ENCOUNTER SERIES FOR MAY

May 1- Desire of Ages pages 309-310

There is a distinction drawn by the author between the righteousness of God, and the self-righteousness of those
who supplanted the adherence to the spirit of the law with empty rhetoric and meaningless ritual. Here is a harsh
indictment of scribes and Pharisees from page 309 which parallels Jesus’ own attitude toward the lackluster
shepherds of the Hebrew flock- “The Pharisees claimed to be children of Abraham, and boasted of their possession
of the oracles of God; yet these advantages did not preserve them from selfishness, malignit…...”Sister White notes
that all anger is sinful. This statement will be welcome by those who may be experiencing some difficulty with
uniformly maintaining their composure in the context of a world that has gone completely insane. She writes on
page 310 that the targets of our righteous indignation, however, must be carefully selected- “It is true there is an
indignation that is justifiable, even in the followers of Christ. When they see that God is dishonored, and His service
brought into disrepute, when they see the innocent oppressed, a righteous indignation stirs the soul. Such anger,
born of sensitive morals, is not a sin. But those who at an…….”
May 2- Desire of Ages pages 311-312
The subjects of appropriate and inappropriate anger are not applicable to Christ’s admonition that we make peace
with our brothers before we presume to try to make peace with God. Practically all anger is the result of our own
pride, rather than a reaction to a genuine evil. People are people, and even “good” people can hold a grudge. On
page 31 of Desire of Ages the author writes- “Many are zealous in religious services, while between them and their
brethren are unhappy differences which they might reconcile. God requires them to do all in their power to restore
harmony. Until they do this, He cannot accept their services.”
May 3- Desire of Ages pages 313-314
Matthew 6:24- “No man can serve two masters…” Sister White comment- “We cannot serve God with a divided
heart. Bible religion is not one influence among many others; its influence is to be supreme, pervading and
controlling every other.” This comment on 6:24 is followed by one that is based on the verse that precedes it,
Matthew 6:23 (“If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy
whole body shall be full of darkness“), which serves to define the high level of service that our master God
requires. The author clarifies Jess’ analogy in these fur sentences- “Purity and steadfastness of purpose are the
conditions of receiving light from God. He who desires to know the truth must be willing to accept all that it
reveals. He can make no compromise with error. To be wavering and halfhearted in allegiance to truth is to choose
the darkness of error and satanic delusion.” God will preserve those who chose to live in His will, which is a good
introduction to Christ’s clear instruction to us that is contained in Matthew 6:31- “Therefore take no thought,
saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” Ellen G. White’s analysis
of the Sermon on the Mount draws to its conclusion with thoughts upon a statement by Jesus that the editors of
the Holy Bible have selected to head the 7th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew- “Judge not, that ye be not
judged.” The character of a person is manifest in their works, as Christ reveals in Matthew 7:20- “Wherefore by
their fruits ye shall know them…”
May 4- Desire of Ages pages 315-316, Matthew 8:5-13
Chapter 32 of Ellen G. White’s Desire of Ages is called The Centurion. Roman Centurions were charged with the
oversight of 100 soldiers, and this number is revealed in their title. The Centurion, his ailing servant, and Jesus’
long-distance healing of this servant is the subject of both Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 8:1-17. A synopsis of this
healing, and attendant commentary occupies pages 315-317 of Desire of Ages. The resurrection of a son of a
widow from Nain is the subject of pages 318-320 of Ellen G. White’s book. Christ’s healing of the Centurion’s
servant is preceded by a description to Jesus of the goodness and generosity of the Roman commander. The army
of the occupiers of the Holy Land enjoyed near-unlimited power over the citizenry, but John the Baptist had
advised inquiring soldiers to “…Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your
wages.” The Centurion featured in this history conforms to the standard set by the Baptist. In addition, he is a
seeker after truth, and cognizant of the superiority of the God of Israel to the capricious pantheon that Rome
affected to worship. The Centurion, a “man under authority,” intercepts Jesus en route to cure his ailing servant.
He believes that Jesus possesses a level of influence more than equal to his own, and insightfully recognizes that
Christ need not be physically present with a sufferer to effect a healing. Jesus complements this Gentile in
Matthew 8:10- “…Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”
May 5- Luke 7: 11-17
Luke 7:11-17 briefly describes the raising to life of a widow’s sole means of support. This miracle follows the
remote healing by Jesus of the Centurion’s servant. As Jesus approaches the city of Nain, a funeral procession is
headed out of the town. A widow attends the coffin of her recently deceased son. Her husband died earlier, so she
was dependent on her only son for support. Now he is gone as well, so her distress over the loss is augmented by
apprehension about how she will be able to face the future. As these verses describe the resurrection from the
dead of an only son, the parallels to Christ’s own history are evident. Jesus intercepts the mournful procession, and
implores the widow to stop crying. This command requires that faith be placed in the speaker prior to any
manifestation of works. Many of Christ’s miracles record a statement of belief by the pending recipient of a
blessing, but the widow’s response to Christ’s statement is not recorded in Luke. Jesus touches the coffin of the
widow’s son (an action that is forbidden by Jewish law- “He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be
unclean seven days…” Number 19:11), and immediately the son “…sat up and began to speak.” This remarkable
incident serves to further increase the renown of Jesus. Anticipating a later command by Jesus, (one recorded in
John 11:43), “Lazarus, come forth,” the Lord says to the soon-to-be revived object of His restoration- “…Young
man, I say to you, arise” (John 7:13).
May 6- Desire of Ages pages 317-318
The Centurion who seeks Jesus on behalf of his ailing servant is cognizant of his many shortcomings. Jesus is well
underway to this officer’s residence, but messengers from the Centurion intercept Him with a message from their
leader- “Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof” (from Luke 7:6).
This incident is utilized by Ellen G. White to offer commentary on the topic of righteousness by faith. The
Centurion, emboldened by the desperation of his plight, does not hesitate to seek Christ’s assistance (despite his
unworthiness). Sister White extracts a universal truth from this incident that is recorded on page 317 of Desire of
Ages– “When Satan tells you that you are a sinner, and cannot hope to receive blessing from God, tell him that
Christ came into the world to save sinners. We have nothing to recommend us to God; but the plea that we may
urge now and ever is our utterly helpless condition that makes His redeeming power a necessity.”
May 7- Desire of Ages pages 319-320
The physical redirection of the now-meaningless funeral procession is attended by an emotional redirection.
Jeremiah 31:13 states- “Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn
their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.” Ellen G. White wistfully
implies that the restoration of the life of the widow’s son was a mixed blessing, for life on earth can be a mixed
blessing, even under the best of circumstances. But there exists a promised reward for our faith, our obedience,
and for patently bearing adversity for only a bit longer. The renewal that we enjoy when we accept Christ as our
redeemer is symbolized by the death of our former selves, and our glorious resurrection into a much better way of
life. These sentences are from the final page of the 31st chapter of Desire of Ages- “Satan cannot hold the dead in
his grasp when the Son of God bids them live. He cannot hold in spiritual death one soul who in faith receives
Christ’s word of power. God is saying to all who are dead in sin, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the
dead.” Eph. 5:14. That word is eternal life. As the word of God which bade the first man live, still gives us life…”
May 8- Matthew 11-22-30
The verses from the 11th chapter of Matthew indicated are preceded with a condemnation by Jesus of two cities,
Chorazin and Bethsaida, that were close to the Sea of Galilee. They had recently been exposed to the urgent
message that Christ was proclaiming, but remained unimpressed. In verse 22 Jesus contrasts these cities with
another pair of cities; Tyre and Sidon. These latter prosperous locales did not honor the God of the Hebrews, but
were perceptive enough to recognize truth when they heard it proclaimed (much in the manner of the idolatrous
citizenry of Nineveh when Jonah delivered God’s warning to that metropolis). Matthew 11:25 indicates that, unless
it is properly subordinated to the will of God, scholarship tends to distance the scholar from spiritual matters. This
is a theme repeated throughout scripture, and the perils inherent in “bookishness” have also been noted by Ellen
G. White. Here are the words of Jesus- “…I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid
these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”
May 9- Desire of Ages page 321, Mark 3:20-35, Luke 8:19-21
Chapter 33 of Desire of Ages is titled Who Are My Brethren? This is similar to a question a that a self-righteous
lawyer asks Jesus inquiring “…who is my neighbor” in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, recorded in Luke 10:25-
37. We are all neighbors, just as we are all brethren in Christ Jesus. The teaching regarding the spiritual relatives of
Jesus is more conditional and exclusionary than the universal concept of “neighbor,” as it requires both the
hearing and the doing of the Word. Mark 3:20-35 includes a description of Christ’s answer to those who insinuated
that He cast out demons by the power of the prince of demons; Satan. In includes the verse that Lincoln quotes in
his Gettysburg Address- “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” The identification by
Jesus of the “Unforgivable Sin” (a subject of disagreement among biased and contentious theologians, but not as
obscure as they claim) is contained in Mark 3:29- “But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never
forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation…
May 10- Desire of Ages pages 322-324
Ellen G. White reveals that Jesus’ brothers were astonished and dismayed at the eccentricities He displayed. Christ
prayed to seeming excess, worked His fingers to the bone, and incurred the wrath of Hebraic leaders. They were
ashamed of their close connection to him. It is Christ’s response to charges by the Pharisees of a possible
connection of His exorcisms with Satanic power that is the primary subject of pages 322-324. But Ellen G. White
that Satan was working through the accusers of Christ, and assuredly not through Christ Himself. The sin against
the Holy Spirit is revealed by Sister White to include the negative character trait of stubbornness. Those who
intransigently choose to remain attached to ideas, even subsequent to their being proved to be false, The
Pharisees could not deny the unprecedented miracles, nor the irrefutable wisdom of Jesus, yet they, and the flock
that they led either ignored Jesus entirely, or, at best, badly misconstrued he nature of the divinity that was
manifest in His words and deeds. At the bottom of page 324 Sister White writes- “In rejecting Christ the Jewish
people committed the unpardonable sin; and by refusing the invitation of mercy, we may commit the same.” Ellen
G. White writes …we may do the same.” Those who may have not yet given their lives to Jesus must speedily
accept The Invitation (title of the next chapter of Desire of Ages) that He offers to all, for the time available for
acceptance or rejection is quickly diminishing.
May 11- Desire of Ages pages 325-327
These pages of Desire of Ages offer commentary on the rhetorical question Jesus asks Himself in Mark 3:33- “…
Who is my mother, or my brethren?” Rather than indicate those who may be closely connected to Him by blood
(His brothers and mother who had arrived, and sought an interview with their “eccentric” relative), Jesus instead
indicated the group of followers who surrounded Him. Concerning these spiritual kinsmen, He proclaims in Mark
3:34- “…Behold my mother and my brethren!” On page 325 Sister White writes- “All who would receive Christ by
faith were united to Him by a tie closer than that of human kinship. They would become one with Him, as He was
one with the Father. As a believer and doer of His words, His mother was more nearly and savingly related to Him
than through her natural relationship.”
May 12- Matthew 13:1-52
Jesus explains the nature of God’s kingdom through seven related parables in the 13 th chapter of the Gospel of
Matthew. The process that leads to either the reception or rejection of the Holy Spirit is allegorically explained in
the Parable of the Sower. The Word is the seed. The produce of this seed is either nourished, retarded, or
nonexistent depending on the quality of soil that it is sown into. In the Parable of the Tares good crops (those who
pattern their lives on that of Christ) mature in proximity to bad ones (unrepentant sinners). They are harvested
together (the last judgment of the peoples of the earth), and only the good produce is stored. The Parable of the
Mustard Seed contrasts the diminutive size of these seeds with the great magnitude of the tree that emerges from
them. This metaphor is both personal (the sanctification of our individual souls) and corporate (the growth of
Christianity on earth). A compliment to the Parable of the Mustard Seed is the Parable of the Leaven. The great
tree that develops out of a mustard seed, requires water and sunlight. Similarly, a lump of dough will retain its
compactness without the addition of yeast. This yeast (leaven) is an appropriate symbol of the work of the Holy
Spirit. The acts of forsaking the dubious pleasures of this world, and total surrender to God are illustrated by
the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Parable of the Pearl. In both parables, Christians are admonished to
relinquish their grip on people, places, and things that are near-worthless so that they may become inheritors of
the kingdom of heaven (an acquisition of infinite worth). The theme of the Parable of the Net is a variant of that of
the Parable of the Tares.
May 13- Mark 4:1-34, Luke 8:1-18
Mark 4:4:1-20 is a second Gospel location for the Parable of the Sower. Verses 20-23 compare Christians who
neglect to share tidings of their deliverance with others to a light that is hidden from view. The inclusion of a
subsidiary lesson is evident in Mark 4:22- “For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any
thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.” Verse 24 cautions against judgmental attitudes- “…Take heed
what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be
given.” The Parable of the Mustard Seed is contained in verses 30-32. Luke 8:1-18 also contains the Parable of the
Sower, the “hidden lamp” metaphor which underscores the need to share our light with others, and (as is the case
in the Gospel of Mark) a follow-up which warns against hidden sin in our lives. Nothing is hidden from the gaze of
an omniscient God. The first three verses of the 8th chapter of Luke reveal the substantial role that women played
in Christ’s earthly ministry. Three of these women are named- Mary (Magdalene), Joanna, and Susanna. Luke 8:3
notes that there were “…many others.”
May 14- Desire of Ages pages 328-329, Matthew 11:28-30
The very short 34th chapter of Desire of Ages is titled The Invitation. It includes commentary on the last significant
verses of the 11th chapter of Matthew- Gracious invitations, like the one Jesus extends to us all, may be either
accepted or rejected. Those who choose to ignore His invitation are not aware of the magnificent future that God
has planned for those who wisely choose to accept Jesus.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn
of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden
is light.”
May 15- Desire of Ages pages 330-332
The world that functions beyond the limits that are revealed in the Word of God dedicates an enormous quantity
of time and treasure in efforts to create an impression of affluence. The rich, out of their abundance, display
lifestyles and ostentatious possessions that attest to their riches. Those who are less rich are trapped in a life of
debt that they may maximize their own manifestations of conspicuous consumption. We are to first seek the
kingdom of God, and not the approval or envy of mankind. The world is insatiable, so a life devoted to an unending
attempt to appease its appetites is doomed from the start. Ellen G. White writes on page 330 of Desire of
Ages- “There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care because they seek to reach the world’s
standard. They have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs. Thus their character is
marred, and their life made a weariness. In order to gratify ambition and worldly desires, they wound the
conscience, and bring upon themselves an additional burden of remorse.”
May 16- Matthew 8:23-34, Mark 4:35-41
Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25 all describe Jesus’ calming of a storm during a voyage He and
His disciples took on the Sea of Galilee. The amazed disciple’s reaction to Christ’s subduing of the elements is
recorded in Luke 8:25- “What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey
him… [?]” A second occurrence is also described in Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-20, and Luke 8:26-39; the casting
out of an army of demons from a Gadarene demonic (after Luke and Mark), or a pair of demonic men (the version
recorded in Matthew) who made his (or their) home among the graves. The indwelling demons, upon beholding
Jesus, cannot contain their anxiety. They impel their host (or hosts) to proclaim (in Luke 8:28)- “…What have I to
do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.”The 35th chapter of Desire of
Ages is titled Peace, Be Still. These are the words (at least the KJV rendition thereof) that Jesus speaks in to rebuke,
and thereby calm the unruly winds and waves so discomfit His shipmates. This episode is the subject of the first
four pages of Chapter 35.
May 17- Desire of Ages pages 333-334, Luke 8:22-39
Jesus has had a busy day teaching and healing, Ellen G. White recall the seven parables that He utilized prior to His
embarkation with a few disciples upon the Sea of Galilee in order to seek respite not only from the crowds that
now pressed about Him, but also from the wearying critiques that the Pharisees could not refrain from offering
concerning His words and works. The vessel they boarded set sail for the eastern shore of Gennesaret, a sparsely
inhabited locale where Christ and His inner circle might recruit their strength for the morrow. A determined
retinue nevertheless followed Jesus in other boats, forming a small flotilla. A tempest besets the humble fleet, and
Sister White paints a vivid picture of the violence of the sudden storm, and the fear and doubt that overcomes the
disciples who share Christ’s conveyance. At the outset, these seasoned ex-sailors are so distracted that they seem
to have forgotten that their wonder-working leader is also aboard. In Luke 8:24 they remedy their neglect, awaken
their unperturbed leader and cry- “Master, master, we perish.” “Jesus lifted his hans and say peace be still, and the
waters obeyed”
May 18- Desire of Ages pages 335-337, Mark 5:1-20
Ellen G. White writes on page 336 of her work- “As Jesus rested by faith in the Father’s care, so we are to rest in
the care of our Saviour. If the disciples had trusted in Him, they would have been kept in peace. Their fear in the
time of danger revealed their unbelief. In their efforts to save themselves, they forgot Jesus; and it was only when,
in despair of self-dependence, they turned to Him that He could give them help.” Prayers of supplication should
always be the first reaction to catastrophe, so the slight delay that marks Jesus’ intervention was due to negligence
by Christ’s attendants, and not the result of unwillingness on the part of Jesus. Ellen G. White reveals that the lack
of faith Christ’s own disciples exhibited continues to plague contemporary Christians- “How often the disciples’
experience is ours! When the tempests of temptation gather, and the fierce lightnings flash, and the waves sweep
over us, we battle with the storm alone, forgetting that there is One who can help us. We trust to our own strength
till our hope is lost, and we are ready to perish. Then we remember Jesus, and if we call upon Him to save us, we
shall not cry in vain.”
May 19- Desire of Ages pages 338-339
The first of two supernatural events in the ministry of Jesus described in the pages of the chapter of Desire of
Ages titled “Peace, Be Still” results in a restoration of tranquility to an angry sea, and to several boatloads of
anxious passengers and crewmen. The second of the events also describes a restoration of peace. The soul of an
outcast Gadarene (or, alternately, a pair of Gadarenes; Ellen G. White utilizes the duo of possessed men that
Matthew records in his account) is (or are) conflicted due to the presence of evil spirits. The multitude of demons
are suffered by Christ to enter a herd of pigs after their removal from the two tormented men. These men are
well-pleased, as this statement from page 338 of Desire of Ages notes- “Light had shone into their minds. Their
eyes beamed with intelligence. The countenances, so long deformed into the image of Satan, became suddenly
mild, the bloodstained hands were quiet, and with glad voices the men praised God for their deliverance.
May 20- Desire of Ages pages 340-341
Mark 5:19 contains an account of Christ’s commission to the newly-healed demonic (singular in Mark’s record),
now firmly allied to the Lord, to proclaim the mighty works of Jesus to his homeland- “Go home to thy friends, and
tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” Just as this man (or
pair of men) had a significant and convincing testimony to share with his neighbors, we too (should we be living in
the Lord’s will) shall invariably have our own experiences to relate in the process of personal evangelism. Ellen G.
White writes on page 340 of Desire of Ages– “As witnesses for Christ, we are to tell what we know, what we
ourselves have seen and heard and felt. If we have been following Jesus step by step, we shall have something right
to the point to tell concerning the way in which He has led us. We can tell how we have tested His promise, and
found the promise true. We can bear witness to what we have known of the grace of Christ. This is the witness for
which our Lord calls, and for want of which the world is perishing.
May 21- Matthew 9-18-31, Mark 5:21-43
In Matthew 9:20-22 a woman with a “…flow of blood for twelve years” forces her way through the crowd that
surrounds Jesus so that she may touch the hem of His garment. She succeeds, and is healed. This event serves as
an interlude in the narrative of the resurrection of the young daughter of Jairus. The 5 th Gospel of Mark devotes
verses 25-34 to the healing of the woman who importunately, yet productively lays hands on Christ’s wardrobe.
The 8th chapter of Luke records this episode in verses 43-48. Ellen G. White covers the last 3 ½ pages of Chapter 36
with a description of this healing, and generalizations drawn from the incident. The common thread between
these two chronologically proximate miracles is the act of “touching.” In the case of the woman with the seemingly
incurable “issue of blood,” it was her touch (touching Jesus) that effected an instantaneous cure for her. In the
case of the deceased daughter of Jairus, it is Christ’s own touch, accompanied by an instruction that she arise
(Luke 8:54 states that Jesus “…took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise) that causes her to be restored
to life. This latter incident may be compared to Jesus’ raising from the dead of His friend Lazarus, but Lazarus was
raised without a physical Touch of Faith.
May 22- Desire of Ages page 342, Luke 8:40-56
The location where the ruler Jairus beseeches Jesus to heal his daughter is revealed in Matthew 9:1 to be “His own
city.” It may be inferred from Matthew 9:9-10 that Christ was dining (“Jesus sat at the table in the house”) at the
house of His most recent recruit, Levi-Matthew. Matthew 9:11-17 reveals that, in addition to “sinners,” Pharisees
are also present at the repast. Jairus, the supplicant, is a ruler of a synagogue. This places him in the same class as
that of the Pharisees, but Jesus is no respecter of persons. The Lord immediately departs the feast to attend to the
needs of Jairus’s sickly 12-year-old daughter. Ellen G. White writes regarding the reaction of Jesus’ disciples to His
unexpected departure on page 342 of Desire of Ages– “Though the disciples had seen so many of His works of
mercy, they were surprised at His compliance with the entreaty of the haughty rabbi; yet they accompanied their
Master, and the people followed, eager and expectant.”The gospels of Mark and Luke record that the daughter of
Jairus is perishing when Christ receives news of her condition, but the Gospel of Matthew records Jairus’s first
words to Jesus (following some preliminary worship) as being- “My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay
thy hand upon her, and she shall live.” In all three synoptic gospel accounts of the raising of Jarirus’s daughter it is
recorded that upon Jesus’ arrival at the ruler’s house, the ailing maiden has already died. Christ now accomplishes
the same miracle that He will later perform for His recently deceased friend Lazarus (His last one prior to His
crucifixion in the Gospel of John). John 11:25 is applicable to both the raising of Jairus’s daughter and that of
Lazarus. It also refers to our own resurrections; symbolically in the case of baptism, and literally when Jesus
returns in the clouds with great glory- “…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he
were dead, yet shall he live.”
May 23- Desire of Ages pages 343-344
The gospel accounts of the raising of Jairus’s daughter is related to the incidental account of the healing of a
woman who presses through the crowd that she may make contact with Jesus as He is jouneying to the young
girl’s sickbed. A Wikipedia analysis of this linkage proclaims- “The combined stories have been used as an example
of intercalation, where one incident is inserted within another, linked in this case by the connection between the
12-year ailment and the 12-year-old girl.”
The Spirit of Prophecy reveals that the destitute woman with the “issue of blood” had been persistently seeking an
encounter with Jesus. Her effort paid great dividends. Sister White writes on page 343 of Desire of Ages– “The
golden opportunity had come. She was in the presence of the Great Physician!” Having touched the border of
Christ’s garment, she is instantly cured of her malady. Page 343 continues- “In that one touch she was
concentrated the faith of her life, and instantly her pain and feebleness gave place to the vigor of perfect
health.” Matthew 9:20 records that the woman “…touched the hem of His garment.” These hems. Or borders of
fringe were a required component of Jewish wardrobes, as revealed in Numbers 15:38. Eighteenth Century Baptist
theologian John Gill writes in his commentary on this episode- “…we learn from hence, that Christ complied with
the rites of the ceremonial law in apparel, as well as in other things.” Matthew 5:17 contains this statement by
Jesus- “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
May 24- Desire of Ages pages 347-348
The Encounter Series I study guide skips over pages 345 and 346 of Desire of Ages. In the original edition, these
pages (as are other skipped over pages) contained illustrations. Below is a facsimile of the illustration originally
located on Page 346…
The caption for this image from the 1898 first edition of Desire of Ages is “Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise.” It is
interesting to note that a four-stanza poem that is furnished before the preface to the book ends with the
following oblique reference to the preceding beneficiary of Christ’s wonder-working power due to her Touch of
Faith…
The healing of the seamless dress
Is by our beds of pain;
We touch Him in life’s throng and press,
And we are whole again.
It is the woman’s faith (faith in Jesus) that has healed her. The gospels of Mark and Luke both record Jesus’
subsequent instruction to the woman- “…go in peace.” The Spirit of Prophecy reveals this to be an example of the
“Great Commission.” Ellen G. White writes on page 347 of Desire of Ages– “After healing the woman, Jesus desired
her to acknowledge the blessing she had received. The gifts which the gospel offers are not to be secured by stealth
or enjoyed in secret. So the Lord calls upon us for confession of His goodness. ‘Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord,
that I am God.’ Isa. 43:12.”
May 25- Matthew 10
Chapter 37 of Ellen G. White’s Desire of Ages is titled The First Evangelists. Jesus sends His disciples out into the
mission field. This initial round of evangelical endeavor is not intended to reach unto the “uttermost parts of the
earth.” It is less ambitious in its scope, for the target audience of this campaign is an exclusively Jewish one. Sister
White writes on Page 351 of Desire of Ages– “The disciples on their first missionary tour were to go only to “the
lost sheep of the house of Israel.” If they had now preached the gospel to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, they
would have lost their influence with the Jews. By exciting the prejudice of the Pharisees they would have involved
themselves in controversy which would have discouraged them at the outset of their labors.” The so-
called Judaizers of the early Christian church that were led by Jesus’ brother James engendered a similar
controversy when they initially questioned Paul’s missionary activity among the Gentiles that were native to
regions encircling Judea. Paul’s arguments in favor of the universal proclamation of Christ’s message were not
entirely successful with the Jerusalem crowd. Some compromises were made.
The 10th chapter of the gospel of Matthew includes what may be considered to be Jesus’ “marching orders” to His
troops. They are to be fearless before mankind, for they are representing an entity that is infinitely superior to
sinful humanity. Matthew 10:28 records one of Christ’s instructions to His emissaries- “And fear not them which
kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in
hell.”
May 26- Desire of Ages page 349, Mark 6:7-13, Luke 9:1-6
On Page 349 of Desire of Ages Ellen G. White describes the training that the disciples of Jesus received through
their constant interaction with Him. This knowledge was all prefatory to their direct application of its precepts to
the citizens of Judea. The first mission by the disciples will find them operating independently of their Master, the
equivalent of a student-pilot’s first “solo flight.” This flight would require commentary by the instructor once they
had safely landed. Jesus would be able to analyze and correct any mistakes they may have made so that
subsequent operations would proceed more smoothly. Sister White writes on Page 349- “…they needed also an
experience in laboring alone. They were still in need of much instruction, great patience and tenderness. Now,
while He was personally with them, to point out their errors, and counsel and correct them, the Saviour sent them
forth as His representatives.”
Any successes that were a result of this first mission were due to how effectively the fresh evangelists managed to
pattern their own efforts and demeanor upon that of Christ Himself. The verses that Mark writes (6:7-13)
regarding the disciple’s inaugural mission reveal that they were very successful. Mark 6:13 states- “And they cast
out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.” Luke 9:1-6 also includes a brief
description of their activities on behalf of the kingdom. Faith and works were promulgated together, and the
message of both John the Baptist and Jesus Himself was spread to everyone who was willing to grant an audience
to Christ’s emissaries. Mark 6:12 contains the essence of this message- “And they went out, and preached that
men should repent.” The casting out of demons, and the healing of sick people served well to underscore the
authenticity of the important words that preceded and accompanied these unprecedented miracles.
May 27- Desire of Ages pages 350-352
Just as we are to pattern our lives on the model that Jesus has revealed to us, so also should our evangelical
endeavor be modeled upon that of His disciples. Ellen G. White notes that the extent of their effectiveness bore a
direct relationship to how closely they themselves followed the example set by their Master. Sister White
describes the work of these disciples on Page 350 of Desire of Ages– “We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked,
and comfort the suffering and afflicted. We are to minister to the despairing, and inspire hope in the hopeless. And
to us also the promise will be fulfilled, ‘Thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy
rearward’ (Isaiah 58:8). The love of Christ, manifested in unselfish ministry, will be more effective in reforming the
evildoer than will the sword or the court of justice.”
Even the deployment techniques utilized by Jesus in the organization of this first mission by His subordinates is
extolled as model we should continue to emulate. Here is a second quote from Page 250- “Calling the twelve
about Him, Jesus bade them go out two and two through the towns and villages. None were sent forth alone, but
brother was associated with brother, friend with friend. Thus they could help and encourage each other, counseling
and praying together, each one’s strength supplementing the other’s weakness.” Ellen G. White reveals that “their
efforts were to be put forth in house-to-house labor” (from Page 351).
May 28- Desire of Ages pages 353-355
Additional instruction by Jesus to His nascent evangelists are the subject of the remainder of Chapter 37 of Desire
of Ages. As is the case in our own day, there would be many difficult and irritable persons that the disciples might
encounter during their “house-to-house labor.” The natural man instinctively reacts to aggression with counter-
aggression, but this reaction does not reflect the nature of Christ. Sister White writes on Page 353- “The servants
of Christ are not to act out the dictates of the natural heart. They need to have close communion with God, lest,
under provocation, self rise up, and they pour forth a torrent of words that are unbefitting, that are not as dew or
the still showers that refresh the withering plants.” When a house-to-house evangelist is seeking to beard the lion
in its own den, they should be mindful of the approach that is advised by Proverbs 15:1- “A soft answer turneth
away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
Most of pages 354 and 355 are focused on Christ’s warning to His disciples that proclaiming news of the arrival of
the kingdom of God would not be welcomed by all. In some cases, violence, and even martyrdom would result
from the fulfilling of the Great Commission. A portion of Jesus’ words to His delegation (from Matthew 10:17-18)
are replicated on Page 354 of Desire of Ages- “They will deliver you up to councils, . . . yea and before governors
and kings shall ye be brought for My sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.” When these incidental
audiences occurred, it was not necessary for the disciples to lean on their own understanding (after Proverbs 3:5),
as the Holy Spirit would serve as a shield and prompter in extremis. But the evangelists must themselves be
capable of being a good host to the Comforter, as Ellen G. White reveals on Page 355- “But if any had neglected to
acquaint themselves with the words of Christ, if they had never tested the power of His grace in trial, they could not
expect that the Holy Spirit would bring His words to their remembrance.”
May 29- Desire of Ages pages 356-358
Page 357 of Desire of Ages emphasizes the importance of not denying one’s association with Jesus (as did Peter
thrice on a chilly Jerusalem night). We should be bold, as was Paul, and be “…not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (from Romans 1:16). Again, Ellen G. White
asserts that an authentic message can only be successfully shared by authentic believers. It would be hypocritical
to talk the talk unless we are display to others that we also walk the walk. Jesus’ brother James writes in verse
1:23 of his epistle- “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural
face in a glass…” A superficial reflection of sanctimoniousness may fool ourselves for a brief moment, but it can
never win souls to Christ. The objects of our evangelism will not be so easily fooled. Ellen G. White writes on Page
357 of Desire of Ages- “He who would confess Christ must have Christ abiding in him. He cannot communicate that
which he has not received.”
As credentialed diplomats for Jesus, Christians are to faithfully represent their Lord and Savior. If we capable of
faithfully discharging the mission that Jesus had entrusted to us, then our efforts will be joyfully received by many
(but, alas, not those whose soil is not yet receptive to seed) whom we encounter in the mission field. One of the
concluding statements of Chapter 37 of Desire of Ages is this- “The mission of Christ’s servants is a high honor, and
a sacred trust. ‘He that receiveth you,’ He says, ‘receiveth Me, and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent
Me.’ No act of kindness shown to them in His name will fail to be recognized and rewarded.”
May 30- Desire of Ages 359-360, Mark 6:30-32, Luke 9:7-9, Matthew 9:35-38
The last two days of the Encounter Series I study guide/devotional for the month of May condenses material
contained in the 38th chapter of Desire of Ages into two sections. This chapter is titled Come Rest Awhile. The
disciples have just returned from their productive first mission apart from their Master, and Jesus has been
operating on His own in their absence. A retreat to a relatively isolated spot will afford Jesus a chance to debrief
and commune with His disciples, for all are exhausted from overwork. Mark 6:31 described the frenetic
circumstances that surround Jesus at this time- “…for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure
so much as to eat.” Luke 9:7-9 records that Herod has heard of Christ’s remarkable activities, and was in fear that
perhaps Jesus was a reincarnation of the holy prophet that he had just put to death, John the Baptist. Matthew
9:35-38 are the source for information about Christ’s continuing ministry in the absence of his disciples, and
include His noteworthy observation that “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labors are few…” Jesus was
perfectly capable of delegating His authority, but was no slave-driver. Sister White writes on pages 361 and 362 of
Desire of Ages (two of the three pages that are the subject of the May 31 st study)- “Though Jesus could work
miracles, and had empowered His disciples to work miracles, He directed His worn servants to go apart into the
country and rest. When He said that the harvest was great, and the laborers were few, He did not urge upon His
disciples the necessity of ceaseless toil, but said, ‘Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth
laborers into His harvest’ (Matthew 9:38). God has appointed to every man his work, according to his ability
(Ephesians 4:11-13), and He would not have a few weighted with responsibilities while others have no burden, no
travail of soul.” Respite from labor (although elusive in this case) is also the subject of the May 16-20 sections of
the Encounter Series I study guide.
May 31- Desire of Ages pages 361-363
Evangelism needs to be informed by the Spirit if it is to effectively bear fruit. Proverbs 3:5 proclaims that one
should- “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” An ostensible bustle
of activity should never be confused with the truly effective actions of missionaries who undertake to accomplish
the Lord’s work in a manner that the Lord will approve of, and therefore prosper. Ellen G. White illustrates the
disparate categories of “form” and “content” on Page 362 of Desire of Ages– “In the estimation of the rabbis it was
the sum of religion to be always in a bustle of activity. They depended upon some outward performance to show
their superior piety… The same dangers still exist. As activity increases and men become successful in doing any
work for God, there is danger of trusting to human plans and methods… We need to look constantly to Jesus,
realizing that it is His power which does the work.” Christ is offered as an example of a balanced life. He was far
from being slack in His actions, but wisely interspersed His work with contemplative breaks. Ellen G. White notes
Jesus’ frequent consultations with His Father, also on Page 362- “No other life was ever so crowded with labor and
responsibility as was that of Jesus; yet how often He was found in prayer! How constant was His communion with
God! Again and again in the history of His earthly life are found records such as these: ‘Rising up a great while
before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.’” Faith without works is dead, but
works without respite and divine guidance are subject to the law of diminishing returns.