Immanuel -- Chapter 1
Immanuel -- Chapter 2
Immanuel -- Chapter 3
Immanuel -- Chapter 4
Immanuel -- Chapter 5
Immanuel -- Chapter 6
Immanuel -- Chapter 7
Immanuel -- Chapter 8
Immanuel -- Chapter 9
Immanuel -- Chapter 10
Immanuel -- Chapter 11
Immanuel -- Chapter 12
Immanuel -- Chapter 13
Immanuel -- Chapter 14
Bibliography
Chapter Twelve
1 1 Selected Messages p301.
2 The Desire of Ages 484.
3 5 Bible Commentary p1113.
4 Think about it -- why should divinity die? Those who are lost pay their own penalty in the second death when their mortality dies. It was paid in Christ’s death, but they refused it. Christ became a man to unite humanity with divinity in His victory, not for divinity to die, but that the divine Saviour could bring us salvation. An angelic being could not unite humanity with divinity -- only the Son of God could achieve it.
5 John 10:18.
6 Youth’s Instructor. 11.18.1897.
7 Review and Herald. 12.18.1888.
8 John 19:17.18.
9 1 Selected Messages p402.
10 The Desire of Ages p756.
11 5 Bible Commentary p1150.1151. * It is obvious the subject of this section relates to the belief in an immortal soul that departs from the body at death. This is not a Bible understanding, but as some had considered it, the comment is given.
12 Matthew 27:51.
13 5 Bible Commentary p1150. Romans 3:26.
14 The Desire of ages p779.
15 John 2:19.
16 Psalm 16:9.10.
17 1 Spiritual Gifts p65.66.67.
18 1 Selected Messages p301. The text in 1 Timothy 6:15.16, may well be speaking of the Father, but the glorious reality also belongs to Christ. “Only He who alone hath immortality, dwelling in light and life, should say, "I have power to lay it (my life) down, and I have power to take it again.” (John 10:18). 1 Selected Messages p301.
19 The Desire of Ages p779.780. Compare this to the baptism and Gethsemane, and note the beams of light and what they represent. Desire of Ages p112.113. 690.693.
20 John 2:19.
21 Romans 10:9.
22 Colossians 2:12.
23 Acts 3:26.
24 Romans 6:4. The following are a selection of the thirty texts that speak of the Father raising Christ. Acts 2:23.24. 3:15. 4:10. 5:30. 10:39.40. 13:33.34.37. 17:31. Romans 4:24. 6:4. 8:11. 1 Corinthians 6:14. 15:15. Galatians 1:1. Ephesians 1:20. 1 Peter 1:21.
25 Signs of the Times. 05.10.1899.
26 5 Bible Commentary p1114.
27 Ibid.
28 7 Bible Commentary p907.
Immanuel -- God with Us
Chapter Twelve
LIFE IN HIMSELF
In previous chapters, it has been shown that as God, Christ was immortal. Like His Father, He possessed original, unborrowed life that could never end. The Father and the Son are both in themselves immortal, self-existent Beings.
Thus, in the eternal realms, Christ could not die. He could not say to the Father, ‘I give My immortality to You while I take on mortality.’ That is impossible. But, in taking humanity, Christ could allow Himself to be put to death.
However, on the cross, it was mortality that died, not divinity. “Humanity died; deity did not die.” 1
“While as a member of the human family (Christ) was mortal, as God He was the fountain of life for the world. He could have withstood the advances of death, and refused to come under its dominion, but voluntarily He laid down His life, that He might bring life and immortality to light.” 2
When Christ paid our death penalty, “it was His human nature that died. Deity did not sink and die, that would be impossible.” 3 Note, the prophet is speaking of two natures. Human nature can die; the divine nature cannot die.
It was humanity that sinned, not God. 4 *
Jesus “possessed power to lay it (His life) down” (by withholding power to prevent it), “and power to take it again” (possessing within Himself immortality). 5
“The prince of this world had no power to take (Christ’s) life from Him; He had laid it down as a voluntary sacrifice in man’s behalf.
He had not been compelled to take this course of action. He had said, ‘Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again’.” 6
The Son of God was willing to enter the human race, submit Himself to abuse, insult and suffering, and then allow Himself to come under the power of death. The divine nature did not die, but the divine-human Man, Christ Jesus was willing to go to the cross and allow death to overtake Him and be put in a cold grave.
Praise God.
“And he bearing his cross, went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified him…” 7
“What a mystery of mysteries! It is difficult for the reason to grasp the majesty of Christ, the mystery of redemption. The shameful cross has been upraised, the nails have been driven through His hands and feet, and the cruel spear has pierced to His heart, and the redemption price has been paid for the human race.” 8
In silence the beholders watched Christ’s suffering. They saw His mortal life drain from His tortured body, and they grieved. This, they thought, was the end of their hopes.
“Suddenly the gloom lifts from the cross, and in clear, trumpetlike tones, Jesus cries, ‘It is finished’. ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.’ A light encircles the cross, and the face of the Saviour shines with a glory like the sun. He then bowed His head upon His breast, and died.” 9
In previous chapters, we have discussed the union of divinity and humanity, showing that Christ’s divine nature was subject to His human nature. Everything He did, was through the faculties of a human being.
When He died upon the cross and the soldier pierced His side, it was evident His mortal heart had collapsed, for blood and water flowed from His side.
Without fresh blood circulating through His body, Christ would know nothing. His brain would be dead. It matters not if He had an immortal mind, for when a person is brain-dead, all thinking has stopped.
In death, Christ’s immortality was quiescent, as it were, asleep.
“When He closed His eyes in death upon the cross, the soul of Christ did not go at once to Heaven, as many believe*, or how could His words be true – ‘I am not yet ascended to my Father’?
The spirit of Jesus slept in the tomb with His body, and did not wing its way to Heaven, there to maintain a separate existence, and to look down upon the mourning disciples embalming the body from which it had taken flight.
All that comprised the life and intelligence of Jesus remained with His body in the sepulcher, and when He came forth it was as a whole being; He did not have to summon His spirit from Heaven. He had power to lay down His life and to take it up again.” 10 *
At the moment of Christ’s death, “the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.” 11
When He cried, ‘It is finished’, “God’s unseen hand rent the strong fabric composing the veil of the temple from top to bottom. The way into the holiest of all was made manifest. God bowed His head satisfied. Now His justice and mercy could blend. He could be just, and yet the justifier of all who should believe on Christ. He looked upon the victim expiring on the cross, and said, ‘It is finished. The human race shall have another trial’.” 12
While Jesus lay in the tomb, the holy angels kept their vigil over the Son of God. Not far away, Satan and his angels waited. Had it been possible, “the prince of darkness with his apostate army would have kept forever sealed the tomb that held the Son of God.” 13
The Pharisees and Sadducees were also waiting, fearful of what might take place at any moment. Perhaps He would fulfil His words, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 14
Yet Jesus knew not the passing of time.
However, the promise remained sure. “… my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” 15
The disciples were helpless. They had locked themselves in the upper room, fearful that their lives were in jeopardy. There was nothing they could do, but mourn.
“The night had worn slowly away, and while it was yet dark, the angels hovering over the sepulchre, knew that the time of the release of God’s dear Son, their loved Commander, had nearly come.
And as they were waiting with the deepest emotion the hour of His triumph, a strong and mighty angel came flying swiftly from heaven. His face was like the lightning, and his garments white as snow. His light dispersed the darkness from his track, and caused the evil angels who had triumphantly claimed the body of Jesus, to flee in terror from his brightness and glory.
One of the angelic host who had witnessed the scene of Jesus’ humiliation, and was watching His sacred resting place, joined the angel from heaven, and together they came down to the sepulchre.
The earth shook and trembled as they approached, and there was a mighty earthquake… One angel rolled back the stone in triumph, and with a clear and mighty voice, cried out, ‘Thou Son of God! Thy Father calls thee! Come forth! Death could hold dominion over Him no longer. Jesus arose from the dead.
The other angel entered the sepulchre, and as Jesus arose in triumph, he unbound the napkin which was about His head, and Jesus walked forth a victorious conqueror.
In solemn awe the angelic host gazed upon the scene. As Jesus walked forth from the sepulchre in majesty, those shining angels prostrated themselves to the ground and worshipped Him; then they hailed Him with songs of victory and triumph, that death could hold its divine captive no longer.” 16
The One who said, “I lay down my life, that I might take it again’, came forth from the grave to life that was in Himself…. In His divinity, Christ possessed the power to break the bonds of death…. Only He who alone hath immortality, dwelling in light and life, should say, ‘I have power to lay it (my life) down, and I have power to take it again’.” 17
Looking at that triumphant scene again. “And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven. Clothed with the panoply of God, this angel left the heavenly courts. The bright beams of God’s glory went before him, and illuminated his pathway…. The earth trembles at his approach, the hosts of darkness flee, and as he rolls away the stone, the heavens seem to come down to the earth.
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’.” 18
Now was fulfilled the prophecy He had spoken to the priests and rulers. ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days, I will raise it up.’ 19
Did Christ resurrect Himself? Yes, He said so.
Did the Father raise Christ?
“If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” 20
It was “the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.” 21 “God, having raised up His Son Jesus.” 22 “… Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father…” 23
How can it be both the Father and the Son?
Lying dead in the tomb, Christ relied on His Father to mark the time for the resurrection. At the appropriate moment, “The voice of God was heard, calling Christ from His prison-house.” 24
How was it heard?
The only possible way for the dead Christ to ‘hear’ His Father speak, was for His immortal Spirit to respond to the voice of the immortal Spirit of the Father. And having heard, He was able to pour life into His dead body and come forth a new glorious Being. “His body came forth from the tomb untarnished by corruption.” 25
“He who died for the sins of the world was to remain in the tomb the allotted time. He was in that stony prison house as a prisoner of divine justice. He was responsible to the Judge of the universe. He was bearing the sins of the world, and His Father only could release Him.” 26
So although Christ had, by the life that was within Himself, poured forth eternal life into His lifeless human body, it was the Father, by His immortal Spirit, who announced the time.
Thus it was that both the Father and the Son were responsible for the resurrection of Christ.
However, we must understand that the death of Christ’s human nature is not our salvation; it is the death of the divine-human person that saves us.
“Men need to understand that Deity suffered and sank under the agonies of Calvary. Yet Jesus Christ whom God gave for the ransom of the world purchased the church with His own blood.” 27
Jesus Christ – Immanuel - God with us – is our salvation.