Veiled Glory
Direct testimonies are the most obvious sources of proof for the supreme Divinity of Christ. However, we are not obliged to build our faith of the Saviour's Divinity on ten, fifty, or even a hundred passages where it is directly affirmed and taught. This is because it runs as a golden thread throughout the entire Scripture.
Object of Supreme Affection
"He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:37; see also Luke 14:25,26). Behold here a teacher who claims for Himself the supreme affection of His disciples. Who is this that commands me to prefer Him, in the love of my innermost soul, before my own wife, child, mother, father—even requires that, when the claims of their love and His come into conflict, I must be ready to cast theirs at once behind my back?
If Christ be none other than the God of whom is commanded in the law, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" (Deuteronomy 6:5), then I can understand it. Then my whole soul assents to the claim as holy and just and good. But if He be not the God of the law, the God who made me, and made me for Himself, then who is He?
The Forgiver of Sins
Consider this precious narrative in Luke 7 where Jesus is invited to eat with Simon the Pharisee. Along came a woman weeping—a prostitute—who proceeded to wash the feet of Jesus with her tears. The Pharisee was surprised that Jesus would allow this, and wondered if He knew that the woman was a sinner.
The Lord Jesus meets the thought by the following parable and question: "There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And He said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged" (Luke 7:41-43). Now everyone sees whom the debtors are designed to represent—the woman on the one hand, and Simon on the other. But is it any less certain whom the creditor represents, to whom the debt of sin is owed, who alone can forgive the debt?
Let us continue: "He turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest Me no water for My feet: but she hath washed My feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest Me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss My feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed My feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little" (vv. 44-47).
Jesus Christ, therefore, is the Creditor—the God to whom the debt of all our sin is owed. It is He alone who can forgive our debt, and who lays claim to the supreme gratitude and love of every forgiven soul!
The Water of Life
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink" (John 7:37). Who is this that bids those multitudes, bids a world, to come and draw everlasting refreshment, living water, from His Person? Let His words to the Samaritan woman be called to mind: "Thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water … whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst" (John 4:10,14). This, beyond all doubt, "is the true God, and eternal life" (1 John 5:20).
I have often marvelled at these words of Jesus in the record of the crucifixion, "Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst" (John 19:28). Ah, the very fountain of living waters, athirst! What was that thirst, along with all the other sufferings of the Lord Jesus, but the smiting of the Rock, which caused the living water to flow forth from Him (Exodus 17:6)? And, accordingly, no sooner had Jesus said, "I thirst," than another word was heard from His lips: "It is finished" (John 19:30).
"Who is a rock save our God?" (Psalm 18:31). It is none other than that very God who cried out in that day, and is still crying in the midst of us, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink."
Condensed from The Divine Glory of Christ by Charles J. Brown. Published by Banner of Truth Trust.
What think ye of Christ? is the test,
To try both your state and your scheme;
You cannot be right in the rest
Unless you think rightly of Him.
—John Newton