March 20

They could not but see that their expectation in regard to the Messiah was not sustained by prophecy; but they would not renounce the theories that had flattered their ambition. They would not admit that they had misapprehended the Scriptures they claimed to teach. From one to another passed the enquiry, How hath this youth knowledge, having never learned? The light was shining in darkness; but "the darkness apprehended it not." John 1:5, R. V.

         Desire of Ages, page 80 from the chapter, 'The Passover visit'

     There are some people who are free spirits. They think their own thoughts. You can often find them taking a different view on a passage they are reading. Now before anyone points a finger at me a free spirit takes a completely different view. Their point may well be out of this world.

     Jesus was not a free spirit. If anything the teachers in that room were the free spirits. They had freed themselves from God’s Word and tied themselves to the word of man.

     You see, there was an enormous difference between Jesus and the teachers. The light that was shining was Jesus, but the teachers were not able to see the light. That made them the free spirits.

     Jesus, of course, had His knowledge from two sources. The first element of the knowledge was the foundation created for Him by Mum and Dad in Nazareth. The second element of the knowledge that Jesus was revealing was that special knowledge He had just begun to gain access to, as the Holy Spirit opened His eyes to the wonders of God all around him.