BIOLA RADIO PROPHECY MESSAGE
by Dr. Ralph L. Keiper, Editorial Research Director, Evangelical Foundation Philadelphia, Pennsylvania thorns. Before He could be the Lion of the tribe of Judah, He first had to come as Israel’s Paschal Lamb. Yet, amid such disfavor and rejection by man, John testifies the good news, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” For from all ages, in the vary ing dispensations of the Lord, there is a faithful remnant who believe and trust in the Saviour. Not only was the Lord Jesus ignored and rejected, but also He was reviled, abused and threatened. “Who did not sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, re viled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (I Peter 2:22, 23). Men will bring trou ble upon themselves because they are sinful, corrupt and evil. Our Lord Jesus, however, was without deceit or guile; He was God’s perfect man, both human and divine. Man’s utmost bad was climaxed by the cross. Yet, even there, our Lord Jesus did not retaliate. When He was abused, He did not seek to be abusive; when He was threat ened, He did not threaten in return. Rather He looked to His heavenly Fa ther, committing Himself to Him who judgeth all things righteously. But there is one other important aspect here. It is true that the Lord Jesus was ignored by the world and abused by men, however, in addition He was made a curse by God Himself. The very thought may startle us as we first think of it, so let us look at Scriptural proof. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). Our Lord Jesus (continued on next page) 5
REJECTED AND VINDICATED O ne of the greatest heartbreaks any person can experience is to be rejected, abandoned, forsaken, set aside, or treated indifferently. There is no more wretched experience than to be rejected by those who ought to love and care for you. When our Lord Jesus Christ was here upon the earth He received just such attention Our Saviour was rejected by the world, by Israel, yea, even by God Himself. In His rejection by the world, John sums it up as we read, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own re ceived him not” (John 1:10, 11). The Creator of the universe Himself came to this earth to dwell among men. Literally, this portion of Scripture means that the world ignored Him; it would have nothing to do with Him. Perhaps He was known as a religious leader, a teacher out of Galilee. Some may have even regarded Him as a brave martyr. Yet to embrace the true and full meaning of His coming had never been experienced. So both the world and the race into which He was bom, Israel, completely ignored Him. It is true that scholars, reading proph ecies which appear as our Old Testa ment, expected their Messiah to come in great glory and majesty. They were now slaves to Rome and desired, above all else, to be free. The spirit of na tionalism burned fervently in their hearts. No wonder they anticipated Christ to break the heel of their op pressors. How could this meek and lowly Nazarene be their Deliverer? What power would He have to van quish the Romans? They had over looked that the same Scriptures proph esied His coming in humiliation and lowliness. Before He could be crowned with gold He must wear a crown of
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