Behold the Man!...series

 "The cross is the greatest of all evidences of the love of God. After the death of a certain prisoner, there was found on the wall of his cell a picture of a large cross with the word "Love" written at the four ends of the two beams indicating that the cross alone measures the height, depth, and breadth of the love of God 'which passeth knowledge.' While the highway of holiness is sprinkled with blood, it is also paved with love,. The cross is the science of salvation, and it will be the song of the redeemed throughout all eternity. E.G. White writes: 'To remove the cross from the Christian would be like blotting the sun from the sky. The cross brings us near to God, reconciling us to Him...Without the cross, man could have no union with the Father. On it depends our every hope. From it shines the light of the Savour's love; and when at the good of the cross the sinner looks up to the One who died to save him, he may rejoice with fullness of joy; for his sins are pardoned. Kneeling in faith at the cross, he has reached the highest place to which man can attain.' - "Acts of the Apostles," pages 209, 210." 

Behold The Man! ...series

As you all know this is the book I have been reading. It has been a very interesting book. I highly recommend it. Especially if you are interested in the unjust trial that our Lord and Savior went through. This author Taylor G. Bunch uses many resource that investigated the trial of Jesus and share so much of how the court system worked back then and how it was a travesty of justice. But Jesus held His peace throughout it. It truly was a great book to read and as we approach this week end when so many are celebrating His death and resurrection - it seemed very fitting that this was when I finished this awesome book! 

"From every viewpoint, the evens in the life and death of Jesus prove conclusively that He was the Messiah of the Jews and the Saviour of men." pg.183

"Through it all Jesus maintained a dignified silence, and conducted Himself with a kingly bearing that astonished even His tormentors." pg.148 

 "The cross was the weapon that sealed the doom of the great rebel leader, who know that it is only a question of time until he shall be stripped of all authority and power and shall be imprisoned in the bottomless pit to await a just sentence at the close of the millennium."

Behold the Man! ...series

 As the mind dwells upon the Lamb of God, the character is molded after the divine similitude. As we contemplate His matchless character, His love enclosed us, and our thoughts are pervaded with a sense of His goodness and mercy, His image is imprinted upon the eye of the soul, and every portion of the daily life is affected by a power that softens and subdues the whole nature. The mysterious power of faith, adoration, and love will be awakened in the soul of him who constantly beholds the character of Christ through a study of the Scriptures. As the vision is fixed upon the character of the Holy One, the beholder grows into the likeness of the Man of Calvary whom he adores." 

Behold the Man! pg 16 

Behold the Man! ...series

 "Looking at and thinking about the faults of others has an unconscious influence that will eventually pace them in our own characters. On the other hand, to fix our thoughts on things that are true, honest, pure, lovely, virtuous, and praiseworthy will have a powerful influence in developing these beautiful traits of character in us. See Philippians 4:8. It is because all these desirable virtues are found only in Christ that we are admonished to keep our eyes fixed upon Him. In Him are none of the character blotches and blemishes common to humanity, the beholding of which would warp and dwarf our own character development." 

Behold the Man! pgs.15-16 

Behold the Man! ...series

 "All who long to bear the likeness of the character of God shall be satisfied. The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted the soul who is looking unto Jesus...If the eye is kept fixed on Christ, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conformed to His image. the pure element of love will expand the soul, giving it a capacity for higher attainments, for increased knowledge of heavenly things, so that it will not rest short of the fullness." (from "The Desire of Ages" pg.302) 

"Beholding the Man of God transfixes the gaze and produces admiration. Beholding the Lamb of God reaches the heart and effects a transformation." 

Behold the Man! pg 14-15

Behold the Man! series

 "We shall close these testimonies of men regarding the character and mission of Christ with the statement made by William Jennings Bryan: "Reared in a carpenter shop, with no knowledge of literature save Bible literature, with no acquaintances with philosophers living or with the wirings of sages dead, when only about thirty years old He gathered disciples about Him, promulgated a higher code of morals than the world had ever known before, and proclaimed Himself the Messiah. He taught and performed miracles for a few brief months and then was crucified; His disciples were scattered and many of them put to death; His claims were disputed, His resurrection denied, and His followers persecuted; and yet from this beginning His religion spread until hundreds of millions have taken His name with reverence upon their lips, and millions have been willing to die rather than surrender the faith which He put into their hearts. How shall we account for Him: Here is the greatest fact of history; here is One who has with increasing power, for nineteen hundred years, molded the hearts, the thoughts, and the lives of men, and He exerts more influence today than ever before."  

Behold the Man pg 11-12

Behold the Man!

 Behold the Man!! 

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One day as Napoleon Bonaparte was talking to his attendant in the place of his banishment on the island of St. Helena regarding the heroes of history, he suddenly turned and asked the question, "can you tell me who Jesus Christ was?" As the officer hesitated, Napoleon said; "well, then, I will tell you. I think i understand somewhat of human nature, and I tell you all these were men, and I am a man, but not one is like Him: Jesus Christ was more than man. . Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded great empires: but upon what did the creations of our genius depend? Upon force, Jesus alone founded His empire upon love, and to this very day millions would die for Him... 
He asks for the human heart: He demands it unconditionally, and forthwith His demand is granted. Wonderful! All who sincerely believe in Him experience that remarkable supernatural love towards Him. Time, the great destroyer, is powerless to extinguish this flame.

The gospel is no mere book," said he (Napoleon "at another time, ' but a living creature, with a vigor, a power, which conquers all that opposes it. Here lies the Book of books upon the table (touching it reverently); I do not tire of reading it, and do so daily with equal pleasure. The soul, charmed with the beauty of the gospel, is no longer its own; God possesses it entirely; He directs its thoughts and faculties; it is His. What a proof of the divinity of Jesus Christ! Yet in this absolute sovereignty He had but one aim- the spiritual perfection of the individual, the purification of his conscience, his union with what is true, the salvation of his soul. Men wonder at the conquests of Alexander, but here is a conqueror who draws men to Himself for their highest good; who unites to Himself, in corporates into Himself, not a nation, but the whole human race!! 

(Signey Collett; "The Life and Words of Christ," Cunningham Geikie, pages 2,3) 

Found in my "Behold the Man!" pages 10-11 

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Behold the Man! ....series

Behold the Man!!! 

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 The Scriptures were written, not so much to record the history of the past, or to forecast the events of the future, or to enunciate a system of theology, although they do all this, but to reveal to the human family a Person. The Bible is not so much a book of theology as it is a biography of its author and chief subject, Jesus Christ. The Bible deals with the various sciences, so that scientists, while searching for light in their particular fields, might discover the science of salvation. It deals briefly with geology, that men interested in that subject may be led to discover the Rock of Ages. The Scriptures contain a great deal of invaluable information regarding medical science, so that men who devote their lives to the science of healing might become acquainted with the Great Physician, who alone can heal the malady of sin and give eternal life. Astronomers may find much to inspire them in the Bible; but, best of all, it will lead to the discovery of "the Bright and Morning Star" and "the Sun of Righteousness." In the Holy Word botanists may find "the Lily of the valley" and "the Rose of Sharon," and zoologist will have revealed to them "the Lam of God" and "the Lion of the tribe of Judah." The principal purpose of the Scriptures is to make know to man "the One altogether lovely," "the Chiefest among ten thousand." 

page 11

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Behold the Man...series

 Today we are going to start a new series. I am reading a new book. 

"Behold the Man!!" 

by Taylor G. Bunch 

This is one of my favorite authors. 

There are so many wonderful treasures in this book - I decided to share some with you each week! 

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True History is really "His story." Jesus Christ is the creator, preserver, benefactor, and redeemer of all mankind,. He is "the first and the last" in all that is worth while; He is the "Alpha and Omega" of all that is to be desired. He is the author of all light and truth, and the finisher of all righteousness. 

Though written by more than forty men, covering a period of fifteen centuries, the Bible is the only history that gives the proper place in its records to the Creator and Ruler who presides "over the kings of the earth;" who "ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will." Revelation 17:18; Daniel 4:32...

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Next weeks post is even better! Can't wait for you to get to read it! See you then :O)