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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
of disobedience, his cruel accusations against Him whose life was
one of unexampled goodness, all sprang from deep-seated revenge.
The pent-up fires of envy and malice, hatred and revenge, burst forth
on Calvary against the Son of God, while all Heaven gazed upon the
scene in silent horror.
When the great sacrifice had been consummated, Christ ascended
on high, refusing the adoration of angels until he had preferred the
request, “I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me
where I am.” [
John 17:24
.] Then with inexpressible love and power
came forth the answer from the Father’s throne, “Let all the angels
of God worship him.” [
Hebrews 1:6
.] Not a stain rested upon Jesus.
His humiliation ended, his sacrifice completed, there was given unto
him a name that is above every name.
Now the guilt of Satan stood forth without excuse. His lying
charges against the divine character and government appeared in
their true light. He had accused God of seeking merely the exaltation
of himself in requiring submission and obedience from his creatures,
and had declared that while the Creator exacted self-denial from all
others, he himself practiced no self-denial, and made no sacrifice.
Now it was seen that for the salvation of a fallen and sinful race,
the Ruler of the universe had made the greatest sacrifice which God
could make. It was seen, also, that while Lucifer had opened the
door for the entrance of sin, by his desire for honor and supremacy,
Christ had, in order to destroy sin, humbled himself, and become
obedient unto death.
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God had manifested his abhorrence of the principles of rebellion.
All Heaven saw his justice revealed, both in the condemnation of
Satan and in the redemption of man. Lucifer had declared God’s
law to be of such a character that its penalty could not be remitted,
and therefore every transgressor must be forever debarred from the
Creator’s favor. He had claimed that the sinful race were placed
beyond redemption, and were therefore his rightful prey. But the
death of Christ was an argument in man’s behalf that could not be
turned aside. He suffered the penalty of the law. God was just in
permitting his wrath to fall upon Him who was equal with himself,
and man was set free to accept the righteousness of Christ, and by a
life of penitence and humiliation to triumph as the Son of God had
triumphed over the power of Satan.