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TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
THE MAN
IN THE GLORY
By J. C. Macaulay O NE OF THE most pregnant documents in the pos their important functions at v a r i o u s periods of the Church’s history, this brief, powerful statement has lived on through the centuries, expressing the unity of the Christian faith amid all the diversities. It indicates the body of truth which early came to be recognized as the vital heart of the Christian message, and every generation has acknowledged its fundamental character. This remarkable little compendium of theology is, as you must have noticed, dominantly Christological. And of the several terse statements which are regarded as of sufficient importance to include in so vital a document, this one stands out boldly: “He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Al* mighty." Is a line in the Apostles’ Creed too great an emphasis! on this fact, that our Lord is seated at God's fight hand? Judging from the attention that is given it today, artfl the measure of modern acquaintance with this truth, yesf But, judging from its place in Scripture, no! For thei Biblical writings deal with this subject in every conceiV* able form. 1. It is TYPICALLT PREFIGURED in the sudden ex altation of Joseph from the prison house to the seat of supreme authority in Egypt. 2. It is PROPHETICALLY ANNOUNCED in Psalm 110:1, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool,” a Scripture which the New Testament consistently applies to Jesus. 3. It is HISTORICALLY PROCLAIMED in Mark 16:19, “So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right 'hand of God." 4. It is DOCTRINALLY EXPOUNDED, particularly in the epistle to the Hebrews, with reference to the purifica tion of sins (Heb. 1:3), Christ’s superiority over the angels (Heb. 1:13), and the perfect sacrifice for sins (Heb. 10:12). 5. It is PRACTICALLY APPLIED. In Ephesians 1:19 it is used in demonstration of “God’s power to us-ward who believe,” so that we shall trust the divine omnipotence to lift us also into the power of the heavenly life. In Colos- sians 3:1, 2 the vision of Christ seated at God’s right hand is the incentive to “seek those things which are above,” and to “set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth.” In Hebrews 12:1, 2, our Lord’s exaltation to the right hand 04 God as a reward for suffering is our session of thé Christian church is the Apostles’ Creed. It was in use as early as 180 A. D., and while other creeds have been formulated and have fulfilled
encouragement to “run with patience the race that Is set before us, looking unto Jesus.” In Revelation 3:21 a place in Christ’s throne is promised the overcomer, even as He has won a place in the Father's throne. For all the abasement which our Lord endured in His incarnation, there is one thing He did not lose—H is deity. When He was most completely man, He was just as truly God. For all the exaltation which our Lord realized in His ascension, there is one thing He did not abandon—H i s humanity. When He is most truly Lord of Glory, He is as perfectly Son of Man. There is a Man in the glory. Our first emphasis Is on our Lord’s sitting at the right hand of God. Of course the thought conveyed is not that relating to mere physical posture. Spiritual truth is indicated. 1. A Finished Work has earned the Seat of Rest Read with our text the verse preceding, and the impli* ; " Cation will be seen. “And every priest standeth daily & (ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on j||t the right hand of God.” The greatest problem in the world, both for the indl- * fWBual and the race, is the problem of sin. Its solution id the answer to all other difficulties. How to get rid of Sin?-*~that is the question. The Hebrews had their sacrifi cial system of divine appointment, ministered by a line of priests ordained of God. But for at least three manifest reasons, the system did not supply the need. First, the priests themselves were sinners like those on whose behalf they ministered. How then, could they make purification of sins? A dirty broom will not make a clean floor. Second, their sacrifices of bulls and goats and lambs could never take away sin. What relation can there be between the blood of a non-moral beast and the offences of a moral creature like man? “Not all the blood of beasts On Jewish altars slain Could give the guilty conscience peace Or wash away the stain.” Third, it was into an earthly sanctuary that the priests had access, not into the very presence of God. Having themselves no access, how could they obtain such access for the people? This threefold weakness of their system, then, kept them ever engaged in ineffectual ministra tions. Their work was never finished. They never sat down in the holy place. Ì
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