by J. C. Philpot
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
Considering the prophetical office of Jesus, we hope, with God's help and blessing, to show that it is one of peculiar grace, and full of divine blessedness to his believing people. May the Spirit guide our thoughts and direct our pen in our Meditations on the grace and glory of Jesus as the Prophet, that he may make himself very dear, near, and precious to both writer and reader, and that, preserved from all error and led into all truth, we may exalt his great and glorious name, as we sit at his feet hearing his word and looking up to him for that heavenly instruction which is so blessed a feature of his prophetical office to communicate.
The High Priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ is so wide and deep a subject that we can only hope at the best to bring forth a small measure of the treasures of mercy and grace which are stored up in it. But in order to prevent losing ourselves in so wide a field, we shall, the Lord enabling, endeavor to treat the subject as clearly as we can.
We now approach the consideration of that still greater and more glorious title which he wears as Zion's enthroned King.
But O, at the very outset, how unworthy, as well as unable, do we feel ourselves to be to set forth in any suitable, any befitting manner the glory of that exalted Sovereign who sits at the right hand of the Father as Head over all things to the Church! When the sun veils its rays behind a cloud we can look upon its milder glories with undazzled eye. But who can gaze on its meridian beams in all their undimmed splendor? Thus when the Son of God veiled the brightness of his eternal glory by assuming a tabernacle of flesh, faith can view him as a suffering yet sacrificing High Priest in the garden and on the cross with undazzled, though with sympathizing, eye. In a similar way, when Jesus still speaks as a Prophet in the word of his grace—"Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart," faith can now sit at his feet and hear his words without being overwhelmed with his glory.
But when we look up and attempt to view him sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high in all his exalted dignity and power as King of kings and Lord of lords—then we feel as if dazzled and overborne with a sight and sense of his surpassing glory. In the days of his flesh, the beloved disciple could lean on the bosom of Jesus and stand by his cross; but when in Patmos' lonely isle he appeared in his majesty so that "his eyes were as a flame of fire," and "his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength," John fell at his feet as dead! Yet if he has made us willing in the day of his power, has brought us to his feet in all humility to touch the scepter of his grace and own him Lord of all, we may, in company with his saints, "speak of the glory of his kingdom and talk of his power, to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom." (Psalm 145:11, 12.) And as we have undertaken to set forth the covenant characters of the Lord Jesus, we must not now sink under the sense either of his glory or of our own insufficiency, and throw aside our pen as we are tempted to do, but endeavor, as the Lord may enable us, to trace out what is revealed to us in the word of truth of his present dignity as Zion's exalted King.
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Table of Contents
Jesus' Prophetic Office
I. The essential nature of the prophetic office.
II. The peculiar qualifications of Jesus to sustain his prophetic office.
III. Jesus executing his prophetic office upon earth.
IV. The present mode of sustaining his prophetic office in heaven.
V. The spiritual bearing which his prophetic office has on the experience of his believing people.
Jesus, the Great High Priest
Jesus, the Great High Priest - Chapter One
Jesus, the Great High Priest - Chapter Two
Jesus, the Great High Priest - Chapter Three
Jesus the Great High Priest - Chapter Four
Jesus the Great High Priest - Chapter Five
Jesus, the Enthroned King
I. The eternal purpose of God the Father to glorify his dear Son, and exalt him as Lord and King.
II. The execution of this purpose in the incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension, and glorification of the Son of God.
III. The nature, object, extent, and duration of his kingdom.
IV. Its future development and glorious manifestation.
V. The practical and experimental bearing and influence which the royal power and authority of Jesus have on believing hearts.