| Christian Life and Doctrine | December 1962 |
This Is Our God
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” —Isaiah 7:14
NEARLY two thousand years ago, about October 1, Jesus, the world’s Savior, was born. It was toward the end of December of the preceding year that the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was to be the mother of this promised One. The angel said, “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”—Luke 1:26-33
Naturally Mary was astonished to hear this announcement, and inquired of the angel how it could be, “seeing I know not a man?” The angel explained, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”—Luke 1:34,35
Later Mary said to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever.”—Luke 1:46-55
When the time came for Jesus to be born, the holy angels were again used, one of them making the announcement of his birth to a group of humble shepherds. The record of this is ever new and refreshing: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”—Luke 2:8-14
This was exciting news for those humble shepherds, and they said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”—Luke 2:15-20
Prior to Jesus’ birth an angel communicated with Joseph, Mary’s husband, in a dream, and explained the situation to him The angel said to Joseph, “Thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:20,21) Then follows the explanation, “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which, being interpreted is, God with us.”—Matt. 1:20,23
According to custom, when Jesus was eight days old, they took him to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”—Luke 2:25-32
Joseph and Mary “marveled” at the things said by Simeon, and well they might. And Simeon continued with them, and blessed them. He said to Mary, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”—vss. 33-35
We read that when Mary and Joseph “had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit [the words, “in spirit,” omitted in Vatican and Sinaitic MSS.], filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” (Luke 2:39,40) Thus Luke stresses the fact that after the presentation of Jesus at the temple the parents returned with him to Nazareth. This would mean that the visit of the “wise men,” when they found “the young child” in a “house,” was perhaps as much as two years later, when the little family returned to Jerusalem for the annual feast of the passover.—Luke 2:41; Matt. 2
Fulfillment
AT THE time Jesus was born nearly four thousand years had elapsed since God had said that the “Seed” of the “woman” would bruise the “serpent’s” head; and about two thousand years had passed since God had promised Abraham that through his “seed” all the families of the earth should be blessed. But all the while, through his servants, God had continued to make promises which gave assurance of his love for the human race, and of his intention one day to deliver the people from their bondage to sin and death. These promises were directed specially to the natural descendants of Abraham, who became the nation of Israel. They constituted the basis of Israel’s hope in the coming of a Messiah, a great King who would establish a powerful government in Jerusalem, and eventually extend its rulership over all the earth.
The theme of God’s promises to Israel was a “joyful sound” to all the devout and faithful of that nation. (Ps. 89:15) As this theme song of God’s love unfolded, it gave assurance that through the promised Messiah all the ills of a sin-sick and dying world would be cured, and that all the problems created by human unwisdom and selfishness would be solved. Death was to be swallowed up in victory, and tears wiped away. (Isa. 25:6-9) Blind eyes were to be opened, and the lame were to “leap as an hart.” (Isa. 35) While, because of sin, God had turned man to destruction, in due time he was to say, “Return, ye children of men,” in a resurrection which would include both “the just and unjust.”—Ps. 90:3: Acts 24:15
All these blessings were to reach Israel and the world through the agencies of the promised messianic kingdom. In a prayer David wrote: “Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.”—Ps. 86:8-10
While David rejoiced in the fact that all nations would eventually acknowledge, worship, and serve the God of Israel, he was especially happy in the knowledge that the great king of promise was to come from his family, his “house.” When God promised him, through the Prophet Nathan, that he would establish his ruling house forever, David was overwhelmed with appreciation and joy, and said to the Lord, “Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner [margin, Heb. law] of man, O Lord God?”—II Sam. 7:18,19
Yes, as David said, God had spoken of his “house” for a great while to come, a much greater while than David realized. He did not realize that through many future generations his ruling house would be divided, that wicked rulers would at times be in control, and that finally it would cease to function, as when the last king, Zedekiah, was overthrown, and the nation taken captive to Babylon.
The foes of Israel were both from within and from without. In another prayer we read, “Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance, for they have consulted together with one consent [margin, Heb. heart]: they are confederate against thee.”—Ps. 83:1-5
God did not permit Israel’s enemies to destroy them as a nation, although they did lose their national independence, and the typical ruling house of David ceased to function. Nevertheless the “joyful sound” of coming deliverance and glory remained alive in the hearts of the faithful, although as the centuries rolled on the ways of the Lord must have seemed strange, and without doubt their faith was tested.
But God was teaching his people lessons, one of the important ones being that the blessings which he had promised through a coming “Seed” could not be realized through human efforts; that there must, and would be, divine intervention in the affairs of men to fulfill his promises. God began early to teach this lesson. Note the experience of Abraham and Sarah in connection with the birth of Isaac. Isaac’s birth was a miracle because so much time had elapsed that the parents were past the age of having children; besides, Sarah was barren to start with.
The promise, “The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,” is presented on an interesting background. Enemies of Israel were attempting to destroy Jerusalem, but the Lord would not permit this. He promised, instead, that those who were then plotting against the house of David would themselves be destroyed. Then, out of this local scene came the long-range prophecy of the birth of the Messiah. This was to be a sign that God had not forgotten his people; that all his promises would be fulfilled in his own due time and way.
The seventy years captivity of the Israelites, and subsequent vassal status of the nation should have taught the people that without God’s help the messianic cause was lost. And when God’s due time came for the Messiah to be born, how wonderfully the Lord impressed upon all concerned that this was indeed something he was bringing about. In the first place there was the case of a virgin conceiving—a miracle, a sign that God was intervening to carry out his purposes.
Much that happened in connection with the birth of the Messiah was calculated to build up this same thought in the minds of those concerned. Mary did not casually discover that she was to become a mother, and left to wonder how it came about. Instead, the angel Gabriel was sent to announce to her the important role she was to have in the outworking of the divine plan. Later, angels announced the birth of the Messiah, and sang glory to God in the highest, affirming that this expression of God’s good will toward men would lead to peace on earth. Yes, it was the Lord who was working—working to accomplish his plans, not the plans of men.
Understanding Through Fulfillment
WHEN the typical kingdom of God was overthrown in 606 B.C. doubtless many Israelites wondered how God’s promise to David would be fulfilled. And how wonderful was that promise! We quote: “I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish forever, and build up thy throne to all generations.” (Ps. 89:3,4) Neither David, nor any of the Israelites prior to the first advent of Jesus, realized that the fulfillment of this promise would require that the Son of God would come to earth and be born of a woman that he might be this great Ruler to sit on the throne of David.
But this point was explained by the angel in the announcement made to Mary. The angel said concerning Jesus, “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:32,33) Truly David was right when in his prayer he observed that God had spoken of his “house” for “a great while to come.”—II Sam. 7:19
Further Waiting
WITH the birth of Jesus the divine purpose to bless all the families became more than a promise. The promised king of glory had now been born. The light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Israel, had come. It was the Son of God, the Logos, who had humbled himself, and was now found in fashion as a man. This was the One who had come to inherit David’s throne, and to rule over the house of Jacob forever. And he was born in a manger.
The shepherds “marveled” at the angelic message which reached them, but verified its truthfulness by visiting the babe in the manger. Mary pondered in her heart all that she had learned concerning her miracle child. Probably no one concerned expected anything else than that this child would have to mature to manhood before he could actually begin to carry out all the wonderful things which had been foretold concerning him. But compared with the centuries that Israel had waited for the coming of the Messiah, the few years more until he was thirty years of age, would not seem long.
When she thought he could understand, probably Mary explained to Jesus the remarkable circumstances of his birth, and from this he would know that there was an important purpose for him to accomplish in his Heavenly Father’s plan. This is probably why, when he was twelve years of age, his parents found him in the temple asking questions of the doctors of the law. Rebuked by his mother for not remaining with them, Jesus replied, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49) All who heard Jesus at this time “were astonished at his understanding and answers.”—vs. 47
We are not informed as to the nature of the questions Jesus asked Israel’s religious leaders at this time, but apparently he had learned from them that it would not be proper for him to embark upon any special mission for his Heavenly Father until he had reached the age of thirty. So he went back to Nazareth with his parents, and “was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature [margin, or, age], and in favor with God and man.”—vss. 51,52
When Jesus was thirty years old he went to John to be baptized. At that time the “heavens were opened” to Jesus, and he heard a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:13-17) We may understand the opening of the heavens to signify a revealment to Jesus concerning the nature of the divine mission which he had come into the world to accomplish. Thus it becomes interesting to note the course and nature of his ministry.
Jesus had come to be a Prince and a Savior, the great Messiah of promise. He had come to sit upon the throne of David, at the head of a government which would extend its sphere of influence world-wide. He had come to enlighten the whole world, both Jews and Gentiles, concerning the true God and his love for the sin-sick and dying race. However, the nature of Jesus’ ministry was such that his friends had good cause to wonder if he would accomplish any of these things. Even John the Baptist, who announced Jesus as the Lamb of God, was thrown into prison, and in bewilderment sent messengers to inquire of Jesus, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?”—Matt. 11:2,3
Those whom Jesus selected as his chief co-workers were not outstanding personalities in Israel. The religious leaders opposed him. He made no effort to establish a government in Jerusalem. None of his acts were designed to impress people with his greatness. Because of his miracles of healing, many followed Jesus, their chief interest being in the loaves and the fishes. Later some of these may have been among the mob who cried, “Crucify him, crucify him.”—Luke 23:21
What great truth was revealed to Jesus when the heavens were opened to him that caused him to take this course which led to shame, ignominy and death? It was that great fundamental of the divine plan which is referred to in Paul’s letter to Timothy as the “ransom.” (I Tim. 2:3-6) Before Jesus could establish a kingdom he must first redeem the people from sin and death. It was not the divine plan that the messianic kingdom should rule over dying subjects, but over those who, through belief in Christ and his shed blood, would be given an opportunity to live, not to an ordinary “good old age,” but forever.
In order for this to be true it was essential that Jesus lay down his human life in sacrifice, that he give his flesh for the life of the world. (John 6:51) Even the disciples of Jesus did not understand this, and therefore were confused when he was taken from them and crucified. “We trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel,” one of them said to Jesus, not knowing who he was. (Luke 24:13-32) Ah yes, this is what all his disciples had expected, and Mary, his mother, also.
And they were justified in thus trusting; but something else had to be accomplished first. The world had to be redeemed from death. As Jesus explained to the two disciples, it was first necessary that the Christ should suffer and die, and afterward enter into his glory. (Luke 24:26,27) Now Jesus had suffered and died. So far as his part in this feature of the divine plan was concerned it had been accomplished.
A Further Sign
THE Scriptures present an interesting side thought in connection with the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus to show them a “sign,” presumably to prove that he truly was the Messiah. He said that no sign would be given except the sign of Jonas, mentioning that as Jonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of the fish, so the Son of Man would be three days and nights in the heart of the earth.—Matt. 12:38-40
This was a very important “sign.” This One who had come to sit on David’s throne was put to death by David’s people. He was despised and rejected of men, He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. From the human standpoint it would appear as though Satan had thwarted the divine purpose as it was centered in Jesus, that David’s throne would now be without an occupant. But not so, for divine power raised the King from the dead as a sign, not only that he had the divine approval, but that the powers of darkness cannot interfere with the accomplishment of the divine purpose.
In his Pentecostal sermon Peter said concerning Jesus and his resurrection, “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.”—Acts 2:29-31
Still More Waiting
AFTER his resurrection Jesus “showed himself alive” to his disciples “by many infallible proofs.” (Acts 1:3) But prior to the coming upon them of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they did not comprehend the full significance of what was taking place. When he appeared to them for the last time, they made bold to ask, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”—Acts 1:6
This was a perfectly logical question. To their understanding it was for this that Jesus had come to earth. Since his resurrection he had announced to his disciples that “all power” had been given to him in heaven and in earth. (Matt. 28:18) Surely it would be a simple matter now to liberate Israel from her yoke of bondage to Rome. Jesus’ reply was, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”—vs. 7
This was merely another way of saying that the time had not yet come for the great King of promise to set up his kingdom, and enlighten and bless the whole world of mankind. First, as he had commissioned them, his disciples were to be his witnesses “unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (vs. 8) There was a work to be done, a work which would involve his followers in the privilege of suffering and dying with him; for the foretold sufferings of Christ were not finished on Calvary. It is still the privilege of his followers to suffer and to die with him.
Meanwhile another great truth of the divine plan comes to light, which is that the principal phase of the messianic kingdom is not earthly, but spiritual. When Jesus was raised from the dead he was highly exalted, even to the right hand of the throne of God. His followers, those who are faithful even unto death, are exalted with him even to the divine nature, to live and reign with him. It is the work of reaching these through the Gospel that has consumed the entire age from Jesus’ first advent until now.
Meanwhile the world has continued on in darkness. That true light which will yet lighten every man that has come into the world has as yet enlightened only the few. The Sun of Righteousness has not yet risen to enlighten the world, which becomes more and more engulfed in sin. Indeed, today, we are in the midst of what the Scriptures foretold would be a “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.”
But there is every reason to believe that now the kingdom of the Messiah is about to be manifested in power and great glory, vouchsafing to all people those wonderful blessings of promise—peace, health, and everlasting life. All the righteous desires of the people will then be realized and, in response to these blessings showered upon them so abundantly, they will say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”—Isa. 25:9