Devotional for 10/09/2011

Chap. 4—The Message of the First Advent
Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and
saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and
believe the gospel. Mark 1:14, 15.
As Jesus traveled through Galilee, teaching and healing, multitudes flocked to
Him from the cities and villages. Many came even from Judea and the adjoining
provinces. Often He was obliged to hide Himself from the people. The enthusiasm
ran so high that it was necessary to take precautions lest the Roman authorities
should be aroused to fear an insurrection. Never before had there been such a period
as this for the world. Heaven was brought down to men. Hungering and thirsting
souls that had waited long for the redemption of Israel now feasted upon the grace
of a merciful Saviour....
The gospel message, as given by the Saviour Himself, was based on the
prophecies. The “time” which He declared to be fulfilled was the period made
known by the angel Gabriel to Daniel.... “Know therefore and understand, that
from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto
the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks”
(Daniel 9:25), sixty-nine weeks, or four hundred and eighty-three years. The
commandment to restore and build Jerusalem, as completed by the decree of
Artaxerxes Longimanus (see Ezra 6:14; 7:1, 9, margin), went into effect in the
autumn of 457 B.C. From this time four hundred and eighty-three years extend to
the autumn of A.D. 27. According to the prophecy, this period was to reach to the
Messiah, the Anointed One. In A.D. 27, Jesus at His baptism received the anointing
of the Holy Spirit, and soon afterward began His ministry. Then the message was
proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled.” ...
The time of Christ’s coming, His anointing by the Holy Spirit, His death, and
the giving of the gospel to the Gentiles, were definitely pointed out.... “The Spirit
of Christ which was in them” “testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and
the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11).... As the message of Christ’s first
advent announced the kingdom of His grace, so the message of His second advent
announces the kingdom of His glory.