God Manifest in the Flesh

 •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 9
Throughout John's Gospel we may perceive that a sense of the glory of His person is ever present
to the mind of Christ. Whether we follow Him from scene to scene of His public ministry (chap. 1.-12.), through His parting words with " His own" (chap. 8.-17.), in the path of His closing sorrows (chap. 18., 19.), or in resurrection (chap. 20., 21.), this is so.
This full personal glory that belongs to Him is declared at the very beginning of this Gospel (chap. 1:1), and there recognized by the church, conscious, as she is, that she had discerned it (chap. 1:14). But, as I have just said, it is always present to His own mind. He is in the place where covenant arrangements put Him, and He is doing those services which care for the manifestation of the Father's glory laid on Him; but still He takes knowledge of Himself in the fullness of the Godhead glory that belonged to Him, essentially and intrinsically His. (See 2:21; 3:13; 4:14; 5:23; 6:46, 62; 7:37; 8:58; 9:38; 10:30, 38; 11:11, 25; 12:45; 14:45; 16:15; 18:6; 19:30; 20:22)
The Spirit in the saint, after this manner, glorifies Him still. The saint may recognize Him in the place of covenant subjection, or think of Him in His sorrows and sufferings, but (like Himself in the days of His flesh) never loses the sense of that personal glory which is essentially and intrinsically His. Christ's own way when He was here, and the saint's present experience, are thus in perfect concord. And when we look a little at 'the epistles, we shall find something still in harmony I mean in this particular. The Spirit in the apostles does not meet an injurious treatment of the person of Christ in the same style that He does a wrong dealing with the truth of the gospel. And this difference in style is very significant. For instance, in the Epistle to the Galatians, where the simplicity of the gospel is vindicated, there is a pleading and a yearning in the midst of earnest and urgent reasonings. So there' are measures and methods recommended (such as charging, rebuking, stopping the mouth, 1 Tim. 1., and Titus 1.), and not a summary process and outlawry at once, when Judaizing corruptions are dealt with. But when the person of the Son: of God is the thing in hand, when His glory is to be asserted, there is nothing of all this. The style is different. All is peremptory. " They went out from us, because they were not of us." " Receive him not into your house." " Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God." The Spirit, as I may say, holds the decree most sacred, and guards it with instinctive jealousy, " that all should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father" (John 5:2323That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him. (John 5:23)).
All this about His full divine glory is precious in the thoughts of His people. We are, however, led to look at man in Him also and through a succession of conditions we see in Him man presented to God with infinite though varied delight and satisfaction. I have, long since, traced Him in the following way, as man in all perfectness:
1. Born.—The material, so to speak, moral and physical, is presented in Jesus as the born one. He was a taintless sheaf of the human harvest. Man in Him was perfect as a creature (Luke 1:3535And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)).
2. Circumcised.—Jesus, in this respect, was under tha law, and He kept it, as of course, to all perfection. Man in Him was thus perfect as under law (Luke 2:2727And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, (Luke 2:27)).
4. Anointed.—As anointed, Jesus was sent forth to service and testimony. In this respect man is seen in Him perfect as a servant (Luke 3:2222And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. (Luke 3:22)).
5. Devoted.—Jesus surrendered Himself to God, left Himself in His hand to do to His utmost will and pleasure. In Him man was therefore perfect as a sacrifice (Luke 22:1919And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19), 20. 42).
6. Risen.—This begins a series of new conditions in which man is found. This is the first stage of the new estate. John 12:31, 3231Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 32And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:31‑32), intimates a new course in man, as here said. The corn of wheat, having fallen into the ground and died, is now capacitated to be fruitful. Man in the risen Jesus is in indefeasible life.
7. Glorified.—The risen Man, or man in indefeasible life, wears a heavenly image. The new man has a new or glorious body.
8. Reigning.—The risen and glorified Man receives, in due season, authority to execute judgment. Dominion is His. The lost sovereignty of man is regained.
Scripture leads us through this series of contemplations on the Son of man. And though I speak here of the Man, as before I did of the divine glory, yet I divide not the person. Throughout all, it is " God manifest in the flesh " we have before us.
We need to walk softly over such ground, and not to multiply words. On so high a theme, precious to the loving worshiping heart, we may remember what is written, " In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin."