Has its place, of course. Equally, how many understand how we link to the life of Christ? How many understand what justification by faith is - what the grace behind that justification is, for that is our link to Christ?

Unless we understand and experience that link study is ultimately a dead end.

If Joseph and Mary had stayed their minds upon God by meditation and prayer, they would have realized the sacredness of their trust, and would not have lost sight of Jesus. By one day's neglect they lost the Saviour; but it cost them three days of anxious search to find Him. So with us; by idle talk, evilspeaking, or neglect of prayer, we may in one day lose the Saviour's presence, and it may take many days of sorrowful search to find Him, and regain the peace that we have lost. {DA 83.1}
In our association with one another, we should take heed lest we forget Jesus, and pass along unmindful that He is not with us. When we become absorbed in worldly things so that we have no thought for Him in whom our hope of eternal life is centered, we separate ourselves from Jesus and from the heavenly angels. These holy beings cannot remain where the Saviour's presence is not desired, and His absence is not marked. This is why discouragement so often exists among the professed followers of Christ. {DA 83.2}
Many attend religious services, and are refreshed and comforted by the word of God; but through neglect of meditation, watchfulness, and prayer, they lose the blessing, and find themselves more destitute than before they received it. Often they feel that God has dealt hardly with them. They do not see that the fault is their own. By separating themselves from Jesus, they have shut away the light of His presence. {DA 83.3}
It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross. {DA 83.4}
As we associate together, we may be a blessing to one another. If we are Christ's, our sweetest thoughts will be of Him. We shall love to talk of Him; and as we speak to one another of His love, our hearts will be softened by divine influences. Beholding the beauty of His character, we shall be "changed into the same image from glory to glory." 2 Corinthians 3:18. {DA 83.5}

...God's omniscience??...What prevents that enormous risk being understood is misunderstanding God's nature!

Has its place, of course. Equally, how many understand how we link to the life of Christ? How many understand what justification by faith is - what the grace behind that justification is, for that is our link to Christ?

Unless we understand and experience that link study is ultimately a dead end.

I agree that understanding the link is very important, but surely one can profit from studying Christ's life even without understanding this. Some of the gain will be lost, from the standpoint of applying Christ's experience to ours, but there's an even more important reason to studying Christ's life, which is to understand God's character.

In my experience, it's been more a misunderstanding of God's omniscience than anything else that has caused this truth to be misunderstood. Many people think that God's knowledge of the future is fixed, that God sees one specific thing that will happen, and that this one thing will come to pass. Obviously, if one has this idea, a risk being undertaken makes no sense.

Also, there appears to be a lot of focusing on a few passages and setting them up as the TOTAL and exclusive true view, and forcing all other passages to say something they aren't really saying in order to present the few passages as the TOTALLY AND ONLY right view of God. That can lead to a wrong understanding.

Did God know Christ would be victorious?
I believe He did...

Was it a risk?
Yes!

I agree with Colin, that we must understand the salvation issues of justification and sanctification and the relationship between God and man, as an important link.

Also, there appears to be a lot of focusing on a few passages and setting them up as the TOTAL and exclusive true view, and forcing all other passages to say something they aren't really saying in order to present the few passages as the TOTALLY AND ONLY right view of God. That can lead to a wrong understanding.

Perhaps what one thinks the "other passages" is saying is not what they are really saying. A view that presents a consistent view of God is laudable.