The cross is the crown jewel of God’s ways with man. By it He has glorified His own nature of light and love and by it He has laid the foundation for man’s blessing in spite of his sinful rebellion. It is such a great work with a multitude of results that many different terms are used by God to help us to understand and appreciate our God and His work through our Lord Jesus Christ. Such terms include atonement, justification, redemption, forgiveness of sins, substitution, propitiation and reconciliation. Many of the sacrifices and services of the priests in Israel were done as types and shadows of the different aspects of the mighty work of God in Christ. Now we see in them the display of God’s nature and how God has been able to maintain His glory and yet bless those who had sinned against Him. In this issue we look at two aspects of His work: propitiation and reconciliation. We see in them how God’s holy nature is satisfied, and in doing so, He provides the foundation for bringing us back into fellowship and harmony with Himself. In it all we see that one and only one, our Lord Jesus Christ, could accomplish this work and say, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.”