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Royalty and Ruin

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    The True Character of the Messiah Revealed

    With prophetic vision David had foreseen that the coming of Christ would be “like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds.” 2 Samuel 23:4. And Hosea testified, “His going forth is established as the morning.” Hosea 6:3. Quietly and gently the daylight breaks on the earth, dispelling the darkness and waking the earth to life. Isaiah exclaimed:RR 243.2

    For unto us a Child is born,
    Unto us a Son is given;
    And the government will be upon His shoulder.
    And His name will be called
    Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
    RR 243.3

    The loyal ones among the Jewish nation strengthened their faith by dwelling on these and similar passages. They read how the Lord would anoint One “to preach good tidings to the poor,” “to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,” and to declare “the acceptable year of the Lord.” Isaiah 61:1, 2. Yet with sadness and deep humiliation of soul they noted the words in the prophetic scroll:RR 243.4

    He is despised and rejected by men,
    A Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief.
    And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
    He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
    Surely He has borne our griefs
    And carried our sorrows;
    Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
    Smitten by God, and afflicted... .
    All we like sheep have gone astray;
    We have turned, every one, to his own way;
    And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:3-6
    RR 243.5

    As the substitute and the One taking responsibility for sinful humanity, Christ was to suffer under divine justice. Through the psalmist the Redeemer had prophesied concerning Himself:RR 243.6

    Reproach has broken My heart,
    And I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none;
    And for comforters, but I found none.
    They gave Me also gall for My food,
    And for My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink. Psalm 69:20, 21
    RR 243.7

    He prophesied: “They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” Psalm 22:16-18.RR 244.1

    These portrayals of the bitter suffering and cruel death of the Promised One, sad though they were, were rich in promise; for “it pleased the Lord to bruise Him” and put Him to grief, so that He could become “an offering for sin.” Isaiah 53:10.RR 244.2

    Love for sinners led Christ to pay the price of redemption. No one else could ransom men and women from the power of the enemy. His life bore no taint of self-assertion. The world honors position, wealth, and talent, but the Son of God would present none of these. The Messiah was not to use any of the means that people employ to win allegiance. The Bible foretold his renunciation of self:RR 244.3

    He shall not cry out, nor raise His voice,
    Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.
    A bruised reed He will not break,
    And smoking flax He will not quench. Isaiah 42:2, 3
    RR 244.4

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