The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-18

race. It must have seemed wonderful
| to them not only that the Heavenly
Father would arrange such a plan but
wonderful also that the glorious "Only
Begotten." "Ffrst-Born." should be the
one to whom the proposition would be
made to show his faith and love for
the Father, to do his will TO the ex-
tent of such sacrifice not only OF
glory, but, eventually, Of life They
had yet to see a further operation of
the divine law Of retribution operating
in Jesus for his blessing and honor.
So intent were they in looking at the
humiliation of the Only Begotten. and
then at his death, that apparently they
did not so carefully note the fact that
the Heavenly Father had set before
him great joys, great blessings, great
exaltation, when he should finish his
work.
Already the Only Begotten was next
to the Father In glory and dignity,
honor and power; what more of divine
honor could be bestowed upon even
the F'irst-Born of every creature?
The Only Begotten himself appears
not to have thought particularly Of
the promised glory: The joy set be-
fore him. however. seems to have
been that he would do the Fathers
will and thus demonstrate his abso-
lutte loyalty even unto death. While.
no doubt 1t was Joy to the Lord
to be the Fathers Agent in the rescue
death. nevertheless we believe that
his chief joy in connection with the
matter was that thus he might Demon
strate to his Father his absolute love
by his submission and obedience.
Our Lords own words were, Father.
glorify thou me with the glory which
I had with thee before the world
was" (John xvii. %. He knew Of
the Fathers proposed exaltatton OF
him as a reward. but he did not men
l. ef re =.
Father that when he had accom-
plished the divine purpose he might
have back the same honor and POSI-
ton and divine favor which he had
laid aside when he humbled himself
to become Adams redemption price,
the worlds Savior. Such modesty
and loyalty are difficult for us 70
comprehend because OF our fallen,
imperfect conditions.
But the apostle explains to US,
speaking under the power OF inspira-
ence in leaving the glory and becom-
ing man and. dying for our sins,
therefore God hath highly exalted
him and given him a name above ev-
cry name, that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow. of things In
heaven and things in earth" (Philippi-
ans H. 8, 100. Elsewhere in the scrip
lures we are assured that our Lord be-
came partaker Of the divine nature in
his resurrection, tn6t InuS ne 4LJMlQo0
a reward far above anything that could
have been thought, not only above an
gels, but also far above his own prehu-
man condition. In thus rewarding the
faithful the Lord Is carrying oat the
spirit of our textile has been sxem-
plifying what IL otherwise taught In
the criptures-''whatsoeve man sow
eth that shall ne also reap" Galatians
vi, ID Adam sowed disobediencs and
he and his race have reaped . terrible
harvest of degradation, suffering and
death. The Only Begotten sowed obe-
dience as prophetically expressed OF
him at the time of his baptism, II de-
light to do thy will, o my God, thv
law Is written In my heart (Psalms ri
81. Laying down his life I'm harmony
with the divine program was his cow
| ing and the reaping at the resurrection
was glory. honor and Immortality the
divine nature. How richly Jehovah re-
wards every demonstration Of loye In,
to himself and the principles Of rirhf.
eousness.