AFTER the events enumerated in the previous chapter, a grand and glorious era dawned upon this world—the greatest and most momentous epoch of its history—the birth of Jesus Christ. We have now reached the marvelous advent of the Lord of life and glory, the Son of God Himself, who came down to live as a Man on this earth, so that He might become the Savior of the world, God " manifest in the flesh," " Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men" (Phil. 2:6,76Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (Philippians 2:6‑7)).
No wonder that this transcendent event was heralded by a heavenly host with that grand ascription of praise which ever rolls on, and will continue to reverberate throughout the whole universe to all eternity, " Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
From that day a mighty change—a complete transformation—was to pass over the aspect of everything in this world with regard to all things, both moral and spiritual.
The " Light of the world " had now come to penetrate the gloom of ages, and from henceforth all things would be viewed and judged in that light, whether as to life and joy on the one hand, or as to death and misery on the other,—" To the one the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life" (2 Cor. 2:1616To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:16)).
As we are dealing only with the chief outlines of dispensational truth, we can merely refer in a general way to the sublime records of the four evangelists, in which the holy presence of our blessed Lord on earth, His noble work and ministry, His grand miraculous power, His perfect life and spotless character, His amazing love and gentleness, and His divine and precious utterances, are so wonderfully and beautifully set forth. "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil," and glorify God the Father (John 17:44I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4)).
But It is of considerable importance in connection with our subject to take special notice of the character of John's, and of our Lord's ministry, as their work and service, though limited as to time, constituted a peculiar and distinct dispensation of itself, quite different from all that had preceded it, and different also from the present Christian era.
The gospel they preached was the "gospel of the kingdom " (Matt. 4:2323And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (Matthew 4:23)), which, of course, was exactly suited to the divine order of things in that day; hence the burden of it was, " The kingdom of heaven is at hand." The Messiah had come to His own to proclaim His coming kingdom, and was ready to take His throne and reign over the house of David, according to prophecy, but "His own received Him not."
In keeping with this leading thought, the Lord Jesus sent forth His twelve disciples to preach this gospel, and commanded them, saying, " Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the-house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 10:5-75These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 10:5‑7)).
From this we learn two things—that the gospel message of that day was only to be preached to the Jews, and that it was to be concerning the establishment of His coming kingdom, and present salvation to all who believed.
This first commission was mainly to proclaim His coming as the long-expected Messiah, and it was this that constituted its distinguishing feature.
The Church had not yet been formed, nor indeed could it be, until the great work of redemption was accomplished, and the Lord had ascended to heaven, and sent down the Holy Ghost. Then the gospel message assumed another and different character, in keeping with the altered condition of things. It is therefore important to see clearly, and to ever bear in mind this marked difference between the time and ministry of our Lord—the preaching of the " gospel of the kingdom "—and the present Christian dispensation when the "gospel of the grace of God" is proclaimed (Acts 20:2424But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)).
We shall have occasion to notice this later on. Much misapprehension with regard to the teaching of Christ and His disciples has arisen from not distinguishing between their ministry and the present proclamation of the gospel, which is, as we have seen, quite different in character, though both are from God, and are equally important in their respective places. With reference to this distinction, it should also be remarked that the Lord Jesus, after His resurrection, gave a second and more extended commission to His disciples, saying to them, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:1515And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)).
But this mission was to be carried out after the descent of the Holy Ghost; for His last words to them, when He had "commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father," were, "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:4-84And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:4‑8)). A new application of the gospel?
Thus the Lord graciously provided for the change that was to take place in the preaching of the gospel, when His disciples were "endued with power from on high,' and fully equipped for their new and world-wide mission.
This period, the most momentous and far-reaching in its blessed consequences, continued for the short space of thirty-three years, embracing the only perfect life of a Man on earth —the wonderful life, work, and ministry of our adorable Lord Jesus Christ, which will be had in everlasting remembrance. It is indicated in the chart by the small space between the birth of Christ and the crucifixion, over which a star appears as the symbol of the Lord's presence on this earth, for He is worthily called "The Bright and Morning Star" (Rev. 22:1616I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16)); in Num. 24:1717I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. (Numbers 24:17),—" Star out of Jacob."