The Desire of Ages--Final Chapter--"To My Father, and Your Father"

[R Myers]

"To My Father, and Your Father"

Listen  "To My Father, and Your Father"

 





     The time had come for Christ to ascend to His Father's throne. As a divine conqueror He was about to return with the trophies of victory to the heavenly courts. Before His death He had declared to His Father, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do." John 17:4. After His resurrection He tarried on earth for a season, that His disciples might become familiar with Him in His risen and glorified body. Now He was ready for the leave-taking. He had authenticated the fact that He was a living Saviour. His disciples need no longer associate Him with the tomb. They could think of Him as glorified before the heavenly universe.   
     As the place of His ascension, Jesus chose the spot so often hallowed by His presence while He dwelt among men. Not Mount Zion, the place of David's city, not Mount Moriah, the temple site, was to be thus honored. There Christ had been mocked and rejected. There the waves of mercy, still returning in a stronger tide of love, had been beaten back by hearts as hard as rock. Thence Jesus, weary and heart-burdened, had gone forth to find rest in the Mount of Olives. The holy Shekinah, in departing from the first temple, had stood upon the eastern mountain, as if loath to forsake the chosen city; so Christ stood upon Olivet, with yearning heart overlooking Jerusalem. The groves and glens of the mountain had been consecrated by His prayers and tears. Its steeps had echoed the triumphant shouts of the multitude that proclaimed Him king. On its sloping descent He had found a home with Lazarus at Bethany. In the garden of Gethsemane at its foot He had prayed and agonized alone. From this mountain He was to ascend to heaven. Upon its summit His feet will rest when He shall come again. Not as a man of sorrows, but as a glorious and triumphant king He will stand upon Olivet, while Hebrew hallelujahs mingle with Gentile hosannas, and the voices of the redeemed as a mighty host shall swell the acclamation, Crown Him Lord of all! 
     Now with the eleven disciples Jesus made His way toward the mountain. As they passed through the gate of Jerusalem, many wondering eyes looked upon the little company, led by One whom a few weeks before the rulers had condemned and crucified. The disciples knew not that this was to be their last interview with their Master. Jesus spent the time in conversation with them, repeating His former instruction. As they approached Gethsemane, He paused, that they might call to mind the lessons He had given them on the night of His great agony. Again He looked upon the vine by which He had then represented the union of His church with Himself and His Father; again He repeated the truths He had then unfolded. All around Him were reminders of His unrequited love. Even the disciples who were so dear to His heart, had, in the hour of His humiliation, reproached and forsaken Him. 
     Christ had sojourned in the world for thirty-three years; He had endured its scorn, insult, and mockery; He had been rejected and crucified. Now, when about to ascend to His throne of glory,--as He reviews the ingratitude of the people He came to save,--will He not withdraw from them His sympathy and love? Will not His affections be centered upon that realm where He is appreciated, and where sinless angels wait to do His bidding? No; His promise to those loved ones whom He leaves on earth is, "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:20. 
     Upon reaching the Mount of Olives, Jesus led the way across the summit, to the vicinity of Bethany. Here He paused, and the disciples gathered about Him. Beams of light seemed to radiate from His countenance as He looked lovingly upon them. He upbraided them not for their faults and failures; words of the deepest tenderness were the last that fell upon their ears from the lips of their Lord. With hands outstretched in blessing, and as if in assurance of His protecting care, He slowly ascended from among them, drawn heavenward by a power stronger than any earthly attraction. As He passed upward, the awe-stricken disciples looked with straining eyes for the last glimpse of their ascending Lord. A cloud of glory hid Him from their sight; and the words came back to them as the cloudy chariot of angels received Him, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." At the same time there floated down to them the sweetest and most joyous music from the angel choir. 
     While the disciples were still gazing upward, voices addressed them which sounded like richest music. They turned, and saw two angels in the form of men, who spoke to them, saying, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." 
     These angels were of the company that had been waiting in a shining cloud to escort Jesus to His heavenly home. The most exalted of the angel throng, they were the two who had come to the tomb at Christ's resurrection, and they had been with Him throughout His life on earth. With eager desire all heaven had waited for the end of His tarrying in a world marred by the curse of sin. The time had now come for the heavenly universe to receive their King. Did not the two angels long to join the throng that welcomed Jesus? But in sympathy and love for those whom He had left, they waited to give them comfort. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Hebrews 1:14. 
     Christ had ascended to heaven in the form of humanity. The disciples had beheld the cloud receive Him. The same Jesus who had walked and talked and prayed with them; who had broken bread with them; who had been with them in their boats on the lake; and who had that very day toiled with them up the ascent of Olivet,--the same Jesus had now gone to share His Father's throne. And the angels had assured them that the very One whom they had seen go up into heaven, would come again even as He had ascended. He will come "with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise." "The Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory." Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 25:31. Thus will be fulfilled the Lord's own promise to His disciples: "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3. Well might the disciples rejoice in the hope of their Lord's return.
     When the disciples went back to Jerusalem, the people looked upon them with amazement. After the trial and crucifixion of Christ, it had been thought that they would appear downcast and ashamed. Their enemies expected to see upon their faces an expression of sorrow and defeat. Instead of this there was only gladness and triumph. Their faces were aglow with a happiness not born of earth. They did not mourn over disappointed hopes, but were full of praise and thanksgiving to God. With rejoicing they told the wonderful story of Christ's resurrection and His ascension to heaven, and their testimony was received by many.
     The disciples no longer had any distrust of the future. They knew that Jesus was in heaven, and that His sympathies were with them still. They knew that they had a friend at the throne of God, and they were eager to present their requests to the Father in the name of Jesus. In solemn awe they bowed in prayer, repeating the assurance, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:23, 24. They extended the hand of faith higher and higher, with the mighty argument, "It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." Romans 8:34. And Pentecost brought them fullness of joy in the presence of the Comforter, even as Christ had promised.
     All heaven was waiting to welcome the Saviour to the celestial courts. As He ascended, He led the way, and the multitude of captives set free at His resurrection followed. The heavenly host, with shouts and acclamations of praise and celestial song, attended the joyous train. 
     As they drew near to the city of God, the challenge is given by the escorting angels,--


                 "Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
                  And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors;
                  And the King of glory shall come in." 
     Joyfully the waiting sentinels respond,--

          "Who is this King of glory?" 
     This they say, not because they know not who He is, but because they would hear the answer of exalted praise,--


                "The Lord strong and mighty,
                 The Lord mighty in battle!
                 Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
                 Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors;
                 And the King of glory shall come in." 

     Again is heard the challenge, "Who is this King of glory?" for the angels never weary of hearing His name exalted. The escorting angels make reply,--


                 "The Lord of hosts;
                  He is the King of glory." Psalm 24:7-10.

     Then the portals of the city of God are opened wide, and the angelic throng sweep through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music. 
     There is the throne, and around it the rainbow of promise. There are cherubim and seraphim. The commanders of the angel hosts, the sons of God, the representatives of the unfallen worlds, are assembled. The heavenly council before which Lucifer had accused God and His Son, the representatives of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought to establish his dominion,--all are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to celebrate His triumph and to glorify their King.
     But He waves them back. Not yet; He cannot now receive the coronet of glory and the royal robe. He enters into the presence of His Father. He points to His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His hands, bearing the print of nails. He points to the tokens of His triumph; He presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with Him as representatives of that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave at His second coming. He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents; who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. When upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished," He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares: Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, "I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am." John 19:30; 17:24. 
     The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are "accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews 1:6. 
     With joy unutterable, rulers and principalities and powers acknowledge the supremacy of the Prince of life. The angel host prostrate themselves before Him, while the glad shout fills all the courts of heaven, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:12. 
     Songs of triumph mingle with the music from angel harps, till heaven seems to overflow with joy and praise. Love has conquered. The lost is found. Heaven rings with voices in lofty strains proclaiming, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." Revelation 5:13.

                                                                ----------
 
     From that scene of heavenly joy, there comes back to us on earth the echo of Christ's own wonderful words, "I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God." John 20:17. The family of heaven and the family of earth are one. For us our Lord ascended, and for us He lives. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25. 

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A revelation of the character of God is what we need. This is what we have been given as we have read of the life of Jesus. May His love and grace be our study as we draw near to the end. If we will spend a thoughtful hour each day contemplating His character, then we shall have the wonderful blessing of making the character of our God our study for eternity. What a God we serve!!

[Joan]

Desire of Ages
Chapter 87
"To my Father, and your Father"

Whatever is it that unites us as a religious body claiming to be the body of Christ visible ? Is it not the primary desire to worship the Almighty Creator God with praise and adoration ? To bow before Him with delight in recognizing his magnificant splendorousness.  Is not our motivation to focus on the true character of God that is unfalsified and without distortions ? Is not our most secret wish to do and speak so as to make His heart pleased with what comes out of us ?

Deep within me I sense that the true members of Christ's body yearn with the whole heart to honor God by being in His righteousness and remaining there. We are united in this heartfelt gratefulness for what God did through His Son to accomplish the atoning of the break between the Creator and His humans. When the true members of the body of Christ give out of love and thankfulness sacrifices of paise, a sacrifice of one's body in holy service, and veneration of the Lord God Jehovah with respectful obedience to His commands, then unity is among the even two or thee coming together as members of the body of Christ.

The time for the Lord to part had arrived after the 40 days of being among the living after He was resurrected. The mount of Olives was the place where Jesus had chosen to depart from His disciples. It was the rise of land where the olive tree garden of Gethsemane was which shortly before gave forth great scenes of agonizing prayer and then violent arrest. But inspiration paints a picture of departure from peaceful victory. "With hands outstretched in blessing, and as if in assurance of His protecting care, He slowly ascended from among them, drawn heavenward by a power stronger than any earthly attraction. As He passed upward, the awe-stricken disciples looked with straining eyes for the last glimpse of their ascending Lord. A cloud of glory hid Him from their sight; and the words came back to them as the cloudy chariot of angels received Him, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." At the same time there floated down to them the sweetest and most joyous music from the angel choir."

"While the disciples were still gazing upward, voices addressed them which sounded like richest music. They turned, and saw two angels in the form of men, who spoke to them, saying, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Jesus always considerate of the natural human feelings and responses to strange occurances or painful situations, He left two angels to stay and minister to them again words of divine comfort.  "They turned, and saw two angels in the form of men, who spoke to them, saying, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." No secret rapture, no secret appearance in some future date. He will come "with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise." "The Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory." Rev. 1:7; 1 Thess. 4:16; Matt. 25:31.

Back among the people of the city, the disciples uncertainty or despondancy was completely gone. Something special shone in their faces as they spoke to others about the soon coming of the Lord a second time.  They had three substances of truth to motivate the happiness shining through their faces when they gave witness to Jesus........
1.) "The disciples no longer had any distrust of the future."
2.) "They knew that Jesus was in heaven, and that His sympathies were with them still."
3.) "They knew that they had a friend at the throne of God, and they were eager to present their requests to the Father in the name of Jesus."
And as Pentecost time fulfilled the given promise of Jesus to send the Comforter, they were boundless in their joy and power to live the victorious Christian life of overcoming.

We get so caught up with earthbound looking which causes us to tremble in uncertainties and fears that we overlook the need to apply our God given imagination for visualizing just how heaven's occupants experience the ascension of Jesus back to the heavenly home.
"Then the portals of the city of God are opened wide, and the angelic throng sweep through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music."

" He enters into the presence of His Father. He points to His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His hands, bearing the print of nails. He points to the tokens of His triumph; He presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with Him as representatives of that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave at His second coming. He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents; who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. When upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished," He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares: Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, "I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am." John 19:30; 17:24.

"The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are "accepted in the Beloved." Eph. 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Ps. 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Heb. 1:6.

We are here still on earth to go through a time of purging santification. Fear will be one of our biggest enemies to weaking our character growing into perfection in the resistance of evil. Fear of loss, fear of pain, fear of losing social acceptance, fear of suffering, fear of rejection and even fear of not being accepted by God.

But Jesus has overcome this world and the fears govening the inhabitants of it.
"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Heb. 7:25.

Our perfect love for Him will cast out all our fears.
On the condition that our eyes are fully looking on Jesus.

Matthew 17:7 ......

"And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only."

~~~
Joan
~~~

[Richard Myers]

Amen, Sister Joan.  The passage that moves me very much by an expression of God's character is this "The Father's arms encircle His Son..."  Dear friends, have you considered that we are really made in the image of God? Can you envision the arms of God the Father? Allow your mind to picture the form of God the Father. Can you see that while He is a Holy God, that He has a form as you and I have? Can you see Him with His arms around Jesus?  Contemplate the reality of God. Yes, we cannot imagine standing in the presence of God the Father, but it is His desire that we not only stand with Him, but share in His throne with His Holy innocent Son who He allowed to suffer and die in our place. Make no mistake that most will die and be raised from the dead to suffer for their sins, but understand also, the character of our God is to forgive if we will learn of Him. It is not His desire that we should die. He wants us to live and not only live, but to share in His kingdom. What a God! 

[Richard Myers]

We all know Jesus. Each day as we read about His life, we get to know Him better until we live for Him, not self. But, do we know our heavenly Father? Jesus said if we know Him, we know His Father. But, do we know Him personally? Not like we know Jesus. We know His character of unfathomable love. We saw that in chapter four where He risked His Son to come to this dark spot in the universe as a helpless babe subject the weakness of humanity, to fight the battle of life as each of us has to fight it.

Here I find something so very beautiful about our heavenly Father. And, for the first time when I read this, I saw our heavenly Father has a body like we do!  Some believe Him to be just Spirit, as is the Holy Spirit. But, no, He is like us with a body. How do we know? Read this most endearing statement as He welcomes His innocent Son back home.

  The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are "accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews 1:6. 

[JimB]

I remember reading that before but I guess it never occurred to me that some think the Father is a Spirit. We so often talk about Jesus and what He's done, and rightly so, but as you pointed out the Father risked His son when Jesus came to this earth. Jesus also said that if you've seen me you've seen the Father. Both risked eternal separation to save us. Alleluia and Amen!

[Richard Myers]

Good morning, Jim. Here is a verse that would lead some to think our heavenly Father is in Spirit only, even though it does not say it.  "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." John 4:24.

I have never thought of our heavenly Father as a Spirit, but I had never pictured Him at all. Jesus I can see because I read about Him. But, our Father I have not seen, but heard. He spoke three times in Scripture in an audible voice. I just never have spent time thinking about Him doing things as we see Jesus doing things.  The most beautiful things I have ever read are the following.  All three reveal the character of our heavenly Father.

     The story of Bethlehem is an exhaustless theme. In it is hidden "the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God." Romans 11:33. We marvel at the Saviour's sacrifice in exchanging the throne of heaven for the manger, and the companionship of adoring angels for the beasts of the stall. Human pride and self-sufficiency stand rebuked in His presence. Yet this was but the beginning of His wonderful condescension. It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man's nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.
     Satan in heaven had hated Christ for His position in the courts of God. He hated Him the more when he himself was dethroned. He hated Him who pledged Himself to redeem a race of sinners. Yet into the world where Satan claimed dominion God permitted His Son to come, a helpless babe, subject to the weakness of humanity. He permitted Him to meet life's peril in common with every human soul, to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss.   
     The heart of the human father yearns over his son. He looks into the face of his little child, and trembles at the thought of life's peril. He longs to shield his dear one from Satan's power, to hold him back from temptation and conflict. To meet a bitterer conflict and a more fearful risk, God gave His only-begotten Son, that the path of life might be made sure for our little ones. "Herein is love." Wonder, O heavens! and be astonished, O earth! 

Such love!!!

And here is a statement that I wondered about the first time I read it. I could not understand why God would ask a father to kill his son. I did not think bad of God, but I was perplexed. As I studied my Bible, I one day was shown that God allows things to happen in this world that we may not understand, but there is a very good reason for all He does. I understood what He did was for a reason, I just did not understand. Then, He showed me that Abram knew the lamb represented God's Son. He had been making sacrifices for many years. He was not as the Jews at the time Christ came into the world. He understood his sins were to be taken upon Jesus so he could be forgiven.

But, he nor I, at that time, had really felt what God would feel as His Son was put to death. Abraham lifted the knife, his heart ached as he was about to kill his son. What a horrible feeling. Then when God stopped him, Abram saw the ram caught in the thicket. He immediately correctly identified the ram as the Son of God. And, then he understood how much the Father loved him. That He had stopped Abram from killing his son, but He would not stop the murder of His innocent Son. He understood that our heavenly Father suffered extreme pain in allowing His Son to come to this dark spot in the universe to suffer and die at the hands of wicked men. What had been a mystery to me, became the most beautiful truth in the Bible.

 22:6   And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid [it] upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 
 22:7   And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here [am] I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where [is] the lamb for a burnt offering? 
 22:8   And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 
 22:9   And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 
 22:10   And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 
 22:11   And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here [am] I. 
 22:12   And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me. 
 22:13   And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind [him] a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 

And then today's reading where we see the "the Father's arms encircle His Son." Tell me that after what Jesus had been through, that the separation and risk taken, did not make that reunion most precious. And now I have a picture of our heavenly Father doing something!  How precious!

  "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews 1:6. 

All of this for me, a great sinner!!  Such love! It is through a knowledge of our God that we may be drawn back to Him. These are the great revelations of love that have caused me to love my Savior and my heavenly Father more than sin. I just need to keep them in my mind so I do not wander away from them! O how I love them who have proved their love for us not after we surrendered, but while we were the enemy. This is the grace that transforms, the grace that saves!!

[Richard Myers]

It is very difficult to move away from what I have already posted regarding this last chapter in this most beautiful book.

Let me build upon what I already have shared. Jesus has come forth from the grave and has returned to heaven. The angels welcome Him with a great celebration, but Jesus stops them. He must first hear the words of His Father that His sacrifice is acceptable, that the repentant sinners are saved.

     He enters into the presence of His Father. He points to His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His hands, bearing the print of nails. He points to the tokens of His triumph; He presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with Him as representatives of that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave at His second coming. He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents; who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. When upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished," He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares: Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, "I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am." John 19:30; 17:24.
     The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are "accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews 1:6. 

Loving Savior has us on His heart. Yes, God's justice was not set aside to save us. No, God's justice cannot be set aside. But, our loving Father and Savior put in place a plan that would save all who would learn of them. Mercy was extended at such a great cost! For what was such a price paid? Jesus shall see the travail of His soul.

Great as is the shame and degradation through sin, even greater will be the honor and exaltation through redeeming love. To human beings, striving for conformity to the divine image, there is imparted an outlay of heaven's treasure, an excellency of power that will place them higher than even the angels who have never fallen.  HP 148.

God will have His witnesses of the power of grace to transform sinners into saints. It is the righteousness of Christ that will be seen in repentant sinners that is the reason for the cross. Let us not deny Jesus His reward for all of His suffering. And, it is not just Jesus who suffered. Our loving heavenly Father found it hard to follow through with the compact entered into before the foundation of the world. It was not easy to risk losing His innocent Son, but He loves us and allowed Jesus to come to this dark spot in the universe where Satan claimed dominion, as a helpless babe subject to the weakness of humanity, to fight the battle of life as each child of humanity must fight it at the risk of failure and eternal loss! What love! Wonder O heavens and be astonished O Earth!

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Richard! I see consistency in your posts and how much you love Jesus, and want others to experience that love, too! That is also my deep desire!

I was so blessed by this chapter this morning, as it reveals to us how Christ's sojourn on earth had a very important purpose--to make it possible for us to eternally be with Him, and to be made like Him in character by experiencing the power of the gospel!

"Christ had ascended to heaven in the form of humanity. The disciples had beheld the cloud receive Him. The same Jesus who had walked and talked and prayed with them; who had broken bread with them; who had been with them in their boats on the lake; and who had that very day toiled with them up the ascent of Olivet,--the same Jesus had now gone to share His Father's throne. And the angels had assured them that the very One whom they had seen go up into heaven, would come again even as He had ascended. He will come "with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise." "The Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory." Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 25:31. Thus will be fulfilled the Lord's own promise to His disciples: "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3. Well might the disciples rejoice in the hope of their Lord's return."{DA 832.2}

What an incredible, infinite sacrifice! Jesus goes to heaven "in the form of humanity"--He is eternally our Brother! Wow! What love is this, and because of Him we can now have an intimate, personal relationship with our Father, who also has a form, and who with the Son and the Holy Spirit has made us in His image! Though that image has been marred by sin, I am so grateful that the gospel contemplates and assures us of COMPLETE recovery from sin through the grace of God! Hallelujah! Jesus is coming again!

I am looking forward already to the opportunity to experience more blessings and character transformation in again reading this book, as tomorrow we will read chapter 1! By beholding we become changed!

[Richard Myers]

Amen, Pastor Sean!  The greatest miracle God can do is to re-create us in His image. It is a promise we may claim if we will spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating His great love of us.  "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18. What is the "glory of the Lord"? It is His character. What about His character is it that turns a sinner into a saint, that reproduces His character in us, His righteousness? It is His grace, His mercy towards us while we were yet sinners. He did not wait until we became saints to love us, to suffer for us, to die for us, for we cannot be changed without Him. No, He suffered and died for us while we were at enmity with Him! What a God!! And, our heavenly Father risked losing His innocent Son that we might have the opportunity to know and serve them. Such love!

Here is something that reminds me of what grace really is. It is more than a word.

     Christ had sojourned in the world for thirty-three years; He had endured its scorn, insult, and mockery; He had been rejected and crucified. Now, when about to ascend to His throne of glory,--as He reviews the ingratitude of the people He came to save,--will He not withdraw from them His sympathy and love? Will not His affections be centered upon that realm where He is appreciated, and where sinless angels wait to do His bidding? No; His promise to those loved ones whom He leaves on earth is, "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:20. 

Grace is undeserved love. This is what reaches through our vile fallen flesh and the walls of the carnal heart and changes the sinner from the inside out. Though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Jesus can cleanse us, our sin stained hearts, if we will come to Him just as we are, if we will learn of Him and see the stripes upon His back, that belong to you and me. This is what we have been doing here in this forum. We are learning of the grace of our God. Join with us, each day as we share that which God is pleading with His church to do. Jesus tells us "if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." John 7:37,38.  "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." Isaiah 55:3.

This is why we are here today. We are "coming to Jesus" that we might be filled with His love, through His Spirit. And then we may be a blessing to others in sharing this Living Water, the water of life.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Richard!!! What a God! What a Savior! His grace is as thick about us as the air we breathe, but only by daily, continually beholding His loveliness are we able to be changed! Today we find such comfort for the future, as did the disciples!

The disciples no longer had any distrust of the future. They knew that Jesus was in heaven, and that His sympathies were with them still. They knew that they had a friend at the throne of God, and they were eager to present their requests to the Father in the name of Jesus. In solemn awe they bowed in prayer, repeating the assurance, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23, 24. They extended the hand of faith higher and higher, with the mighty argument, “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:34. And Pentecost brought them fullness of joy in the presence of the Comforter, even as Christ had promised. – {DA 833.1}

As long as we have Jesus abiding within our hearts, we can rejoice in hope of the glory (character) of God!

I am so so looking forward to starting our reading of The Desire of Ages again in chapter one tomorrow! I pray that more will join us in reading and posting! Come and be blessed, and share how blessed you are in beholding Jesus!

[Richard Myers]

Amen, Pastor Sean! What a joyous chapter as we read of the celebration that took place in heaven when Jesus' work on Earth was finished! All heaven welcomed the King of Glory! But, none could worship the Lord until our heavenly Father declared the Sacrifice was complete, that the sins of the whole world had been paid for. What suffering had taken place for us while we were yet sinners!! What character had been formed through that suffering!

Jesus enters into the presence of His Father. He points to His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His hands, bearing the print of nails. He points to the tokens of His triumph; He presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with Him as representatives of that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave at His second coming. He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents; who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. When upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished," He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares: Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, "I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am." John 19:30; 17:24.
     The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are "accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews 1:6.
     With joy unutterable, rulers and principalities and powers acknowledge the supremacy of the Prince of life. The angel host prostrate themselves before Him, while the glad shout fills all the courts of heaven, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:12.
     Songs of triumph mingle with the music from angel harps, till heaven seems to overflow with joy and praise. Love has conquered. The lost is found. Heaven rings with voices in lofty strains proclaiming, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." Revelation 5:13.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Richard! We rejoice as we contemplate the completed work of Jesus in our behalf!

Christ had ascended to heaven in the form of humanity. The disciples had beheld the cloud receive Him. The same Jesus who had walked and talked and prayed with them; who had broken bread with them; who had been with them in their boats on the lake; and who had that very day toiled with them up the ascent of Olivet,--the same Jesus had now gone to share His Father's throne. And the angels had assured them that the very One whom they had seen go up into heaven, would come again even as He had ascended. He will come "with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise." "The Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory." Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 25:31. Thus will be fulfilled the Lord's own promise to His disciples: "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3. Well might the disciples rejoice in the hope of their Lord's return.

Our Elder Brother sits upon the eternal throne--a pledge that we, through becoming partakers of the divine nature, may also sit there one day, as we can overcome through the strength and grace imparted to repentant sinners who choose to behold the loveliness of Jesus!

I have an appeal--if you are reading this and you have not yet "joined us" in reading through The Desire of Ages and posting what the Holy Spirit reveals to you of Jesus' loveliness, may you sense God's invitation to join us as tomorrow we begin again to read and share from this beautiful book--starting at chapter 1. May God bless you!

[Richard Myers]

What a glorious day that was when Jesus was escorted into heaven!!!

     Then the portals of the city of God are opened wide, and the angelic throng sweep through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music.
     There is the throne, and around it the rainbow of promise. There are cherubim and seraphim. The commanders of the angel hosts, the sons of God, the representatives of the unfallen worlds, are assembled. The heavenly council before which Lucifer had accused God and His Son, the representatives of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought to establish his dominion,--all are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to celebrate His triumph and to glorify their King.
     But He waves them back. Not yet; He cannot now receive the coronet of glory and the royal robe. He enters into the presence of His Father. He points to His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His hands, bearing the print of nails. He points to the tokens of His triumph; He presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with Him as representatives of that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave at His second coming. He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents; who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. When upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished," He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares: Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, "I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am." John 19:30; 17:24.
     The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished.

What a glorious day it will be when Jesus is escorted back to the exact place from which He ascended!! Don't you want to be there? Then let us rejoice in the truth that because of what Jesus has done, we have this hope!!

    He will come "with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise." "The Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory." Revelation 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 25:31. Thus will be fulfilled the Lord's own promise to His disciples: "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3. Well might the disciples rejoice in the hope of their Lord's return.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Richard! Jesus is coming again!!! I find great joy in this hope and have the opportunity to point others to Jesus today:

  While the disciples were still gazing upward, voices addressed them which sounded like richest music. They turned, and saw two angels in the form of men, who spoke to them, saying, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." 

Let us look up to Him evermore!

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

What a joy it has been to read Desire of Ages again! As we will begin again tomorrow in Chapter 1, please join us for this experience of beholding the loveliness of Jesus! We see that Christ's ministry is clearly connected with repetition for our benefit:

 Now with the eleven disciples Jesus made His way toward the mountain. As they passed through the gate of Jerusalem, many wondering eyes looked upon the little company, led by One whom a few weeks before the rulers had condemned and crucified. The disciples knew not that this was to be their last interview with their Master. Jesus spent the time in conversation with them, repeating His former instruction. As they approached Gethsemane, He paused, that they might call to mind the lessons He had given them on the night of His great agony. Again He looked upon the vine by which He had then represented the union of His church with Himself and His Father; again He repeated the truths He had then unfolded. All around Him were reminders of His unrequited love. Even the disciples who were so dear to His heart, had, in the hour of His humiliation, reproached and forsaken Him. 

Jesus repeats the very things we need to keep uppermost in our minds. May we receive the blessing of His repeated words experientially by continuing to journey together through this blessed revelation of Jesus! It is as we behold Him that He changes us and prepares us for heaven!!!

[JimB]

please join us for this experience of beholding the loveliness of Jesus! We see that Christ's ministry is clearly connected with repetition for our benefit:

Amen pastor Sean! There are not many books I can read and re-read again and again and get the same joy out of it as the first time around. As a matter of fact out side of the Bible I can't think of another book that has grabbed my attention like the Desire of Ages. Over the years that have been a couple of books that I've read 2 or 3 times but since I started reading the Desire of Ages in the mornings a 3 or 4 years back (maybe more, can't remember for sure) I'm not sure how many times I've been through it now and what a blessing it has been.

The best thing it does is it's connects us with Christ as the heart is drawn out to Him each morning but there are other benefits of reading this book so many times. For me it has become in a way an error detector. I'll be listening to someone speak about spiritual matters and they will say something that triggers a memory and I'll say to myself.... "that's not right, because in the Desire of Ages it says this or that..."  Repetition is indeed good for us.

"While the disciples were still gazing upward, voices addressed them which sounded like richest music. They turned, and saw two angels in the form of men, who spoke to them, saying, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Jesus always considerate of the natural human feelings and responses to strange occurances or painful situations, He left two angels to stay and minister to them again words of divine comfort.

Here is my lovely Savior again looking out for others. Just like he looked out for His mother while hanging on the cross, now He brings his forlorn disciples words of comfort as He ascends to Heaven to be with His Father. Selflessness is our Savior always being considerate towards us lowly human beings. What a Savior we serve!!

[Richard Myers]

Amen!  What a Savior!  The angels never weary of hearing His name exalted. The universe has witnessed His work of redemption and know that God is just and merciful and Satan is vanquished.  "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews 1:6.
     With joy unutterable, rulers and principalities and powers acknowledge the supremacy of the Prince of life. The angel host prostrate themselves before Him, while the glad shout fills all the courts of heaven, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:12. 

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

I am so blessed to contemplate Christ's ascension to heaven, and that as He was on His way with His disciples, it is beautiful to see how heaven was already in their experience because of a full-faith surrender and hearts aglow with the love of Jesus! We may have this today with Him as we do His will and yield all to Him as we behold the loveliness of Jesus!

"When the disciples went back to Jerusalem, the people looked upon them with amazement. After the trial and crucifixion of Christ, it had been thought that they would appear downcast and ashamed. Their enemies expected to see upon their faces an expression of sorrow and defeat. Instead of this there was only gladness and triumph. Their faces were aglow with a happiness not born of earth. They did not mourn over disappointed hopes, but were full of praise and thanksgiving to God. With rejoicing they told the wonderful story of Christ's resurrection and His ascension to heaven, and their testimony was received by many." {The Desire of Ages, page 832, paragraph 3}

Only the presence of Jesus can make men and women happy, and when we are fully surrendered to Him and have Him with us in every trial and experience of life, we are truly blessed to await His return and to go forth to diffuse that light and blessing to others!

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Contemplating Christ's ascension to heaven is an encouragement to us while still on earth, for He stands as our representative and advocate, and all who will make a full surrender to Him will experience His justifying, sanctifying righteousness. Christ comes to indwell the soul by His Spirit and His blood atones for our sins. We can press onward in the Christian life with joy and happiness found in Him!

"The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are 'accepted in the Beloved.' Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. 'Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.' Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, 'Let all the angels of God worship Him.' Hebrews 1:6." {The Desire of Ages, page 834, paragraph 4}

How shall we be prepared to enter heaven? I was also reading in Manuscript Releases this morning, and I was so very blessed to find many gems of encouragement! One I will share is here:

"We must keep the eye directed upward to God above the ladder. The question with men and women gazing heavenward is, How can I obtain the mansions for the blessed? It is by being a partaker of the divine nature. It is by escaping the 'corruption that is in the world through lust.' It is by entering into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, laying hold of the hope set before you in the gospel. It is by fastening yourself to Christ and straining every nerve to leave the world behind, laboring to diminish by successive steps your distance from God, who is at the top of the ladder. It is by being in Christ and yet led by Christ; by believing and working—trusting in Jesus, yet working upon the plan of addition, holding onto Christ and constantly mounting upward toward God." – {Manuscript Releases, Volume 19, page 354, paragraph 1}

We need to continually partake of "the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4), and knowing that we have our Elder Brother at the throne of the Eternal should encourage us to press onward with courage and determination in the right direction, letting go of doubtful habits and pressing in the way of Christ's character. Let us choose this day to serve Christ, and by beholding His loveliness of character we are encouraged in our press onward to victory! Christ is the victory, and as long as we maintain a continual surrender of the will to Him, we shall be partakers of His nature, which is revealed in all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing. We need Jesus in our experience, and we can continue to have a deeper experience with Him, for He invites us to grow in His grace from "glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18)--from character to character. Who you are today in Christ is not what Jesus wants to make you tomorrow...so keep looking to Him and the transformation will be continuous! Praise the Lord!!!

[Richard Myers]

Amen!!  The gospel is to be presented with great joy, as it is the truth unto everlasting life. I love this chapter! It is such a blessing that removes all "unbelief." What a compassionate God we serve!

When Jesus ascended to heaven, the angels wished to worship Him, but He held them back. Why? Because in order for us to have salvation, He has to suffer for each and every one of our sins. What a thought! What grace!!

     But He waves them back. Not yet; He cannot now receive the coronet of glory and the royal robe. He enters into the presence of His Father. He points to His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His hands, bearing the print of nails. He points to the tokens of His triumph; He presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with Him as representatives of that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave at His second coming. He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents; who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. When upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished," He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares: Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, "I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am." John 19:30; 17:24.
     The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are "accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews 1:6.
     With joy unutterable, rulers and principalities and powers acknowledge the supremacy of the Prince of life. The angel host prostrate themselves before Him, while the glad shout fills all the courts of heaven, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:12.
     Songs of triumph mingle with the music from angel harps, till heaven seems to overflow with joy and praise. Love has conquered. The lost is found. Heaven rings with voices in lofty strains proclaiming, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." Revelation 5:13.