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Chapter 19
197
anguish to thousands of hearts, but bringing a malicious joy to many
who had been reproved by His teachings (Undated
Manuscript 127
).
18
. See
EGW comment on Matthew 27:38
.
19
. See
EGW comment on Matthew 27:37
.
25-27. John and Mary Returned
—Christ, bearing the sin of
the world, seemed to be deserted; but He was not wholly left alone.
John stood close by the cross. Mary had fainted in her anguish, and
John had taken her to his house away from the harrowing scene. But
he saw that the end was near, and he brought her again to the cross
(
Manuscript 45, 1897
)
30 (see
EGW comment on Matthew 27:45, 46, 50
). The Com-
pact Was Fully Consummated
—When Christ spoke these words,
He addressed His Father. Christ was not alone in making this great
sacrifice. It was the fulfillment of the covenant made between the
Father and the Son before the foundation of the earth was laid. With
clasped hands they entered into the solemn pledge that Christ would
become the substitute and surety for the human race if they were
overcome by Satan’s sophistry. The compact was now being fully
consummated. The climax was reached. Christ had the conscious-
ness that He had fulfilled to the letter the pledge He had made. In
death He was more than conqueror. The redemption price has been
paid (
Manuscript 111, 1897
).
Last Tie of Sympathy Severed
—When Christ cried out, “It is
finished,” all heaven triumphed. The controversy between Christ
and Satan in regard to the execution of the plan of salvation was
ended. The spirit of Satan and his works had taken deep root in the
affections of the children of men. For Satan to have come into power
would have been death to the world. The implacable hatred he felt
toward the Son of God was revealed in his manner of treating Him
while He was in the world. Christ’s betrayal, trial, and crucifixion
were all planned by the fallen foe. His hatred, carried out in the
death of the Son of God, placed Satan where his true diabolical
character was revealed to all created intelligences that had not fallen
through sin.
The holy angels were horror-stricken that one who had been of
their number could fall so far as to be capable of such cruelty. Every
sentiment of sympathy or pity which they had ever felt for Satan
in his exile, was quenched in their hearts. That his envy should be