The Review and Herald
September 29, 1896
The Uplifted Saviour
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Christ, the spotless Son of God, honored humanity by taking upon himself fallen human nature. A suffering, tempted man, beset by Satan's devices, his divinity clothed with humanity, he so lived on this earth as to show, by his perfect obedience to his Father's will, what humanity could become by partaking of the divine nature. RH September 29, 1896, par. 1
In humility Christ began his mighty work for the uplifting of the fallen race. Passing by the cities and the renowned seats of learning, he made his home in the humble and obscure village of Nazareth. In this place, from which it was commonly supposed that no good could come, the world's Redeemer passed the greater part of his life, working at his trade as a carpenter. His home was among the poor; his family was not distinguished by learning, riches, or position. In the path which the poor, the neglected, the sorrowing, must tread, he walked while on earth, taking upon him all the woes which the afflicted must bear. RH September 29, 1896, par. 2
It was the proud boast of the Jews that the Messiah was to come as a king, conquering his enemies, and treading down the heathen in his wrath. But it was not the mission of Christ to exalt man by ministering to his pride. He, the humble Nazarene, might have poured contempt upon the world's pride, for he was commander in the heavenly courts; but he came in humility, showing that it is not riches, or position, or authority that the God of heaven respects, but that he honors a humble, contrite heart, made noble by the power of the grace of Christ. RH September 29, 1896, par. 3
Christ closed his life of toil and denial in our behalf by a crowning sacrifice for us. That the penalty of our transgressions might not fall upon our heads, that we might be saved from ruin and degradation, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. As the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, even so the Son of Man was lifted up on the cross, that by beholding him, we might be uplifted, elevated, and ennobled. RH September 29, 1896, par. 4
If there is anything in our world that should inspire enthusiasm, it is the cross of Calvary. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” Christ, made unto us “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption,” should be humbly and thankfully received by us. His sacrifice should inspire us with zeal to work in his service, calling upon others to behold in him “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” RH September 29, 1896, par. 5
Christ's gracious presence is ever speaking to us in his word, pointing us to the One slain from the foundation of the world. To each one who will receive him he is the hope of glory. Looking to him, we reflect his image to all around us. He is the source of spiritual power, and if he abides in our hearts, the divine influence will flow forth in our words and actions to all within the sphere of our influence, begetting in them desires and aspirations for strength and purity, for holiness and peace, for a joy that brings no sorrow with it. RH September 29, 1896, par. 6
Christ is a living Saviour. Today he sits at the right hand of God as our advocate, making intercession for us; and he calls upon us to look unto him and be saved. But it has ever been the tempter's determined purpose to eclipse Jesus from the view, that men may be led to lean upon the arm of humanity for help and strength; and he has so well accomplished his purpose that men, turning their eyes from Jesus, in whom all hope of eternal life is centered, look to their fellow men for aid and guidance. RH September 29, 1896, par. 7
God saw the danger into which humanity would fall by making flesh its arm, and through his servants he has given directions and warnings. Christ is uplifted in the pages of the Bible, that all may see that in him alone there is “everlasting strength;” and unless the sinner makes it his life-work to behold the Saviour, and by faith accepts the merits which it is his privilege to claim, he can no more be saved than Peter could walk upon the water unless he kept his eyes fixed steadily upon Jesus. “He that cometh from above is above all. He that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” RH September 29, 1896, par. 8
As the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness by Moses, that all who had been bitten by the fiery serpents might look and live, so must the Son of Man be lifted up before the world by his servants. Christ and him crucified, is the message God would have his servants sound through the length and breadth of the world. The law and the gospel will then be presented as a perfect whole. Those who accept the salvation so freely offered, have more than a nominal faith, a theory of truth; they believe to a purpose, appropriating to themselves the richest gifts of God's love. With assurance they can say, “Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.” “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” RH September 29, 1896, par. 9
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.... If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us .... And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.” It is the perpetual life of all believers to love God supremely; and thus loving God, they will love others as themselves. Life and hope will spring up in the hearts of those who thus receive the message of Christ's love. The bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness will fill them with joy and gladness. Looking upon their great antitype, they can say, “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” RH September 29, 1896, par. 10
All power is given into the hands of Christ, in order that he may dispense rich blessings to men, and impart to them the priceless gifts of his own righteousness. But many, blinded by sin, have lost sight of Christ, and are groping in the dark shadows of discouragement. Go to them with a heart filled with love and tenderness, and tell them of the uplifted Saviour, who is the sacrifice for the whole world; invite them to receive the righteousness of Christ, to claim justification through faith in the divine surety; direct them to the all sufficient atonement made for their sins, to Christ's merits, and his changeless love for the human family. RH September 29, 1896, par. 11
As the high priest sprinkled the warm blood upon the mercy-seat while the fragrant cloud of incense ascended before God, so, while we confess our sins and plead the efficacy of Christ's atoning blood, our prayers are to ascend to heaven, fragrant with the merits of our Saviour's character. Notwithstanding our unworthiness, we are to remember that there is One who can take away sin, and who is willing and anxious to save the sinner. With his own blood he paid the penalty for all wrong-doers. Every sin acknowledged before God with a contrite heart, he will remove. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” RH September 29, 1896, par. 12