WHO is He at whose birth the air was filled with angels, and over whose couch hung a celestial star? (Luke 2:1515And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. (Luke 2:15); Matt. 2:99When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. (Matthew 2:9).)
Who is He, before whose infant feet the wisest men of the world bowed in adoration and worship? (Matt. 2:1111And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11).) Who is He for whom Herod slew hundreds of children in order to reach the young child’s life? (Matt. 2:1919But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, (Matthew 2:19).)
Who is He at whose baptism the heavens were opened above His blessed head, and on whom the Spirit of God descended in the form of a dove, while the voice of “Jehovah” like the voice of many thunders proclaimed from the open heavens, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”? (Matt. 3:1717And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:17).)
Who is He at whose word the tempest became still, the billowy waves placid, the winds hushed, and there was a great calm 2 (Mark 4:3737And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. (Mark 4:37).)
Who is He that healed the sick and leprous by a word; that could say to the man with a withered hand, “Stretch forth thy hand,” and it was restored whole? (Luke 5:12, 6:6.)
Who is He who raised the daughter of Jairus, healed the centurion’s servant, restored to life the son of the widow of Nain, cast out a legion of devils, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and speech to the dumb? (Luke 7 and 8.)
Who is He who feeds at one time five thousand, and at another time four thousand men, besides women and children, from a few pounds of bread, and a few fishes, which a lad could carry in a basket 2 (Matt. 14:15, 15:32)
Who is He that calls forth from the tomb of corruption to life and health Lazarus who had been dead four days? and who once while praying was answered by a voice from heaven in the hearing of many people, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again”? (John 11:43, 12:28)
Who is He at whose trial nothing could be found against Him; whom Pilate declared to be innocent, calling for water and washing his hands, saying he was clear of His blood, “for he found no fault in him”? and when on the cross to whom the dying malefactor by His side also testified, “This man hath done nothing amiss?” (Matt. 27:2424When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. (Matthew 27:24), Luke 23:4141And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. (Luke 23:41).)
Who is He at whose crucifixion the sun refused to shine, the land being wrapped in midnight darkness, and when He had said “It is finished,” “the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom,” the earth quaked, the rocks were rent, and the tombs were opened, “and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,” and came forth out of the tombs, after his resurrection? and to whom the Roman centurion bore witness, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God”? (Matt. 27:5050Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. (Matthew 27:50).)
Who is He who on the third day burst the bars of the tomb, was visited by angels, seen alive by “Mary of Magdalene,” “and the other Mary,” and afterward by all the disciples, when “he shelved unto them his hands and his side”? (John 20:1111But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, (John 20:11); Matt. 28:11In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. (Matthew 28:1).)
Who is He who after appearing among His disciples for the space of forty days, “and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God,” “led them out as far as to Bethany,” and, having blessed them with uplifted hands,” was parted from them and carried up into heaven”? (Luke 24:5050And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. (Luke 24:50).)
Who is He of whom Paul speaks, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord”? (1 Thess. 4:1616For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:16).)
Who is He of whom the same apostle writes, “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power”? (2 Thess. 1:77And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (2 Thessalonians 1:7).)
Who is He that John the apostle saw in the revelation given to him in the isle of Patmos, of whom he writes, “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth, and he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book the four living creatures and four-and-twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation”? (Rev. 5:66And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (Revelation 5:6).)
Who is He of whom the same apostle adds, “And the kings of the earth and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond man, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand”? (Rev. 6:1515And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; (Revelation 6:15).)
Reader, what sayest thou? Do you answer with Peter, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God?” the One you know now, and in whom your heart finds perfect rest, while you wait the moment that will take you into His own presence, where there is “the fullness of joy,” and the “pleasures for evermore.” Are you waiting for Him to come in the air as your Saviour and Lord? Or is it that you still reject His love? content to find your pleasure in a world that has yet to answer for the crucifixion of the Son of God? If so, His corning can only bring to you “everlasting punishment” in the “lake of fire.” Decide now while He waits in grace, tomorrow may be too late.
“Tis the Lord, wondrous story,
“Tis the Lord, the King of Glory;
At His feet we humbly fall:
Crown Him, crown Him, Lord of all.”
R. A. S.