17, 18 (Isaiah 6:8; Philippians 2:6-8; see EGW comment on Mark 16:6). Christ Man′s Surety—Not one of the angels could have become surety for the human race: their life is God′s; they could not surrender it. The angels all wear the yoke of obedience. They are the appointed messengers of Him who is the Commander of all heaven. But Christ is equal with God, infinite and omnipotent. He could pay the ransom for man′s freedom. He is the eternal self-existing Son, on whom no yoke had come; and when God asked, “Whom shall I send?” He could reply, “Here am I; send Me.”Isaiah 6:8. He could pledge Himself to become man′s surety; for He could say that which the highest angel could not say,—I have power over My own life, “power to lay it down, and ... power to take it again”(John 10:18) (The Youth′s Instructor, June 21, 1900).
(5BC 1136.12)