0889. 870. “This Man”
870. “This Man”
We often find pivotal expressions in Holy Writ. One such is the phrase, “This Man.” Our thought is arrested and our minds interested when such a phrase is pondered in its associations, and at once suggests what manner of Man Christ is.
1. Divine Man. When the centurion saw the phenomenon of the Cross, and listened to His cry, he confessed, “Truly this Man was the Son of God” (Mar_15:39). When Christ is seen and studied, every honest man must acknowledge His Deity.
2. Faultless Man. Pilate questioned and examined Christ in the light of the accusations against Him, and said, “I find no fault in this Man” (Luk_23:4, Luk_23:14, Luk_23:22). Christ’s character was like the gold of the Tabernacle—”pure.” He did no sin, He knew no sin, and in Him was no sin. He was holy in nature, harmless in action, undefiled in life, and without sin.
3. Powerful Man. When Christ stilled the raging of the sea, His act begat within the disciples the question, “What manner of Man is this?” (Mat_8:27). They recognised that nature must obey its Creator, and therefore they were in the presence of the Lord of Nature.
4. Loving Man. “This Man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” (Luk_15:2). This statement of scorn embodies the truth of salvation. These words from darkened minds have brought the dawn of hope and faith into many a soul. The word “receiveth” is rendered “waiteth” and “looketh” in other places. He waits in patient grace, and looks out in longing love for sinners, and receives them to Himself when they come, and, further, fellowships with them.
5. Wonderful Man. There was a charm and winsomeness about Christ which made everything about Him peculiar and attractive. The soldiers who were sent to arrest Him were so arrested by the matter of His utterances and the manner of His testimony that they exclaimed, “Never man spake like this Man” (Joh_7:46).
6. Completing Man. “This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God” (Heb_10:12). We have purposely punctuated the words as above. As Newberry gives it, “to perpetuity He has sat down.” He will never rise up to open the question of sin, for that has “for ever” been settled by the one Offering for it. A Perfect Offerer has given a perfect offering, which brings in a perfect redemption.
7. Unchanging Man. “This Man, because He continueth for ever, hath an unchanging priesthood,” and He abideth because He lives in the “power of an indissoluble life” (Heb_7:17, Heb_7:24). His priesthood is not transferable, as Aaron’s was; and it is unalterable in character, because He cannot die; and it is unchanging, because He “abideth for ever.”
By: DR. F. E. MARSH