THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NES S
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W a U i u t i f A m i d U t z
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By J. G. Macaulay | fTT^HIS MAN. .. sat down on the right hand of God,” states the writer, to the Hebrews (Heb. 10:12). “Be- 1 hold, I see , . . the Son of man standing on the fight hand of God,” cried the first Christian martyr, al ready exulting in the beatific vision (Acts 7:56). But the. last of the seers begins his letters to the seven churches with this: “These things saith he that . . . walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks” (Rev. 2:1). The Appearance of the Son of Man The description of our exalted Lord which St. John gives us in the first chapter of his Apocalypse cannot be transferred to an artist’s canvas. It is a spiritual vision, not a carnal likeness. Christ is seen “clothed with a garment down to the foot,” bespeaking the dignity of His person, Even our college girls have a dignity of person when they wear long formal dress, which is lacking when they are clad in sweaters and short skirts. In the days of His flesh, our Lord was subjected to the disgrace of another sort of raiment. Herod stripped Him of His own garments, and put upon Him a scarlet tunic, probably the cast-off of an army captain. So ar rayed, He was forced to undergo the brutal mockings and sport of the, soldiery. Apparently, He was similarly treated in Pilate’s hall. Then, on that skull-like knoll without the city, the Lord of glory bore the humiliation of being stripped again of all but a meager loincloth. Thus degraded, He hung upon the Cross. Upon the Son of God earth heaped its indignities. But now in Heaven, as Son of Man, He wears the robe of infinite majesty, and carries it with kingly dignity. Christ appears “girt about the breasts with a golden girdle.”' What a contrast to His earthly girding! “He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet” (John 13:4,5). This was the garment of His hu miliation, the livery of toil. Peter, who opposed his Lord’s stooping to the menial task that day, learned that this is the earthly lot of every follower of Christ. He had it written for us: “Be clothed with humility” (1 Peter 5:5). This is a reference to the attire of a slave. Now, another girding is our Lord’s—the girding of regal authority. “ His state Is Kingly, thousands at His bidding speed And post o’er land and ocean without rest.” Some day we, too, shall lay aside the girdle of toil, and share the royal habiliments of our exalted Head. “His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow.” John saw Jesus crowned, not with a crown manufactured and imposed upon His brow, but with the native diadem of holiness and wisdom. Earth gave Him a crown—a crown of thorns, which pierced and tore His brow. The thorn trees in the Ozarks re mind me of that crown, for nowhere else have I seen thorns so long, so sharp, aAd so abundant. The crown our Lord now wears is not one of sorrow and suffering.
but of joy and triumph. It did not grow on earth, but is a manifestation of His own inner being. A halo com bined of infinite holiness and perfect wisdom forms this snow-white diadem upon the brow of our multi-crowned King. “His eyes were as a flame of fire.” The eyes of men express more than do the lips, and often more truth fully. A Scottish song makes this the mark of “ma ane lassie,” that “true love is in her e’e.” The eyes of our Lord bespeak His character. I have never cared for this sentiment in one of oUr hymns: “While we see divine compassion Gleaming from His languid eye.” . \: = / Divine compassion, yes; but languid eye, no! It was no languid eye which • turned upon the rabble which came to arrest Him in Gethsemane, and hurled them back ward to the ground. “His eyes were as a flame of fire,” penetrating, consuming. “AH things, are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13). They are eyes that search, out the inner most thoughts of the heart. 1 “And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.” On earth, the feet of Jesus were torn with the nails of the Cross. AH of this piercing was a furnace for burnishing, until now His feet appear as bur nished copper. So all our piercings and woundings, as we follow His steps, are for our refinement, not for our destruction. But more! The burnished .copper speaks of judgment. We are hastening unto the day when “He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Rev. 19:15). Who shall stand when He appeareth? Only those who have kissed His feet for the wounds and the blood of His salvation shall stand in His
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