August 18, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
CHRIST’S SECOND PHASE OF WORK BEGAN AT GETHSEMANE COMPLETED AT CALVARY
Jesus demonstrated to perfection in the flesh-and-blood human nature that was subject to temptation and death that it is entirely possible, by appropriating God’s saving grace to constantly resist and obtain victory over every temptation!
“When He came to the end of His public ministry and faced GETHSEMANE and GOLGOTHA, He confidently affirmed, ‘I have glorified Thee on earth: I HAVE FINISHED THE WORK which Thou gravest Me to do.’ John 17:4. Within the time allotted, and as far as He was concerned, He had made ‘an end of sin.’ This work He finished BEFORE the cross in the BODY given Him. THIS WAS THE FIRST PHASE OF HIS ATONING WORK.”
“The second phase of His work began at Gethsemane, and was completed when at the cross He exclaimed, ‘IT IS FINISHED.’ John 19:30.”
“In this second phase Christ bore the sins of men for the purpose of SUFFERING for them and paying the PENALTY due to sin.”
“When Christ faced Gethsemane He sustained a DIFFERENT relation to the Father from that which He sustained before. Hitherto He had relied on the Father’s protection and care, and though severely tried, He was always CONSCIOUS of the Father’s love and care.”
“But now [in Gethsemane], He was to take the place of the transgressor, and suffer in his stead. He was treated [in Gethsemane] as a sinner deserves to be treated, and at last be FORSAKEN of God, till in ANGUISH OF SOUL He cried out, ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou FORSAKEN ME?’ Mark 13:34.” M.L. Andreasen, The Book of Hebrews, pp. 55,56.
Christianity ignores, and therefore is grossly ignorant of what happened in Gethsemane. Christ, in His human nature, could have failed and given up in Gethsemane but His victory there prepared Him for Calvary. Ponder upon this! NMF