“God With Us”
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and truth.”
John 1:14
, R. V., margin.
Since Jesus came to dwell with us, we know that God is acquainted
with our trials, and sympathizes with our griefs. Every son and daugh-
ter of Adam may understand that our Creator is the friend of sinners.
For in every doctrine of grace, every promise of joy, every deed of
love, every divine attraction presented in the Saviour’s life on earth,
we see “God with us.”
Satan represents God’s law of love as a law of selfishness. He
declares that it is impossible for us to obey its precepts. The fall of
our first parents, with all the woe that has resulted, he charges upon
the Creator, leading men to look upon God as the author of sin, and
suffering, and death. Jesus was to unveil this deception. As one of
us He was to give an example of obedience. For this He took upon
Himself our nature, and passed through our experiences. “In all things
it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren.”
Hebrews 2:17
. If
we had to bear anything which Jesus did not endure, then upon this
point Satan would represent the power of God as insufficient for us.
Therefore Jesus was “in all points tempted like as we are.”
Hebrews
4:15
. He endured every trial to which we are subject. And He exercised
in His own behalf no power that is not freely offered to us. As man,
He met temptation, and overcame in the strength given Him from God.
He says, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within
My heart.”
Psalm 40:8
. As He went about doing good, and healing
all who were afflicted by Satan, He made plain to men the character
of God’s law and the nature of His service. His life testifies that it is
possible for us also to obey the law of God.
By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; by His divinity, He
lays hold upon the throne of God. As the Son of man, He gave us an
example of obedience; as the Son of God, He gives us power to obey.
It was Christ who from the bush on Mount Horeb spoke to Moses
saying, “I AM THAT I AM.... Thus shalt thou say unto the children of
Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
Exodus 3:14
. This was the pledge
of Israel’s deliverance. So when He came “in the likeness of men,” He
declared Himself the I AM. The Child of Bethlehem, the meek and
lowly Saviour, is God “manifest in the flesh.”
1 Timothy 3:16
. And to
us He says: “I AM the Good Shepherd.” “I AM the living Bread.” “I
AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” “All power is given unto Me in
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heaven and in earth.”
John 10:11
;
6:51
;
14:6
;
Matthew 28:18
. I AM