In training His disciples, Jesus chose to withdraw from the confusion of the city to the quiet of the fields and hills, as more in harmony with the lessons of self-abnegation He desired to teach them. And during His ministry He loved to gather the people about Him under the blue heavens, on some grassy hillside, or on the beach beside the lake. Here, surrounded by the works of His own creation, He could turn the thoughts of His hearers from the artificial to the natural. In the growth and development of nature were revealed the principles of His kingdom. As men should lift up their eyes to the hills of God, and behold the wonderful works of His hands, they could learn precious lessons of divine truth. Christ's teaching would be repeated to them in the things of nature. So it is with all who go into the fields with Christ in their hearts. They will feel themselves surrounded with a holy influence. The things of nature take up the parables of our Lord, and repeat His counsels. By communi…
"And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat."
Both passages discuss Jesus taking his disciples away from the crowds to a quiet place. The EGW passage expands on the reasons for this, connecting it to learning from nature and self-abnegation, while the Bible verse simply states the need for rest. The connection is thematic, not a direct quote or allusion, but it is a genuine parallel.
"The first step was now to be taken in the organization of the church that after Christ's departure was to be His representative on earth. No costly sanctuary was at their command, but the Saviour led His disciples to the retreat He loved, and in their minds the sacred experiences of that day were forever linked with the beauty of mountain and vale and sea. DA 291.2"
"And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,"
Both passages relate to the selection and ordination of the twelve disciples. Mark 3:14 describes the ordination, while the EGW passage describes the beginning of the organization of the church. The connection is that the selection of the twelve was a key step in organizing the church.
"And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."
Both passages relate to the beginning of the ministry of the disciples. Matthew 10:1 describes the giving of power to the disciples, while the EGW passage describes the organization of the church. While not a direct allusion, there is a thematic parallel in the establishment of Christ's ministry through his disciples.
"Jesus had called His disciples that He might send them forth as His witnesses, to declare to the world what they had seen and heard of Him. Their office was the most important to which human beings had ever been called, and was second only to that of Christ Himself. They were to be workers together with God for the saving of the world. As in the Old Testament the twelve patriarchs stand as representatives of Israel, so the twelve apostles were to stand as representatives of the gospel church. DA 291.3"
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
The EGW passage directly echoes the sentiment of Acts 1:8, emphasizing the disciples' role as witnesses and their commission to spread the message of Jesus.
"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God."
Both passages highlight the role of believers as representatives of Christ, with EGW emphasizing their role as 'workers together with God' and 2 Corinthians 5:20 describing them as 'ambassadors for Christ.'
"The Saviour knew the character of the men whom He had chosen; all their weaknesses and errors were open before Him; He knew the perils through which they must pass, the responsibility that would rest upon them; and His heart yearned over these chosen ones. Alone upon a mountain near the Sea of Galilee He spent the entire night in prayer for them, while they were sleeping at the foot of the mountain. With the first light of dawn He summoned them to meet Him; for He had something of importance to communicate to them. DA 291.4"
"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
EGW's description of Jesus spending the night in prayer on a mountain for his disciples is a clear and direct reference to Luke 6:12.