Chapter 7 -- THE INCARNATION ACCORDING TO JOHN IN HIS EPISTLES AND
THE REVELATION
John introduced his
first Epistle with the reality of Jesus in the flesh. He who was in the
beginning with God, became flesh, and the reality of the experience was such
that John declared - "We have seen [Him] with our eyes... and our hands
have handled [Him]" 1 Coupled
with this firm declaration of the reality of Jesus in the flesh is the warning
that many false prophets have gone out into the world, which do not confess
that Jesus did come in the flesh.
This John declared to be "that spirit of antichrist." 2
Here is the great
divide in the theologies that purport to be Christian. a Did Christ come all the way down
in taking our flesh, or did He possess some higher kind of flesh unknown to man
in his fallen state? On this point, Paul had emphatically stated that
"without controversy great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest
in the flesh." 3 Paul had further emphasized that
Christ partook of the "same"
flesh and blood as man. 4
John declared that to deny this fundamental truth concerning the Incarnation
was to reveal the spirit of antichrist.
If Christ came and
lived on a different plane than man, in a different flesh than man has, then
there would be no way for Christ to be man's Example, and a Christian could not
really represent Him in the world. But John indicated that "as He is, so are
we in this world." 5 And
what was He? It is written: To human eyes, Christ was only a man, yet He
was a perfect man. In His humanity He was the impersonation of the divine
character. God embodied His own attributes in His Son, - His power, His wisdom,
His goodness, His purity, His truthfulness, His spirituality, and His
benevolence. In Him, though human, all perfection of (a See Appendix A)
p 53 -- character, all divine excellence
dwelt. 6
The same relationship
between Christ and His people as stated in the Epistle of John is also
reiterated in the book of Revelation in the message to the overcomers of the
church of Laodicea. Christ's followers are to overcome "even as [He]
overcame." 7 Christ
accepted the liability of "the" flesh, and met the Law of
Equivalence, so that man might also experience victory by the way and through
the means provided in the sacrificial offering on Calvary, and High Priestly
intercession. On this point it is stated:
Christ came to this world to counteract
Satan's falsehood that God had made a law which men could not keep. Taking
humanity upon Himself, He came to this earth, and by a life of obedience showed
that God has not made a law that man cannot keep. He showed that it is possible
for man to perfectly obey the law. Those who accept Christ as their Saviour,
becoming partakers of His divine nature, are
enabled to follow His example, living in obedience to every precept of the law. Through
the merits of Christ, man is to show by his obedience that he could be trusted
in heaven, that he would not rebel.
Christ possessed the
same nature that man possesses. He was tempted in all points like as man is
tempted. The same power by which He obeyed is at man's command. 8
In the book of
Revelation, the One exalted to the throne of God is revealed as still "the
Son of man." 9 His
pre-existence, and His incarnation are presented in the symbolism of Chapter
Twelve. There, He as Michael - the name means, One who is like God - is
portrayed in deadly conflict with the originator of sin and evil - the
great-red dragon - who is declared to be the devil and Satan. 10 He is revealed as Christ - the
Messiah and the Lamb - who cast down the "accuser" of the brethren,
and through Whom the brethren in turn overcome the accuser. 11 But in the introduction of this
whole chapter, there is portrayed in prophetic symbolism the first gospel
promise made to Eve in Eden. The seed of the woman would bruise the serpent's
head. 12 This seed of
the woman
p 54 -- is declared to be "a
man-child."
In the
Greek, there are three words that John could have used to describe Jesus as a
man. He could have chosen -anqrwpoV - which is used to indicate man in the generic sense.
Such a designation is found frequently in the gospels where Jesus refers to
Himself as the Son of man. 13 He
could have selected the word - anhr - which means man in reference to
his sex, but also has broader shades of meaning. It is used to contrast an
adult with a boy, and a husband in relationship to a wife. In the Scriptures
this word is also used to designate non-sexual heavenly beings such as the
angels." 14 John, however, moved by the Spirit chose the word
- arsen or arsena - to express the thought conveyed in regard to the
Man-child. This word denotes singularly the male sex. Jesus Christ was a man in
every sense of the word. The emphasis is heightened by the fact that this
designation is quoted from a prophecy of Isaiah, where the Hebrew word
- zakar - is used to distinguish the male child. 15 The etymology of this word indicates the emphasis to be
drawn. 16
Our Saviour in
accepting humanity was not bereft of any organism or glandular structure common
to the rest of the sons of Adam, but became liable to all the temptations such
as are common to man. He understood the drives which the enemy could stimulate
in seeking men to violate the seventh commandment. He was not a eunuch, nor an
angel. Neither did He isolate Himself from contacts with the opposite sex.
Seven times did the sexually weak, but evidently very desirable Mary hear Jesus
pray for her, and rebuke the power that held her captive. There is no evidence
that this was done in public meetings, but rather on such occasions which could
be construed in modern parlance as private counselling sessions. But Mary came
to understand how offensive was her sin to His
p 55 - unsullied purity. 17 So victorious was the Man-child that
He could pin-point the violation of the seventh commandment to a mere look, and
then after a ministry which involved close contact with the opposite sex, and
with women as a part of His traveling company, 18 could ask the question - "Which of you convinceth Me
of sin?" - and not one could lift an accusing voice! 19 He who was to rule all nations
with a rod of iron, must first set an example that He was able to rule the
nature of man with an iron rod.
The glory of this
revelation is found in the simple declaration that "her child was caught
up unto God and His throne." 20
There at the throne of God is One who understands all the feelings of our
infirmities; Who was tempted in all points like as we are. He is able through
His intercession to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. He is
indeed a complete Saviour because He completely identified Himself with the
race He came to save, meeting in every respect the Law of Equivalence.
The final picture of
this chapter "the remnant of her seed" 21 - overcome as He overcame, for they keep the
commandments of God, revealing in their lives the testimony of Jesus.
1 I John 1:1
2 1 John 4:1-3
3 1 Timothy 3:16
4 Hebrews 2:14
5 1 John 4:17
6 E11en G. White, Youth's Instructor, Sept. 16, 1897
7 Revelation 3:21
8 Ellen G. White, That I may Know Him, p. 292
9 Revelation 1:13
10 Revelation 12:7-9
11 Revelation 12:10-11
12 Revelation 12:1-5
13 Matthew 16:13
14 Luke 24:4; Acts 10:30
15 Isaiah 66:7
16 William Gesenius, A Hebrew and English Lexicon, 9th
Edition, pp. 278-279
17 E11en G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 568
18 Luke 8:1-3
19 John 8:46
20 Revelation 12:5
21 Revelation 12:17
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