The inquiry of many a proud heart is: Why need I go in humiliation and penitence before I can have the assurance of my acceptance with God, and attain the immortal reward? Why is not the path to heaven less difficult and more pleasant and attractive? We refer all these doubting, murmuring ones to our great Exemplar while suffering under the load of man’s guilt and enduring the keenest pangs of hunger. He was sinless, and more than this, He was the Prince of heaven; but in man’s behalf He became sin for the race. “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” {3T 480.4}

Spørgsmålet i mangt et stolt hjerte er: Hvorfor behøver jeg at færdes i ydmygelse og bodfærdighed for at kunne have forvisningen om, at jeg er antaget hos Gud og for at opnå den uforgængelige belønning? Hvorfor er himmelvejen ikke mindre vanskelig, mere behagelig og tiltrækkende? Vi henviser alle disse tvivlende, knurrende sjæle (481) til vort store guddommelige mønster, da han led under byrden af menneskenes brøde og gennemgik hungerens mest bidende kvaler. Han var uden synd, ja mere: han var himmelens fyrste; men til gavn for menneskene blev han gjort til synd for denne slægt. »Han blev såret for vore overtrædelser, knust for vor brødes skyld; os til fred kom straf over ham, vi fik lægedom ved hans sår.«