“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun,” Ecclesiastes 1:9.
This is the second part of a three-part study in which we are seeking to discover the parallels between what it was the Saviour encountered during His ministry on earth and how those events mirrored what it is the child of God may expect to face in this age that has followed His ascension.
THE EARLY TIMES OF SUCCESS SEEN IN THE SAVIOUR’S MINISTRY
We see further evidence of the parallel between the experiences of the Saviour and those of His people in the ages subsequent to His ascension.
1. At the first, multitudes gathered to hear Him. “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. . . . . And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about,” Luke 4:14-15; 33-37.
That was how it was at the first but that attitude did not last! “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? . . . . From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him,” John 6:60, 66. Soon enthusiastic hearing of Christ was ended and a very different frame of mind had developed. “ After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him,” John 7:1.
In like manner, the earlier welcome given to the gospel preached by the apostles waned. Great success marked the beginning of the apostles’ witness. This was the case following the preaching on the day of Pentecost. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need,” Acts 2:41-45. This continued for a time. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved,” Acts 2:47. “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one,” Acts 5:14-16.
However, this success stirred the opposition of wicked men just as it was with the Saviour. Of Him we read: “The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him,” John 12:17-19. This His enemies could not tolerate. The Saviour was aware of this. “For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day,”Mark 9:31.
2. Despite the growing of opposition of wicked men, there was wonderful good wrought amongst the people. John wrote those wonderful statements which summarised the fruitfulness of Christ’s ministry. “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. . . . And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen,” John 20:30-31; 21:25. (more…)
