(I Tim. 2: 6). He offered up Himself (Heb. 7: 27; 9: 14). We therefore glory in the

fact that while Christ exhausted all the meaning of the sacrifices and offerings in His

own once-offered sacrifice, He did something infinitely more--He became not only

Substitute and Sacrifice, but Surety, and this identification with Himself is our great

pledge of life: "Because I live, ye shall live also."

Reuben's sons, though slain as promised, would not have brought Benjamin back, or

satisfied the father's heart for the loss of his son. Judah's suretyship did not offer to

forfeit something if Benjamin were lost. Judah identified Benjamin with himself. If

Benjamin stayed, he stayed, and if Judah returned, Benjamin would return with him. The

offering of Christ transcends all sacrifices ever offered in many ways, but in this one in

particular--He was raised again from the dead. That feature belongs to His position as

Surety: "He was raised again because of our justifying" (Rom. 4: 25). As the risen One,

He became "the firstfruits of them that slept". The thought of the Surety is also seen in

I Thess. 4: 14: "If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which

sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him."

As our Surety He lives now at the right hand of God. As our Surety He is yet to be

manifested as "our life" and we are to be manifested "with Him" in glory. As our Surety

He will present us holy and without blemish.

May this blessed fullness of Christ satisfy each heart, as it satisfies the Father.