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Chapter 20
16, 17 (
John 17:24
;
Isaiah 13:12
;
Matthew 28:18
;
Hebrews
1:6
). The Contract Ratified
—[
John 20:16, 17
quoted.] Jesus re-
fused to receive the homage of His people until He knew that His
sacrifice had been accepted by the Father, and until He had received
the assurance from God Himself that His atonement for the sins of
His people had been full and ample, that through His blood they
might gain eternal life. Jesus immediately ascended to heaven and
presented Himself before the throne of God, showing the marks of
shame and cruelty upon His brow, His hands and feet. But he re-
fused to receive the coronet of glory, and the royal robe, and He also
refused the adoration of the angels as He had refused the homage of
Mary, until the Father signified that His offering was accepted.
He also had a request to prefer concerning His chosen ones
upon earth. He wished to have the relation clearly defined that
His redeemed should hereafter sustain to heaven, and to His Father.
His church must be justified and accepted before He could accept
heavenly honor. He declared it to be His will that where He was,
there His church should be; if He was to have glory, His people
must share it with Him. They who suffer with Him on earth must
finally reign with Him in His kingdom. In the most explicit manner
Christ pleaded for His church, identifying His interest with theirs,
and advocating, with love and constancy stronger than death, their
rights and titles gained through Him.
God’s answer to this appeal goes forth in the proclamation: “Let
all the angels of God worship him.” Every angelic commander obeys
the royal mandate, and Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain;
and that lives again a triumphant conqueror! echoes and re-echoes
through all heaven. The innumerable company of angels prostrate
themselves before the Redeemer. The request of Christ is granted;
the church is justified through Him, its representative and head.
Here the Father ratifies the contract with His Son, that He will be
reconciled to repentant and obedient men, and take them into divine
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