Feb 1986 - Editorial

Among the most solemn and affecting of the utterances of the Lord Jesus are those expressing the depth of His forebodings of divine judgement on Him as sinbearer. With Calvary's shadow growing hourly darker and more menacing, we have such moving words as "My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death" (Mark 14:34); and, "Now is My soul troubled; and what shall 1 say .." (John 12:27). Such words command our deeply reverential meditation.

We are reminded, however, by the Master's further words in John 12 that the dread occasion of His suffering divine judgement on our behalf is also "the judgement of this world". "Now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Myself" (John 12:31,32).

Our main series article this month deals with this profound passage in John 12. As the title of the article indicates, we are considering the final glimpses this world was to have of the Son of Man, as His footsteps approached the cross. Solemn indeed for a world in thrall to its prince of evil. Yet just as the grim pronouncement of judgement on the serpent and on Eve and Adam are illuminated by the promise of the Seed, so here shafts of divine light penetrate the gloom of Christ's suffering, and our thoughts are transported to Revelation 5:9 "... Thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with Thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation" - all men drawn to Him.

We embrace ever more closely such glowing truths and promises in a world whose confusion and lawlessness, as we are pointedly reminded in FOCUS, only grows apace in our own day. We take reassurance - " ... He shall come to be glorified in His saints" (2 Thes. 1:10).

unknown | Feb 1986
Editorial