Friday: Further Thought – Job’s Redeemer
Further Thought: “‘Now is the judgment of this world,’ Christ continued; ‘now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto Me. This He said, signifying what death He should die.’ This is the crisis of the world.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
If I become the propitiation for the sins of men, the world will be lighted up. Satan’s hold upon the souls of men will be broken. The defaced image of God will be restored in humanity, and a family of believing saints will finally inherit the heavenly home. This is the result of Christ’s death. The Saviour is lost in contemplation of the scene of triumph called up before Him. He sees the cross, the cruel, ignominious cross, with all its attending horrors, blazing with glory.
“But the work of human redemption is not all that is accomplished by the cross. The love of God is manifested to the universe. The prince of this world is cast out. The accusations which Satan has brought against God are refuted. The reproach which he has cast upon heaven is forever removed. Angels as well as men are drawn to the Redeemer.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 625, 626.
Discussion Questions:
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The book of Job is fundamentally about God's Son Jesus Christ and, Job who was recognised by God as a righteous man. Both Jesus and Job lived on earth and suffered cruelly and unjustly but finally both were vindicated by God the Father. Therefore it can be argued that Job's painful experience prefigured that of Christ. I believe that in a way this book was meant to serve as a foreshadow of Christ as John the Baptist was to Jesus.
There are interesting parallels between the suffering of Job and Christ. As Job was reckoned to be innocent by God Himself and did everything he could to please God, offering sacrifice for sins committed or may have been committed by his family, Jesus never sinned yet He was condemned by sinful men as the worst sinner ever! Further, we witnessed satan appearing on the scene to tempt, break and lead both Jesus and Job to sin. He failed miserably in both instances. The suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ completely broke satan's stranglehold over humanity that he had had since the Fall of man. It demonstrated fully and clearly that God is love. Praise the Lord!
I believe the book of Job was provided to answer questions, the questions some might have when trouble comes to them, though they are right with God. Rev 12 speaks of the accuser of the brethren, and in Job we see him in action in just one of the many instances where he is found to be accusing "day and night". If you receive and hope in Christ, you will be accused in similar manner, and yes, God may allow circumstances that would reveal your unshakable faith. The story of Job brings comfort and encouragement for all who might need it through the answers it gives to us.
It also serves to warn those who would presume to judge others based on mere circumstances, and instructs on how to be true comforters, by showing how NOT to do it, that we might know if we are working with the Redeemer or the Accuser.
2 Tim 3:16,17