the kingdom.
And, too, he surely must have wondered why Jesus would have revealed
Himself to the others when he himself was not there.
Thomas said, “ ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and
put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side,
I will not believe’ ” (John 20:25, NKJV).
Thomas was dictating the conditions of his faith. This approach
to faith in Jesus has appeared again and again in John. Nicodemus
answered Jesus with, “ ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ ”
(John 3:4, NKJV). The woman at the well asked, “ ‘Sir, you have no
bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?’ ”
(John 4:11, NRSV). The crowd who had been fed with the loaves and
fishes asked, “ ‘What sign are you going to give us?’ ” (John 6:30,
NRSV).
It is this “see and then believe” perspective that the Gospel of
John counters. When Jesus met Thomas after the Resurrection, He
invited him to come, see, and touch His risen body. But then He says,
“ ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’ ” (John
20:29, ESV).
“God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence
upon which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness
of His word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our
reason; and this testimony is abundant. Yet God has never removed
the possibility of doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not
demonstration.”—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 105.
Through the Word of God, through the Creation, and through personal
experience, we have been given an incredible amount of evidence
for our faith in Jesus.
If someone were to ask you Why do you believe in Jesus? what
would you say?
EGW Notes — WEDNESDAY ↓
Wednesday, November 13
The Witness of Thomas
When Jesus first met the disciples in the upper chamber, Thomas was not with them. He heard the reports of the others, and received abundant proof that Jesus had risen; but gloom and unbelief filled his heart. As he heard the disciples tell of the wonderful manifestations of the risen Saviour, it only plunged him in deeper despair. If Jesus had really risen from the dead, there could be no further hope of a literal earthly kingdom. And it wounded his vanity to think that his Master should reveal Himself to all the disciples except him. He was determined not to believe, and for a whole week he brooded over his wretchedness, which seemed all the darker in contrast with the hope and faith of his
brethren.—The Desire of Ages, p. 806.
Our Saviour has no words of commendation for those who are slow of heart to believe in these last days, any more than He had for doubting Thomas, who boasted that he would not believe upon the evidence which the disciples rehearsed, and which they credited, that Christ had indeed risen and appeared to them. Said Thomas: “Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails,” “and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.” Christ granted Thomas the evidence that he had declared he must have; but He reprovingly said to him: “Be not faithless, but believing.” Thomas acknowledged himself convinced. Jesus said unto him: “Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have
believed.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 696.
Many who are given to doubt excuse themselves by saying that if they had the evidence which Thomas had from his companions, they would believe. They do not realize that they have not only that evidence, but much more. Many who, like Thomas, wait for all cause of doubt to be removed, will never realize their desire. They gradually become confirmed in unbelief. Those who educate themselves to look on the dark side, and murmur and complain, know not what they do. They are sowing the seeds of doubt, and they will have a harvest of doubt to reap. At a time when faith and confidence are most essential, many will thus find themselves powerless to hope and believe.
In His treatment of Thomas, Jesus gave a lesson for His followers. His example shows how we should treat those whose faith is weak, and who make their doubts prominent. Jesus did not overwhelm Thomas with reproach, nor did He enter into controversy with him. He revealed Himself to the doubting one. Thomas had been most unreasonable in dictating the conditions of his faith, but Jesus, by His generous love and consideration, broke down all the barriers. Unbelief is seldom overcome by controversy. It is rather put upon self-defense, and finds new support and excuse. But let Jesus, in His love and mercy, be revealed as the crucified Saviour, and from many once unwilling lips will be heard the acknowledgment of Thomas, “My Lord and my
God.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 807, 808.
THURSDAY November 14
Our Witness of Jesus
Again and again, as John presents witnesses to Jesus, his point is to
bring us to a sweeping conclusion: “And truly Jesus did many other
signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this
book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name”
(John 20:30, 31, NKJV).
Imagine having been there, in person, in the flesh, and having seen
Jesus do many of these miracles. We’d certainly believe, wouldn’t we?
We’d like to think so; but, in some ways, we have even more reasons to
believe in Jesus than did those who actually saw the miracles.
Why?
What are some of the things that we have today that those living at
the time of Jesus didn’t have that should help us believe? (See, for
example, Matt. 24:2, Matt. 24:14, Matt. 24:6–8.)
And that’s because we have not only the powerful accounts in John’s
Gospel, but also the great advantage of seeing so much of what Jesus
and other Bible writers predicted would come true, such as the destruction
of the temple (Matt. 24:2), the spread of the gospel around the
world (Matt. 24:14), the great falling away (2 Thess. 2:3), and the world
continuing to be a fallen and evil place (Matt. 24:6–8). All during the
life and ministry of Jesus, His following remained a small and harassed
group of men and women who, by all human standards, should have
vanished from history a long time ago. How could they have known, as
we do, that all these things would come to pass? And they have. In fact,
our own faith itself exists as a fulfillment of Jesus’ own prophecy that
the gospel would go to all the world.
And, today, about two thousand years later, as followers of Jesus, we
also have the privilege of bearing witness to Jesus and to what He has
done for us. It is not by the reasoning of Nathaniel, Nicodemus, the
woman of Samaria, or the teachings of the Pharisees that we can know
Jesus as the Messiah for ourselves. It is by the reading of the Scriptures
under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit that we accept Jesus as
the Savior of the world.
And then, each one of us, in our way, and out of our own relationship
with God, can have a story to tell. Our story may not be as dramatic
as seeing the dead raised or someone blind from birth healed, but that
doesn’t matter. What matters is that we know Jesus for ourselves, and
in our own way bear witness to Him, as did those in John’s Gospel.
EGW Notes — THURSDAY ↓
Thursday, November 14
Our Witness of Jesus
Contemplating the fate of the city he had loved, the soul of Jesus yearned over the child of his care. Unrequited love broke the heart of the Son of God. Little did the multitude know of the grief that weighed upon the spirit of Him whom they worshiped. They saw his tears and heard his groans . . . but they could not understand the meaning of his lamentation over Jerusalem. Meanwhile, reports were brought to the rulers that Jesus was approaching the city attended by a great concourse of people. In trepidation they go out to meet him, hoping to disperse the crowd by means of their authority. As the procession is about to descend the Mount of Olives, it is intercepted by the rulers. They inquire who and what is the cause of all this tumultuous rejoicing. As they, with much authority, repeat their question,—Who is this? the disciples, filled with a spirit of inspiration, are heard above all the noise of the crowd, repeating in eloquent strains the prophecies which answered this question. Adam will tell you, It is the seed of the woman that shall bruise the serpent’s head. Ask Abraham, he will tell you, It is Melchisedek, King of Salem, King of Peace. Jacob will tell you, He is Shiloh of the tribe of Judah. . . . Daniel will tell you, He is the Messiah. Hosea will tell you, He is the Lord God of Hosts, the Lord is his memorial. John the Baptist will tell you, He is the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. The great Jehovah has proclaimed from his throne, This is my beloved Son. We, his disciples, declare, This is Jesus, the Messiah, the Prince of Life, the Redeemer of the
world.—The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, p. 395.
We have the great principles of salvation revealed in the word of God, which concern our eternal welfare, and our very souls should be all aglow with the love of God. We should be ready to speak forth his praises. Christ should abide in our hearts by faith, that we may learn of him, and be laborers together with him. We should unitedly go forth, determined, through the help of God, to bear testimony to his glory in every act of our
life.—The Review and Herald, October 22, 1889, par. 10.
We have a most important work to do, the work of obeying Christ and bearing witness of Him. He said to his disciples, “And ye also shall bear witness of Me, because ye have been with Me from the beginning.” The disciples were to be honored by bearing witness concerning Christ’s mission. They had been with Him constantly and had gained a most valuable knowledge to impart to others. We can not be with Christ in person as were His first disciples, but He has sent His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, and through this power we too can bear witness for the
Saviour.—The Gospel Herald, August 1, 1900, par. 2.
FRIDAY November 15
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Test of Faith,” pp.
145–155, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “In Pilate’s Judgment Hall,” pp.
723–740, in The Desire of Ages.
Thomas “cast himself at the feet of Jesus crying, ‘My Lord and my
God.’ ”
“Jesus accepted his acknowledgment, but gently reproved his unbelief:
‘Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are
they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’ The faith of Thomas
would have been more pleasing to Christ if he had been willing to
believe upon the testimony of his brethren. Should the world now follow
the example of Thomas, no one would believe unto salvation; for
all who receive Christ must do so through the testimony of others.
“Many who are given to doubt excuse themselves by saying that
if they had the evidence which Thomas had from his companions,
they would believe. They do not realize that they have not only that
evidence, but much more. Many who, like Thomas, wait for all cause
of doubt to be removed, will never realize their desire. They gradually
become confirmed in unbelief. Those who educate themselves to look
on the dark side, and murmur and complain, know not what they do.
They are sowing the seeds of doubt, and they will have a harvest of
doubt to reap. At a time when faith and confidence are most essential,
many will thus find themselves powerless to hope and believe.”—Ellen
G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 807, 808.
Discussion Questions:
-
What was the essential difference in the expressions of faith by
Abraham and by Thomas? What can we learn from their stories?
-
In class, let those who are willing bear witness to Jesus, as we
have seen done in the Gospel of John. Though the accounts differ,
what do people say, and how do they all bear witness to the same
Lord?
-
Pilate asked a very philosophical question: “What is truth?”
Give your answer to that question in light of all we have studied in
John.
-
Look at the prophecies of Daniel 2 and 7. Though those in the
time of Jesus had these two chapters, what great advantage do
we have today that they didn’t have back then, in terms of seeing
those prophecies fulfilled and thus having even more reasons to
believe?
EGW Notes — FRIDAY ↓
Friday, November 15
For Further Reading
The Desire of Ages, “In Pilate’s Judgment Hall,” pp. 723–740;
This Day with God, “Truth Will Triumph,” p. 195.
INSIDE STORY
From Pin Trader to Camper
By Andrew McChesney
Jacob Pierce’s whole family loved trading pins, and they fanned out
to find new pins at the International Pathfinder Camporee in the United
States.
Then Mother saw a man with an Alaska pin. Knowing that Jacob loved
Alaskan nature, she tried to convince the man to make a trade.
“I can’t trade,” he said. “It is a one-of-a-kind pin for pastors in Alaska.”
Mother’s interest only grew. “What do you do up in Alaska?” she asked.
The man introduced himself as Tobin Dodge, director of Alaska Camps, a
mission initiative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Alaska Conference,
which sponsors camps for children ages 8 to 17 every summer.
“Could my son work there?” Mother asked.
“Yes, we take counselors-in-training at 16 and counselors at 18,” he said.
Jacob jumped at the idea of spending the summer in Alaska. He joined the
camp staff—and went three years in a row.
The camp experience can be challenging, he said. One year, he enjoyed
spending time with an Alaska Native boy at Camp Polaris, located on Lake
Aleknagik in southwestern Alaska. They shared an interest in nature and
climbed Jackknife Mountain, which looms above the camp. But the boy
refused to behave. He also used vulgar language and seemed more interested
in promoting superstitions than hearing Bible truth. He blamed a rainy
day on a boy who had killed a spider, saying, “If you kill a spider, it rains.”
Jacob grew frustrated. But at the end of camp, the boy gave Jacob a hug
and walked over to his father. As he watched the two, Jacob suddenly began
to understand the boy’s behavior. The boy was practically raising himself.
“Most of the kids don’t have any Christian background at all,” Jacob,
20, said in an interview at Camp Polaris. “That’s what makes it really an
eye-opener and, to me, an amazing mission field.”
He said the spiritual battles at Camp Polaris are different from those
at other summer camps sponsored by the Alaska Conference because it
is comprised almost entirely of Alaska Native children, who often face
struggles with trauma, superstition, and substance abuse.
“But being here is worth it,” he said. “It is a calling
that is stronger than any that I have seen. God really
needs volunteers here. This is a mission field.”
Thank you for your 2016 Thirteenth Sabbath Offering that
helped repair and expand Camp Polaris so more children
could attend. Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath
Offering will help open a center of influence at the Adventist
church in Bethel, Alaska. The Bethel Church sends local children
to Camp Polaris every year.
Provided by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission, which uses Sabbath School
mission offerings to spread the gospel worldwide. Read new stories daily at
AdventistMission.org.
