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Questions From ReadersThe Watchtower—1959 | January 1
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of Moses, etc., and especially as to the kingship to which he was an heir through King David of Jerusalem. He devoted himself to the interests of the kingdom that John the Baptist was announcing.
After taking this step and being baptized in water to testify to his step, Jesus still had his conscious will power. He had not died to it. His will had always been to do God’s will, whatever God’s will was at the time. He kept on doing God’s will, just as he had in the past. However, in doing God’s will after his water baptism, he had to exercise his will more firmly than ever before. Why? Because it was Jehovah’s will to make this Chief Agent of human salvation “perfect through sufferings.” This required the exercise of Jesus’ will to decide to face sufferings and go through them. “He himself has suffered when being put to the test.” And under test he had to will to hold true, loyal and obedient to God. (Heb. 2:10, 18) “Although he was a Son [of God], he learned obedience from the things he suffered.” To keep on willing right he had to offer up “supplications and also petitions to the one who was able to save him out of death, with strong outcries and tears, and he was favorably heard for his godly fear.” (Heb. 5:7, 8) When he was in an agony and his sweat became as drops of blood falling to the ground, he prayed to God: “Let, not my will, but yours take place.” (Luke 22:41-44) That required the strenuous exercise of will power.
After Jesus was baptized into death and was raised from the dead, he still had his will power. When Peter asked him concerning the future of the apostle John, Jesus replied: “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” (John 21:22, 23, AS) Consequently, the glorified Jesus Christ in heaven is now exercising his will power in harmony with his dedication and in full accord with his model prayer to God: “Let your will come to pass, as in heaven also upon earth.”
It therefore remains appropriate to say concerning the water baptism of the dedicated candidate: “It means his past course of life is buried (as by the immersion in water) and he comes up from the water to do only God’s will and walk in newness of life thereafter.”—The Watchtower, July 1, 1955, page 403, paragraph 8.
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AnnouncementsThe Watchtower—1959 | January 1
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Announcements
FIELD MINISTRY
During January Jehovah’s witnesses worldwide will be offering to persons of good will a year’s subscription for The Watchtower, with three Scriptural booklets, for $1. Watchtower readers are invited to share in this activity. For further information, write us or go to the nearest Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s witnesses.
A QUARTER OF A MILLION COPIES
This year a quarter of a million copies of the 1959 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses are being printed. No reprints are scheduled. Have you received your copy? You will want to begin reading at once this thrilling report of the world-wide preaching work done during 1958 as well as the Scriptural information included to provide inspirational reading for every day of the year. Send 50c today. Add 25c to your order and receive also the beautifully illustrated calendar for 1959.
“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS
February 1: “Stay by These Things.” Page 5.
February 8: Who Really Can Be Saved? and “Let All Your Affairs Take Place with Love.” Page 13.
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