A herald had been sent from God to proclaim the coming of Christ, and to call the attention of the Jewish nation and of the world to His mission, that men might prepare for His reception. The wonderful personage whom John had announced had been among them for more than thirty years, and they had not really known Him as the One sent from God. Remorse took hold of the disciples because they had allowed the prevailing unbelief to leaven their opinions and becloud their understanding. The Light of this dark world had been shining amid its gloom, and they had failed to comprehend whence were its beams. They asked themselves why they had pursued a course that made it necessary for Christ to reprove them. They often repeated His conversations, and said, Why did we allow earthly considerations and the opposition of priests and rabbis to confuse our senses, so that we did not comprehend that a greater than Moses was among us, that One wiser than Solomon was instructing us? How dull were our ear…
"For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."
The EGW passage explicitly mentions John the Baptist as a herald sent to prepare the way for Christ, which is a direct reference to Matthew 3:3 and the prophecy of Isaiah. The EGW passage elaborates on the significance of John's role and the people's failure to recognize Christ despite his ministry.
"Thomas would not believe until he had thrust his finger into the wound made by the Roman soldiers. Peter had denied Him in His humiliation and rejection. These painful remembrances came before them in distinct lines. They had been with Him, but they had not known or appreciated Him. But how these things now stirred their hearts as they recognized their unbelief! DA 508.2"
"The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe."
Both passages refer to Thomas's disbelief and his demand to see the wounds of Christ. The EGW passage reflects on Thomas's unbelief and connects it to the disciples' overall failure to fully appreciate Christ. The EGW passage expands on the emotional and spiritual implications of Thomas's doubt.
"And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."
Both passages refer to Peter's denial of Christ. The EGW passage reflects on Peter's denial and connects it to the disciples' overall failure to fully appreciate Christ. The EGW passage expands on the emotional and spiritual implications of Peter's actions.
"As priests and rulers combined against them, and they were brought before councils and thrust into prison, the followers of Christ rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” Acts 5:41 . They rejoiced to prove, before men and angels, that they recognized the glory of Christ, and chose to follow Him at the loss of all things. DA 508.3"
"And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."
EGW directly quotes Acts 5:41.
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"
Both passages discuss the idea of suffering loss for Christ's sake. While not a direct quote, the theme is clearly present in both.
"It is as true now as in apostolic days, that without the illumination of the divine Spirit, humanity cannot discern the glory of Christ. The truth and the work of God are unappreciated by a world-loving and compromising Christianity. Not in the ways of ease, of earthly honor or worldly conformity, are the followers of the Master found. They are far in advance, in the paths of toil, and humiliation, and reproach, in the front of the battle “against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 , R. V. And now, as in Christ's day, they are misunderstood and reproached and oppressed by the priests and Pharisees of their time. DA 508.4"
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
EGW directly quotes Ephesians 6:12.
"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Both passages discuss the inability of the natural man to understand spiritual things. EGW's statement about the need for the divine Spirit to discern the glory of Christ echoes the sentiment in 1 Corinthians 2:14.