Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-05
appeareth 2

appedIetls
THE LORD CRUUIFIEn
Expecting Messiah to appear in very diff
ferent way, Israel unprepared for the maj
of sorrow and acquainted with grief ''tna
Lamb OF God which taketh away the sin Il
the world" They expected Q great general. q
mighty leader. who would appeal to the learned.
the wealthy, the noble. But our Lord appealed
only 20 those who were pure In heart, Israel
ties indeed" Such alone had the necessary
faith TO recognize Him and receive Him. In
others crucified Him, hut did II ignorantiy 81.
Peter declares, II wot that through ignorance
yc did 1t. as did also your rulers. lie killed
the Prince OF life" (Acts, 3:I5-17) And ST.
Paul says. HAD they known it, they would not
hsve crucified the Lord Of glory.''-I Cor. 2:s.
However, our Lords crucifixion was merely
fulfillment Of another feature OF the Divine
plan to make the blessing OF ali mankind the
de per and broader.
By virtue of keeping the law. Jesus would
have had the right to earthly perfection Tor nIm-
self eternal life and happiness. He also woula
have been heir of all the things that Adam pcs.
ssssed and lost. He might, therefore, lave es-
tablished an earthly mpre, and, by wise laws
and regulations, he might have done much roi
human uplight-the very thing winch people
today are wanting TO bring about. out his sub
jacts would still have been under lie Divine
condemnation of death. He would ihereiy nave
been the ruler instructor, or fallen, dying loan.
Gods promise OF blessing meant more than tbls
Ard in harmony with it Lord Jesus did mol
keep his earthly rights. but surrendered them,
sacrificed them, laid them down on OIr iehalf
The laying down of these earthly rights was
finished at Calvary. Since this sacrificing was
done in harmony with the Divine purpose. tho
Heavenly Father rewarded the SacriflSeI with
a new life on higher plane, far above angeIs
and principalities and powers"
Thus when Jesus was raised from the dead on
the third day He was no longer a man, but
spirit being, a par,aker Of the divine nature,
far above angels. More than this, He had His
earthly rights which he had sacrificed, and
these now constituted asset or thing Of val
ne which He possessed and which He might
bestow upon others He laid down His earthly
rights that He might receive life again on a
high plane and have a right to give the sac
rificed earthly perfection, honors and privileges
to others. 1t IN this manner that the
Lord provided for the blessing OF the world
''the blessing Of the Lord that maketh rich'
and TO which He addeth SORROW" Though
the blessings have not yet come 10 the world,
: os we have seen the foundation has already
been laid in the redemptive work accomplished
at Calvary.
We cannot in this discourse trace the blessing
to its conclusion. But knowing that our dis
courses weekly reach about seven million read
ers we shall hope to address the majority OF
you through the public prints week hence.
We hope then TO show the Lord has promised
that His blessing under the Abrahamic covenant
and through the nation of Israel and through
the mediatorial work of Christ Is yet to bring
blessings TO every member of Adams race-an
opDortunfty for oh. aiming life eternal. Mean
time let us all assure our hearts Of the truth
fitness of the promise that ''the blessing OF
tbe Lord maketh rich and that HE addeth
no sorrow herewith" Any sOrrows that come
10 ms are earthborn and not of the Lord and
nav be overcome so that eventually we may
he of the mighty host who In heaven aud In
cath and under the earth VIII be heard giving
ssnraise and honor to Him who sitteth on the
throne and unto the Lamb Rev. 5;lS.