In the beginning, man was created to serve his Maker with gladness and joy. Gen. 1:26, 27, Eccl. 7:30. Not long after this time, man sold himself to a deception and became a servant of sin and Satan. As a result of sinning, man fell so low that he lost the glory he was endowed with. His reason was darkened and thus he became a captive to the enemy. The fallen angels, together with Satan, rejoiced that they succeeded in causing man to be separated from his Creator.
As soon as man fell, the whole heaven was filled with sorrow and the angels with pain in their hearts cast down their crowns and mourned for the first human couple. There was none in heaven who was able to help man and deliver him from the net of the evil one, except for the self-sacrificing Son of God.
Jesus came down from Heaven to save the sinner
Out of all the creatures that God had made, none was able to help men who were being held in the dark chains of Satan except for the Son of the Most High Father. Paul says:
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Tim. 2:5, 6; Eph. 1:7; Acts 4:12.
“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens…” Heb. 7:24-26.
Christ has come to this earth to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and to set at liberty them that are bruised. Isaiah 61:1. This is the reason why he said to the people:
“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” John 6:38.
He came to conquer death. The true Christian has to become fully Christ’s own possession and when this is accomplished, the Word of God dwells in him and he is able to defeat the evil one and sin not, i.e. break not God’s commandments.
On the other hand, Christ’s faithful messengers must be assured that the same path of suffering and trials which Christ trod, they must also walk in. In his heartbreaking petition to the Father before his crucifixion, Jesus said:
“I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:14.
To his disciples, he said:
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” John 15:18.
Just as the wicked ones treated Jesus, they will also treat his disciples. They reviled him, persecuted him and at last they captured him and sentenced him to death and the cross.
And while hanging on the cross – the righteous One among the malefactors – and being scorned, he said:
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34.
O, what love is this! What mercy to the sinner! Of a truth, when we review his life from his birth to the cross we ought to be convinced that the words of Isaiah in chap. 53, verses 4 to 7, have been fulfilled in him.
“He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.”
“He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep, before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”
And David says of him:
“They pierced my hands and my feet.” Psalms 22:16.
When on the cross Jesus cried: “It is finished!”, all Heaven rejoiced because another opportunity was given to the sons of Adam through a life of obedience to be reconciled to God and to be made to dwell in the everlasting mansions. If men could understand the magnitude of the infinite sacrifice which the heavenly King offered for them, giving His Son to die for them, the plan of salvation would be exalted in their minds and the memory of Calvary would arouse holy feelings in the heart of the Christian. Heart and mouth would not cease glorifying and praising God and the Lamb. Pride, selfishness, and love of money cannot thrive in a heart that looks by faith at the scenes of Calvary.
The example of the infinite love of the Savior should fill our whole being, touch our hearts, and lead to the cleansing of our desires and the ennobling of our character. Paul, the apostle, expresses this thought thus:
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Cor. 2:2.
When by faith we look at Calvary, let us too cry out with him:
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Gal. 6:14.
Our views in regard to the life, sufferings, and death of our Savior should be more clear and complete. All the treasures of earth are nothing compared to the cost God paid to secure for us eternal life. Yet, despite all this, many people don’t want to know about this infinite sacrifice. They are always ready to open their hearts to what is transpiring in the world around them and to close the door before the Son of God who is standing outside and knocking. The hearts of such people are filled with evil deeds and worldly pleasures and their mind is occupied with these things to such a degree that there is hardly any room that could be found in them for Jesus Christ.
Our hearts, dear reader, must be revived and ennobled and appreciate – as much as it is possible for man – the love that the Father and Son showed towards us.
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:3.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…” 1 John 3:1.
There is no other love that can be compared to this – for us to be called sons of the heavenly King! The human bonds between people can disappear, a friend can betray a friend and a mother can cease loving her children, heaven and earth can pass away but no change can ever happen to the love of God.
The more we think about and study the divine character of Christ and his death, the clearer we see the love of God which is boundless and eternal.
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