THE TESTIMONY OF THE FATHER

THE TESTIMONY OF THE FATHER

It has been seen through the whole progress of this study how that again and again in different ways, GOD GAVE TESTIMONY to the sacred nature of the mission of Christ, and to the satisfaction of the Eternal heart with the outworking of the Divine purpose in history, in the Person and work of Jesus of Nazareth. At His advent when earth gave Him no welcome, and there were no evidences of preparation, remarkable signs were granted to the sons of men, the shining of the star, the singing of the angels, the voices of prophecy, the moving of the underworld of evil, the coming of the wise men from afar. During the days of His public ministry there was the three times the repeated breaking of the silence of the heavens in the speech approval, at the baptism, at the transfiguration, and at the coming of the Greeks. Moreover through all those days there were the miracles by which God approved Him among men. The awful and supernatural manifestations at the crucifixion were of the same nature; the earthquake, the opening of graves, the darkening of the sun, the rend­ing of the temple veil.

Indeed the presence of Jesus of Nazareth in heaven as a Man, is more complete than that of any other except Enoch, Moses, and Elijah. All others wait the resurrection for the reception of their body. The resurrection is the central and ultimate declaration of this fact. It is fit to notice that associated with it was the resurrection of some of the saints. He was the First-fruit, for coming forth He led others with Him. The account of the rending of rocks, and opening of graves which were among the supernatural signs attending the crucifixion very clearly declares that though the graves were opened, the saints did not arise until the day of resurrection. That opening of the tombs was in itself a wonderful thing, but none could move from them until He had risen. One other resurrection is that of the Antichrist in Rev. 13:1-3 from a supposed head wound. But this is a fake version of the true resurrection and 3 fold attestation of the Son's work by the Fathers own words and testimony - not so attested with this resurrection.

He must lead the way forth. Yet the very graves seem to feel upon them the touch of the hand of the Master of life, and the earth yawned to yield to Him the conquest He was winning. The Divine seal did not end with the resurrection. His ascension was by the act of God, Who exalted Him. The coming of the Spirit at Pentecost was God's great outpouring of the new force of redemption, and was consequential upon His satisfaction with the work of His Son.

And yet again in the glory of that advent which is to be, the Divine approval will be manifested before all creation.

The value of the resurrection as a Divine act is threefold.

1^st it is God's attestation of the perfection of the life of the Man Jesus.

2^nd it is God's attestation of the perfection of the mediation of the Savior Jesus.

3^rd it is God's attestation of the perfection of the victory of the King Jesus. 

Upon all the virtue of His life, and the value of His death, and the victory of His conflict God set the seal in the sight of heaven and earth and hell when raising Him from the dead He fulfilled the confident assertion of the old time Psalmist concerning Him, that He did not leave His soul unto Hades nor suffer His Holy One to see corruption.