Oh, how Christ longed to open to Israel the precious treasures of the truth! But such was their spiritual blindness that it was impossible to 242 reveal to them the truths relating to His kingdom. They clung to their creed and their useless ceremonies when the truth of Heaven awaited their acceptance. They spent their money for chaff and husks, when the bread of life was within their reach. Why did they not go to the word of God, and search diligently to know whether they were in error? The Old Testament Scriptures stated plainly every detail of Christ's ministry, and again and again He quoted from the prophets, and declared, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." If they had honestly searched the Scriptures, bringing their theories to the test of God's word, Jesus need not have wept over their impenitence. He need not have declared, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." Luke 13:35. They might have been acquainted with the evidence of His Messiahship, and the calamity that laid their proud city in ruins might have been averted. But the minds of the Jews had become narrowed by their unreasoning bigotry. The lessons of Christ revealed their deficiencies of character, and demanded repentance. If they accepted His teachings, their practices must be changed, and their cherished hopes relinquished. In order to be honored by Heaven, they must sacrifice the honor of men. If they obeyed the words of this new rabbi, they must go contrary to the opinions of the great thinkers and teachers of the time.

Ak, hvor længtes ikke Kristus efter at åbenbare Israel sandhedens kostelige skatte! Men deres åndelige blindhed var så stor, at det var umuligt at åbenbare dem de sandheder, som angik hans rige. De klamrede sig til deres overbevisning og deres unyttige ceremonier, da den himmelske sandhed ventede på, at de skulle tage imod den. De brugte deres penge til avner og tomme skaller, medens livets brød var inden for deres rækkevidde. Hvorfor gik de dog ikke til Guds ord og granskede flittigt for at få at vide, om de ikke for vild? Det gamle Testamentes skrifter beretter tydeligt om enhver enkelthed af Kristi gerning, og atter og atter gentog han profeternes ord og erklærede: "I dag er dette skriftord, som lød i jeres øren, gået i opfyldelse." Hvis de med ærlighed havde gransket Skrifterne og ladet deres teorier efterprøve ved Guds ord, havde Jesus ikke behøvet at græde over deres ubodfærdighed. Han behøvede ikke at have sagt: "Se, jeres hus bliver overladt til jer selv!" Luk. 13,35. De kunne være kommet til at kende beviserne for, at han var Messias, og den ulykke, der lagde deres stolte by i ruiner, kunne have været undgået. Men jøderne var blevet snæversynede på grund af deres uforstandige fanatisme. Kristi lære afslørede deres karaktersvagheder og krævede omvendelse. Dersom de tog imod hans lære, måtte deres skikke og sædvaner forandres, og de måtte opgive deres kæreste forhåbninger. For at blive æret af Himmelen måtte de give afkald på menneskers ære. Hvis de adlød denne nye rabbiners ord, måtte de gå stik imod tidens største tænkeres og læreres meninger.