Joy Set before Him by H. S.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 23, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 49.

"Joy Set before Him."

By H. S.

BEFORE the Saviour came into the world, he well understood that he was to be a "man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." He understood the nature of that bitter cup that he was to drink. He knew that our iniquities were to be laid on him, and that he was to taste death for every man. After he became man, and more especially after he had entered upon his public ministry, the cross was doubtless much in mind. Its dark shadows were ever falling upon him. He occasionally spoke of this matter to the disciples. On the mount of transfiguration "the decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem" was the theme of conversation between himself and Moses and Elias. And very probably this was the great burden of his prayers, when he spent whole nights upon the lonely mountains. The dreaded "hour" makes haste, and comes at length. Behold him bowed down with overwhelming sorrow in the garden. Behold him arrested and hurried away to the bar of Pilate, where he is insulted and abused. Behold him sinking beneath his heavy load on the way to Calvary. Behold him nailed, hands and feet, to the cross. Listen there to his heart-rending cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me!" Men and devils do their worst to worry this innocent Lamb of God. But, worst of all, "it pleased the Lord to bruise him." His sorest inflictions were laid upon him by the Father's own hand, whose sword of justice then awoke against his Shepherd. His cup is now overflowing with a bitterness of which we can but faintly conceive. But it is at length drained, and with unutterable relief, with a loud, triumphant voice he exclaims, "It is finished;" and he bows his head and gives up the ghost.

Some forty days later, after repeated interviews with the disciples, the Saviour led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them; and it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into Heaven. Some thirty years before he had come down from Heaven. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He had laid aside the glory that he had always had with the Father, and had tabernacled in the flesh, a man amongst men. He had here gone about doing good, and had finally paid the price of our redemption by his perfect obedience for us unto the death of the cross.

He had done and suffered all that justice required in order to make full atonement for our sins. And now he was returning as a conqueror over death and all his foes, to enter upon the joy that was set before him, when he consented to endure the cross, and to despise the shame. And what that joy was that he experienced as he re-entered those pearly gates, and trod again those golden streets, where he was welcomed by the Father to his exalted throne, no tongue can tell, and no imagination conceive. In that blessed hour he began to see of the travail of his soul, and to be satisfied with an unbounded satisfaction.

But there is a time, yet future, that must be eminently blissful in the experience of the Saviour. The day hastens when he shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him. Then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory, and all nations shall be gathered before him for judgment. He will separate the great congregation into two grand divisions, according to their characters, and unto the one he will say, "Come," and unto the other, "Depart." And then, accompanied with all the millions of the saved, escorted by legions of mighty angels, he will conduct them to the mansions that he has prepared for them, the grand work of redemption forever completed! What a happy hour that will be to all Heaven! and how blissful to the Son of God! With what satisfaction must he survey that great multitude for whom he shed his precious blood, and contemplate them as forever safe within the heavenly fold, forever to share with himself his own everlasting blessedness!—H. S., in New York Observer.