In so many wondrous ways, the Spirit of God glorifies the person of Christ, delighting to bring Him constantly before our gaze desiring that our vision might be filled with Christ. Our heart’s affections ought to break forth in praise as we consider the Word, God incarnate, the Eternal Son, full of grace and truth. And while such musings are of the deepest, sweetest value, we also find in them many encouragements for our daily Christian walk.
For example, four times in John’s gospel the Spirit of God tells of those who had the unspeakable privilege of beholding the “Son of His love” in one of His beautiful characters. While in two of these cases wicked unbelief denied those who beheld Him from blessing, faith gleans from them rich profit, both in worship and in receiving succor for our daily path.
Beholding Him Our Peace
First we have Him presented by the Spirit as the burnt offering, wholly for God. We are directed to behold Him the Lamb of God the One who alone, first and forever, satisfied God concerning sin. Here Jesus is rightfully displayed, we may say, before the adoring gaze of all heaven as He walked in this scene. Believers are invited by God to have fellowship with His delight in that Object.
Until this moment in John’s writings, through all the ages of Scripture, Isaac’s question, “Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” and Abraham’s answer, “My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering,” had remained unfulfilled.
Now the Word incarnate, full of “grace and truth,” the Lamb of God’s providing, has appeared. And so the Spirit directs our gaze towards that which has no equal in all creation the burnt offering rendering a sweet savor, fully satisfying to God. Directed by the Spirit we gaze in wonder and adoration at this infinitely sure and precious foundation of rest, finding sweet assurance and peace for our hearts.
Sweetest rest and peace have filled us,
Sweeter praise than tongue can tell;
God is satisfied with Jesus;
We are satisfied as well.
(Little Flock Hymnbook #57)
Beholding Him Our Delight
Again the Spirit directs our gaze to the Lamb but this time it is “looking upon Jesus as He walked” that we behold Him. What an object in which we delight—all the ways that divine love, grace and truth shine perfectly in the Saviour. In all there was perfection fine flour and sweet incense. Every step of His pathway was perfectly in fellowship with His God and Father.
Is there another object in this world seeking to displace the glories and beauties of the Saviour in our hearts? Let it be quickly and unsparingly judged as unworthy of our heart’s affections. Let nothing this poor world has to offer displace the peerless company of the supreme Delight and Joy of heaven.
Is there around that which chafes, within that which discourages? Are there trials and persecutions bringing fear? Unfulfilled desires bringing emptiness and dissatisfaction? Then, beloved reader, look—behold “Jesus as He walked”! Beholding the “Lamb of God” in His perfect pathway of grace gives encouragement to persevere in the face of our adversaries.
Come let us sing the matchless worth,
And sweetly sound the glories forth
Which in the Saviour shine.
(Little Flock Hymnbook #196)
Beholding Him Our Example
Here our gaze is not directed to the Lord Jesus by means of His servant, but through the mocking words of unbelief. Yet even in that we find rich and precious blessing for our souls. And the terrible darkness of this awful moment causes His glory to shine out even more brilliantly. “Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee” (Psa. 76:1010Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. (Psalm 76:10)).
Thus we behold our blessed Lord coming forth before the howling mob, wearing the crown of thorns and purple robe, a spectacle before all of the hatred that man’s wicked heart could heap upon his Creator. Pilate’s call to “behold the man” brings forth the wretched cry, “Crucify Him.”
However, the believer, whose eyes of faith have been anointed by the Spirit to behold “the Man,” responds with worship and joy. We delight to announce that “this man hath done nothing amiss,” that “He hath done all things well” and that “never man spake like this man.” We should desire to be as the one born blind who, upon seeing Jesus, worshipped Him (John 9).
Never a trial will we face in this life, but that Man has already gone through the same. And He has done so in perfect submission and obedience to God, fully glorifying Him in every circumstance.
What a perfect, morally beautiful example “this Man” leaves for His own to behold as they walk through this world. From the youngest to the oldest, the weakest to strongest, the tried, the persecuted, the fearful or the discouraged whatever the occasion, each is called to “behold the man” finding in Him all the encouragement needed for the wilderness path.
O Lord! when we the path retrace
Which Thou on earth hast trod,
We wonder at Thy lowly mind,
And fain would like Thee be.
(Little Flock Hymnbook #230)
Beholding Him Our Lord
In another day, Israel had said, “Make us a king” (1 Sam. 8:55And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. (1 Samuel 8:5)), and Jehovah “gave them their request,” but what “leanness” Saul brought into their souls. Now standing before them, announced by Pilate’s mocking arrogance, is the divine King. Yet the hardened, unbelieving leaders of their nation answer, “We have no king but Caesar.” They would rather keep their wretched condition of slavery to the Romans than to accept in humble thankfulness their true King.
We view this awful scene in amazement, wondering at such awful blindness of God’s beloved earthly people. Yet the Spirit of God would exercise our own hearts to soberly consider if He who is “King of kings, and Lord of lords” is allowed to reign in supreme authority in our hearts and lives. We are to confess Him as Lord (Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)). But do we practically and daily give Him that place in our lives? Our happiness in this life depends on the answer to this searching question.
In Israel’s day, when David was chosen by God to lead His beloved people, Saul (a picture of the flesh) became his constant enemy, seeking to keep for himself the rightful place of authority that was David’s. In application, one of these two will rule in the believer’s life Saul (the flesh) or David (Christ).
Obedience to Christ’s rightful authority is the way a believer proves love for Christ. “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:1515If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)). “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him” (John 14:2121He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)).
Anointed King, with glory crowned,
Rightful heir and Lord of all!
Christ of God, our souls confess Thee
King and Sovereign even now!
Thee we reverence, Thee obey—
Own Thee Lord and Christ alway.
(Little Flock Hymnbook #134)
Ed.