GOD’S joyful news to men is all found and expressed in His blessed Son, Christ Jesus the Lord.
God’s answer to all the need, and woe, and misery of the human heart is in Christ personally. When a soul is aroused to a sense of its sinfulness before God, it is to Christ that God directs that soul.
All down the ages it is Christ Who is in view. Moses speaks of Him, the Old Testament prophets speak of Him; His own voice spoke thus of the Scriptures, “they are they which testify of Me.” (John 5:3939Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39).)
The Holy Ghost has been sent down from heaven to earth to testify of Him, and the New Testament Scriptures are full of Christ.
To read the Bible without finding Christ in it, or with any other object than Christ, is to lose the purpose of its gift to men.
Without Christ a soul has nothing. It is dying, and throughout eternity will still be without a ray of hope or light.
Dear reader, have you believed God’s glad tidings? Of all good news God’s good news must be the best.
He has proved His deep interest in mankind, and His Gospel is for you, and is sent to you.
Of the many types of old (God’s living pictures), David stands out as one who was needed; one who, because he was a man after God’s own heart, was just such as would meet the need of the human heart on God’s account. He is first spoken of as one who was of goodly appearance (1 Sam. 16:1818Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him. (1 Samuel 16:18)), and the personal worthiness of the Lord Jesus Christ is spoken of before the great work that He did.
The work of the Lord Jesus is very great indeed it is the greatest work ever done on earth or in heaven. It is greater than creation: it is unique. His work reveals the greatness of His Person.
The work that David did in killing Goliath and freeing the people of God from his power is mentioned after the personal qualities of David are mentioned.
Then we read he was an object of affection. Jonathan loved him, the people loved him; Michal loved him; and thus was David a type of Christ.
As the hymn expresses it:
“We love Thee for the glorious worth
That in Thyself we see;
We love Thee for the shameful cross
Endured so patiently.”
How perfectly God has met the situation that sin and death have occasioned. You and I as sinners are naturally under the power sin, in fear of death and the judgment that follows.
But, blessed be God, in Christ Jesus every question in regard to us has been taken up and dealt with to God’s satisfaction: the cross of Christ is His answer to them all.
And now exalted upon the throne, made both Lord and Christ He is available to all. He is Lord of all; and you need Him. All really need Him; but all are not aware of their desperate condition. You need a Saviour, you need a Lord, one who can save you and control you. All this you will find in the Lord Jesus. He is both Saviour and Lord. What grace to man is thus expressed! All may believe in Him and on His authority get eternal blessing to God’s glory. L. O. L.