The Desire of Ages Chapters 4 and 5

Chapter 4—Unto You a Saviour

Based on Luke 2:1-20

1. Describe what Jesus did when He took humanity. (DA p. 43, ¶1, s. 1-4)

The King of glory stooped low to take humanity. Rude and forbidding were His earthly surroundings. His glory was veiled, that the majesty of His outward form might not become an object of attraction. He shunned all outward display. Riches, worldly honor, and human greatness can never save a soul from death; Jesus purposed that no attraction of an earthly nature should call men to His side. Only the beauty of heavenly truth must draw those who would follow Him.

2. Describe what the angels did concerning the plan of redemption. (DA p. 43, ¶2, s. 1-2)

The angels had wondered at the glorious plan of redemption. They watched to see how the people of God would receive His Son, clothed in the garb of humanity. Angels came to the land of the chosen people.

3. Who specifically was informed? (DA p. 44, ¶0, s. 1)

They came unseen to Jerusalem, to the appointed expositors of the Sacred Oracles, and the ministers of God’s house. Already to Zacharias the priest, as he ministered before the altar, the nearness of Christ’s coming had been announced.

4. What was the reaction in Israel to Jesus’ coming? (DA p. 44, ¶1, s. 1-8)

With amazement the heavenly messengers beheld the indifference of that people whom God had called to communicate to the world the light of sacred truth. … In the temple the morning and the evening sacrifice daily pointed to the Lamb of God; yet even here was no preparation to receive Him. The priests and teachers of the nation knew not that the greatest event of the ages was about to take place. They rehearsed their meaningless prayers, and performed the rites of worship to be seen by men, but in their strife for riches and worldly honor they were not prepared for the revelation of the Messiah. The same indifference pervaded the land of Israel. Hearts selfish and world-engrossed were untouched by the joy that thrilled all heaven. Only a few were longing to behold the Unseen. To these heaven’s embassy was sent.

5. Where were Joseph and Mary going and why? (DA p. 44, ¶2, s. 1-2)

Angels attend Joseph and Mary as they journey from their home in Nazareth to the city of David. The decree of imperial Rome for the enrollment of the peoples of her vast dominion has extended to the dwellers among the hills of Galilee.

6. Why did Jesus have to be born in Bethlehem? (DA p. 44, ¶2, s. 3-5)

As in old time Cyrus was called to the throne of the world’s empire that he might set free the captives of the Lord, so Caesar Augustus is made the agent for the fulfillment of God’s purpose in bringing the mother of Jesus to Bethlehem. She is of the lineage of David, and the Son of David must be born in David’s city. Out of Bethlehem, said the prophet, “shall He come forth … that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin.

7. Give the conditions Joseph and Mary encountered in Bethlehem. (DA p. 44, ¶2, s. 6-8)

But in the city of their royal line, Joseph and Mary are unrecognized and unhonored. Weary and homeless, they traverse the entire length of the narrow street, from the gate of the city to the eastern extremity of the town, vainly seeking a resting place for the night. There is no room for them at the crowded inn. In a rude building where the beasts are sheltered, they at last find refuge, and here the Redeemer of the world is born.

8. At the announcement of Jesus’ birth, why were Israel’s leaders passed by? (DA p. 47, ¶1, s. 6-7)

Had the leaders in Israel been true to their trust, they might have shared the joy of heralding the birth of Jesus. But now they are passed by.

9. Besides watching over their flocks, what were the shepherds doing the night of Jesus’ birth? (DA p. 47, ¶3, s. 1-2)

In the fields where the boy David had led his flock, shepherds were still keeping watch by night. Through the silent hours they talked together of the promised Saviour, and prayed for the coming of the King to David’s throne.

10. How did the angels calm their fears and prepare them to find Jesus? (DA p. 47, ¶3, s. 3-5)

“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

11. After the angels left, what did the shepherds do? (DA p. 48, ¶2, s. 3-4)

“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.”

12. What is the relationship between heaven and earth, especially with regard to angels? (DA p. 48, ¶4, s. 1-2)

Heaven and earth are no wider apart today than when shepherds listened to the angels’ song. Humanity is still as much the object of heaven’s solicitude as when common men of common occupations met angels at noonday, and talked with the heavenly messengers in the vineyards and the fields.

13. Why did Jesus come with our heredity? (DA p. 49, ¶0, s. 3-7)

It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man’s nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.

14. Write down Satan’s attitude toward Christ. (DA p. 49, ¶1, s. 1-3)

Satan in heaven had hated Christ for His position in the courts of God. He hated Him the more when he himself was dethroned. He hated Him who pledged Himself to redeem a race of sinners.

15. How is a father’s love for his child the same as God’s love for His? (DA p. 49, ¶2, s. 1-5)

The heart of the human father yearns over his son. He looks into the face of his little child, and trembles at the thought of life’s peril. He longs to shield his dear one from Satan’s power, to hold him back from temptation and conflict. To meet a bitterer conflict and a more fearful risk, God gave His only-begotten Son, that the path of life might be made sure for our little ones. “Herein is love.” Wonder, O heavens! and be astonished, O earth!

Chapter 5—The Dedication

Based on Luke 2:21-38

1. Name the two rites Joseph and Mary had Jesus go through and that Jewish law required. (DA p. 50, ¶1, s. 1-3)

About forty days after the birth of Christ, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord, and to offer sacrifice. This was according to the Jewish law, and as man’s substitute Christ must conform to the law in every particular. He had already been subjected to the rite of circumcision, as a pledge of His obedience to the law.

2. What offerings were also required and which animals were to be used? (DA p. 50, ¶2, s. 1-2)

As an offering for the mother, the law required a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. But the law provided that if the parents were too poor to bring a lamb, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering, the other for a sin offering, might be accepted.

3. Describe the necessary physical conditions for the animals. (DA p. 50, ¶3, s. 1)

The offerings presented to the Lord were to be without blemish.

4. How did these represent Christ? (DA p. 50-51, ¶3, s. 2-7)

These offerings represented Christ, and from this it is evident that Jesus Himself was free from physical deformity. He was the “lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:19. His physical structure was not marred by any defect; His body was strong and healthy. And throughout His lifetime He lived in conformity to nature’s laws.

5. (DA p. 51, ¶0, s. 1)

… He was an  example  of what God  designed   all   humanity  to be  through   obedience  to His  laws .

6. While Israel was still captive in Egypt, what did God command Moses to do? (DA p. 51, ¶2, s. 2)

While the children of Israel were in bondage to the Egyptians, the Lord directed Moses to go to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and say, “Thus saith the Lord, Israel is My son, even My first-born: and I say unto thee, Let My son go, that he may serve Me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy first-born.” Exodus 4:22, 23.

7. What was Pharaoh’s response and the result? (DA p. 51, ¶3, s. 1-5)

Moses delivered his message; but the proud king’s answer was, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.” Exodus 5:2. The Lord worked for His people by signs and wonders, sending terrible judgments upon Pharaoh. At length the destroying angel was bidden to slay the first-born of man and beast among the Egyptians.

8. What did the Jews have to do? (DA p. 51, ¶3, s. 6-7)

That the Israelites might be spared, they were directed to place upon their doorposts the blood of a slain lamb. Every house was to be marked, that when the angel came on his mission of death, he might pass over the homes of the Israelites.

9. Why did the priest not see anything different about the child of Joseph and Mary? (DA p. 52, ¶1, s. 5-7)

Day after day he went through the routine of his work, giving little heed to the parents or children, unless he saw some indication of the wealth or high rank of the parents. Joseph and Mary were poor; and when they came with their child, the priests saw only a man and woman dressed as Galileans, and in the humblest garments. There was nothing in their appearance to attract attention, and they presented only the offering made by the poorer classes.

10. Describe the ceremony the priest went through. (DA p. 52, ¶2, s. 1-3)

The priest went through the ceremony of his official work. He took the child in his arms, and held it up before the altar. After handing it back to its mother, he inscribed the name “Jesus” on the roll of the first-born.

11. Give some of the names Jesus was called by before He was born. (DA p. 52, ¶2, s. 4-5)

Little did he think, as the babe lay in his arms, that it was the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory. The priest did not think that this babe was the One of whom Moses had written, “A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you.” Acts 3:22.

12. (DA p. 55, ¶1, s. 1)

Spiritual things are  spiritually   discerned .

13. What was the message that the Holy Ghost gave Simeon and what was his response to it? (DA p. 55, ¶2, s. 2-4)

Their appearance bespeaks poverty; but Simeon understands the warnings of the Spirit, and he is deeply impressed that the infant being presented to the Lord is the Consolation of Israel, the One he has longed to see. To the astonished priest, Simeon appears like a man enraptured. The child has been returned to Mary, and he takes it in his arms and presents it to God, while a joy that he has never before felt enters his soul.

14. Who else joined the group and what happened? (DA p. 55, ¶4, s. 1-2)

Anna also, a prophetess, came in and confirmed Simeon’s testimony concerning Christ. As Simeon spoke, her face lighted up with the glory of God, and she poured out her heartfelt thanks that she had been permitted to behold Christ the Lord.

15. Why did the priests and rulers not join this group? (DA p. 55, ¶5, s. 2)

But those who held positions as rulers and priests in Israel, though they too had before them the precious utterances of prophecy, were not walking in the way of the Lord, and their eyes were not open to behold the Light of life.

16. How are the events that just occurred in the Temple the same as today? (DA p. 56, ¶1, s. 1-4)

So it is still. Events upon which the attention of all heaven is centered are undiscerned, their very occurrence is unnoticed, by religious leaders, and worshipers in the house of God. Men acknowledge Christ in history, while they turn away from the living Christ. Christ in His word calling to self-sacrifice, in the poor and suffering who plead for relief, in the righteous cause that involves poverty and toil and reproach, is no more readily received today than He was eighteen hundred years ago.

17. What was Mary’s response to the message of Simeon and did she understand the message? (DA p. 56, ¶2, s. 1,3; ¶3, s. 1,6)

Mary pondered the broad and far-reaching prophecy of Simeon. … Simeon’s words called to her mind the prophetic utterances of Isaiah:

Yet Mary did not understand Christ’s mission. … But many years must pass before even the mother of Jesus would understand His mission.

18. Who told of Christ’s mission? (DA p. 56, ¶2, s. 3,7)

Simeon’s words called to her mind the prophetic utterances of Isaiah: … Isaiah 11:1–5; 9:2–6.

19. Name what Mary missed concerning the Messiah’s reign. (DA p. 56, ¶4, s. 1)

Mary looked forward to the Messiah’s reign on David’s throne, but she saw not the baptism of suffering by which it must be won.

20. (DA p. 57, ¶0, s. 1)

They  must   fall  who would  rise   again .

21. What must we do if we want Christ to uplift us and also know the spiritual kingdom’s glory? (DA p. 57, ¶0, s. 2-3)

We must fall upon the Rock and be broken before we can be uplifted in Christ. Self must be dethroned, pride must be humbled, if we would know the glory of the spiritual kingdom.

22. (DA p. 57, ¶3, s. 2-3)

From the  manger  to the  cross , the  life  of  Jesus  was a  call  to  self – surrender , and to  fellowship  in  suffering . It  unveiled  the  purposes  of  men .

23. What shows to everyone which side we are on, Jesus’ or Satan’s? (DA p. 57, ¶3, s. 6-7)

In their attitude toward Christ, all would show on which side they stood. And thus everyone passes judgment on himself.

24. Give the experience of the lost on Judgment Day. (DA p. 58, ¶1, s. 1ff.)

In the day of final judgment, every lost soul will understand the nature of his own rejection of truth. The cross will be presented, and its real bearing will be seen by every mind that has been blinded by transgression. Before the vision of Calvary with its mysterious Victim, sinners will stand condemned. Every lying excuse will be swept away. Human apostasy will appear in its heinous character. Men will see what their choice has been. Every question of truth and error in the long-standing controversy will then have been made plain.