A P R I L , 1 9 7 0 With March Radio Features
APRIL, 1970 / Volume 10 / Number 4
MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THF BIOLA FELLOWSHIP
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THE SEVEN LAST WORDS ...... 3 Biola Faculty LIFE OF CHRIST ........................ 13 Lloyd T. Anderson PANEL DISCUSSIONS ................. 23 CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT .................... 27 Charles L. Feinberg THE SECOND COMING ............... 29 Charles L. Feinberg RESURRECTION ..........................32 Israel Carmona
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Housing offices, periodicals, and thou sands of books, this new wing of the Biola College Library is a welcome and appreciated structure. Located to the left is Sutherland Hall. Across the oval to the West would be Talbot Theologi cal Seminary.
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THE SEVEN LAST WORDS
A series of messages by members of the Biola faculty.
going one of the most painful deaths known to man, Jesus didn’t question whether God was still His Father. Christ didn’t consider Himself dis inherited or rejected by God. This should teach us that no matter how hard and painful our circumstances may be, God isn’t the hard-hearted Judge or the gleeful avenger. He is our loving Father. We need to learn the importance of prayer in times of trouble and grief, as well as amid joy and prosperity. Men may despise us, the world may be against us, our circumstances may be anything but delightful, but if our hearts are right with God, no condition of life can change our relationship to our lov ing Heavenly Father. Note then that the Saviour said, “Father, forgive them.” There is no greater example of forgiveness that the world will ever know. One rea son is that the pardon was offered to those who were least deserving. In the beginning of His ministry, the Saviour said, “Love your enemies and do good to them that persecute you.” To the very end, He practiced what He taught. How different was this from the conduct of some of the world’s greatest leaders who have extolled some of the highest virtues of heaven and earth. Yet, by their conduct, they’ve destroyed those very qualities which they eulogized. This is one of the greatest requests ever made because of the circumstances under which is was offered. Christ had endured the most excruciating 3
Word One by Dr. James H. Christian M ore than 80 years ago, Charles Haddon Spurgeon gave a mes sage on our Lord’s words from the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” The well-known preacher commented, “What tenderness, what self-forget fulness, what almighty love is ex pressed here!” As the sacrifice be gins, Christ’s great intercession is inaugurated. Of the last seven words of our Lord uttered from the cross, the first, fourth, and seventh were addressed to God. The first and sev enth were most intimate, beginning with the wonderful word, “Father.” Christ died as He had lived, thinking first of others. Here, in the closing hours of our Lord’s earthly life, we see from Luke 23 His threefold office of prophet (verses 28-31), priest (verse 34), and king (verse 43). Looking at the Saviour’s inter- cessary prayer, realize that this isn’t something remote, but that it can be of very personal concern to us today. Actually, we are responsible for His death just as much as those who hung Him there in the long ago. He was praying for us. Note the endearing term “Father,” revealing the intimate relationship existing between the Trinity. This relationship wasn’t marred by time, place, or circumstance. While under
pain from the nails driven into the tender flesh of His hands and feet. There was tremendous emotional shock. He was the infinite Son of God who could summon legions of angels to His aid, yet He was about to die alone upon a cross. He was the spotless Lamb of God, but He was stripped of His clothing, dying among thieves, and surrounded by those who had turned their backs upon God’s revelation to them. Yet, He didn’t pray for Himself. If ever one could have cried justly for re venge, it was He. None had ever been so cruelly wronged. What about us? Do we find it hard to forgive far lesser wrongs? This forgiveness was all-inclusive. It included the Jews who had demanded His death. It was for the hardened soldiers who even gambled at the base of the cross for His clothing. It was a prayer for Pilate who knowingly, and against the law, had sent an innocent person to His death. But most precious to us is that we were included. Here was not a single word of request for His own pardon. Upon death beds, most people pray for their own par don. Contrariwise, Christ prayed for the pardon of others. The reason is He had no sin of His own. The Ro man captain acknowledged Christ’s deity before the day was done. There were others who turned to Christ on the day of Pentecost. Perhaps some had been there at the hour of the crucifixion. It is God who must pardon sin because sin is committed against Him. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was a rejection of God Himself. Christ had come, revealing to man what God was like, showing him the way of salvation. Friend, have you asked God for the forgiveness of your sins through Jesus Christ? The sacrifice which makes forgiveness possible was made that day on the cross of Calvary. Finally, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not 4
what they do.” The ignorance of the people didn’t excuse them. It rather brought them within the reach of the mercy of God. They were in possession of Scriptures which told them about Him. They weren’t ig norant of the Bible’s teachings. Many of them were teachers and in terpreters of the Law. Yet they had intentionally closed their eyes to the truth, being blinded by Satan. Although we may know much about the Bible, even apprehending its moral standards, still, sadly enough, we can be ignorant of the meaning of His death. “Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” We know something about the consequences of our sins though we may not take seriously nor understand fully the results of sin. Even the smallest amount of knowledge about Jesus Christ brings with it great responsibility. We must act upon His gospel, accepting His gracious provision for sin. Have you done this? Receive Him as your Sav iour, and enter into eternal life through faith in Him! Word Two by Dr. Richard I. McNeely A mong the last words of our Saviour, none show such depth of love and compassion as these ad dressed to the repentant thief. “Veri ly I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Read the entire account in Luke 23:39-43. Matthew gives a similar report, add ing information of the crowd’s deri sion. The first thing we’re impressed with is the Reproach of the Saviour. Matthew tells us that the two cru cified with Jesus joined with the crowd around the cross in mockery. This gives a picture of children at play imitating and making fun of someone — usually at the other’s
expense. The word “railing” has as its basis our term “blaspheme.” What vile contempt our Saviour suf fered. The Lord was attacked on two accounts: “Are you not the Christ?” — the question of His person; and “Save yourself and us” — the ques tion of the actions of a just and merciful God. The crowd today scorn fully says the same. “If God were really powerful and loving,” they erroneously argue, “He would do away with punishment for crime.” Such a view comes from ignorance. God has given authority to men to execute. There was no good reason why these two should have been spared the penalty of the law. To save himself, Jesus would have de nied the reason for His entrance into the world. To save them, He would have denied God’s view of sin. Then, for some reason, the Bible doesn’t tell us specifically, one of the two robbers was silent. He came to Christ’s defense. Here we see the beautiful Reception of the Saviour. This change may have been prompt ed by the gentle words of forgive ness uttered by Jesus as the first nail was driven into His flesh. This one condemned dying thief somehow came to a new sense about God. He rebuked his comrade, “Do you not even fear God?” He had come to re alize that this wasn’t just some piti ful figure on the central cross. It was truly the Saviour. It’s interest ing to note that this spiritual awak ening caused him to be aware of the justice involved, “We are in the same condemnation but we deserve it,” he realized. He wasn’t excusing himself or even blaming society. It was there. He placed the responsi bility for his actions directly upon himself. And third, he testified to the perfection of the Son of God. He noted, “This man has done nothing wrong.” As Alfred Edersheim has pointed out, “Christ was crucified be cause he professed to embody the
great hope of Israel, and was reject ed by its leaders.” In Luke 23:42 we find The Re quest of the Saviour. The converted thief wanted to be rem em bered “when You come in your Kingdom.” Here was an avowed response to the Lamb of God who was God’s only acceptable sacrifice for sin. This man needed to be saved and he knew it. I t is most significant that the condemned man recognized that this Person beside him was none other than the Hope of Israel. He wit nesses a faith in the fact of the Kingdom, and in the belief that Je sus is indeed its King. Perhaps the man had received some training in the Old Testament scriptures, when he was young. He had at least a rudi mentary knowledge of the Old Tes tament Messianic hope. The most important and wonder ful truths of this entire account pre served for us by the Holy Spirit is the Response of the Saviour (vs. 43). Verily is a transliteration of a He brew word which means Truly, and incidentally is the word which we use at the end of our requests to God — Amen. When spoken by God as it is here, it is a guarantee that the thing said will come to pass. W. E. Vine notes that the Lord Jesus “of ten used ‘Amen,’ translated ‘Verily,’ to introduce new relevation of the mind of God. The Saviour is about to introduce a new concept to him. It has been called “The deepest, wis est, most gracious spiritual teach ing.” One of the most comforting things which the Lord said to him is that the two would share that very day ahead of them together, whereas this poor fellow thought that time heaped upon time would lie ahead, and then perhaps he might be accorded a place in the kingdom, Jesus instead assures him of the immediate. One cannot help but see the world in its disinterested attitudes toward the purposes and methods of God. 5
Even while writhing in sin, there’s not a call upon God. The Book of Revelation reminds us that in a day still future, when it will become ap parent that God is visiting the earth in judgment, that men still repent not of “murders, use of drugs, forni cations, or thefts.” The only answer, as this believing thief discovered, is a personal reception of the Saviour. It is following these gracious words that the Passion account moves into darkness and the words which follow reveal the obedience of the Son to the will of the Father. How beautiful it is to see the spiritual progress of the repentant thief! He began by recognizing the blamelessness of the Lord. This pro gressed to an acceptation of him as Jesus — the one who saves. Then he moved on to the fact of His Mes- siahship — the one who comes to His Kingdom. As a Jew, he had come as far as his knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures would permit him. His faith in the presentation of Christ as he knew it had come to fruition. And it was at this point that he moved beyond the limitation of his Jewish viewpoint. He spoke of the time when Jesus would come in His Kingdom. Jesus instead spoke to him of “today.” Though the Lord had said nothing prior about para dise, there was a belief and a con cept of it among the Jews. To this penitent criminal, his concept of ex piation for sin would be found in his death. As many have noted the prayer: “Let my death by the ex piation of my sins,” is still used by the Jews. But Jesus will have none of this. Salvation is granted through his grace and that alone.
Word Thre by Dr. Glenn O’Neal W hen the L ord was go ing through the agony of giving His life for the world, it is touching that He would be concerned for the physical care of the one who had given Him physical life. In John 19: 16 we read His words of comfort, “Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy moth er ! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” Our Lord could have arranged for Mary’s care long before the cross. But this timing added emphasis to His love for her. John, the beloved disciple, was given this honor. John was the one known to love the Lord. He would naturally love His mother. In a much larger sense, the Lord is looking for those who will care for those born into His family as they receive Him as personal Saviour. There are many who need our help today. Let's take some examples from John to see what is necessary if we’re to be used in a similar manner in helping others. First of all, John was close to the cross. Peter, in his earlier confession, had declared that he would follow the Lord even to His death. He demonstrated his zeal by wielding the sword in the Saviour’s defense. But where was Peter now? Probably too far off to hear any com mand which might be given. John identified himself with those who were known to be close to the Lord, even His mother. To be used of the Lord, you too must accept the re proach of the cross. Paul said, “I am determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him cru cified.” Christ chose John who had a heart of love similar to that of His own. The Lord was on the cross in our interest and John knew it. Those who are followers of the Lord ought to
The time to pray the hardest is when it’s hardest to pray. Men are religious naturally. They are Christians supernaturally. 6
have a common basis of fellowship which is the cross. This ought to guarantee our closeness. All of us are condemned because of sin in our natural state. Our salvation is all of grace. This ought to bring us to our knees on common ground. How sad to see differences and jealousies among believers! Note how anxious the Lord was for the interest of others in spite of His own suffering. He understood the anguish of a mother who would be seeing her son die, even though she knew, because of spiritual in struction, the very purpose of His coming into the world. Our Lord chose to bear the responsibility of others even at a time when He was going through great agony. He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” To the women who were weeping over the fact that He was going to the cross, He admonished, “Weep for your selves, because of that which will come upon you.” As He looked upon Peter, there was real concern. He dealt compassionately with the men who were dying with Him on the cross. I’m afraid many of us have discounted what real love is. Dr. Harry A. Ironside told the story of a woman who had written him telling that she loved him. She explained that it wasn’t Christian love but “real love.” Many times our attitude toward Christian love has been brought down to a much lower level than the Lord ever intended. Then see how that John was obedi ent to Christ’s command. There were no rewards mentioned. It was expect ed that he would serve because of love. All the way through the New Testament this is the basis for our love. John was used to write the gospel which stresses evangelism. A heart for souls is clearly shown in John 3:16. He was also God’s hu man instrument in the penning of three epistles. In I John 3:16 we find the blessed truth, “Hereby per
ceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” But John was also used to write the book of Revelation, which while speaking of judgment, always does so with a heart of love. There is underlined the great invita tion Christ wants to give each of us. “The Spirit and the bride say come, and let him that heareth say come. And let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.” Who knows to what extent God will use you if you’ll obey His com mand? To hear move close to the cross. Think about what the Lord did for you there. See Him dying for a lost world! See the love demon strated to you as well as to all round about as He demonstrated His indifference to His own needs and His deep concern for others. All over this world there are those in need of your help. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Fattier, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teach ing them to observe all things what soever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (age).” Think about these truths as you consider those in need of your care. Draw them to the Saviour, as you your self first have drawn close to Him. Ask Him to use you in leading them in the way of the Lord. Word Four by Dr. Douglas Friederichsen C OMING as the fourth word from the Cross, Matthew records in chapter 27 verses 45-49 the dark picture of the crucifixion. It was about the ninth hour when Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani.” By interpre- 7
with his hands tied securely. His back was bent to take the harsh whip of leather thongs, the ends of which were imbedded with sharp pieces of metal or bone so that the flesh would be lacerated and laid open. Is it any wonder that a person would lift His voice in anguish? No, as far as Christ was concerned, no amount of physical torture could make Him cry out. I t was because, for the first time in Eternity past, He would be separated from God the Father. Nothing could compare with this factor. It was the spiritual suffering of His heart that caused Him to give forth this most pitiful cry. At this point, Jesus came into contact with your sin and mine. That scream was caused by every sin you and I have ever committed. The penalty of sin is spiritual death (Rom. 6:23). Spiritual death, by way of definition, is simply separa tion from God. That is why Jesus Christ screamed, “My God, my God!” Someone has suggested that one of these cries is addressed to the Fa ther while the other to the Holy Spirit. This for Jesus Christ was far worse than any physical torture, no matter how extreme that might have been. Here was the virgin-born Son of God suffering death: spirit ual separation from God. If you’re a sensitive Christian today, you can not but react to such a scene. Why are we Christians so reluctant to confess some known sin that robs us of fellowship with God? What agony spiritual separation really is! Let’s not become calloused to the impor tance of maintaining communion with our Lord. Don’t let even the smallest thing get in the way. This scream by Jesus Christ is His fourth statement from the cross. I t’s the closest we come to knowing about what the lake of fire will be like. Consider the men and women who’ll be s e p a r a t e d from God throughout all eternity. This is the reason why the Bible is so emphatic,
tation, it meant, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The English is hardly strong enough. The Greek indicates that “suddenly He screamed out.” Why was this? Was it the physical agony through which He’d been going? Think of all that unspeakable physical torture. When He was unjustly tried and falsely accused, He held his peace. God, the Holy Spirt, was controlling His life. There is a time to speak and a time to keep silence. When the Holy Spir it fills our lives, we’ll know which course of action to follow. Did you ever have anyone gossip or tell a lie about you? Let's learn the lesson of the Lord’s silence. Everything was left in the hands of the Father. Christ left His case in God’s hands. When the high priest asked Him, “If you be the Christ, I command you that you tell us plainly,” Jesus did affirm, “Thou hast said.” In the Greek this is very emphatic, “Yes, I am the Christ.” The Bible tells us (Matt. 26:65) that the high priest tore his clothes in accusation, “He’s spoken blasphemy!” The clamor for death soon began to be heard. Men began to spit in the face of the Son of God, the One who would bear every sin they had ever committed. They buffeted Him, which means “to punch.” They constantly, repeatedly, hit Him squarely in the face so that, according to Isaiah 52:14, when they got through, He no longer looked human. Many artists m istak en ly have painted Christ with an impres sion that He was weak, but He was physically strong. O th e rw is e He could never have taken this kind of punishment. Yet on He went to that cross to pay the penalty of our sins. “He was made sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” Angry men scourged our Lord Jesus Christ. This was a terrible introduction to crucifixion. It was even called, “the intermediate death.” The victim was usually bound to a column or stake 8
we live. It’s a most marvelous thing, that Christ would say, “I thirst.” One of the most marvelous presen tations of Christ Was made by John Owen, the great Puritan preacher of the long ago. People would come on their horses and wagons for miles to hear him preach. He used the term, “Christ, the divine egress and Christ the divine life” so often that it per meated his sermons in a glorifica tion of Christ. He never tired of speaking of Christ, the fountain of life. The same has been true of many, many others such as Richard Baxter. He stated, “The fountain of blood that frees us from sin flowed from His very veins.” Yes, it’s by Christ, the Fountain, that a vein transfusion is made. It unites man or woman to God Him self, in a new, vital and loving re lationship. He is the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. It was Christ who immediately, after death, went and spoke to the spirits in prison, pouring grace upon them. Peter used these very words “poured out” with reference to this marvelous gift of the Holy Spirit. In the ages to come, when Christ sets up His kingdom, there will be lit eral and spiritual waters flowing out from before that throne. It will bring refreshment to the ends of the earth, giving life, joy, happiness, and peace to all men. In the light of all this, how could Christ say, “I thirst” ? Paul would have answered, “He came to thirst for us.” He thirsted for the greater Body of Christ. Christ asks for a drop from the countless grapes which He had cre ated. His thirst was for a moment. Then, undoubtedly the natural, nor mal torments began again, until death came. But the full meaning of this is far deeper and more mean ingful. Both the fountain of life pouring forth from that cross, as well as the thirsting, occurred that all men might have the water of 9
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” This One hanging on the cross is the unique person of the universe. He’s the One who said, “Come unto Me, all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” “Him that com- eth to me, I will in no wise cast out.” I challenge you, on the authority of what Christ has accomplished on the cross, to make the most important decision of your entire life in ac cepting Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as your own personal Saviour. Word Five by Dr. William Bass C AN YOU imagine the Son of God being given a spongeful of vine gar upon a hyssop, while on the cross ? He was taunted with the words, “Let’s see if Elijah will come to take you down.” What is custom arily known as Christ’s fourth word from the cross is “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” And the fifth, John 19:28: “I thirst.” What relief from His suffering was to be found in a little sour taste? The pain was most intense. There were torture, fever, overwhelming thirst, intense pain, loss of blood and dehydration. It is really an incompre hensible mystery to think that the Son of God, who was to reign over the Kingdom of God, should suffer so extremely. He asked for the fruit of the vine to quench His need. Christ our Saviour was one with God. Out of His very nature He spoke the words which created stars, the planets, moon and earth. He is the fountain of life. The Psalmist rightly declares that the fulness of the earth is the glory of the Lord. Christ sustains us, not only by the word of His power, but also by the light and heat of the nature in which
everlasting life in Him. There is depth, application and significance here for all of us. We should look daily and constantly to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. Listen to David’s testi mony, “As the hart panteth after the waterbrook, so panteth my soul after thee, 0 God!” Are you trusting in that living Fountain? Having trusted, are you looking often to Him? This great outpouring to meet our needs comes from the risen, exalted, glorified Christ! Word Six by Dr. Arnold Ehlert C hrist ’ s sixth word from the cross is given only in John 19: 30, “It is finished.” Matthew com ments, “Jesus, when He had cried with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.” Mark and Luke have similar statements. These words were ad dressed to the world. The three words here in English are actually one word in the original Greek. This speaks of an action completed in the past whose results remain. When Jesus spoke these words, there was much with regard to God’s redemp tive program which was past. Now it’s no longer future and prophetic. “It is finished!” In His high priest ly prayer recorded in John 17, the Lord reported to His Father, “I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work which Thou gav- est Me to do” (verse 4). In Genesis 2:1, God says, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished.” There will yet be another finish in time as we know it. The book of Revela tion tells of events that will tran spire on the earth. The word “fin ished” is heralded clearly. It rings at the beginning, the middle, and at the end of history. In the beginning, 10
all things were made by Christ, and without Him was not anything made that was made. At the end, all things will be brought into His subjection as a result of His rule of righteous ness over the earth for a thousand years. Now, in the middle, we see Him tying these two together by the mighty act of redemption. Without the first act of creation, there could be no new creation. Without the new creation, there could be no kingdom of righteousness. There are many things in the Bible which God has done. They’re spoken of as His works. All the various works of God prior to the cross, lead up to and prepare the way for, the great consummation of the finished work of Christ on the cross. What was finished? The limit of His short life here on earth was com pleted. He had 33 years of living, but only three-and-a-half years of min istry. The law was fulfilled. The covenant was finally ratified by the blood. The way of mercy was opened. Satan was defeated. Here on the cross the head of the serpent was crushed. Death itself was defeated. Another thing finished that after noon in Jerusalem was the heavy veil separating man from God. It was rent in the midst. Daniel had been informed by Gabriel that this day would come (9:24). All that was necessary to the accomplishment of human redemption was finished. The perpetual answer of the redeemed should echo, “Worthy art Thou, for Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation.” Nothing more can be added to our salvation. “It is finished” reveals the sovereign language of free grace. It’s been completely and adequately paid for. Double payment cannot be demanded; double jeopardy is not permitted. In these words, “It is finished,” we find the utter, yet grand, humili
ty of the Saviour. Christ has no bi ography. The zeal of God’s house has consumed all biographical notice of Him. We Can imagine Heaven said, “God be praised. The first Adam has been made a living soul and the second Adam a life-giving spirit.” When J. Hudson Taylor was fif teen, he was left alone one day in his home. Looking for something to read, he found a tract that appeared interesting. While reading it, he was struck with the sentence, “The fin ished work of Christ.” The familiar phrase, “I t is finished” occurred to him. “What is finished?” he asked himself. Immediately the answer came: a full and perfect atonement for sin. “If the whole work was fin ished, what is there left for me to do?” he reasoned. Then the truth flashed through his soul. There was nothing to do but accept the Saviour. This was the beginning of his great Christian life and missionary min istry. There’s a beautiful poem written by John W. Peterson: Jesus Said . . . “ IT IS FINISHED” John 19:30 The veil is rent; Lo! Jesus stands Before the throne of grace; And clouds of incense from His hands Fill all that glorious place. His precious blood is sprinkled there, Before and on the throne; And His own wounds in Heaven declare His work on earth is done. "Tis finished!' on the Cross He said, In agonies and blood; 'Tis finished! now He lives to plead Before the face of God. 'Tis finished! here our souls can rest. His work can never fail; By Him, our Sacrifice and Priest, We enter through the veil.
Within the holiest of all Cleansed by His precious blood, Before Thy throne Thy children fall And worship Thee, our God. Boldly our hearts and voice we raise, His Name, His blood, our plea; Assured our prayers and song of praise Ascend by Him to Thee. Word Seven by Dr. Harry Sturz A s with most of the other words from the cross, the seventh and last is found in but one of the Gos pels. This comes from Luke 23:46, where we read; “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” This final state ment by our Saviour was delivered with a shout. Some commentators hold that the loud cry Jesus uttered was prior to this seventh word so that His last statement was uttered in a calm and peaceful manner. The original, however, doesn’t verify this assumption. The first clause of Luke 23:46 may be literally rendered: “And, crying with a great (or loud) voice.” In these words from the cross, the Lord made three state ments in behalf of others: forgive ness toward His enemies (Luke 23: 34), care for his mother (John 19: 26, 27), and assurance to a believ ing thief (Luke 23:43). Three ad ditional words were more directly related to His own suffering: for saken by God (Matt. 27:46, Mark 15:34), an expression of thirst (John 19:28), and the statement that His work was finished (John 19:30). Je sus was very conscious that the time had arrived for Him to depart from this world. This was really a shout of victory, triumph and exhaltation. By the cross He had now spoiled 11
principalities and powers and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them (Col. 2:15). The second thing we notice is that our Lord directed this shout to the Father. The Gospels often speak of Jesus’ intimate relationship with His Heavenly Father. God Himself gives special witness to the Saviour saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” The first recorded words from Jesus’ lips, when He was but 12 years of age, were: “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). Three of His statements from the cross He addressed to God. In both the first and last it is to God as Father. The third thing we want to notice is the fact that Christ’s final word involved the committal of His spirit. In one sense this constitutes a prayer, although not a petition or request, but rather an assertion. This statement is a prophetic quota tion from Psalm 31:5. When a mere man uses this verse, he should add the words which our Lord did not use, “Thou hast redeemed me, 0 Lord God of truth.” Christ could not apply this Scripture to Himself for He is Himself the Redeemer. More appropriate for the devout Christian would be the words uttered by Stephen as he was being stoned to death. He called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). The death of the Saviour was different from that which any other man ever has experienced. Our Lord had com plete control and was even in charge of this matter. Notice the word “com mend” which doesn’t suggest that Christ simply resigned himself to the inevitable. He wasn’t asking for a favor as though He might be rec ommending His spirit with a question of its being received. It meant that He was willing to entrust, commit, or deposit His spirit with God. It’s true that our Lord was betrayed and crucified by wicked hands. Yet, while 12
we’re unable to understand all that s involved, the same Scriptures reveal that no man could take Jesus’ life from Him. He had the power to lay it down as well as to take it up again. Here He exercises that pow er. What immediately followed is re corded in both Mark and Luke with one word rendered, “He gave up the ghost.” He expired; “He breathed out.” This was not an involuntary but rather a deliberate act. What took place is made even clearer by the accounts of Matthew and John. He “yielded up the ghost” meaning that He dismissed it, or sent it away. Literally, “He handed over His spirit to God.” What a crowning testimony to His sinless life as the Son of God became flesh and took upon Himself the penalty for our sins. Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
Student government is an important area of leader ship developmentat Biola Colege. During the re cent election campaign, posters, banners, and spe ches were a part of the program. Chosen for next school year's president of the AssociatedStu dents is Todd Lewis (seated) and Randy Sykes, Vice President.
surpassing worth of knowing and serving Him. When we inquire into Christ’s in fluence upon society, human laws, and public institutions, the result is overwhelming! Instinctively we con sider men’s actions right or wrong depending upon whether it is Chris tian conduct. The world can never be the same since the Sayiour has come. Some deplore the changes He’s made in their worldly conduct. But whether men regret or rejoice, they must admit that they are fascinated by the influence of Jesus Christ. Look at Him as a person. His very uniqueness drew men to Him. There was something magnetic about Him. When He said, “Follow me,” men straightway became His disci ples. He constantly pointed out sin in other people, but no one was able to point it out in Him. He fascinat ed them by His moral character. He was humble, loving, sinless, forgiv ing and we must agree with the centurian who, standing at the cross, exclaimed, “Truly this was the Son of God!” He made stupendous claims concerning Himself and substantiat ed each one in His life and work. For instance, He claimed sinlessness, a quality which belongs only to God. He claimed the power of giving life which is the prerogative of the Cre ator. He claimed to be pre-existent, speaking of the glory He had with the Father before the world began. He claimed that He was not of hu man origin, but that He proceeded forth from God. Obviously He con sidered Himself more than human. No wonder even His enemies could testify, “Never a man spake like this 13
C hapter O ne T here are many different aspects in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ which merit our careful con sideration and study. In Mark 2:12 we read, “They were all amazed and glorified God saying, We never saw it on this fashion.” Our Saviour had bestowed forgiveness and healing up on the man who was paralyzed. It's an evident fact that the impact of Jesus Christ upon the thoughts of men has changed the world. He is the crowning personality of the uni verse. He was so winsome and gra cious that even the little children yearned to climb on His knee and touch His cheek, yet even Strong men stepped out of His way to let Him pass. Even though some try, they cannot get rid of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is compelling and absolutely invincible. Even the calendar bears witness to His terrific effects on the world. As has been written so beautiful ly, “I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever were proclaimed, put together, have not affected the life of mankind or this earth as powerfully as that One solitary life.” More artists have tried to paint Christ in His beauty, more writers referred to His power and influence, more musicians sang of His glory, than has been true of any other per son of the ages. Millions upon mil lions of people have called Him Sav iour, Master, and Friend. They would willingly renounce all for the
has been doing this ever since man fell into sin. Something precious had been lost, and our loving God cannot rest until it is found. Christianity has always appealed to the despised, beaten, lonely, downtrodden, poor and unlearned, offering them hope in every desperate condition. When all others fail and comforters flee, the Seeker comes to save the lost. One of the chief charges ever held against Christ by his enemies was, “This man receiveth sinners and eat- eth with them.” Christ again stat ed, “I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” The ex pression the lost, found in Luke 19: 10, is a plaintive, piteous word. In how many churches do we hear the minister proclaim, “Unless you know Jesus Christ, you’re s p i r i t u a l l y lost” ? Lost is not used religiously much anymore. This is a tragedy of our day. To be lost means that you’ve never accepted Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour. You were born a son of Adam who fell into sin. With him the whole human race was catapulted into sin. Every hu man being who has ever been born into the world since that day has taken upon himself the nature of sin ful, fallen Adam. Jesus Christ came into the world to deliver us from the ravages and the lostness of our con dition. It’s to be doubted that there has ever been more lostness in the world than there is in this very hour. Men are lost whenever they are not in right relationship with God. Many people are away from God intellectually. Many are estranged morally because there are things in their lives which dishonor God and they won’t get rid of them. Many are estranged spiritually because they refuse to yield themselves com pletely to Jesus Christ. Many are estranged because of a heart that is indifferent towards God. Many, by pride, prejudice and selfishness have gone on in their own ways. Christ is seeking men today just
man.” The fact of the matter is that all history is incomprehensible with out Him. A French skeptic has written of Christ, “Whatever may be the sur prises of the future, Jesus will never be surpassed. His worship will grow young without ceasing; His legion will call forth tears without end; His sufferings will melt the noblest heart; and all ages will proclaim that among the sons of men there is none greater than Jesus.” The Saviour came on a unique mission to do the will of Him who sent Him to seek and to save the lost. He came not to be ministered unto but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. He al ways went about doing good, heal ing the sick and feeding the hungry. He urged men and women to sin no more and forgave them. He said to the paralytic in the context of this verse, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. . . . Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” The cross, however, is the greatest single fascinating th i n g about the most marvelous and won derful personality who ever lived. He died for you and for me. The cross stands at the center of our Christian faith. It’s the dominating theme of art and architecture. It is the place where the Lord Jesus Christ gave His life that you and I might have eternal life, and that we might have it more abundantly. C hapter T wo I n the G ospel of Luke 19:10, we have some interesting words of testimony from the lips of our Sav iour, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” This is Christ’s own conception of His mission in coming into the world. We’re concerned with this, the greatest of God’s accomplish ments. Christ in the Scripture is said to be “seeking after men.” God 14
as He has been in every human gen eration. He has a thousand ways to get at us, all with tender gracious love. You cannot get away from Je sus Christ. A man starts the day without God but as he reads his morning paper he comes across a quotation from the Bible. On his way to work he drives past a church. Someone in his office tells happily of what’s happening in his Sunday school class. Then at lunch time he sees across the restaurant a little old lady, someone dear to himself and he remembers that this woman prays before she eats. Perhaps that afternoon he’s excused from work to go to a funeral or that evening to a wedding where prayer is offered. You cannot get away from Christ’s influence. The Son of man is come to seek and to save. Christ came to do this one thing. He came to save His peo ple from their sinful fallen estate. I care not who you may be. Unless you know Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour, you, according to the Bible, are considered by God to be spiritually lost. I’m not talking about religion but a Person. Chris tianity is wrapped up in Christ. One doesn’t become a Christian simply by taking the sacraments, commun ion, by being baptized, or by becom ing a member of a church. You can only become a Christian by accepts ing Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. This is the reason He came into the world. He came to save men and women so that they might have everlasting life. You, too, can re ceive Christ joyfully as you know the blessing of forgiveness. C hapter T hree J esus C hrist is able to meet all conditions He may face. He is the all-sufficient Son of God. Look at John 6:67 and 68, “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon answered him,
Lord, to whom shall we go? thou has the words of eternal life.” Many who had been following Christ left His company. Now He asks the twelve whether they too were about to depart. Peter, as usual the first to speak, said, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” In this modem era, many fearing that Christianity is not in tellectually tenable, walk no more with Jesus Christ. They’ve looked vainly somewhere else for the fulfill ment of their hearts’ desires. The Christian faith can stand any criti cism hurled against it. Some people follow humanism as an alternative to Christ. This is the belief that man is sufficient in him self. Do you think man can lift him self up by his own bootstraps, that if there’s such a thing as sin, he can get over it alone without the help of the Saviour? Even theology at times has been tainted with such evil lies. Christ is still touching the lives of men and women. What a sorry mas ter man can be when left to his own devices! What folly it is to put our faith in others no matter how good or wonderful they may see mto be! Human misery has reached the depths. So much of mankind knows poverty, illness and all manner of despair. We find ourselves with tre mendous powers of communication but with no healing word to speak. We have tremendous systems of transportation but nothing to trans port that will make life whole again. We have so little power where we need it most, namely, with the spirit. Obviously we need a quality of life that’s different from what man’s been able to give us. Man’s tragic inadequacy in our kind of a world has shown the need of God’s redeem ing grace. Christ alone has all the answers. He can do for man what man can never do for himself. In many places today the emphasis has swung back to Biblical theology, to discovering the meaning of God’s Word for our age. 16
There is another sad place to which man has misdirected his in terest, and that is rationalism. This is the belief that man’s reason is the ultimate authority. We see the eman cipating of the human reason. Too often has excessive trust been placed in man’s intellectual abilities so that no room is left for spiritual faith in Christ., If learning met the needs of peop le, then an ever-expanding knowledge would solve all problems. Such is not the case. Rationalism foolishly rules out God and the Gos pel of Jesus Christ. Learning was never so widespread as it is today. Man is as clever as he’s ever been. But, as the Duke of Wellingham said, “Education without spirituality and morality, produces a race of clever devils.” In spite of his learn ing, modern man is weak, wicked, sick, selfish and entirely inadequate. The modern world has unmasked and shown him to be a creature des perately in need. This is why Christ came into the world. God knew that our mental acumen would never bring us real happiness. Surely the relevance of the Gospel was never more clearly seen than now. Many have examined closely the alternatives, the extreme trust in man’s reason. They have found that rationalism doesn’t hold. The Word of God is absolutely true. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, in order to bring them to everlasting life. Then there is also scientism. This is the belief that science will give us what we need. In our time we have often almost worshipped sci ence. Science has been looked upon as a Messiah soon to bring in a “golden age.” But it never will. The supreme achievement of our scientif ic civilization is a thing of destruc tion by which whole cities can be laid waste. Our technical abilities have far outstripped our wisdom and capacity to use them properly. Man is in possession of powers which he’s 16
not fit to use. Science has brought us a more efficient world but not a better world. Science agrees that it can do just about everything but give man character. It can add years to his life, but not life to his years. It can never release man from that awful inner bondage of guilt, greed, lust, pride, and hatred. These are the enemies which destroy. Science should never have been relied upon to meet all the needs of men. These things have demonstrated the need for the all-sufficient Jesus Christ who gives what not one of the alterna tives to Christianity can give. By His atoning death and triumphant resurrection, He brings to men for giveness, peace, assurance, strength for every task, and grace for every trial. He supplies comfort amid sor row, and a glimpse of the many mansions of the Father’s eternal house. Humanism, rationalism, evo lutionism, and scientism are no sub stitutes for the Gospel Jesus Christ. All have been proved insufficient. Christ alone stands all-sufficient! C hapter F our I N considering some of the facets in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is difficult to be limited by time or space. Our Saviour ever liveth to make intercession for us through our faith in Him. There is an inter esting study concerning our Saviour in Luke 7. Christ is asked by the disciples of John the Baptist, “Art thou He that should come or look we for another?” In the 22nd verse we find the divine answer, “Go your way, and tell John the Baptist what things ye have seen and heard.” There is an indication that John had some concern or question in his mind. He had been imprisoned for his fearless preaching. From that lonely cell he felt he needed the strength of assurance. This was the same man who had borne witness to the Son of God, by telling his fol
lowers, “There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.” There are some tremendous les sons here for our lives today. Have you ever wondered about the reality of God? Have you asked, “Does He care anything about me? Is the Bi ble true and the revelation of God?” We need to learn about the causes for doubt so that we can guard against them. First of all, spiritual doubt does frequently come to the life of a be liever. It is one of Satan’s subtle temptations. Often this is a result, as in John’s case, of our misconcep tions. Remember that John the Bap tist, in his fiery passion and preach ing, had told the crowds of the Mes siah who would be a stem Judge, laying the axe to the root of the tree. With a fan He would purge the threshing floor, and bum the chaff with unquenchable fire. Jesus, how ever, had been doing deeds of kind ness and mercy. It surely seemed like a paradox. We’re confused and bewildered when things don’t turn out as we expect them to. Keep in mind God doesn’t do for us what we desire or expect. We don’t like to give up our prejudices and precon ceived notions. Sometimes what we doubt is really not the Christian faith at all, but our erroneous ideas about it. We must have the right concept about the promises of God and His Word. The same is true with the person and work of Christ and of the life to come. John had pointed out Jesus as the Lamb of God. In his burning devo tion, he was willing to renounce his own popularity. That’s no little thing for any man. Our motto should also be, “Christ must increase, but I must decrease.” John not only lost his prestige as a mighty prophet but also his courageous teachings had put him behind bars. Doubt came creeping in. Some Bible teachers
might not permit John to appear as a doubter. They look for other rea sons for his questions. But it wasn’t merely that he meant to strengthen his followers’ faith in the Messiah. Let us not de-humanize John the Baptist. Dark doubts may arise be cause of something actually selfish in our own lives. A businessman may lose money because of his stand ards of integrity. The devil comes along whispering that he’s a fool. It’s so easy to feel sorry for oneself. John’s doubts may also have been due to his troubles. Here he was in prison because he tried to serve the Lord. If Jesus was the Messiah, sure ly He would come with great power to deliver him. But there was no indication of rescue. The devil cast suspicion over his soul. Do you ever brood about the dreams and hopes of yours which have gone wrong? Personal trial is a most fertile field for faithless feelings. Some poor souls have become bitter throughout a lifetime as a result. We need to be ready for trials when they come. The Lord alone can give us the strength in our hour of need. How wonderful to see that John the Baptist went straight to the Lord Himself for help. He didn’t seek the opinions of others. He had the ques tion carried to the only One who could answer. Too frequently do we coddle and nurse our frustrations. We like them almost too much to give up. See how Christ deals gently with honest doub ters. He understands when we’re troubled in heart, mind and spirit. Having sent John’s dis ciples back to him with a message which would surely cure his doubt, the Saviour turns to the crowd around him for further guidance and light. He doesn’t condemn John. He gives him a eulogy. Here were words to heal John’s wounded soul. This is how He deals with us when our doubts are honest and our search for a cure is sincere. Go right to Christ 17
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