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The Desire of Ages
Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of
man.”
The priests and rulers had set themselves up as judges to condemn
Christ’s work, but He declared Himself their judge, and the judge of
all the earth. The world has been committed to Christ, and through
Him has come every blessing from God to the fallen race. He was the
Redeemer before as after His incarnation. As soon as there was sin,
there was a Saviour. He has given light and life to all, and according to
the measure of light given, each is to be judged. And He who has given
the light, He who has followed the soul with tenderest entreaty, seeking
to win it from sin to holiness, is in one its advocate and judge. From
the opening of the great controversy in heaven, Satan has maintained
his cause through deception; and Christ has been working to unveil
his schemes and to break his power. It is He who has encountered the
deceiver, and who through all the ages has been seeking to wrest the
captives from his grasp, who will pass judgment upon every soul.
And God “hath given Him authority to execute judgment also,
because He is the Son of man.” Because He has tasted the very dregs
of human affliction and temptation, and understands the frailties and
sins of men; because in our behalf He has victoriously withstood the
temptations of Satan, and will deal justly and tenderly with the souls
that His own blood has been poured out to save,—because of this, the
Son of man is appointed to execute the judgment.
But Christ’s mission was not for judgment, but for salvation. “God
sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the
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world through Him might be saved.”
John 3:17
. And before the San-
hedrin Jesus declared, “He that heareth My word, and believeth Him
that sent Me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath
passed out of death into life.”
John 5:24
, R. V.
Bidding His hearers marvel not, Christ opened before them, in still
wider view, the mystery of the future. “The hour cometh,” He said,
“in which all that are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come
forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they
that have done ill, unto the resurrection of judgment.”
John 5:28, 29
,
R. V.
This assurance of the future life was that for which Israel had so
long waited, and which they had hoped to receive at the Messiah’s
advent. The only light that can lighten the gloom of the grave was