JESUS THE ANOINTED SON OF GOD.
By William Robertson
ABOUT six days before the transfiguration of Christ, being near to a place called Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?" "They said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets." He then asked them, "But whom say ye that I am?" Peter, in the name of all the apostles, answered, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." With this answer our Lord was well pleased, and said, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven." Well did Jesus know the infinite importance of this great fundamental truth of our religion, and the blessedness of those who receive it into good and honest hearts. A truth considered of such vast importance by the Son of God himself is well worthy our most profound and prayerful consideration. It was the great central truth in the teachings of Christ and of his apostles, and it is that from which all the other truths of our religion derive their trustworthiness. It is the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed Son of God, that made the sending of him to be our Saviour the grandest and most wonderful manifestation of divine love that has ever been given to the universe. Had God given the whole material universe for our salvation, that would have been a mere trifle when compared to the gift of his Son. Hence, when Jesus would represent the greatness of God's love to our fallen race, even his omniscient mind could think of nothing greater than this, that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." It is this that gives an infinite value to Christ's atoning death, and which renders it consistent with the justice of God to give eternal life to all who believe on Jesus. "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." It is because he is "God's Son" that his precious blood has such infinite value; and it is for the same reason that he was enabled by his "one offering to perfect forever them that are sanctified."—Rev. Wm. Robertson, in United Presbyterian.