My Salvation To The Ends Of The Earth

"It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth." (1)

"The wise men departed alone from Jerusalem. The shadows of night were falling as they left the gates, but to their great joy they again saw the star, and were directed to Bethlehem. They had received no such intimation of the lowly estate of Jesus as was given to the shepherds. After the long journey they had been disappointed by the indifference of the Jewish leaders, and had left Jerusalem less confident than when they entered the city. At Bethlehem they found no royal guard stationed to protect the newborn King. None of the world's honored men were in attendance. Jesus was cradled in a manger. His parents, uneducated peasants, were His only guardians. Could this be He of whom it was written, that He should 'raise up the tribes of Jacob,' and 'restore the preserved of Israel;' that He should be 'a light to the Gentiles,' and for 'salvation to the ends of the earth'?...

"This prophecy was generally understood as spoken of the Messiah, and when Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world,' the people could not fail to recognize His claim to be the Promised One.

"To the Pharisees and rulers this claim seemed an arrogant assumption. That a man like themselves should make such pretensions they could not tolerate. Seeming to ignore His words, they demanded, 'Who are You?' They were bent upon forcing Him to declare Himself the Christ. His appearance and His work were so at variance with the expectations of the people, that, as His wily enemies believed, a direct announcement of Himself as the Messiah would cause Him to be rejected as an impostor.

"But to their question, 'Who are You?' Jesus replied, 'Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.' (2) That which had been revealed in His words was revealed also in His character. He was the embodiment of the truths He taught. 'I do nothing of Myself,' He continued; 'but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things. And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I always do those things that please Him.' (3) He did not attempt to prove His Messianic claim, but showed His unity with God. If their minds had been open to God's love, they would have received Jesus." (4)

1. Isaiah 49:6.
2. John 8:25.
3. John 8:28, 29.
4. Desire of Ages, pp. 63, 465.