MEMORY VERSE: ‘I have glorified Thee on the earth, I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.’ John 17:4.
LESSON AIM: To teach that, by His death on the cross, Jesus finished the work which His Father had given Him to do on the earth, as the Sacrificial Lamb of God for sin, but also as the One who would crush Satan. In His death, both were accomplished, before He began His ministry in heaven as our Great High Priest.
‘When the last steps of Christ’s humiliation [how He humbled Himself] were to be taken, when the deepest sorrow was closing about His soul, He said to His disciples, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.” “The prince of this world is judged.” “Now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” John 14:30; 16:11; 12:31. With prophetic eye Christ traced the scenes to take place in His last great conflict. He knew that, when He should exclaim, “It is finished,” all heaven would triumph. His ear caught the distant music and the shouts of victory in the heavenly courts. He knew that the knell of Satan’s empire would then be sounded, and the name of Christ would be heralded from world to world throughout the universe.’ Desire of Ages, page 679.
1. Why had Jesus been given to us? John 3:16; Hebrews 2:9.
NOTE: ‘God claims the whole earth as His vineyard. Though now in the hands of the usurper, it belongs to God. By redemption no less than by creation, it is His. For the world, Christ’s sacrifice was made. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.” John 3:16. It is through that one gift that every other is imparted to men. Daily the whole world receives blessing from God. Every drop of rain, every ray of light shed on our race, every leaf and flower and fruit, testifies to God’s long forbearance and His great love.’ Christ’s Object Lessons, page 301.
2. What else would be accomplished by the death of Jesus? Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8 last part.
NOTE: ‘Satan is referred to as the originator of sin. “For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”’ Christ Triumphant, page 93.
‘God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. The plan of redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the power of Satan. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning. The tempter’s agency is not to be accounted an excuse for one wrong act.’ The Faith I live By, page 44.