Basic HTML Version
A Teacher Sent From God, January 2
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son ... to
redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of
sons.
Galatians 4:4, 5
.
At the time of Christ’s first advent darkness had covered the earth, and gross
darkness the people. Truth looked down from heaven, and nowhere could discern
the reflection of her image. Spiritual darkness had settled down over the religious
world, and this darkness was almost universal and complete....
All things proclaimed the urgent necessity on the earth of a Teacher sent from
God—a Teacher in whom divinity and humanity would be united. It was essential
that Christ should appear in human form, and stand at the head of the human race,
to uplift fallen human beings. Thus only could God be revealed to the world.
Christ volunteered to lay aside His royal robe and kingly crown, and come to
this earth to show to human beings what they may be in cooperation with God.
He came to shine amidst the darkness, to dispel the darkness by the brightness of
His presence....
The Father and the Son in consultation decided that Christ must come to the
world as a babe, and live the life that human beings must live from childhood
to manhood, bearing the trials that they must bear, and at the same time living a
sinless life, that men might see in Him an example of what they can become, and
that He might know by experience how to help them in their struggles with sin.
He was tried as man is tried, tempted as man is tempted. The life that He lived in
this world, men can live, through His power and under His instruction....
Patriarchs and prophets have predicted the coming of a distinguished Teacher,
whose words were to be clothed with invincible power and authority. He was to
preach the gospel to the poor, and proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. He
was to set judgment in the earth; the isles were to wait for His law; the Gentiles
were to come to His light, and kings to the brightness of His rising. He was “the
messenger of the covenant,” and “the Sun of righteousness.” ...
And “when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son.” ...The
heavenly Teacher had come. Who was He? No less a being than the Son of God
Himself. He appeared as God, and at the same time as the Elder Brother of the
human race.—
The Signs of the Times, May 17, 1905
.
What He taught, He lived.... What He taught, He was. His words were the
expression, not only of His own life experience, but of His own character. Not
only did He teach the truth, but He was the truth. It was this that gave His teaching
power.—
Education, 78, 79
.
[17]
7