493. COL 2:17. CHRIST THE SUBSTANCE OF TYPES AND METAPHORS

Col_2:17. Christ The Substance Of Types And Metaphors

"But the body is of Christ"’97Col_2:17

The apostle had been treating of Jewish ceremonies and festivals, and these he describes as being "a shadow of things to come." Only designed to prefigure some approaching event or blessing. Not possessing any real intrinsic value, but instituted to lead the pious, believing mind to look forward for that which was thus symbolized. The apostle then exhibits the whole of these shadows as terminating in the Saviour. "But the body is of Christ," or, as some versions read, "The body is Christ." It does not however follow that we are to look for the substance of all the ceremonies in the person of Christ, or even in his work, or benefits. Many of the ceremonial institutions pointed to the economy of the gospel; to the ordinances of Christianity; and to the mystical body of his church. Yet Jesus being the foundation, the sum and substance, the Alpha and Omega, of the Christian religion, it is not difficult to perceive with what propriety the apostle says, "The body (or substance) is of Christ." Observe then by way of concise recapitulation,

I. That Christ is the Body or Substance of the Personal Types.

Adam, the Father of the human race, was a figure or type of him that was to come,’97even the father of the world to come. Noah, in his name, lift ministry as the deliverer of his family, and the founder of a new world, exhibited Jesus the preacher of righteousness, and the deliverer from the wrath to come. Thus, too Melchisedec was a distinguished type of the kingly and priestly offices which Jesus should sustain. Isaac evidently typified the beloved Son of God, who was really and truly offered for the sin of the world. In many things we behold a beautiful similarity in the interesting events of Joseph’s life, and those of the world’s Redeemer. Moses was confessedly a personal type of the world’s great teacher and deliverer. Joshua, who led Israel as the captain of Gods host, to the goodly land, was a type of that still more distinguished person, who was given to be a leader and commander to the people. The exploits of Samson evidently referred to some of the greatest of Christ’s achievements. David in many things acted a typical part, and shadowed forth the truly beloved of God and his people. In Solomon we have several striking traits which were only exhibited, in all their fulness and lustre, in Solomon’s Lord and Saviour. Jonah, the wayward prophet, with all his weakness, was a sign of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The substance of all these typical excellencies is Christ.

II. Christ is the Body or Substance of many Scriptural typical Things and Events.

He is the true ladder, or way of communication between heaven and earth. He is the real paschal lamb, our passover sacrificed for us. He was typified by the rock smitten for the supply of Israel’s congregation with water in the desert. He is the manna from heaven, the true bread of life. He is the substance, both of the goat that was dismissed into the wilderness, as well as the goat that was slain, "for he bare our iniquities," and "died for our sins." As the brazen serpent was the medium of healing to the wounded Israelites, so Jesus is the great evidence of God’s love to the world, and the medium of life to all believers. He is the ark of God’s covenant, embodying his law, and the mercy-seat, or propitiatory, by whom we have access to God, and obtain forgiveness of sin. He is the great highpriest, having our nature, ever living to make intercession for us. He is our sure and accessible refuge, by whom we are saved from the wrath to come.

III. Christ in his Church and Gospel was typified by many of the Institutions and Services of the Levitical Dispensation.

His church was symbolically set forth in the bush enveloped in flame, yet unconsumed; in the priesthood under the law, seeing his spiritual people are a "royal priesthood;" in the tabernacle, which was preparatory to the erection of the temple of Solomon; in Jerusalem, which typified the Jerusalem from above, the mother of all believers; in the Jewish nation, which shadowed forth the separated character and glorious privileges of the church of Jesus. The gospel of Christ was evidently typified in many of the festivals of the Jewish religion, especially in the year of jubilee, to which the Redeemer alluded, as the "acceptable year of the Lord." But we observe,

IV. All Types and Metaphors but feebly shadowed forth the Glories and Excellencies of Jesus.

"All are too mean to set him forth,

Too mean to show the Saviour’s worth"

It will be needful that we select all that was holy and eminent from all the personal types, and concentrate them, as in one, to judge rightly of Jesus. Then his excellencies and perfections, his work and benefits, are only feebly presented before us. He is the infinitely holy and absolutely perfect Son of God. In him dwelt all the fulness of the godhead, bodily. He is the glory of heaven, the object of angelic worship and praise, the joy of redeemed spirits, and the light of eternity. He is the sun of the universe, the life of the world, and supreme Lord of all. Then how we should study his character, meditate on his glories, be solicitous of his favor, and joyfully anticipate the vision of his glorious face, in the heavenly temple. In the divine oracles every tiling is full of Christ. We find him as the golden thread in its eventful histories. We find him as the perfection, the substance, and end, of its holy biography. We behold him as the beauty and significancy of its rites and institutions. He is the theme of holy song. The subject of constant prophecy. The riches of all the precious promises. The peerless pearl of the field of revelation. Finding him, we are rich for both worlds. Possessing him, "all things are ours." Joint heirs with Christ, and we are thus "heirs of God," and of all the glories of the world to come

Autor: JABEZ BURNS