1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

Would that God's children might all realize that their joy shouldcome from their faith in His promises, and not from the world'ssmiles; that their pleasure should consist in self denial andcrucifixion of the fleshly nature, and not from its gratification.Then could they indeed count present afflictions a joy, and"rejoice to be accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the nameof Christ." They would think it not strange concerning the fierytrial which shall try them, as though some strange thinghappened unto them: remember that when men shall revile youand say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my name'ssake, rejoice and be exceeding glad." Yea, and whosoever willlive Godly shall suffer persecution, and persecution has alwayscome from some religious class in power.====================R213 : page 6"BY AND BY HE IS OFFENDED."Jesus tells us of a class who when they hear the truth receive itwith joy until they find that it costs something to possess it; thenthey are disappointed and would rather surrender the truth thanpay its inevitable price --persecution and self sacrifice.People under different circumstances have different trials toencounter and different valuable things to part with if theywould "Buy the truth and sell it not." As a rule the price of it isdemanded in those things which the purchaser values mosthighly. Usually social standing, reputation, a good name are themost prized of all things, and usually this is the price which wemust pay for truth. No doubt it is to-day much as it was whenJesus was present in the form of a servant. The severest crossthen was to confess and follow the lowly one, among whosefollowers were none of the Scribes and Pharisees--thetheologians of that day--whose only answer to Jesus' teachings,&c., were, "Give God the glory, we know that this man hath adevil."The church rulers of that day were the most strict in outwardforms of any period of Judaism, and no doubt they thought theydid God service in warning the people against Jesus. They feltkeenly the importance of their position as Teachers, and wereproud of it, and hence were in no way prepared to receive themeek "Lamb of God." Jesus said they were "Blind leaders of theblind," and only the blind ones followed their leading. Thosewho had ears to hear and eyes to see followed the Lord.It must have been quite a trial-- scorching--for the Jewishconvert to realize that in believing this Jesus, they wereopposing the great system of theology that had been in force forcenturies. It must have tried their courage and faith intensely torealize that they, illiterate men, were opposing their ideas