"Thy Redeemer." — Isaiah
54:5
Jesus, the Redeemer, is altogether
ours and ours for ever. All the offices of Christ are held on our behalf. He is
king for us, priest for us, and prophet for us. Whenever we read a new title of
the Redeemer, let us appropriate Him as ours under that name as much as under
any other. The shepherd's staff, the father's rod, the captain's sword, the
priest's mitre, the prince's sceptre, the prophet's mantle, all are ours. Jesus
hath no dignity which He will not employ for our exaltation, and no prerogative
which He will not exercise for our defence. His fulness of Godhead is our
unfailing, inexhaustible treasure-house.
His manhood also, which he took upon
him for us, is ours in all its perfection. To us our gracious Lord communicates
the spotless virtue of a stainless character; to us he gives the meritorious
efficacy of a devoted life; on us he bestows the reward procured by obedient
submission and incessant service. He makes the unsullied garment of his life
our covering beauty; the glittering virtues of his character our ornaments and
jewels; and the superhuman meekness of his death our boast and glory. He
bequeaths us his manger, from which to learn how God came down to man; and his
Cross to teach us how man may go up to God. All His thoughts, emotions,
actions, utterances, miracles, and intercessions, were for us. He trod the road
of sorrow on our behalf, and hath made over to us as his heavenly legacy the
full results of all the labours of his life. He is now as much ours as
heretofore; and he blushes not to acknowledge himself "our Lord Jesus
Christ," though he is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings,
and Lord of lords. Christ everywhere and every way is our Christ, for ever and
ever most richly to enjoy. O my soul, by the power of the Holy Spirit! call him
this morning, "thy Redeemer."
