If we were to attempt to enumerate all the blessings which God has bestowed upon man, we should find it to be an impossible task. This also was the experience of the Psalmist: “Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto Thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” (Psa. 40:55Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. (Psalm 40:5).)
The prophet Jeremiah, too, adds his testimony “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22, 2322It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22‑23).)
From the cradle to the grave, man is the recipient of boundless mercies. Every blessing we enjoy comes to us from God’s bountiful hand, as the Apostle James says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” But great as are the gifts of God, there is one which stands out infinitely beyond them all. Well may it be spoken of as the “unspeakable gift.” No language can set it forth so sweetly as the Saviour’s own words: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” ( John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).)
Age after age has this blessed story been told out, but still it is as fresh as ever. It is a perennial fountain, whose living waters have been flowing onwards through the long course of time, refreshing the weary sons of men. We often learn to know the value of things best by comparison, but no comparison can be made between this and other gifts. It stands pre-eminently alone.
Among the shining ranks of angels not one was found who could undertake the mighty work of man’s redemption—no power save that which is divine could have recovered him from his lost estate. Hence we see the superlative value of God’s “unspeakable gift.”
In what glowing terms does the prophet Isaiah speak of this wondrous gift: “Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” (Isa. 9:66For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6).)
A multitude of the heavenly host heralded His birth; at His baptism a voice from heaven spake, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Again, at His transfiguration there was a manifestation of His glory, whilst at His death the heavens were shrouded in darkness. Then He was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Rom. 1:44And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: (Romans 1:4).)
And finally, when He ascended into heaven, He was hailed as the Mighty Conqueror, and took His seat at the right hand of the Majesty
“Worthy of homage and of praise,
Worthy by all to be adored;
Exhaustless theme of heavenly lays
Thou, Thou art worthy, Jesus Lord.”
My dear reader, the above is but a feeble expression of the worthiness of Jesus. No mortal tongue can adequately set it forth on earth.
“He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross: wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth: and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:8-118And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:8‑11).)
My dear reader, this wondrous gift, this unspeakable gift is for a guilty world.
Have you listened to the call of God? Do you own yourself guilty before Him? Then know upon the authority of the Word of God that this gift is for you. The great question of sin was divinely settled on the cross, all God’s righteous claims were fully met there, so that now salvation is free to all who in humble penitence thankfully accept it.
“Of all the gifts Thy love bestows,
Thou Giver of all good,
Not heaven itself a richer knows,
Than the Redeemer’s blood.
Faith, too, that trusts the blood through grace,
From that same love we gain;
Else, sweetly as it suits our case,
The gift had been in vain.
We praise Thee, and would praise Thee more,
To Thee our all we owe;
The precious Saviour, and the power
That makes Him precious too.”