Scriptural Views of Christ
Matthew xxii. 42. What think ye of Christ?
This is a great question. It behooves us all to make this inquiry. What are our views of him and his great work? Is he altogether lovely in our eyes, and precious to our hearts? Do we trust him as the Incarnate Son of God, and submit to him as the anointed King of Zion? Is he our joy, our confidence, our all? According to a man’s practical judgment in these matters, are his state and character. His thoughts on other subjects will be greatly influenced by his view of this. His spirit, his conduct, and his destiny are all influenced by his views of Christ. We have more to do with Christ than with any other being in the universe. And the Bible has more to say of him than of any other.
I. The first and most important fact which is revealed concerning Christ is, that he is truly and properly God.
His divinity is the foundation on which the Christian system rests. “To us a child is horn,” says the Prophet Isaiah, “to us a Son is given, and his name shall he called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” Out of thee, thou Bethlehem of Judah’’’ says the Prophet
Micah, “shall he come forth unto me, that is to be Ruler in Israel, and his going forth is from the beginning, from the days of eternity.” In a style peculiarly his own, and lofty as his subject, the inspired Evangelist affirms, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He thought it no robbery,’’ says the Apostle, “to be equal with God.”
His works attest his divinity. ‘’ All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” His authority attests it; for in his own name, he issues the laws of the God of heaven. His promises attest it; for they are such as God only can make, and fulfil. The final Judgment attests it; for life and death are decided by his sentence; and the eternal destiny of all intelligent beings is suspended on his pleasure. It is a fact of deep and everlasting interest therefore, that Christ is no other than the God of heaven and earth; the Lord and Creator, and Judge of the universe. He it is who was, and is, and is to come. He it is who is worshipped by all the heavenly hosts, and receives their everlasting praise and adorations. Look up, and behold your Lord and Redeemer. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that he is Lot’d to the glory of God the Father.
II. Another fact revealed concerning Christ is, that he became incarnate and dwelt among men.
God is one in nature, and three in Persons. This Trinity of Persons in the Godhead includes the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. These three exist from eternity in the same undivided nature, with the same power, the same wisdom, and the same equality of all perfection. They are consequently the same one, incomprehensible and Eternal God; because in each of them the Divinity is the same. The second of these is the Eternal Son; the Word that was made flesh and dwelt among us. A real and substantial union of the divine and human nature has taken place in the Person of Jesus Christ; so that he is become both God and man. From the early promise made to our first parents in Eden, this consolatory truth was revealed from generation to generation, and more and more distinctly revealed, through a long series of ages, till the branch rose from the root of Jessee; till the Virgin conceived and brought forth her Son; till the child was horn, who should sit upon the throne of David, and of whose kingdom there should he no end. After the lapse of four thousand years from the apostasy, the angel Gabriel was sent to Mary with the message,” Behold, thou shalt conceive and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus’^ He is God, because he retains the same divine nature, which he had, and always will have from eternity to eternity; and he is man, because having assumed the nature of man, by uniting to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, he was placed in a state of perfect dependence; was accountable to God, like other men; and like all other men, was in a state of trial, from his birth to his death.
It may not be supposed that God altered in his nature, or by any change in his divinity was transformed into man; nor that the divinity was mixed or blended with human nature, so as to form out of the two a compounded nature, which should be neither human nor divine. Though the two natures really and substantially unite, yet each remains entire in itself; so that by the one, Christ is inferior, by the other, he is equal to the Father in all things. This is the doctrine of the Bible, concerning the mystery of the Incarnation. We frankly acknowledge it is a fact beyond the natural comprehension of men. We say concerning it as Paul said, “Great is the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh!” We should not credit it upon any other than the divine testimony. And is it not a mystery, so full of goodness on the part of God, that it claims our most grateful homage? — unfathomable indeed, but the depth of his mercy and grace! The great God, infinitely and completely happy within himself, assumed our nature with all its pains and miseries; the God omnipotent and immortal, assumed our weakness, and dwelt in mortal flesh. O thou divine Redeemer! to redeem a slave, thou hast descended from thy throne; thou hast become like one of us!
III. Another fact revealed concerning Jesus Christ is, that he died to make an atonement for the sins of men.
The low estate in which he was born, well answered to the great purpose for which he came. The shepherds of Bethlehem found Joseph and Mary, and the infant lying in the manger. It was by this humble. assumption of our nature, that he rendered himself capable of making an adequate atonement for our sins. From the moment of his birth he became the humble, obedient sufferer. And from that moment, he began the work of our redemption. ‘’It became him, by whom are all things, to make the Captain of our salvation perfect through sufferings.”
We had become the slaves of sin, fettered by the curse, and bound over to eternal death. But he assumed our guilt, and took our chains. He has blotted out the hand- writing that was against us; has effaced the otherwise indeUble mark of reprobation; and raised us to the adoption of sons. The divinity of his Person stamped an efficacy upon his sacrifice, that made it effectual to all who believe; while it opened the door of hope to our lost race, which had otherwise been shut forever.
Under the law, almost all things were purified with blood; and without the shedding of blood, there is no remission. For the first four thousand years of the world, the bloody sacrifices of the Patriarchal and Mosaic economy led all those who feared God to look for this great sacrifice of his Son. It was impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin. These sacrifices were limited in their duration, and only prefigured the mighty Christian sacrifice, the great propitiation of Jesus Christ, who, through the Eternal Spirit offered up himself unto God. Though he knew no sin, yet was he made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. How often do the Scriptures express this truth, in all their own impressiveness and variety. “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all:” — “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world :^’ —” The Son of Man is come to give his life a ransom for many:” — “This is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many, for the remission of sins;” — “Christ died for the ungodly:^ — ‘^ Re hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us .*” —” His own self bare our sins in his own body on the treeP The death of the Son of God, as the Propitiation for sin! My friends, what shall we say of it? — Interesting, but solemn fact! Joyful, but mournful topic! 0!
who was it that suffered? — what did he suffer ‘^ — for whom did he suffer? Think of Him, — the Father’s fellow, and the church’s Shepherd. Think of the Garden and the Cross, and see how they demonstrate, on the one hand, the enormity of our guilt, and on the other, the force of his Almighty love. Think of the debased and abject character of those for whom he died; — men born in sin, forgetful of every obligation, and the enemies of God! O! it was the hour of Satan’s triumph and the power of darkness, when they nailed him to the cross! Little did they anticipate in this tragical event the pledge of their own defeat and shame. That man of sorrows is the Saviour of the world! That naked, bleeding victim, is the Mighty Champion and Conqueror of death and hell! O what triumphs of love, of holiness, of heaven were there, when the earth trembled; and the sun grew dark; and the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the rocks rent asunder; and the graves gave up their dead; and hell itself was moved with terror; and the Great Redeemer exclaimed, “It is finished,” and gave up the ghost!
IV. Another fact in relation to Jesus Christ, is that, at the predicted period, he rose from the dead.
Soon after Jesus had expired, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate, and obtained the body, and took it down from the cross, and having wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, laid it in his own sepulchre. Jesus had often mentioned before his death, that on ‘’ the third day he should rise again.“” The better, therefore, to secure his body, the chief priests and Pharisees sealed up the stone that was upon the mouth of the tomb, and placed around it a guard of soldiers. But in vain did the
Heathen rage, and the Princes take counsel together against the Lord, and against his Christ. Early in the morning, on the third day after his crucifixion, the earth shook; an appointed angel descended from heaven and rolled back the stone that was at the mouth of the sepulchre, and sat upon it: and by his own divine power, the Saviour rose. About the dawn of day, Mary Magdalene, and some other devout women were repairing to the sepulchre to embalm the body, but unexpectedly, even to them, his body was not to be found. As the stone was rolled back and the cave open, they entered into the sepulchre, and behold an angel was sitting there robed in white. And they were afraid; but the angel said unto them, “Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified. He is not here; for he is risen as he said: come see the place where the Lord lay.” On the intimation of Mary, Peter and John hastened to the sepulchre, but found only the clothes in which the body of Jesus had been wrapped. They wondered and departed. To remove all doubt concerAing the reality of his resurrection, Jesus himself, on the very day on which he rose from the -dead, publicly announced the event by his own living voice, and showed himself alive to a number of his followers, and conversed, and ate with them, and reminded them of what he had said to them before his death, upon the subject of his resurrection.
In the resurrection of Christ we have the strongest proof of the truth of the religion he came to establish, the strongest consolation of his followers, and the most decisive victory thus far gained over the powers of darkness. Had he died and seen corruption, he had been like other men who sleep in the grave, and mingle with the dust. But the degradation of his death is now lost in the glory of his revival from the dead* Death is disarmed, and no longer holds his dominion over him. He has gained the victory; and eternal thanks to God, who hath thus given us the victory, through Jesus Christ our Lord! It is in view of this glorious triumph of our Lord, that Job exclaims, ‘* I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day on the earth, and though after my shin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God /” And that Peter exclaims, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, from the dead /” And in view of it, let us say, “To him be glory forever arid ever V This is he “that liveth and was dead, and is alive for evermore, and hath the keys of death and of hell.” This is he, — the first begotten of the dead — the Prince of the kings of the earth — through whom cometh to pass that saying, which is written,” O death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy victory?
V. Another fact the Scriptures reveal concerning Christ is, that he is ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God.
He remained upon the earth, after his resurrection, forty days. On the fortieth day, he led forth his disciples to a high mountain, not far from Jerusalem, where he lifted up ‘his hands and blessed them, and as he blessed them, rose through the air, till a cloud received him out of their sight. In the language of the Evangelist, “he was received up into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God” The right hand of God is the first place of honor and power in the universe. Thither Jesus ascended, not alone, but conducted by an innumerable train of the heavenly hosts. In his human, as well as his divine nature, he is raised far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. Being the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express image of his person, he is elevated as far above the angels, “as he hath by inheritance, a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels, hath the Father said at any time. Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee? But to the Son he saith, thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee loith the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” There is nothing higher, and nothing greater, within the glory and blessedness of heaven, than that to which Christ Jesus is exalted. United with the Deity as he is, he holds the same sovereign dominion with the Father, over all creatures, and is especially “head over all things to the church.^’’ There he reigns as the “Prince of the kings of the earth.’^ There he reigns to rule, enrich, and protect his people. Having ascended up on high, he led captivity captive. There he lives to send down the renovating and sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit; to give gifts to men, that the Lord God might dwell among them.” I tell you the truth,’’ said he to his disciples, “it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the comforter will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you, that he may abide with you forever.’^ In him are boundless resources of wisdom, grace, and strength, peace, light and joy, for the comfort and edification of his saints in every age. Nothing can harm the friends of God and holiness, while Christ is on the throne. There are no trials they cannot sustain, no dangers they cannot encounter, no enemies they cannot vanquish, so long as” it is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, and who is ever at the right hand of God.’’* Suffer for a while, they may; but nothing shall separate them from the love of Christ. Struggle for awhile, they may; but their struggles will soon be over, and their conflicts will be remembered, only by the conquests they have won, and the grace through which they obtained the victory. I add,
VI. Another fact which the Scriptures reveal concerning Christ, which, though not yet realized, is as certain as though it were already past, is, that at the end of the world, he will once more appear, and as the Judge of the living and the dead.
When he ascended up into heaven from Mount Olivet, and in the presence of his gazing and astonished disciples, and while their eyes were following him till a cloud received him out of their sight, behold two angels appeared in white apparel, and said unto them, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye here, gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, in like manner, as ye have seen him go into heaven.” The Prophet Daniel “saw in the night visions, and behold One, like the Son of Man, came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him and there was given him dominion and glory. ‘’^ Christ himself foretold the signs of his coming, when he said to his disciples,” Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven; and then shall all the tr’ibes of the earth mourn, when they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory, In the most minute description of the day of judgment given in the Scriptures, he also says, *’ When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations.’’^ Just as he was about to ascend to heaven, he assured his disciples that “he would come again, and receive them unto hirnself.’^ Paul too directed the Thessalonians to” wait for the Son of God from heaven f and tells them, that “the Lord himself shall descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God. And to the Hebrews he says,” So Christ was oiicc offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him, shall he appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation.” And in the Apocalypse, the beloved disciple exclaims;” Behold he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him.’^
It is one of the glorious truths of the Bible, that Jesus Christ shall once more appear to judge the quick and the dead. At the end of the world; when the method of redemption shall have accomplished the designs for which it was devised, and the human family are ripe for the last judgment; Jesus shall appear, not as the infant of days, but as the Everlasting Father, — not as the forsaken and despised one, but as the Prince of life and the first begotten from the dead, — to call before him all the nations of men; to assemble the world to judgment; to call together the holy tribes and proclaim their release from sin and woe; to announce that he is King in Zion; to welcome the righteous to his kingdom; and to sentence the wicked to their long dreaded abodes of sorrow and shame.
This will be the day on which the Son of Man will be glorified in his saints and admired in all them that believe. Then will he irreversibly determine the destinies of angels and men, and in such a manner as to stop every mouth and murmur forever. And then will he retire to his throne and kingdom, to communicate his love to his people, and to receive their grateful and adoring acknowledgments in the cheerful obedience of eternity, and in the rapturous song, “Worthy is the Lamb, that was slain, who hath redeemed us unto God by his blood /”
Such are some of the leading facts which the Scriptures reveal concerning Jesus Christ; — facts, which lie at the foundation of all the truths of revealed religion, and all the hopes and blessedness of the redeemed on earth and in heaven. And in view of them, we remark,
1. With what propriety does the Bible ascribe supreme and everlasting glory to Christ! No wonder the work of creation, of providence, and of grace, should develop their mysteries and be brought to their final termination by ascribing everlasting glory to Christ. Christ is the glory of the whole. All things were made by him and for him. He is the Alpha and Omega, the centre and final issue. Of the song of the unnumbered multitudes around the throne, he is the delightful theme. The name of Jesus employs every harp, the glory of Jesus sounds sweet from every string. “Worthy — worthy is the Lamb that was slain!’* sounds from ten thousand arches of the universe; while, with their own new song and emphasis, is echoed by the myriads of the redeemed, — “/or he was slain — for he was slain for us /” The fallen and the unfallen, place the crown on the head of Jesus. Dominion and glory they give to him. Everything bows at the feet of Jesus. And there, let us bow and give him the honor of the sea as well as the dry land! What think ye of Christ? O, let our eye be fixed on him; let our hearts become his throne and altar; let our hps be forever vocal with his praise! Let the sea roar, and the waters clap their hands, because Christ is King!
2. With what truth and force, may it be said, in the second place, that Christ is precious to them that believe 1 He ever has been so, from the days of his first revelation in the garden of Eden to the present hour. Abraham ‘* rejoiced to see Christ’s day, and he saw it and was glad’’ Moses esteemed him more precious that all the treasures of Egypt. David esteemed him “fairer than the children of men.” The Church in her divine songs speaks of him as the “rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys; as “the chief among ten thousand and altogether lovely;” and as the one whom ‘* her soul loveth.^^ The wise men of the East adored him. Simeon took him up in his arms, and said, “Now Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation /” And to holy men wherever found, Jesus is precious. “The upright love thee” “Whom having not seen, they love; in whom, though now they see him not, yet believing, they rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
And why should not Christ be precious to us all — to seamen, as well as landsmen? It was for seamen that he died, and rose, and lives, and reigns. In his tenderness and love the most exposed mariner on the ocean, is just as secure as the feeblest lamb of his flock on the land. In his power and faithfulness, his mercy and care, we have resources that never fail. If we did but love him, we should know what that Scripture meaneth, “he that toucheth them, toucheth the apple of his eye!” He will indeed care for us, if we love him. We shall be nourished in his bosom, when this world sjiall have passed away.
To you, who have been born of God; who have been made sensible of your perishing condition, and felt your need of Christ as a Saviour; and who have placed all your hopes on him; well may Christ be precious. And if he is precious now, he will be precious forever. In all your duties and trials he will be precious. When the world loses its charms, he will become more glorious and lovely than ever. When death invades, he will become its mighty conqueror. When you sleep beneath the clods of the valley, he will be the resurrection and the life. When the hooks shall he opened, and small and great shall stand before God, the precious Saviour shall come in the clouds of heaven, and you shall go to he ever with the Lord; he shall be doubly precious, and more and more precious through nterminable ages. I add,
3. One word to you who are still strangers to Christ. My friends, you know not what you do. If you have no interest in the great realities disclosed in the history of Jesus Christ, lamentable is your case indeed. Here in the person and work of Christ, you may see the only means of expiating your guilt, and the only means of your moral renovation; the only means of salvation from the condemning sentence when you stand in the judgment; deliverance from hell and advancement to heaven. Here is the eternal favor of God, when all the nations die. Here are the peace and joy of his right hand, when the earth itself shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll, and the sea shall be burnt up. And they may he yours. Christ, the great Author of them, offers them to you. Christ, the great Giver, brings them within your reach, to-day. O that I could persuade you they may he yours! Away with that vile suggestion, that they are not /or you! I have searched the Bible, and I have searched the book of providence, and I cannot find a single consideration within the government of God, that does not warrant you to make them yours. What, then, think ye of Christ? Look up and behold him. On the cross his divinity lies concealed; and as one forsaken of heaven and abhorred of earth, he bleeds and dies. But in heaven, he lives and reigns. And through faith in his blood, who liveth, and was dead, and is alive for evermore, you may live and reign with him forever.