Friday: Further Thought ~ Christ in the Crucible
Further Thought:
Read Ellen G. White, “Gethsemane,” Pages 685-697, and “Calvary,” Pages 741-757, in The Desire of Ages.
“Three times has He uttered that prayer.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Three times has humanity shrunk from the last, crowning sacrifice. But now the history of the human race comes up before the world’s Redeemer. He sees that the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must perish. He sees the helplessness of man. He sees the power of sin. The woes and lamentations of a doomed world rise before Him. He beholds its impending fate, and His decision is made. He will save man at any cost to Himself. He accepts His baptism of blood, that through Him perishing millions may gain everlasting life. He has left the courts of heaven, where all is purity, happiness, and glory, to save the one lost sheep, the one world that has fallen by transgression. And He will not turn from His mission. He will become the propitiation of a race that has willed to sin. His prayer now breathes only submission: ’If this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, Pages 690, 693.
Discussion Questions:
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At the end of this lesson and of this quarter, I'd like us to reflect on just why we studied a series of lessons on In the Crucible With Christ. What do we see as the author's goals? And what did we gain from these lessons? (I'm interested in your thoughts.)
What has been uppermost in my mind is what I mentioned earlier - that freedom of choice is so important to Him that He created us with it, knowing what it would cost Him. It's because He wanted a love relationship with us, and there can be no love without freedom.
This week's study has been particularly poignant in that it focused our attention on the last days and closing moments of Christ's life as a man on this planet. It gave us a chance to do what one of our pioneers recommended many years ago:
Our little human minds can't really begin to grasp what all Christ went through for us - that we might have eternal life with Him. I've really appreciated the comments that focused on trying to feel what Christ went through. While we are not to rely on feelings in our spiritual walk, without feelings we will not change because feelings drive actions. I think that's also why we are told to "let the imagination grasp each scene." I find the last chapters of The Desire of Ages really help with this. At our house, we've been reading those portions of The Desire of Ages individually and together. Focusing on Jesus and what He did for us changes us. (2 Cor. 3:18)
(You can read the whole book online. I think I just counted the title 47 languages. And this link goes to the Kindle version we are currently reading. You'll find an audio book and a hardcover book there as well.)
For those who are interested, I would invite you to take a careful look at today's quote from Ellen White. I will highlight a couple points for your consideration and feedback that I believe to be consistent with both scripture and Ellen White's writing. But see what you think...
1. "He sees that the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must perish." Note the term "perish" which is also key to John 3:16 and 2 Peter 3:9 as well as Psalm 1:6. Although perish is at times used synonymously with "be destroyed", the Greek word for perish (apollumi) is to destroy via away from. That is, to come to destruction as a consequence of loss of connection to something. The notion of food perishing after having become separated from the plant well reflects this phenomenon (John 15:5).
2. "He will become the propitiation of a race that has willed to sin." Although propitiation is often connected with appeasement, at its deepest level it conveys the idea of actually resolving the root cause of the problem, rather than merely compensating for the problem being in existence. This is consistent with the idea of Jesus actually fixing the core issue that is causing the perishing of the human race - a new heart and right spirit (Psalm 51:10) back within humanity, the Second Adam repairing the fall of the First Adam (Romans 5:19; Hebrews 2:17).
And I would also invite you to consider what is being suggested above in conjunction with another quote* from Ellen White:
I propose that these points have direct relevance to our understanding regarding the nature of the crucible that Christ was experiencing and, in turn, God's role in that same experience. Your thoughts?
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* I have only reproduced a brief quote to keep the length of my comment brief. I have other quotes that further support and unpack this statement. But you can read around this quote for yourself to see if I am misusing/misquoting what is said or not.
The bad news of the gospel is that there will be a judgement and that all the wicked whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life will be completely annihilated. However the good news of the gospel is that Jesus died for our sins so that if we repent and surrender our will to the LORD he will blot our sins out of the Book of Life and we will be given eternal life with Him.
What does the Word of the LORD tell me:
Jesus said: Mat 26:28 MKJV For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Paul said: 2Co 5:21 For He (God) has made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Peter said: 1Pe 2:24 MKJV He (Jesus) Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that dying to sins, we might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
John said: 1 John 1:7-9 the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
FUNDAMENTAL BELIEF 9: THE LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
In Christ’s life of perfect obedience to God’s will, His suffering, death, and resurrection, God provided the only means of atonement for human sin, so that those who by faith accept this atonement may have eternal life, and the whole creation may better understand the infinite and holy love of the Creator. This perfect atonement vindicates the righteousness of God’s law and the graciousness of His character; for it both condemns our sin and provides for our forgiveness. The death of Christ is substitutionary and expiatory, reconciling and transforming. The bodily resurrection of Christ proclaims God’s triumph over the forces of evil, and for those who accept the atonement assures their final victory over sin and death. It declares the Lordship of Jesus Christ, before whom every knee in heaven and on earth will bow. (Gen. 3:15; Ps. 22:1; Isa. 53; John 3:16; 14:30; Rom. 1:4; 3:25; 4:25; 8:3, 4; 1 Cor. 15:3, 4, 20-22; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15, 19-21; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 2:15; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; 1 John 2:2; 4:10.)
SDA Fundamental Beliefs #9
What came to mind as I studied this week’s lesson is that I do not yet fully grasp the gravity of the sin nature we have to deal with on a daily basis; to know how to subdue it when ever it rears its ugly head.
It appears in all the, oh so familiar, 'shapes and sizes', and we are often caught off guard to quickly prevent it from overtaking us by reacting impulsively.
Humility and graciousness are two aspects of the fruit of the Spirit which I ask my heavenly Father to build up, to strengthen in me, but only the lived experience gives me occation to confront the temptation and gives me opportunity to resist my old nature.
Christ in the Crucible has shown me that the life our Lord and Savior lived is crucial for me to know in order to know how to live my life when encountering my crucibles. This is why He has come to live among us - to show as the Way of Truth and Light which we are to follow by faith. This is the most important lesson I learned this week.
I think we focus too much on guild and death, and not enough on forgiveness and life; a new life lived gratefully and happily attune to the Will of the Father as revealed by His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To me the authors statement on Wednesday is what we should get out of the lesson. "According to Scripture, God’s wrath against sin, our sin, was poured out upon Jesus. Jesus on the cross suffered a righteous God’s righteous indignation against sin, the sins of the whole world."
As Ingies selected quote meditating on the things Christ has done for us, our confidence in Christ will be more constant and our love for Him quickened.
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed.
I Peter 2:24. NKJV
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1 Peter 3:18 KJV
By the blood of Jesus, we if we chose we can be put to death of sin and raised being alive in Jesus by the Spirit. It is what Christ taught to Nicodemus, thus for all. It is about being born again. John 3:1-8