Divine Substitute, May 23

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.—Romans 5:6JNN 154.1

The world’s Redeemer possessed the power to draw people to Himself, to quiet their fears, to dispel their gloom, to inspire them with hope and courage, to enable them to believe in the willingness of God to receive them through the merits of the divine Substitute. As subjects of the love of God we ever should be grateful that we have a mediator, an advocate, an intercessor in the heavenly courts, who pleads in our behalf before the Father.JNN 154.2

We have everything we could ask to inspire us with faith and trust in God. In earthly courts, when a king would make his greatest pledge to assure people of his truth, he gives his child as a hostage, to be redeemed on the fulfillment of his promise; and behold what a pledge of the Father’s faithfulness; for when He would assure humanity of the immutability of His council, He gave His Only begotten Son to come to earth, to take the nature of human beings, not only for the brief years of life, but to retain His nature in the heavenly courts, an everlasting pledge of the faithfulness of God. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and love of God! “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1).JNN 154.3

Through faith in Christ we become members of the royal family, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. In Christ we are one. As we come in sight of Calvary, and view the royal Sufferer who in humanity’s nature bore the curse of the law in their behalf, all national distinctions, all sectarian differences are obliterated; all honor of rank, all pride of caste is lost.JNN 154.4

The light shining from the throne of God upon the cross of Calvary forever puts an end to human-made separations between class and race. People of every class become members of one family, children of the heavenly King, not through earthly power, but through the love of God who gave Jesus to a life of poverty, affliction, and humiliation, to a death of shame and agony, that He might bring many sons and daughters unto glory.—Selected Messages 1:258.JNN 154.5

Further Reflection: In a world in which differences are often a source of tension, how can I help bring divided people to the unifying ground of the Cross?JNN 154.6