"Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly
calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom
we confess."—Heb. 3:1
The office of Apostle is invested with high sacredness.
Let its consideration be approached with eyes uplifted for a ray from
heaven.
It now belongs not to the sons of men. Exalted rank, and
dignified position, and supreme authority may be accorded. Many succeed to
ancestral honors. Ennobling titles may be won by merit. But the Apostolic
station cannot now be reached. It ceased with those who held it by heaven's
own investiture. To usurp such privilege in this age is ignorance, or a far
greater fault.
The name is mainly glorious, because Jesus Himself
vouchsafes to bear it. On His brow this diadem is placed. Nature throughout
her varied realm, art in her rich storehouse of elaborate skill, literature
in her learned page, all classes of profession have contributed to give
representations of His worth. But other titles fade before the name of
Apostle. The Holy Spirit, ever delighting to exhibit Christ, and to enrich
our thoughts, thus designates Him, "The Apostle and High Priest of our
profession." In meek obedience may we find refreshing profit.
The meaning of the term needs little explanation. An
Apostle is one 'sent' and charged to execute commission. Jesus is
thus sent. He is the Father's messenger from the courts of heaven. It
is our privilege to glean much teaching from the copious Scriptures which
announce this truth. They flow onward in broad streams, enriching the
readers. Their sound is sweet as the resounding echoes of the songsters of
the grove. They glitter as the dewdrops of the early morn. A luxuriant
garden presents its ready flowers to the hand. A few only can be plucked.
A noble passage advances to the front. It not only
proclaims Jesus as the Sent or Apostle from the Father; it also unfolds the
motive of this act of love. "Here is love, not that we loved God, but that
He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John
4:10) The avowed message of the Giver is the mercy of mercies. It wills that
atonement should be made, expiation offered, sins washed away,
transgressions obliterated, satisfaction infinitely secured. To accomplish
this Jesus comes the Apostle of Salvation. But no merit on man's part
procures this mission. There are no workings of the human heart which awaken
pity and excite this condescending grace. The Father's love originates the
scheme. In love He sends His Son. Thanks be to God for Jesus His Apostle.
A kindred statement brings corroboration. "This is how
God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the
world that we might live through Him." (1 John 4:9) Another feature of this
loving mission is thus shown. The Apostle comes from heaven charged with the
gift of everlasting life. A world dead in trespasses and sins is spread
before Him. Death had established its dark sway. Its iron scepter ruled. The
Apostle comes with life eternal in His hands. "The wages of sin is death."
(Rom. 6:23) He undergoes the death. He thus annihilates its claims and gives
the heirdom of heaven's life to all whom He was sent to seek and save. He
not only tells that the sinner's death is slain by His death, but that life
forevermore is the purchase of His work. "I have come that they may have
life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10) Thanks be to God for Jesus His
Apostle.
Similarly in that wondrous prayer—and none more wondrous
ever ascended from a fallen world—He testifies, "This is life eternal, that
they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have
sent." (John 17:3) The Apostle opens out this knowledge. He reveals the
Father, and He reveals Himself. He gives the knowledge which leads
infallibly by the sweet path of faith and peace to endless bliss. Such is
the grand commission which the Great Apostle executes. It is worthy of the
Father who devised the plan; worthy of the Son who executes;
worthy of the Spirit who applies. Thanks be to God for Jesus His
Apostle.
Let us advance from Scripture's copious statements to
mark that the Apostle comes with no reluctance to this office. He shrinks
not from the degradation and the pain. In treading the path of sorrow no
murmurs or complaints, escape His lips. This is His testimony, "My food is
to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." (John 4:34) He
ever joyed in the Apostolic work. He was cheered and refreshed by the
thought that He thus obeyed His Father's will, and carried out His gracious
designs, and brought glory to His name. As food supports the frame of man,
so He found strength and animation in the discharge of His commission.
While it is precious to meditate on the Covenant of
Peace, to survey its various terms, and to see an Apostle sent from heaven
charged with their execution, so it is superadded preciousness to hear His
own assurance, that in this work He found refreshment. "For the joy that was
set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame." (Heb. 12:2) Oh!
that we joyed as cordially in accepting salvation as Jesus joyed in earning
it!
It closely follows that it should be our main delight to
sit as pupils in His school. He teaches as the Father's Apostle. He cries,
"My teaching is not My own. It comes from Him who sent Me." (John 7:16)
Hence, when He speaks, His words are the echo of His Father's voice. How
eagerly should we listen, with what intense delight should we drink in each
sound, how fully should we receive, how faithfully should we trust, how
reverently should we obey, with what confidence should we place our feet
upon the firm rock of His instructions! His title is the Word. He is the
Apostle to open out the Father's message. Who will not respond, "Speak,
Lord, for Your servant hears!"
Next, the Apostle shows clear credentials from the Court
of Heaven. He exhibits indubitable proof that He comes not unsent. Nicodemus
shrewdly reasoned, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher sent from God; for
no man can do these miracles that You do, except God be with him." (John
3:2) The truth shines forth beyond all doubt. He who performs what none
unempowered by God can do, must be invested with divine authority. Jesus
knew the might of this truth, and thus sets His seal to it. "I have greater
witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has given Me to
finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has
sent Me." (John 5:36) Faith gathers strength from this decisive evidence. It
looks to Jesus controlling all the works of nature, speaking with almighty
power, changing the properties of water, stilling the tempestuous billows,
rebuking the fury of the winds, making the sea a pavement for His feet,
turning all malady into instantaneous health, compelling the strong grasp of
death to release its subjugated victims, and rising Himself a conqueror from
the grave; and is persuaded, that this Apostle is accredited by God. No
doubt remains. Jesus is the Apostle of the Father.
And when Salvation's work was fully finished, what home
will this Apostle seek, where will He find welcome? Hear His own words, "Now
I am going to Him who sent Me." (John 16:5) His work was fully done. He
returned to sit beside His Father on His glorious throne.
Is He welcomed? The work which He still performs is sure
reply. Every soul brought now by Him to life is evidence. "Because I live,
you shall live also." (John 14:19) But would He be thus exalted if
redemption had not been finished? Can we give sufficient praise that Jesus
conspicuously reigns as having accomplished His commission as the Apostle
sent from God!
With what implicit trust should we embrace His
revelations! Let unbelief regard His message with cold indifference. Let
conceited minds scorn the simplicity of His grand announcements; but let us
receive each statement as an utterance from the throne of God. Let us adore
Him as teaching what man unaided could not learn—what weak philosophy could
never trace—the truths of God. It is not only true that, "He who has seen Me
has seen the Father," (John 14:9) but He who has heard Me has heard the
Father. Mark His words to Pilate: "For this reason I was born, and for this
I came into the world, to testify to the truth." (John 18:37)
He who appeared in person as an Apostle, also
commissioned others to high work. In holy prayer He states to His Father,
"As You have sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the
world." (John 17:18) But though thus designated and empowered, their office
was vastly inferior. They had no power but what was derived from Him. He was
clad in all the essential might of His own Deity. As years advanced their
strength decayed, and in due time they slumbered in the grave. He is
invested with unfading life. No lapse of time can bring decline of energy to
Him. He ever lives in all the freshness of undying power.
The Spirit indeed dwelt largely in them. They read with
open eye the grandest mysteries of heaven. They could impart spiritual gifts
to others. But they were but a little rill compared to Him, the boundless
ocean. Hear the Baptist's testimony: "For the one whom God has sent speaks
the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit." (John 3:34) He
spoke as never man spoke. His words were clothed with the panoply of
authority. We may listen with all the fullness of assurance. He cannot
deceive. He could not be deceived. Let the command of God be heeded: "This
is My beloved Son: hear Him." (Mark 9:7)
Hence the Holy Spirit's charge: "Consider the Apostle and
High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus." Consider His mission. He comes
from heaven to teach, that through His instruction we might become wise unto
salvation. With such an Apostle, ever ready to reveal all wisdom, let us not
turn aside into the bypaths of ignorance and deceit. Antichrist indeed still
stalks abroad, even that impostor: "whose coming will be in accordance with
the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and
wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.
They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." (2
Thess. 2:9, 10) How shall we escape, if we choose him and neglect Christ
Jesus, the Apostle sent of God!