Christ as a Witness by B. H. SHAW

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 30, 1907

Christ as a Witness

By B. H. SHAW

B. H. SHAW

God’s Word plainly declares his character. Ps. 89: 14; 1 John 4: 8; Ex. 34: 6, 7. In him are mingled unfailing justice and unbounded love. But from the creation of the world Satan has been accusing God to the race, misrepresenting him in every particular. In Gen. 3: 4, 5, and Job 1: 9-11 we have definite records of his false accusations. Satan’s rebellion was attended by the falling away of one third of the angels (Rev. 12: 3, 4, 9; 2 Peter 2: 4); and as he himself once occupied the exalted position of covering cherub (Eze. 28: 16), his rebellion with so large a following, and his consequent removal from heaven, would naturally create more or less disaffection and sympathy for him.

The whole universe was a witness of this sad fall, and the Father and Son in counsel together (Zech. 6: 13) laid a plan to reconcile the inhabitants of heaven and earth. Col. 1: 20.

The success of the plan required a demonstration of the character of God by one who was fully qualified to make it. John 1: 18. The theater in which the demonstration was made is the world. 1 Cor. 4: 9, margin. Christ was given as a witness (Isa. 55: 4), and he bore witness to the truth. John 18: 37. God was “manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3: 16), “for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Col. 2: 9.

Anarchy aims at the law; and in reply to Satan’s charge that obedience was required to an unjust law, Christ became flesh (Heb. 2: 14-18; 4: 15), heir to all the weaknesses and inclinations thereof. In this condition he was entirely and absolutely dependent on the Father for strength (John 5: 19, 30), which he sought by spending whole nights in prayer. Luke 6: 12. In this condition he forever demonstrated the justice of the law by keeping it perfectly. Rom 8: 1-4; 1 Peter 2: 22.

Christ showed the Father’s love by giving his life for sinners (1 John 4: 8-10; 1 Peter 3: 18), and after dying the death which justice demanded of the sinner, he bestows eternal life as a gift. Rom. 6: 23; 1 John 5: 11, 12. So unbounded is his love, that he sends messengers to all the world with the loving invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11: 28-30), urging that it is “without money and without price.” Isa. 55: 1.

After having, by an obedient life and a sacrificial death, proved the Father’s love (Heb. 2: 14), Christ will finally show the unfailing justice of God by destroying sin, root and branch (Mal. 4: 1; Prov. 2: 22), and our hearts are gladdened by the assurance that “he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up a second time.” Nahum 1: 9.

When “the day of the Lord’s vengeance and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion” (Isa. 34: 8) shall come, where will be the accusers? “All that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.” Isa. 45: 24. We are told “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father.” Phil. 2: 10, 11. When in the ages to come he will “show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Jesus Christ” (Eph. 2: 7), the heavens and earth with not one dissenting voice will take up the song, “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” Rev. 5: 11-13.