“Behold the man!” (Jn. 19:5) said Pilate when he looked upon Jesus. From His birth to His death Jesus is very much described as man so that some find it hard to comprehend. Like all human beings He was born into this world, put into a cradle (Lk. 2:7). He ate and drank, He was tired and slept, He wept and prayed etc. While dying He cried with a loud voice, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit, and, having said this, he gave up the spirit.” (Lk. 23:46). All sons and daughters of God can say the same. He took our place in every respect, even the very separation from God as He cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46). We were forsaken of God. There He took our place and our guilt and sin was laid upon Him. God the Spirit withdrew in that moment.

In the next moment when the spear was placed into His side and the blood gushed forth, we were reconciled and the Scripture was fulfilled, “… God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself …” (2 Cor. 5:19). Both are true. First the separation and next the reconciliation.

This was necessary because of the sinful state of humanity. The manner in which God has sent His Son is also precisely recorded in the Scriptures. “But, when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Gal. 4:4-5).

The Lord became a servant. “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and, being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:7-8). As servant He is spoken of in connection with doing the will of the Lord. In the book of the prophet Isaiah, the plan of redemption is dealt with in all details. Also the word servant is recorded in the respective connection. “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth, I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth justice to the nation.” (Isa. 42:1). In the New Testament the fulfilment of this Scripture is recorded in Mt. 12:17-21.

In Mt. 3, we are told how God’s pleasure came down upon the man Jesus Christ. “And Jesus, when he was baptised, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (16-17). The body was mortal, therefore, the Spirit had to come upon it to make the claim for the transformation of this body into immortality. At the same time, the placing as a Son into the ministry also happened.

In Mt. 17:2-5, the transfiguration of the man Christ Jesus into His divine state happened before the eyes of the three disciples, Moses and Elijah. In chapter 3, 17, we are told, “… in whom I am well pleased”, in chapter 17, the charge is given: “Hear ye him.” True sons and daughters of God listen to His voice, believe His gospel and are ready to be biblically baptised. They receive the Holy Spirit in the same way as He, the first-born, did, through whom God Himself testifies to have found pleasure in him.

The man who was created in the image of God was made as a free moral agent. But with this freedom he made the wrong decision and was lost. Because God made man in a way that he could fall He had to take upon Himself the responsibility for his redemption. In the new creation through Christ, God’s pleasure returns upon all His sons and daughters. They are lifted out of the fall and placed back into their God ordained position. In the completion of all sons and daughters of God, it will be manifested that they also could freely decide themselves to do the will of God after the example of the first-born. “… not my will, but thine, be done.” (Lk. 22:42) and also, “I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Ps. 40:8).

“And you, that were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” (Col. 1:21-22).

“Forasmuch, then, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:14-15). That is the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the blessed Redeemer.

In the Old Testament, the plan of redemption was foreshadowed in many kinds of sacrifices. Man who was separated from God could not come into His presence. A sacrifice of reconciliation, a mediator and an advocate were necessary. In Abraham we are given a good example who was ready to sacrifice his son Isaac (Gen. 22). It was already pointing to the Messiah Who would die as Son of God in our stead. Isaac carried the wood for the altar on which he was later placed. Christ carried the cross unto which He then was nailed. Until the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt, they were called the people and from the moment of their deliverance (Ex. 12:3) Israel was called the church. Moses was a mediator and an advocate in the different situations. He was the one who received God’s Word directly and spoke it to the people. “…the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush …” (Acts 7:35).

The Messiah had to be a prophet, mediator, advocate, high priest etc. Moses already acted in the Spirit of Christ when he prayed, “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin —; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” (Ex. 32:32). God’s people were upon his heart and, therefore, he interceded for them as Christ does for the New Testament believers.

Once a year, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to reconcile the people in the presence of God. Of Christ we read, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, …, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. … How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:11-14). That is the eternal valid salvation in Jesus Christ.

The idea of an intercessor is being described with Job. Although he already cried out, “For I know that my redeemer liveth…” being convinced he said, “… yet in my flesh shall I see God.” (Job 19:23-27). Job also recognised the necessity of a mediator, “If there be a messenger (angel) with him, an interpreter (mediator), one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness, then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s; he shall return to the days of his youth.” (Job 33:23-25). He does not only speak about a mediator, reconciliation and redemption for man but also expresses the fact that the redeemed will return to a state they had in the days of their youth. Thereby he expresses the great truth that all who participate in the first resurrection will be changed and receive a resurrection body which will be like the one they had in the prime of their youth. They will appear in an absolute perfect and young body. Throughout eternity, there will be no trace of old age, sin, sickness or death. They will be young and well for ever and ever.

Job also speaks for those who turned to God and received the assurance of salvation, “He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him, and shall see his face with joy; for he will render unto man his righteousness.” He already saw the perfect righteousness of God which we have received through Jesus Christ our Lord. For such a redeemed person the following statement applies, “He sings out to other men, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and He did not requite me according to my iniquity! God has redeemed my life from going down to the pit, and my life shall see the light!” (Job 33:26-27 — amplified version). This text does include the total redemption for mankind, the forgiveness of sins, eternal life and well-being in a resurrection body. The whole man — soul, spirit and body is included in redemption. In the first resurrection, the redeemed will actually be placed into the original God ordained position and remain young for ever.

The necessity of the high priest is also expressed in the New Testament: “For we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15).

Also the mediator is mentioned, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus, Who gave himself a ransom for all …” (1 Tim. 2:5-6). “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22). “The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” (1 Cor. 15:47-49). A very clear statement. Now we are after the first Adam, then we shall be in the heavenly likeness of Jesus Christ, the second Adam.

Wherever Jesus Christ is shown besides God we do see Him as man in one of the necessary aspects pertaining to the plan of salvation. We do see Him as Son of God, Son of man, Son of David, as King, Prophet and Priest, as Mediator, Advocate, Lamb of God, Word of God, Way of God, Bread of God, etc., etc. He had to be all these in order to give us perfect redemption. The Jesus-Only doctrine does not exist in the Holy Scriptures as also the trinity doctrine does not exist. Prophets and apostles gave testimony of the truth. God has placed His Own children back into the relationship as sons and daughters. Therefore, Jesus Christ had to be the first-born among many brethren (Rom. 8:29). Immediately after the resurrection, Jesus said to Mary Magdalene, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.” (Jn. 20:17).

As the Son of God was begotten by the Holy Spirit, so the new birth takes place by the same Holy Spirit. Therefore, Jesus requested the new birth and said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God … That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (Jn. 3:3+6). “For whatever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 Jn. 5:4). All religious actions are in vain. God has to act. Otherwise nothing happens. He only can act in those who recognise His act of salvation in His Son Jesus Christ.

“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” (Heb. 2:10-12). The Redeemer Who after His resurrection called His disciples “brethren” was in turn called by Thomas “my Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28).

Right to the moment, the redeemed will leave this earth they need an intercessor. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 Jn. 2:1-2). “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God; therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 Jn. 3:1-2).

Of this completion, the apostle Paul writes, “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted who did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Cor. 15:25-28; Ps. 110:1-2; Ps. 8:7). It could not have been said more clearly. The great task then is accomplished and all sons and daughters of God are changed and appear in the image of Christ, the Son of God. All enemies are done away with, even death exists no more, and everything is placed for all eternity into its rightful position, and God will be all in all. In past eternity, there was no mentioning of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and there will be no mentioning throughout future eternity. When time merges into eternity then the eternal purpose is accomplished through God’s Own manifestations as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Then God will be all in all.

“Behold the man!” (Jn. 19:5) said Pilate when he looked upon Jesus. From His birth to His death Jesus is very much described as man so that some find it hard to comprehend. Like all human beings He was born into this world, put into a cradle (Lk. 2:7). He ate and drank, He was tired and slept, He wept and prayed etc. While dying He cried with a loud voice, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit, and, having said this, he gave up the spirit.” (Lk. 23:46). All sons and daughters of God can say the same. He took our place in every respect, even the very separation from God as He cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46). We were forsaken of God. There He took our place and our guilt and sin was laid upon Him. God the Spirit withdrew in that moment.

In the next moment when the spear was placed into His side and the blood gushed forth, we were reconciled and the Scripture was fulfilled, “… God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself …” (2 Cor. 5:19). Both are true. First the separation and next the reconciliation.

This was necessary because of the sinful state of humanity. The manner in which God has sent His Son is also precisely recorded in the Scriptures. “But, when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Gal. 4:4-5).

The Lord became a servant. “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and, being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:7-8). As servant He is spoken of in connection with doing the will of the Lord. In the book of the prophet Isaiah, the plan of redemption is dealt with in all details. Also the word servant is recorded in the respective connection. “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth, I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth justice to the nation.” (Isa. 42:1). In the New Testament the fulfilment of this Scripture is recorded in Mt. 12:17-21.

In Mt. 3, we are told how God’s pleasure came down upon the man Jesus Christ. “And Jesus, when he was baptised, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (16-17). The body was mortal, therefore, the Spirit had to come upon it to make the claim for the transformation of this body into immortality. At the same time, the placing as a Son into the ministry also happened.

In Mt. 17:2-5, the transfiguration of the man Christ Jesus into His divine state happened before the eyes of the three disciples, Moses and Elijah. In chapter 3, 17, we are told, “… in whom I am well pleased”, in chapter 17, the charge is given: “Hear ye him.” True sons and daughters of God listen to His voice, believe His gospel and are ready to be biblically baptised. They receive the Holy Spirit in the same way as He, the first-born, did, through whom God Himself testifies to have found pleasure in him.

The man who was created in the image of God was made as a free moral agent. But with this freedom he made the wrong decision and was lost. Because God made man in a way that he could fall He had to take upon Himself the responsibility for his redemption. In the new creation through Christ, God’s pleasure returns upon all His sons and daughters. They are lifted out of the fall and placed back into their God ordained position. In the completion of all sons and daughters of God, it will be manifested that they also could freely decide themselves to do the will of God after the example of the first-born. “… not my will, but thine, be done.” (Lk. 22:42) and also, “I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Ps. 40:8).

“And you, that were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” (Col. 1:21-22).

“Forasmuch, then, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:14-15). That is the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the blessed Redeemer.

In the Old Testament, the plan of redemption was foreshadowed in many kinds of sacrifices. Man who was separated from God could not come into His presence. A sacrifice of reconciliation, a mediator and an advocate were necessary. In Abraham we are given a good example who was ready to sacrifice his son Isaac (Gen. 22). It was already pointing to the Messiah Who would die as Son of God in our stead. Isaac carried the wood for the altar on which he was later placed. Christ carried the cross unto which He then was nailed. Until the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt, they were called the people and from the moment of their deliverance (Ex. 12:3) Israel was called the church. Moses was a mediator and an advocate in the different situations. He was the one who received God’s Word directly and spoke it to the people. “…the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush …” (Acts 7:35).

The Messiah had to be a prophet, mediator, advocate, high priest etc. Moses already acted in the Spirit of Christ when he prayed, “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin —; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” (Ex. 32:32). God’s people were upon his heart and, therefore, he interceded for them as Christ does for the New Testament believers.

Once a year, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to reconcile the people in the presence of God. Of Christ we read, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, …, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. … How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:11-14). That is the eternal valid salvation in Jesus Christ.

The idea of an intercessor is being described with Job. Although he already cried out, “For I know that my redeemer liveth…” being convinced he said, “… yet in my flesh shall I see God.” (Job 19:23-27). Job also recognised the necessity of a mediator, “If there be a messenger (angel) with him, an interpreter (mediator), one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness, then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s; he shall return to the days of his youth.” (Job 33:23-25). He does not only speak about a mediator, reconciliation and redemption for man but also expresses the fact that the redeemed will return to a state they had in the days of their youth. Thereby he expresses the great truth that all who participate in the first resurrection will be changed and receive a resurrection body which will be like the one they had in the prime of their youth. They will appear in an absolute perfect and young body. Throughout eternity, there will be no trace of old age, sin, sickness or death. They will be young and well for ever and ever.

Job also speaks for those who turned to God and received the assurance of salvation, “He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him, and shall see his face with joy; for he will render unto man his righteousness.” He already saw the perfect righteousness of God which we have received through Jesus Christ our Lord. For such a redeemed person the following statement applies, “He sings out to other men, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and He did not requite me according to my iniquity! God has redeemed my life from going down to the pit, and my life shall see the light!” (Job 33:26-27 — amplified version). This text does include the total redemption for mankind, the forgiveness of sins, eternal life and well-being in a resurrection body. The whole man — soul, spirit and body is included in redemption. In the first resurrection, the redeemed will actually be placed into the original God ordained position and remain young for ever.

The necessity of the high priest is also expressed in the New Testament: “For we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15).

Also the mediator is mentioned, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus, Who gave himself a ransom for all …” (1 Tim. 2:5-6). “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22). “The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” (1 Cor. 15:47-49). A very clear statement. Now we are after the first Adam, then we shall be in the heavenly likeness of Jesus Christ, the second Adam.

Wherever Jesus Christ is shown besides God we do see Him as man in one of the necessary aspects pertaining to the plan of salvation. We do see Him as Son of God, Son of man, Son of David, as King, Prophet and Priest, as Mediator, Advocate, Lamb of God, Word of God, Way of God, Bread of God, etc., etc. He had to be all these in order to give us perfect redemption. The Jesus-Only doctrine does not exist in the Holy Scriptures as also the trinity doctrine does not exist. Prophets and apostles gave testimony of the truth. God has placed His Own children back into the relationship as sons and daughters. Therefore, Jesus Christ had to be the first-born among many brethren (Rom. 8:29). Immediately after the resurrection, Jesus said to Mary Magdalene, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.” (Jn. 20:17).

As the Son of God was begotten by the Holy Spirit, so the new birth takes place by the same Holy Spirit. Therefore, Jesus requested the new birth and said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God … That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (Jn. 3:3+6). “For whatever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 Jn. 5:4). All religious actions are in vain. God has to act. Otherwise nothing happens. He only can act in those who recognise His act of salvation in His Son Jesus Christ.

“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” (Heb. 2:10-12). The Redeemer Who after His resurrection called His disciples “brethren” was in turn called by Thomas “my Lord and my God” (Jn. 20:28).

Right to the moment, the redeemed will leave this earth they need an intercessor. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 Jn. 2:1-2). “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God; therefore, the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 Jn. 3:1-2).

Of this completion, the apostle Paul writes, “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted who did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Cor. 15:25-28; Ps. 110:1-2; Ps. 8:7). It could not have been said more clearly. The great task then is accomplished and all sons and daughters of God are changed and appear in the image of Christ, the Son of God. All enemies are done away with, even death exists no more, and everything is placed for all eternity into its rightful position, and God will be all in all. In past eternity, there was no mentioning of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and there will be no mentioning throughout future eternity. When time merges into eternity then the eternal purpose is accomplished through God’s Own manifestations as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Then God will be all in all.