The Marvelous Jesus by Samuel T. Spear, D. D.

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 1, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 25.

The Marvelous Jesus.

By Samuel T. Spear, D. D.

JESUS descending from Heaven and coming to earth, as the incarnate Son of God; Jesus here doing, saying and suffering all that was assigned to his earthly mission; Jesus hanging upon the cross and dying for our sins, that God might be just and the justifier of those who believe in him; Jesus rising from the dead as "the first fruits" of those who sleep; Jesus then personally leaving the earth, and, in "his glorious body," ascending into Heaven, carrying with him to that world his record in this; Jesus officiating there as the "High Priest of our profession," and able "to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him"; Jesus again descending from Heaven in his regal glory and coming to this world; Jesus raising the dead and transforming the living, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump"; Jesus on the judgment throne; Jesus, receiving and crowning all sinners redeemed by his atoning blood; Jesus having completed his mediatorial work, alike on earth and in Heaven, at last retiring from his office, and surrendering "up the Kingdom to God, even the Father," that thereafter God, as such, "may be all in all"; Jesus forever existent in Heaven; Jesus eternally the object of saintly admiration and love—these are the visions of this marvelous Jesus, some of them already matters of history, and others waiting to become such—which the New Testament sets before our minds.

Where shall we look for a parallel? What uninspired thought would or could have thought out such a personality? What genius could have invented the materials which the Bible blends in Jesus? No wonder that the angels, as Peter tells us, desired to look into these things. All other histories are utterly insignificant in contrast with that of Jesus. Jesus is a reality, was on earth, is now in Heaven, will be so when he comes to raise the dead and judge the world, and such he will be forever. Nothing in the universe is more real than Jesus, in himself and in all that the Bible says about him.

He is not an imaginary person, but a real one. Whoever identifies himself with Jesus is safe beyond all contingency. The great globe itself may be in a blaze, and all the works therein destroyed by the fires of the last day, and yet that man recognized, protected, guarded, guaranteed by Jesus, will have no occasion for alarm. "The day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" will put him in no peril. The good offices of Jesus will take care of him, in life and in death, on earth and in Heaven. Having Jesus for his friend, he will have the friendship of the Godhead. That friendship, once established under the covenants of gospel grace will last forever. Oh! what a blessed immortality is that secured by the soul's alliance with Jesus! No language of earth can tell the full story of its greatness and glory.—Samuel T. Spear, D. D., in Independent.