"'FROM THE STABLE TO THE THRONE"
By Harold Stoddard

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised and we esteemed him not.” Isaiah 53:3.

Isaiah 53 is the story of the life of Jesus Christ on earth, born in a manger for there was no room in the Inn for Him…Luke 2:7. The Plan of God is so plainly seen in the story of His birth, for God would have Him born, as had been prophesied, in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2.

Caesar sent out an order for everyone to report to his own city to register for a tax; thus God orders the activities of men to accomplish His purposes on earth. In the minds of God’s people even today, there is no doubt that God’s purpose in the war in the Mideast is to carry out His program to give all people an opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, if you are a Christian, get busy doing your part – whatever it may be – to see the gospel travel with the troops and reach those in darkness. May they see that the Light of the World is Jesus. John 8:12.

SENTENCE OF DEATH

Even when Jesus was a Baby, the proclamation went out from King Herod to kill the little children of Bethlehem; by this, he hoped – in his political zeal – to stop any potential opposition to his position as King. Matthew 2:16. However, God had already sent His Son (Jesus) into Egypt to foil Herod’s plan to kill Him. Matthew 2:13.

After Jesus began His ministry on earth the religious leaders of the Jewish nation hated Him and held a council against Him, hoping to conceive a plan to destroy Him. Matthew 12:14. Thus He was hated by the political -- as well as the religious -- powers of His day. He wandered about the nation of Israel without a place to lay His head –no home, Luke 9:58, even without money to pay His taxes – which He actually did not owe. Matthew 17:27.

Jesus did always that which was good. Never did He do harm to anyone. He loved the children, healed the sick and restored those possessed of demons. Even as He was brought before the ruling powers, there was no fault found in Him. Pilate testified to the religious leaders of the Jews, “I find no fault in Him at all” John 18:38b. Herod, as well, could find nothing for which to condemn Him. Even the political authorities recognized that the Jewish religious leaders had only delivered Him to be judged because they were jealous and fearful that they might lose their power over the people. They held a “kangaroo court” with paid witnesses to condemn Jesus. Matthew 26:59, 60.

Betrayed by a friend (John 19:15), He gave Himself to die alone on the cross as a criminal. When Pilate wrote the true title “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS”, and nailed it to the Cross, the religious leaders tried to get him to change even that but he would not. So Jesus died there under the true title, THE KING OF THE JEWS”. John 19:19.

RICHES

When Jesus died there on the Cross, He uttered the cry, “It is finished”.
God’s Plan for the redemption of His creation was accomplished; the full price of redemption had been paid. The religious world now needed only to celebrate the death of their opposition – or so they thought – but wait! As the faithful came on the first day of the week to anoint the body there was an angel with a message… “And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen: he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.” Mark 16:6.

God had raised His Son from the dead and had given Him a name above every name…”Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” Philippians 2:9. This same Jesus has promised to return, not as a humble Babe in a manger, but as King of kings and Lord of lords. His promise of John 14:3 will be fulfilled. He will claim His glory – Isaiah 48:11. All opposition against the will of God will be put under Him and all evil will be cleansed away. His throne will be forever – Hebrews 1:8, “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”

FINALLY, BRETHREN

To those who have received this marvelous Savior, we admonish you to be about the Master’s business. Forsake the pathway of this present evil world. Put off the desires of the natural man. Avoid the pitfalls of the devil. Seek to know more about Jesus and the knowledge of God’s Plan. Find a place of service according to His will – the field is the world. Scatter the seed of His Word at every opportunity.

TO THE LOST

There is no need to remain lost in this present evil world, for today is the day of salvation . The call of Jesus goes out to all, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28. Jesus paid it all – the debt to Almighty God is settled – He died for your sins as well as for the sins of the world. I John 2:2 says, “And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Today is promised – tomorrow is not. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found…Call upon Him while He is near.