Christ the Leader Then as Now
Truly this was a wonderful dispensation; and those who speak derisively of the old Jewish law and the Dark Ages, should remember that they are treading on holy ground. While we rejoice to-day that our Saviour has appeared on earth, and that the offering for sin typified in the ceremonial law has become a reality, we are not excusable in harboring feelings of disrespect for that period when Christ Himself was the Leader of His people. Those who do this, may not know what they are doing; but they are showing themselves ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of God. They show that they need divine enlightenment, a more intelligent knowledge of God and His Word. The Christ typified in the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish law is the very same Christ that is revealed in the Gospel. The clouds that enshrouded His divine form have rolled back; the mists and shades have disappeared; and Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, stands revealed. He came just as the prophecies foretold that He would come. In His life and death, type met antitype, and the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish church found their fulfilment. He appeared among men, not as the Messiah that the Jews expected, a king coming in power and glory to conquer their enemies and to exalt their favored nation, but as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He, the Majesty of Heaven, condescended to be our Friend, our Counselor, our Guide, our per4fect Pattern, as well as our Redeemer. "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." A Gradual Unfolding of the One Plan
God's work is the same in all time, altho there are different degrees of development, and different manifestations of His power to meet the wants of man in the different ages. Commencing with the fall, down through the patriarchal and Jewish ages, even to the present time, there has been a gradual unfolding of the purposes of God in the plan of redemption. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses understood the Gospel through Christ; they looked for the salvation of the race through man's Substitute and Surety. These holy men of old held communion with the Saviour who was to come to our world in human flesh; and some of them talked with Christ and heavenly angels face to face, as a man talks with his friend. Through the Sacred Record, we may hold converse with the patriarchs, and listen to Moses as he legislates for Israel. We hear too the warnings of the prophets as they look down through the ages, and reveal scenes that are to take place even down to the close of time. And as we see the events which they have foretold transpiring just as they predicted, we are brought into closer sympathy with these men of God, who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. As time rolls on, and new truths are revealed, light is thrown on that which has been known from the beginning; we see new beauty and force in the Inspired Word, and we study its sacred pages with a deeper and more absorbing interest. We see the significance of the Jewish economy, and the character and purposes of God are made manifest in His dealings with His chosen people. How grand was the arrangement of God to preserve the knowledge of Himself, and of His law, which is the foundation of His government in heaven and upon earth. Altho darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people, the Lord would not leave Himself without a witness. In the solemn service of the temple, the grand truths were typified which were to be revealed through successive generations. The cloud of incense bore upward the prayer of the contrite heart. The bleeding victim on the altar of sacrifice testified of a Redeemer to come, and from the holy of holies the visible token of the divine presence shone forth. Thus through age after age of idolatry and apostasy, the star of hope was kept shining in the darkened moral heavens, until the time came for the advent of the promised Messiah. Now, Christ, the true Sacrifice, has shed His blood for the remission of sins, and is presenting it before the Father in our behalf. But the increased light that shines upon our pathway should not tempt us to despise the beginning. Every additional ray of light that we receive gives us a clearer and more distinct understanding of the plan of redemption, which is the working out of the divine will in the salvation of man. All the truths of revelation are of value to us; and in contemplating things of eternal interest, we shall gain true perceptions of the character of God. The cultivation of reverence for Him will affect the daily life. The entire character will be elevated and transformed. The soul will be brought into harmony with Heaven. The believer will become Christlike, and will finally obtain an abundant entrance into the city of God.