Zechariah 9:17

DISCOURSE: 1254
THE GLORY OF CHRIST

Zechariah 9:17. How great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!

THE glory of Christ is manifested throughout all the Holy Scriptures. This is attested both by the Apostles and by our Lord himself [Note: Acts 10:43.Luke 24:27; John 5:39.]. In the New Testament he shines like the sun in an unclouded atmosphere: in the Old, though generally veiled, he often bursts forth as from behind a cloud with astonishing beauty and splendour. Such a view of him is exhibited in the chapter now before us [Note: After foretelling the preservation of the Jews amidst the destruction of surrounding nations, the prophet called their attention to Christ, as their lowly but triumphant king (ver. 9.), who should redeem them by his blood (ver. 11.), be a strong hold to all who should turn unto him (ver. 12.), and save them with an everlasting salvation, (ver. 16.)]: nor could the prophet himself forbear exclaiming with wonder and admiration, “How great is his goodness!”&c.

We cannot have our minds more delightfully occupied than in contemplating,

I. The goodness of our Lord—

In the context he is set forth as the God of providence and grace: and, in order to behold his goodness, we must view him in both respects:

1. As the God of providence—

[As all things wove created, so are they upheld and governed by him. To him we owe the preservation of our corporeal and intellectual powers. We are continually fed by his bounty, and protected by his arm. The meanest creature in the universe has abundant reason to adore him. His own people in particular may discern unnumbered instances of his goodness in his dispensations towards them. His most afflictive as well as his more pleasing dispensations afford them much occasion for gratitude and thanksgiving [Note: Psalms 119:75.]

2. As a God of grace—

[Jesus is the one fountain of spiritual blessings to his Church [Note: Ephesians 1:22.]. Neither Prophets nor Apostles had any grace but from him [Note: John 1:16.]. To him we must ascribe every good disposition that is in our hearts [Note: Philippians 2:13.Hebrews 12:2.]. What reason then have his faithful followers to bless his name! How thankful should they be that he called them by his grace! That he so distinguished them, not only from the fallen angels, but from multitudes of the human race! With what gratitude should they acknowledge his continued kindness! Though they have often turned back from him, he has not cast them off. Yea, rather, he has “healed their backslidings and loved them freely.” Surely, every blessing they receive, and every victory they gain, should fill them with admiring thoughts of his goodness [Note: 2 Corinthians 2:14.]. Let every soul then comply with that injunction of the Psalmist [Note: Psalms 145:7.]—. And, like him, repeat the wish, which a sense of his mercies must inspire [Note: Psalms 107:8; Psalms 107:15; Psalms 107:21; Psalms 107:31.]—.]

If we have just conceptions of his goodness we shall be more able to behold,

II.

His beauty—

The world behold “no beauty nor comeliness” in the face of Jesus; but the saints of “old saw his glory as the glory of the only-begotten of the Father”—
This we also may see, if we survey him,

1. In his divine character—

[“We cannot by searching find out the Almighty to perfection.” Little do we know of the greatness of his majesty, or the thunder of his power [Note: Job 26:14.]. We cannot comprehend his unsearchable wisdom, his unspotted holiness, his inviolable truth and faithfulness. We can scarcely form any idea of the inflexibility of his justice, the extent of his mercy, or the heights and depths of his love [Note: Ephesians 3:19.]; We know that Jesus is the brightness of his Father’s glory, and the express image of his person [Note: Hebrews 1:3.]: but, when we attempt to delineate that image, we only “darken counsel by words without knowledge [Note: Job 38:2.].” His glory is more than the feeble language of mortality can express.]

2. In his human character—

[Here we look at him, as the Jews at Moses when his face was veiled, and can contemplate him more easily, because he shines with a less radiant lustre. Doubtless while he lay in the manger the virtues of his mind beamed forth in his countenance. Nor is it to be wondered at that the Jewish doctors were so filled with admiration at him while he was yet a child [Note: Luke 2:46.]. But principally must we view him during the course of his ministry. What marvellous compassion did he manifest to the souls and bodies of men! Not one applied to him for bodily or spiritual health without obtaining his request. And when many were hardened in their sins he wept over them [Note: Luke 19:41.]; yea, he even pleaded the cause of those who mocked and reviled him on the cross [Note: Luke 23:34.]. His zeal for God was ardent and unremitted. It was “his meat and drink to do the will of his heavenly Father;” nor could any thing for one moment divert or deter him from the prosecution of his work. His meekness, patience, fortitude, were altogether invincible. Whatever was amiable and excellent in man abounded in him [Note: Psalms 45:2.]. He was not merely virtuous, but virtue itself incarnate. Nor, though continually tried in the hottest furnace, was there found in him the smallest imperfection or alloy [Note: John 14:30.]

3. In his mediatorial character—

[With what readiness did he become a surety for sinful man [Note: Psalms 40:7.]! What astonishing condescension did he manifest in uniting himself to our nature! How cheerfully did he go forth to meet the sufferings that were appointed for him. In the garden and on the cross, when to the eye of sense “his visage was marred more than any man’s,” his beauty was most conspicuous to the eye of faith. His obedience unto death was the fruit of his love, and the price of our redemption. How beautiful is he now in the eyes of those who behold his glory! And how will he “be admired and glorified by all” in the last day! Satan must have blinded us indeed if we be yet insensible to his charms [Note: 2 Corinthians 4:4.]. If we be true believers, he cannot but be precious to our souls [Note: 1 Peter 2:7.]

Application—
1.

To those who have never yet beheld the goodness and beauty of the Lord—

[We speak not now to those who seek his face, and long to enjoy him; for though their sorrow endure for a night, joy will come to them in the morning. But they, who pant not after him, are miserably ignorant of his excellency. Their views of Christ are different from those of the most competent judges [Note: To the Father he is “chosen and precious,” 1 Peter 2:4; to the angels, the subject of their praise, Revelation 5:11; to saints of old, an object of great desire, Haggai 2:7; John 8:56; to all pious men at this time, their supreme good, Philippians 3:7.], and different from what they will shortly be in the eternal world. Let such persons diligently consider the Saviour’s character, and cry to God for that spirit whose office it is to reveal Christ unto us. Then shall they both see the King in his beauty, and be changed into his image [Note: Isaiah 33:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18.]

2. To those whose eyes have been opened to behold him—

[Let your meditations of him be more sweet and frequent. However much you know of him, there are unsearchable depths unfathomed. Let your determination therefore accord with that of David [Note: Psalms 27:4.]—. View him as appointing your trials, and dispensing your mercies. Consider him as the fountain from whence you are to have supplies of grace. Look to him as the example which you are continually to follow. Above all, rely on him as expiating your guilt, and interceding for you. Thus will you glory in him as your “friend and your beloved;” and at last will see him as he is, and be like him for ever.]