“A body You have prepared for Me. ...
‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’”
Hebrews 10:5-7HH 8.6

Christ was about to visit our world, to become flesh and blood. If He had appeared with the glory that was His before the world was created, we could not have endured the light of His presence. In order that we could behold it and not be destroyed, He shrouded His glory and veiled His divinity with humanity.HH 8.7

Types and symbols had foreshadowed this great purpose. The burning bush, in which Christ appeared to Moses, revealed God. This lowly shrub, that seemed to have no attractions, enshrined the Infinite. God shrouded His glory so that Moses could look on it and live. Similarly, in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, God’s glory was veiled so that finite human beings could look at it. So Christ was to come “in the likeness of men.” He was the incarnate God, but His glory was veiled so that He could draw near to sorrowful, tempted men and women.HH 8.8

Through Israel’s long wandering in the desert, the sanctuary was with them as the symbol of God’s presence. See Exodus 25:8. Likewise, Christ pitched His tent by the side of our tents so that He could make us familiar with His divine character and life. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.HH 9.1

Since Jesus came to live with us, every son and daughter of Adam may understand that our Creator is the Friend of sinners. In every divine attraction in the Savior’s life on earth, we see “God with us.”HH 9.2

Satan represents God’s law of love as a law of selfishness. He declares that it is impossible for us to obey its requirements. He blames the Creator for the fall of our first parents, leading people to look upon God as the author of sin, suffering, and death. Jesus was to unmask this deception. As one of us, He was to give an example of obedience. For this, He took upon Himself our nature and passed through our experiences. “In all things He had to be made like His brethren.” Hebrews 2:17. If we had to bear anything that Jesus did not endure, then on this point Satan would claim that the power of God was not enough for us. Therefore, Jesus was “in all points tempted as we are.” Hebrews 4:15. He endured every trial that we may face. And He exercised no power in His own behalf that is not freely offered to us. As a human being, He met temptation and overcame it in the strength that God gave Him. He made plain the character of God’s law, and His life testifies that it is possible for us also to obey the law of God.HH 9.3

By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; by His divinity, He takes hold of the throne of God. As Son of man, He gave us an example of obedience; as Son of God, He gives us power to obey. To us He says, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18. “God with us” is the guarantee of our deliverance from sin, the assurance of power to obey the law of heaven.HH 9.4

Christ revealed a character that is the opposite of Satan’s. “Being found in human form, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:8, NRSV. Christ took the form of a servant and offered the sacrifice, with Himself as the Priest and Himself as the Victim. “He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him.” Isaiah 53:5.HH 9.5

In Heaven This Law Was Broken!

Treated As We Deserve