Magnificent Messiah

Introduction

I've been rebuked this afternoon for slackness in the Scriptures - and, at the same time, been thrilled and delighted by a few of the gems that, by grace, with the Spirit's help, I have mined from a simple, basic, 1-mouse-click Word study of "magnificent greatness" or "majesty" in the Greek Bible.

Magnificence

As I was studying Hebrews 1:1-4, suddenly vistas of truth opened up before the eyes of my heart, to which I had been previously blind - suddenly I came to see a little more of the glory and splendour of the reign of Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, who by His blood rules all things for the Church from God's throne in the heights. I rebuked myself, again, for being dull and slow of heart.

The key term was found towards the close of the third verse of Hebrews 1, the introduction in which the writer lays bare the fullness and finality of the revelation of God, given in His Son, which puts the prophets in the shade - the Lord Jesus Christ, having made purification for sins, has sat down at the right hand of the Father in the majestic heights.

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs - Hebrews 1:3-4.

This is a magnificent greatness which is to be ascribed to Jesus as Jehovah in Dt 32:3.

For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God - Deuteronomy 32:3

This is the majesty that is declared by David to have been promised and performed by God to and for him, in 2 Samuel 7:21 & 23.

Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it - 2 Samuel 7:21!

And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods - 2 Samuel 7:23?

It is this exalted excellence which would be given to the House that by Solomon must be built:

For David said, "Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it." So David provided materials in great quantity before his death - 1 Chronicles 22:5.

It was this expression which was uttered as an ascription of glory to the Name above all names in parallel kingdom passages in 1 Chronicles 17:19 & 29:11.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all - 1 Chronicles 29:11.

It was that resplendent power which is praised by the Psalmist - as the Psalter closes with the Hallelujah chorus, with his eyes of the Eschaton, he urges the cosmos to be similarly enthralled at what God has done in bring to pass the eternal covenant promises fulfilled faithfully in Messiah's as-yet-=future realm in 144:3 & 6 and 150:2.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable - Psalm 145:3.

They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness - Psalm 145:6.

Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness - Psalm 150:2!

Danial relished this royal forcefulness in 2:20 and Nebuchadnezzar confessed it in Daniel 4:37.

Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might" - Daniel 2:20.

Just read these verses and contemplate the vastness of the extent of the mighty, glorious, dominion of our Lord - He reigns, for us, at the right hand of God; He dwells forever in the Heavenly Zion-Sanctuary; He is King and God over those celestial courts which He has purified by His blood.

Relish the height of the Mount "not beclouded in smoke" but "happily drenched in the eternally-efficacious blood of the crucified, risen, exalted, glorified, Lord" that cries for saving not for judging! How can we faint, and not endure discipline, as we fix our eyes on Him? Will we not, on the contrary, take up the Cross, be spurred on by biblical saints, and hymn and bless His Name?

To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen - Jude 1:25.

This magnificent-speak is uttered concerning Jesus our Great High Priest. His heavenly ministry is that of a higher, abiding, efficacious, eternal, imperishable, order of Melchizedek. Day and night, Jesus lives to intercede for His Church to supply timely, prayed-down, merciful grace we need - indeed, for this greatness our Lord and King will forever be the theme of saints' doxological delight.

Conclusion

Will we not bow humbly, joyfully, and reverently, at the feet of the Magnificent Son and enthrone Him in our hearts, crowning Him Lord with our lips? Like so many in the past, and like the heroes of faith, will we resolve, by grace, not to hesitate or flinch from laying lives down for Christ's Crown Rights? This Mediator of the Elect, was, is, and ever will remain, the exact representation of the essence of God, now made flesh - it is this resplendent Son who reveals a Gospel full of the greatest, most-wonderful, truths ever spoken to mankind: He is the Revealer of the majestically-unspeakable, redemptive, love of the Father to His children, all to the praise of the glories of the grace of the Son.