It is in vain for any to reason as philosophers on the workmanship of the world, except those who, having been first humbled by the preaching of the Gospel, have learned to submit the whole of their intellectual wisdom (as Paul expresses it) to the foolishness of the cross, (1 Cor. 1:21 [show] [21]For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. (ESV)
). Nothing shall we find, I say, above or below, which can raise us up to God, until Christ shall have instructed us in his own school. Yet this cannot be done, unless we, having emerged out of the lowest depths, are borne up above all heavens, in the chariot of his cross, that there by faith we may apprehend those things which the eye has never seen, the ear never heard, and which far surpasses our hearts and minds. For the earth, with its supply of fruits for our daily nourishment, is not there set before us; but Christ offers himself to us unto life eternal. Nor does heaven, by the shining of the sun and stars, enlighten our bodily eyes, but the same Christ, the Light of the World and the Sun of Righteousness, shines into our souls; neither does the air stretch out its empty space for us to breathe in, but the Spirit of God himself quickens us and causes us to live. …As soon as ever we depart from Christ, there is nothing, be it ever so gross or insignificant in itself, respecting which we are not necessarily deceived. (John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, page 64.
Calvin liked to say that mankind is the epitome, the “top slice”, the apex, of natural revelation–since we are made in the very image of God. In the wonder and intricacy of humankind God is most clearly seen. In this sense, then, Christ speaking and living as the incarnate Son of God in human flesh was the highest height of both general and special revelation. “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.” (Heb. 1 [show] Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, [2]but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. [3]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, [4]having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
[5]For to which of the angels did God ever say,
"You are my Son,
today I have begotten you"?
Or again,
"I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son"?
[6]And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
"Let all God's angels worship him."
[7]Of the angels he says,
"He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire."
[8]But of the Son he says,
"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
[9]You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions."
[10]And,
"You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
[11]they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
[12]like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end."
[13]And to which of the angels has he ever said,
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"?
[14]Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (ESV):3a, ESV) He was (and is and shall be) the living law, the walking and breathing criteria and standard of the will of God–the logos.
As John teaches us, Jesus is the eternal logos made flesh, who dwelt among us. He is the covenant-keeping second Adam, who, after making purification for sins, and after fulfilling the law to its every jot and tittle, and after successfully accomplishing the covenant of works where the first Adam had failed, who succeeded in upholding the covenant of his Father against the devil in the wilderness where the first Adam had failed to “keep the temple-garden”, after making satisfaction for sins, he sat down on the throne of his glorious Father in the heavenly places–having entered in beyond the curtain into the true holy of holies as a forerunner for us.
He is the Christ, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords, the victorious Alpha and Omega: he who rose again because it was not possible that the grave could contain him; he who disarmed the principalities and powers and made an open show of them; he who ripped the death-sword from the hands of Goliath and destroyed him who had the power of death and delivered all of us who’ve been in bondage to the fear of death all our lives; he is alone the ark of God that can deliver from the rising flood-waters of judgment–he is Christ, the all-powerful Shepherd-King!
Let us wonder at his resplendent glory this day!
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