CLIPPED
THE WORD MADE FLESH - DIFFERENT STAGES
S.B.—We have duly received, in common with you, a copy of Friend Jardine's second letter to the Editor of the Christadelphian, in response to our review of his first. We think it unnecessary to make it the subject of reply. We must refer to our review as containing all the answer required. The only point requiring notice is where the writer is able to quote from an early production of Dr. Thomas's, in support of his contention that the Word was not made flesh till the baptism of Jesus. This is best answered by the following quotation from a letter written by the Dr. in 1870:
"My faith and hope are what they have been for years, only that they are enlarged, strengthened and increased, because I have obeyed the exhortation of the apostle, and added to our faith knowledge"—(Christadelphian, August, 1870, p. 237.)
On the principle expressed in this extract, the Dr. came to see that the manifestation of God began with the birth of Jesus, and was perfected in two subsequent stages—his anointing of the Spirit and his resurrection. He was consequently able to say, only a year or so after writing the words quoted by Friend Jardine.
"There was no Word made flesh till the birth of Mary's Son."
The Christadelphian p581 March 1, 1875
NORTH SIDE OF ALTAR - Lev 1: 11, 2Kng 16: 14,
Thirdly, the offerer was to bring this male without blemish to the door of the Tabernacle and there place his hand upon its head. In this he identified himself with the animal and recognized his subjection to the death penalty which was the sentence of sin. His sins were "laid upon it."
The animal was then led to the north side of the altar and there slain. It was to the North Side of the city, to Calvary, that Jesus was led to be slain. The table of showbread was in the north side of the Tabernacle.
The original for "showbread" throughout the New Testament is "artous tes protheseos"—"bread of setting forth." Paul uses the same word (Rm 3:25):
"SET FORTH"
"Jesus Christ, whom God had set forth (proetheto) to be a propitiation."
And he uses the same thought (though not the same word) in Gal. 3:1—
"Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you."
Jerusalem is God's lightstand and altar in the earth—the place of sending forth the Law, and the place of approach and reconciliation.
So it is fitting that the table of showbread was on the north side of the lightstand, and the sacrifice was slain on the north side of the altar.
In the bread and poured-out wine of the Lord's Table, we "show" the Lord's death "until he come" (1 Cor. 11:26).
Bro Growcott - BYT 4.5.
O Yahweh our Adon, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens pSA 8: 1.
How profoundly significant are the Psalmist's words. What a beautiful picture they present to the enlightened mind. They are a guarantee to us (for the Scripture cannot be broken), that God is yet to become the subject of universal thought and adoration.
What a refreshing contrast to the present benighted condition of things. In that day God's name will not be kept in the background as it is now. In every calculation He will have a place and a voice. There will be a universal effort to enhance His glory. Every law enacted, every custom instituted, every work performed, every recreation and pleasure arranged, in fact, whatever is done will be done to the glory of God.
"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same Yahweh's name is to be praised" (Psa. 113:3).
This recognition of the excellencies of Yahweh's name involves a kindly feeling between man and man. "Man's inhumanity to man" will be a tale of the past. The spirit of Boaz and his reapers will be general—
"Yahweh be with you"—"Yahweh bless thee" - Ruth 2: 4.
Participation in this time is the joy that God has set before His children of every generation. Let us remember, as we contemplate this time, that if we would to attain to it, we must now exhibit the spirit that will then prevail.
Bro AT Jannaway
The Christadelphian, July 1888
We see this time of trouble widespread throughout the world now, slowly coming on as it has been for twenty years past. Still, we shall see worse times than these, and it would not be inconsistent with former works of God if we were permitted to feel the bite of it strongly just before deliverance.
Joseph "made himself strange" to his brethren, even to the point of contriving the sharpest agony for them before making himself known. Israel's affliction in Egypt grew more bitter as the time of release drew near. The whole congregation were shaken over the pit of destruction, as it were, just before Pharaoh's overthrow in the Red Sea.
The darkest moment of the disciples' experience was just before the glorious resurrection of Christ. So it may be that his latter day brethren will in divine ways, feel the iron in their souls immediately prior to the arrival of the Friend of Friends to their deliverance.
They are made to feel it now; but let them not be downcast if the heavens become blacker and the road rougher. The Lord is at hand. Our afflictions at the heaviest are light, and in the hand of divine wisdom, they are made to work out for us
"a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."Sunday morning 64/338The Christadelphian, April 1875<p>