The Signs of the Times
August 16, 1899
A Crucified and Risen Saviour
In His prayer to His Father Christ said: “I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” When Christ expired on the cross, crying with a loud voice, “It is finished,” His work was completed. The way was laid open, the vail was rent in twain. Man could approach God without sacrificial offerings, without the service of earthly priests. Christ Himself was a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Heaven was His home. He came to this world to reveal the Father. His work on the field of His humiliation and conflict was now done. He ascended up into the heavens, and is forever set down on the right hand of God. ST August 16, 1899, par. 1
Christ's life on this earth had been a life of toil, a busy, earnest life. He rose from the dead, and for forty days remained with His disciples, instructing them preparatory to His departure from them. He was ready for the leavetaking. He had demonstrated the fact that He was a living Saviour; His disciples need no longer associate Him with the tomb of Joseph. They could think of Him as glorified amid the heavenly host. “Let not your heart be troubled,” He said, “ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” “Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” ST August 16, 1899, par. 2
All heaven waited with eager earnestness for the end of the tarrying of the Son of God in a world all seared and marred with the curse. In proportion to Christ's humiliation and suffering was to be His exaltation. He became the Saviour, the Redeemer, only by first becoming the Sacrifice. And having magnified the law and made it honorable, by accepting its condition, He hastened to heaven to perfect His work and accomplish His mission by sending the Holy Spirit to His disciples. Thus He would assure His believing ones that He had not forgotten them, tho in the presence of God, where there is fulness of joy forevermore. ST August 16, 1899, par. 3
Christ came to earth as God in the guise of humanity. He ascended to heaven as the King of saints. His ascension was worthy of His exalted character. He ascended from the Mount of Olives in a cloud of angels, who triumphantly escorted Him to the city of God. Not in His own interest did He go, but as the covenant-making Redeemer of His believing sons and daughters, who are made thus through faith in His name. He went as one mighty in battle, a conqueror, leading captivity captive, amid acclamations of praise and celestial song. ST August 16, 1899, par. 4
As He ascended, the challenge was given by the escorting angels: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” Joyfully the waiting sentinels make response, “Who is this King of glory?” This they say, not because they do not know who He is, but because they would hear His praises. The answer comes back: “The Lord strong and mighty; the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” ST August 16, 1899, par. 5
Again the response is heard, “Who is this King of glory?” for the angels never weary of hearing His name exalted. In strains of heavenly music the escorting angels make reply, “The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.” Emmanuel, God with us, “is gone up with a shout; the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.” ST August 16, 1899, par. 6
What a contrast between Christ's reception on His return to heaven and His reception on this earth! In heaven all was loyalty. There was no sorrow, no suffering, to meet Him at every turn. There were no scowling priests to exercise their ingenuity in finding some word of His which they could misinterpret, and thus gain opportunity to harass, abuse, insult, and deride Him. His entrance to the courts above was not begged; for all heaven was honored by His presence. ST August 16, 1899, par. 7
As He enters heaven, the angels hasten to do Him homage, but He waves them back, and going to His Father makes the plea: “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.” What is the Father's answer?—“And let all the angels of God worship Him.” The pledge made before the foundation of the world is renewed. Christ's relation to His Father embraces all who receive Him by faith as their personal Saviour. ST August 16, 1899, par. 8
The time had come for the universe of heaven to accept their King. Angels, cherubim, and seraphim, would now stand in view of the cross. The Father bows His head in recognition of the One of whom the priests and rulers had said, “He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him.” The Father accepts His Son. No language could convey the rejoicing of heaven or God's expression of satisfaction and delight in His only-begotten Son, as He saw the completion of the atonement. ST August 16, 1899, par. 9
Christ said to His disciples: “It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” This was the gift of gifts. The Holy Spirit was sent as the most priceless treasure man could receive. ST August 16, 1899, par. 10
The Holy Spirit was to descend on those who love Christ. By this they would be qualified, in and through the glorification of their Head, to receive every endowment necessary for the fulfilling of their mission. The Life-giver held in His hand not only the keys of death, but a whole heaven of rich blessings. ST August 16, 1899, par. 11
All power in heaven and earth was given to Him, and having taken His place in the heavenly courts, He could dispense these blessings to all who received Him. The church was baptized with the Spirit's power. The disciples were fitted to go forth and proclaim Christ, first in Jerusalem, where the shameful work of dishonoring the rightful King had been done, and then to the uttermost parts of the earth. The evidence of the enthronement of Christ in His mediatorial kingdom was given. God testified to the great work of atonement in reconciling the world to Himself, by giving Christ's followers a true understanding of the kingdom which He was establishing upon the earth, the foundation of which His own hand had laid. ST August 16, 1899, par. 12
The Father gave all honor to His Son, seating Him at His right hand, far above all principalities and power. He expressed His great joy and delight in receiving the Crucified One, and crowning Him with glory and honor. And all the favors He has shown to His Son in His acceptance of the great atonement are shown to His people. Those who have united their interests in love with Christ are accepted in the Beloved. They suffer with Christ, and His glorification is of great interest to them, because they are accepted in Him. God loves them as He loves His Son. Christ, Emmanuel, stands between God and the believer, revealing the glory of God to His chosen ones, and covering their defects and transgressions with the garments of His own spotless righteousness. The seal of heaven has been affixed to Christ's atonement. His sacrifice is in every way satisfactory. In Him mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. The Father embraced His Son, and in this included all who receive Him. “To them gave He power to become the sons of God.” They are His chosen ones, joint-heirs with Christ in the great firm of heaven. They overcome as He overcame. ST August 16, 1899, par. 13
Mrs. E. G. White