The Christadelphian Bible Journal
November 2003 Volume 1 Number 11
While participating in a Bible class in the Deep South many years ago, an enlightening discussion centered upon Isaiah, chapter 7, verse 14-15. Therein the prophet declares: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good."
After discussing the more rudimentary aspects of this forecast of the Messiah, the discourse moved to a question that many of us had often pondered, but with no satisfactory result: What does butter and honey have to do with the Christ, and how does the use of these foods enable him to refuse the evil and choose the good?
One would think that Bible students from a largely agricultural area would immediately see the relationship between the natural and spiritual. Actually, such a connection had eluded us all. But this day, the discussion would prove fruitful. As everyone contemplated the possibilities, someone made an eye-opening statement: "Butter and honey are worked products." This declaration immediately captured everyone's attention, for we knew that the Lord's ministry was one of work toward the accomplishment of his Father's plan and purpose.
An understanding of the relationship of these things to the Lord's work now began to unfold. We realized that neither butter nor honey appear naturally. Butter is obtained first from milking and then by arduous churning of the milk or cream. Honey is produced by various bees from the nectar of flowers which these laborers gather from both far and wide. It proceeds as a thick fluid that is then stored in a honeycomb carefully constructed from beeswax. Both of these food products are clearly derived from very hard and disciplined work.
The Lord Jesus Christ was a special creation brought forth for the purpose of a great work: The condemnation of sin in its own flesh and the opening of the way to deliverance for the faithful. Jesus describes his obligation to this work in the book of John. Our Lord declares: "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." The doing of this will, required tremendous effort. Jesus had to understand the will of God and let the indwelling of this Word govern his every action accordingly (e.g., Matt. 4:1-11). This work -- the complete conforming to Divine wisdom -- was the eating of butter and honey. By it he learned to refuse the evil and choose the good.
Have we reviewed our spiritual diet lately? Is butter and honey our nutritional mainstay, or is it basic milk and sugar? Milk is associated with our infancy in the Truth (Heb. 5:12-13). We are exhorted to mature in the knowledge of Deity (2 Pet. 3:18). Have we made an honest effort to do so? Sugar is good, but honey is far more beneficial to our physical health. It should come as no surprise, then, that honey is associated with the acquisition of wisdom (Prov. 24:13-14). Are we learning to correctly apply what we have gleaned from the Word? Are we learning to refuse the evil and choose the good?
-Bob Widding
LETTERS ("Christ Alienated?" 10/03):
Dear Bible Journal:
"Thank you for your concise exegesis on the topic of alienation and Christ. Your comments provide the basic elements that one should consider when examining the erroneous doctrine that Christ was alienated with his Father. They also provide a foundation for further study by any willing to explore the topic.
"Having studied this subject myself, and likewise concluding that the unamended interpretation and use of 'alienation' regarding the relationship between Yahshua and Yahweh is incorrect, I would offer the following comments for all interested in this subject. These comments are offered as suggested areas to study and are not intended to be taken as inclusive of all that could be examined on the subject.
"Your quotation from Luke regarding the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit upon Mary is most important to a correct understanding of the matter. You rightly emphasize the aspect of 'that holy thing' and the implications thereof. The aspect of the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit should also be intently examined by students of this subject. (See for example Isa. 49:2 and Isa. 51:16).
"I would also recommend that students of this issue study what can be called the principle of spirit paternity. In this regard the section 'What Moses Taught Concerning the Christ' in bro. John Thomas' Phanerosis is very helpful.
"The correct understanding of the nature of Christ and the proper balance regarding his divinity and humanity is also required to correctly understand why Christ was not alienated from his Father. I have heard of various unamended brethren referring to Christ as being 'just like us.' This viewpoint overemphasizes Christ's humanity to the detriment of his divinity. Those who hold this viewpoint would be well advised to study and meditate upon the discourse by bro. Thomas in Eureka (Vol I, in the section titled 'Deity Manifested in Flesh'):
"Thus, 'the Logos became flesh, and dwelt among us,' says John, 'and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth;' for 'the law was given through Moses; the grace and the truth came through Jesus Anointed'—Jno. 1:14, 17. Now, 'Theos was the Logos,' says John; that is, Deity was the Word; and this Word became flesh in the manner testified. Was the product, therefore, not Deity? Did the union of spirit with flesh annihilate that spirit, and leave only flesh? Was the holy thing born a mere son of Adam? or 'the fellow' and 'equal' of the Deity?—Zech. 13:7; Jno. 5:18; Phil. 2:2. The latter unquestionably.
"It is difficult to harmonize bro. Thomas' teaching in this passage with the idea that Christ was alienated with his Father.
"I would also suggest that students of this subject review the first chapter of Paul's epistle to the Hebrews. In this chapter (and also in the one following) the superiority of Christ is addressed. By his divine sonship, Christ obtained a more excellent name than even the elohim. Whereas all of this chapter is germane to the study of Christ's relationship with his Father, it is particularly useful to study the import of the phrase in verse 3, 'the express image of His person.' Again, I believe that the results of such a study will not sustain a conclusion that Christ was 'alienated' with his Father.
"Since Christ's begettal was by the will of Yahweh and not the will of any man, and because he was and is the ultimate example of god manifestation, the erroneous application of alienation to the relationship of Yahweh and Christ creates the impression that Yahweh was alienated (and thus displeased) with His own work. The scriptures and the pioneer expositions of bre. Thomas and Roberts are not compatible with such an impression.
"Finally, I believe that the proponents of the 'alienation' theory confuse the concepts of 'alienation' and 'uncleanness' which are not the same and should not be used as if they are interchangeable terms.
"May it be our blessing to experience the time when all such confusion shall be swept away and the light of the Truth will prevail." - D.L.
LINKS:
Berean Restatement
Especially for Sisters
The Berean Christadelphian Magazine
Why The Bereans? A History.
Original 1851 Elpis Israel
Brethren Thomas and Roberts on Fellowship