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Cumbered with humanity [as a human on earth], Christ could not be in every place personally; [as a human on earth] therefore it was altogether for their advantage that He should leave them [from earth to go to Heaven], go to His father [in Heaven], and send the Holy Spirit [an agency from Heaven: John 14:12 Quoted, “By this, Christ did not mean that the disciples would make more exalted exertions than He had made, but that their work would have greater magnitude. He did not refer merely to miracle working, but to all that would take place under the agency of the Holy Spirit” (AA 22.1) Also, “In the days of the apostles He wrought mightily for His church through the agency of the Holy Spirit” (AA 53.1). Also, “As they go forth to the day’s duties, they have the assurance that the unseen agency of the Holy Spirit enables them to be ‘laborers together with God’” (AA 56.2).] to be His successor on earth. [Who are the ‘agents’ in the “agency”? Notice: “Angels work harmoniously. Perfect order characterizes all their movements. The more closely we imitate the harmony and order of the angelic host, the more successful will be the efforts of these heavenly agents in our behalf” (1T 649.2).] The Holy Spirit [is the “agency of Heaven,” which is stated as including—but not limited to—angels and humans, “The wise virgins, the waiting ones, had their faith and love and patience nourished by the oil of the Spirit of God. Thus it must be with each one who is saved. It is by the Spirit, the gracious agency of heaven, that the lamp is kept from flickering” (1888 1761.2). Next is a reference to the humans in the “agency” of the Spirit. Notice: “It is the privilege of every soul to be a living channel through which God can communicate to the world the treasures of His grace, the unsearchable riches of Christ. There is nothing that Christ desires so much as agents who will represent to the world His Spirit and character. There is nothing that the world needs so much as the manifestation through humanity of the Saviour’s love. All heaven is waiting for channels through which can be poured the holy oil to be a joy and blessing to human hearts” (COL 419.2).] is Himself [Christ] divested of the personality of humanity [as a human on earth] and independent thereof. [Now He is glorified, differing from His earthly experience. Notice the study below entitled, “Christ Glorified.”] He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit [the agency of the various representatives, or instrumentalities. “From the beginning, God has been working by His Holy Spirit through human instrumentalities for the accomplishment of His purpose in behalf of the fallen race” (AA 53.1). “Christ Jesus has given us an example in His life. As Head of the church He requires that each individual Christian surrender himself, soul, and body and spirit, and his possessions, to the Lord, to work daily for the conversion of souls to Jesus Christ. All power in heaven and earth He commands, and combines His divine sympathies and angelic instrumentalities with the living human agent on earth. Thus no Christian is to be unemployed” (7LtMs, Lt 45, 1892, par. 29).], as the Omnipresent [“By His Holy Spirit” the agency]. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall (although unseen by you), [This phrase was added by Ellen White.] teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” [John 14:26]. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will come not unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you” [John 16:7].” 14MR 23.3

The Holy Spirit [a heavenly agency] is Christ’s representative [Notice the idea here of a representative: “When, in the midst of his blind error and prejudice, Saul was given a revelation of the Christ whom he was persecuting, he was placed in direct communication with the church, which is the light of the world. In this case Ananias represents Christ, and also represents Christ’s ministers upon the earth, who are appointed to act in His stead. In Christ’s stead Ananias touches the eyes of Saul, that they may receive sight. In Christ’s stead he places his hands upon him, and, as he prays in Christ’s name, Saul receives the Holy Ghost. All is done in the name and by the authority of Christ. Christ is the fountain; the church is the channel of communication” (AA 122.4). If God uses His Spirit to win souls without the help of representatives of humanity, why the history in the book of Acts? “To scatter His representatives abroad, where they could work for others, God permitted persecution to come upon them. Driven from Jerusalem, the believers “went everywhere preaching the word” (AA 105.2).], but divested of the personality of humanity [as a human on earth], and independent thereof [Now He is glorified, differing from His earthly experience. Notice the study below entitled, “Christ Glorified.”]. Cumbered with humanity [as a human on earth], Christ could not be in every place personally [as a human on earth]. Therefore it was for their interest that He should go to the Father [in Heaven], and send the Spirit [the agency] to be His successor on earth. No one could then have any advantage because of his location or his personal contact with Christ [But they would have the agency of His Spirit within reach through representatives or instrumentalities!]. By the [agency of the] Spirit the Saviour would be accessible to all. In this sense [through His agency] He would be nearer to them [the “all” in the previous sentence] than if He had not ascended on high. DA 669.2

“The people of God on earth are the human agents that are to cooperate with divine agencies for the salvation of men. To the souls that have joined themselves to Him, Christ says, “You are one with Me, ‘labourers together with God’” (1 Corinthians 3:9). God is the great and unperceived actor; man is the humble and seen agent, and it is only in cooperation with the heavenly agencies that he can do anything good. It is only as the mind is enlightened by the Holy Spirit that men discern the divine agency. And hence Satan is constantly seeking to divert minds from the divine to the human, that man may not cooperate with Heaven. He directs the attention to human inventions, leading men to trust in man, to make flesh their arm, so that their faith does not take hold upon God” (2SM 123.1).

Christ Glorified

ST May 10, 1899, EGW

Mrs. E. G. White (with red additions by Daniel Mesa)

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee. As Thou has given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him. John 6:65 No man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou has sent. 1 John 1:3 Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self Hebrews 10:5 A body hast thou prepared me. with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. Proverbs 30:4 …What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?” ST May 10, 1899, par. 1

This is a plain statement of the pre-existence of Christ. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Had He not had an existence before He assumed human nature, how could He possess glory with the Father before the world was? Matthew 1:23 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. This is a grand theme for all to contemplate who are searching for truth. The Holy Spirit The agency of Heaven will be beside all such, to present to them the glory of this wonderful truth. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. – John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. O, that the human mind might be strengthened that it might comprehend the glory of the Redeemer! 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. ST May 10, 1899, par. 2

Christ is not praying for the manifestation of the glory of human nature; for that human nature never had an existence in His pre-existence. Hebrews 10:5 A body hast thou prepared me. He is praying to His Father in regard to a glory possessed in His oneness with God. John 10:30 I and my Father are one. His prayer is that of a mediator; 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus the favor He entreats is the manifestation of that divine glory which was possessed by Him when He was one with God. “Now, of the human: “He was made in the likeness of man: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death.” He voluntarily assumed human nature. It was his own act, and by his own consent. He clothed his divinity with humanity. He was all the while as God, but he did not appear as God. He veiled the demonstrations of Deity which had commanded the homage, and called forth the admiration, of the universe of God. He was God while upon earth, but he divested himself of the form of God, and in its stead took the form and fashion of a man. He walked the earth as a man. For our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich. He laid aside his glory and his majesty. He was God, but the glories of the form of God he for a while relinquished.” RH July 5, 1887, par. 4 Let the vail be removed, He says, and let My glory shine forth,—the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) ST May 10, 1899, par. 3

Christ defines the manner in which He has glorified the Father: “I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world; 1 Timothy 3:16 God was manifest in the flesh. Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy Word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee.” ST May 10, 1899, par. 4

How did the Father answer Christ’s prayer? ST May 10, 1899, par. 5

For a period of time Christ was on probation. He took humanity on Himself, to stand the test and trial which the first Adam failed to endure. Had He failed in His test and trial, He would have been disobedient to the voice of God, and the world would have been lost. Revelation 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. ST May 10, 1899, par. 6

Satan has asserted that men could not keep the commandments of God. To prove that they could, Christ became a man, and lived a life of perfect obedience, an evidence to sinful human beings, to the worlds unfallen, and to the heavenly angels, that man could keep God’s law through the divine power that is abundantly provided for all that believe. Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. In order to reveal God to the world, to demonstrate as true that which Satan has denied, Christ volunteered to take humanity, Zechariah 6:13 The counsel of peace shall be between them both. and in His power, humanity can obey God. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.” “Strength and grace have been provided through Christ to be brought by ministering angels [agents in the agency of the Spirit] to every believing soul.” SC 52.3 All heaven is Christ’s to give to the world. Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: ST May 10, 1899, par. 7

Christ emptied Himself of His honored position in the heavenly courts. Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He became a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Isaiah 53:3 He was, as we are, subject to the enemy’s temptations. Hebrews 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. Satan exulted when Christ became a human being, and he compassed His path with every conceivable temptation. Human weakness and tears were His portion; but He sought unto God, praying with His whole soul, with strong crying and tears; and He was heard in that He feared. Hebrews 5:7 The subtlety of the enemy could not ensnare Him while He made God His trust, and was obedient to His words. “The prince of this world cometh,” He said, “and hath nothing in Me.” He can find nothing in Me which responds to his sophistry. ST May 10, 1899, par. 8

Amid impurity, Christ maintained His purity. Satan could not stain or corrupt it. His character revealed a perfect hatred for sin. Hebrews 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity. It was His holiness that stirred against Him all the passion of a profligate world; John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. for by His perfect life He threw upon the world a perpetual reproach, and made manifest the contrast between transgression and the pure, spotless righteousness of One that knew no sin. Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. This heavenly purity annoyed the apostate foe as nothing else could do, and he followed Christ day by day, using in his work the people that claimed to have a superior purity and knowledge of God, putting into their hearts a spirit of hatred against Christ, and tempting His disciples to betray and forsake Him. Luke 22:2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. – John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. – John 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. ST May 10, 1899, par. 9

Christ was buffeted with temptations, and convulsed with agony. He was lacerated with stripes Isaiah 53:5, crowned with thorns, and crucified. Matthew 27 The fallen foe, once exalted to heaven, bruised Christ’s heel, but this was all he could do. While engaged in doing despite to Christ, his head was being bruised. While enduring the contradiction of sinners against Himself, Christ was filled with sorrow and anguish. This was represented as the bruising of His heel. Genesis 3:15 A pain, heavier than ever oppressed another, was weighing down His humanity. Matthew 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. ST May 10, 1899, par. 10

But although Christ’s divine glory was for a time veiled and eclipsed by His assuming humanity, yet He did not cease to be God when He became man. Mark 14:61 The high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? 14:62 And Jesus said, I am. The human did not take the place of the divine, nor the divine of the human. This is the mystery of godliness. The two expressions human and divine were, in Christ, closely and inseparably one, and yet they had a distinct individuality. 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh. Though Christ humbled Himself to become man, the Godhead was still His own. Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. His Deity could not be lost while He stood faithful and true to His loyalty. Surrounded with sorrow, suffering, and moral pollution, despised and rejected by the people to whom had been entrusted the oracles of heaven, Jesus could yet speak of Himself as the Son of man in heaven. John 3:13 No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. He was ready to take once more His divine glory when His work on earth was done. ST May 10, 1899, par. 11

There were occasions when Jesus stood forth while in human flesh as the Son of God. Divinity flashed through humanity, and was seen by the scoffing priests and rulers. John 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. (This specific experience is explained further in DA 694.5-6 below.) Was it acknowledged? Some acknowledged that He was the Christ, John 19:38 Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. but the larger portion of those who upon these special occasions were forced to see that He was the Son of God, refused to receive Him. Their blindness corresponded to their determined resistance of conviction. ST May 10, 1899, par. 12

When Christ’s indwelling glory flashed forth, it was too intense for His pure and perfect humanity entirely to conceal. The scribes and Pharisees did not speak in acknowledgment of Him, but their enmity and hatred were baffled as His majesty shone forth. Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? The truth, obscured as it was by a vail of humiliation, spoke to every heart with unmistakable evidence. This led to the words of Christ, “Ye know who I am.” Men and devils were compelled, by the shining forth of His glory, to confess, “Truly, this is the Son of God.” Thus God was revealed: thus Christ was glorified. ST May 10, 1899, par. 13 “Standing in advance of His disciples He said, “Whom seek ye?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am He.” As these words were spoken, the angel who had lately ministered to Jesus moved between Him and the mob. A divine light illuminated the Saviour’s face, and a dovelike form overshadowed Him. In the presence of this divine glory, the murderous throng could not stand for a moment. They staggered back. Priests, elders, soldiers, and even Judas, fell as dead men to the ground. DA 694.5

The angel withdrew, and the light faded away.” DA 694.6

By raising Christ from the dead, the Father glorified His Son before the Roman guard, before the Satanic host, and before the heavenly universe. Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) A mighty angel, clothed with the panoply (PAN’OPLY, noun [Gr. all, and arms.] Complete armor or defense. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary) of heaven, descended, scattering the darkness from his track, and, breaking the Roman seal, rolled back the stone from the sepulcher as if it had been a pebble, undoing in a moment the work that the enemy had done. Matthew 28:2 Behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. The voice of God was heard, calling Christ from His prison-house. “The soldiers see him removing the stone as he would a pebble, and hear him cry, Son of God, come forth; Thy Father calls Thee. They see Jesus come forth from the grave, and hear Him proclaim over the rent sepulcher, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” As He comes forth in majesty and glory, the angel host bow low in adoration before the Redeemer, and welcome Him with songs of praise.” DA 779.3 The Roman guard saw heavenly angels falling in reverence before Him whom they had crucified, and He proclaimed above the rent sepulcher of Joseph, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Can we be surprised that the soldiers fell as dead men to the earth? ST May 10, 1899, par. 14

Christ’s ascension to heaven, amid a cloud of heavenly angels, glorified Him. Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. His concealed glory shone forth with all the brightness that mortal man could endure and live. He came to our world as a man; He ascended to His heavenly home as God. His human life was full of sorrow and grief, because of His cruel rejection by those He came to save; Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. but men were permitted to see Him strengthened, to behold Him ascending in glory and triumph, surrounded by a convoy of angels. The same holy beings that announced His advent to the world were permitted to attend Him at His ascension, and to demand a triumphal entrance for the royal and glorified Being. “Lift up your heads, O ye gates,” they cry as they near the heavenly portals; “and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” The angels at the gates respond in lofty strain, “Who is this King of glory?” And from thousands and ten thousands of voices the answer comes: “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 the angels at the gates cry, “Who is this King of glory?” and again the response swells triumphantly upward, “The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.” Psalms 24:7-10 ST May 10, 1899, par. 15 “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.” DA 832.1

Thus the prayer of Christ was answered. He was glorified with the glory which He had with His Father before the world was. Revelation 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. But amid this glory, Christ does not lose sight of His toiling, struggling ones upon earth. He has a request to make of His Father. He waves back the heavenly host until He is in the direct presence of Jehovah, and then He presents His petition in behalf of His chosen ones. ST May 10, 1899, par. 16

Father,” He says, “I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.” John 17:24 And then the Father declares, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” Hebrews 1:6 The heavenly host prostrate themselves before Him, and raise their song of triumph and joy. Glory encircles the King of heaven, and was beheld by all the heavenly intelligences. No words can describe the scene which took place as the Son of God was publicly reinstated in the place of honor and glory which He voluntarily left when He became a man. Revelation 5 ST May 10, 1899, par. 17

And today Christ, glorified, and yet our Brother is our Advocate in the courts of heaven. 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous “In all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:17 “We have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 “For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:18 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 ST May 10, 1899, par. 18