For This Cause

For This Cause (Inside Cover) “For This Cause” is the title of a unique audio-visual production which tells the story of Christ’s Life and Teachings with stunning impact and yet with sensitive insight. Thousands of appreciative viewers have enjoyed this advanced three-screen presentation. The text of this booklet is adapted from the sound track of “For This Cause.” Illustrations used in this booklet are a small sampling of the nearly 2000 full-color photographs, which comprise the audio-visual production. If you are interested in having “For This Cause” shown in your area, please write to the Publishers. Character Photographs taken from JESUS OF NAZARETH By William Barclay courtesy of Collins & World Publishers Tabernacle Photographs courtesy of Lundquist Religious Exhibits, Inc. Wallington, New Jersey FOR THIS CAUSE is produced and published by: Bible Students Publications 900 Brentwood Drive Bensenville, IL 60106 1 (next page) In the very beginning, God was alone! In due time He brought forth His Son – the “firstborn of every creature” – through whom the design of all creation was carried out. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible. (Colossians 1:16) (next page) “In the beginning…” “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths I was brought forth: When there were no fountains abounding with water, Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When He established the clouds above: When He strengthened the fountains of the deep: When He gave to the seas His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: When He appointed the foundations of the earth: When He prepared the heavens, I was there: When He set a compass upon the face of the depth: Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, Rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth.” (Proverbs 8: 22-31) (next page) And it was in the tranquil beauty of a garden planted eastward in Eden MAN was brought into being. God said to His Son: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) 2 *** God in His eternal plan for man provided a test of perfect obedience: “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16,17) The Fall of Man God in his infinite wisdom foresaw that man would fall. But He permitted it for his ultimate good. He allowed man to follow his own downward course, so that through experience man will forever realize the result of disobedience to the Creator’s Law. It has been a heart-rending experience…but one that will enable man to appreciate more fully the blessings God has in store for him in the future. And it was for THIS CAUSE – the redemption of man and his ultimate blessing – that Jesus came into the world. The Birth of the Master “It came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the cit of Nazareth into Judea unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem. And there Mary brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:1,4,7) It was on these tranquil hills of Bethlehem that angelic voices proclaimed to the shepherds the birth of the Messiah some 2,000 years ago. “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to ALL People, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10,11) There are many causes that man has pursued through the ages – many selfish…some noble…but none can compare with the cause for which our Lord came...a cause that involves each one of us. It is a cause that, as the angel said, will bring joy to all people. A cause that will result in blessing every man, woman and child that has ever lived. But why did God’s Son have to leave the splendor of the heavenly courts and be born a babe in Bethlehem? Couldn’t he have accomplished his purpose as a spirit being? 3 God’s Law of Justice is absolute. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. A perfect life for a perfect life. The Redeemer of men would have to be an exact equivalent for father Adam who sinned, not an angel. And so as the Apostle Paul tells us, “when the fullness of time was come God sent forth His Son made of woman, made under the Law.” (Galatians 4:4) At the time Jesus was born, all men were in expectation of Messiah. You can just imagine each parent wondering if it would be their son. Even King Herod knew of the promise – but he would be fearful of such a Messiah, - as it could cost him his throne. And so it was that here, overlooking the hills of Judah, in what still remains of the Herodian Palace – Herod issued his infamous decree – all the children in Bethlehem two years old and under would be killed. We get an insight into the evil heart of Herod when we realize the town of Bethlehem was within eyesight of this palace…he could almost hear the crying of the mothers of Bethlehem as their children were slain. It was a crushing experience that was prophesied in Jeremiah 31:15 and quoted by Matthew in this account: “lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted, because they are not.” (Matthew 2:18) Fleeing to Egypt Joseph and Mary were previously warned by an angel of the Lord to flee into Egypt. Following the route to Egypt, we find a little distance from Bethlehem, the pools of Solomon. Perhaps Joseph and Mary stopped here to be refreshed from their journey. We read of these pools in Ecclesiastes 2, where we are told Solomon made great works. He made gardens and orchards, and pools of water, a truly beautiful and refreshing sight in a land where water is scarce. As Joseph and Mary with Jesus continued south, they would have passed through the town of Hebron. It is a most sacred city, being the burial place of Father Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their wives. One of the earliest hopes of a deliverer, or Messiah, was given to Father Abraham in the promise – “In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) Yes, Messiah would, first of all, come from the seed of Abraham; and second, he would bless not only Israel, but ALL the families of the earth. Again notice the promise was to bless ALL even as the angel mentioned at Jesus’ birth – good tidings of great joy to ALL people. 4 The promised seed had now come – but had to flee for his life to Egypt. Wilderness Wanderings The journey to Egypt through the Sinai Peninsula would have been a difficult one…for the Sinai is hot, rocky, sandy, and barren. Centuries earlier Israel had wandered 40 years in the same desolate country. It was in the southern part of Sinai that Moses was given the Ten Commandments. At the same time, he was given very detailed instructions for building of the Tabernacle. In this simple structure, through the priests and animal sacrifices, Israel worshipped their God. However, the significance of the Tabernacle arrangement was not limited to Israel. The Apostle Paul assures us in Hebrews 10:1 that the Tabernacle with its sacrifices was a shadow (or picture) of things to come. God, being the architect of this Tabernacle, was very specific as to size, colors, material, location, furniture, etc. Israel had to follow these instructions in minute detail. Why? What was so important about all this? Because God used this Tabernacle arrangement to again point to the “promised seed of Abraham” – the Messiah, the Ransom. Each detailed element was part of a beautiful picture of the sacrifice of Jesus, and showing the path of a Christian. Briefly, the Tabernacle was a rectangular building placed within a large fenced courtyard. The building was separated into two compartments: The Holy and Most Holy. Within the Holy, or larger compartment, were three pieces of furniture: Candlestick, Table of Shewbread, and Golden Incense Alter. The Most Holy contained one piece of furniture, a Golden Ark, with a lid or cover called the “mercy seat.” In the courtyard was a laver, or container, for water and a large altar. It was on this altar that the vital parts of the animal sacrifices were burned. Each year Israel, who pictured all mankind, had a Day of Atonement.

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