Who Is This?

DELIVERED ON LORD'S-DAY MORNING, AUGUST 6, 1882,

BY C. H. SPURGEON,

AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON.

"For who is this that engaged His heart to approach unto Me? says the
Lord." Jeremiah 30:21.

I MENTIONED in the reading that there is a very remarkable change of
tone in the Book of Jeremiah, at the 30th chapter. You read on through
the 29 chapters and you hear nothing but "a weeping and wailing," while
the Prophet stands before you, girt with sackcloth, bidding Israel,
"lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the Lord is not turned back
from us." When you come to the middle of the 30th chapter, all is
changed–you have left the dungeon for the pleasant meads and you hear
"thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry." Here flowers of
promise glorify the fields and birds of praise sweeten the air with
music. The people are first made to tremble and fear on account of sin
and all faces are turned into paleness–and then the Lord declares His
immeasurable Grace, saying, "I am with you to save you: though I make a
full end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet will I not make
a full end of you."

The condition of the sinful people is brought home to them and the
nation is solemnly told–"Your bruise is incurable and your wound is
grievous. There is none to plead your cause, that you may be bound up:
you have no healing medicines. Why do you cry for your affliction? Your
sorrow is incurable, for the multitude of your iniquity–because your
sins were increased, I have done these things unto you." And then man's
extremity of misery becomes God's opportunity of mercy! When and where
sin abounds, Grace does much more abound, and the Lord displays His
wonders of love. He graciously declares–"I will restore health unto
you, and I will heal you of your wounds."

The reason for the change is not difficult to find. The Prophet is led
to speak of Covenant promises, such as that in the 22nd verse, "You
shall be My people, and I will be your God." No wonder that Jeremiah's
strain grew more cheerful and jubilant! Was there ever such a box of
perfume as the Covenant? Was there ever such a harp of golden strings,
all tuned to the music of consolation, as the Covenant? Inspired by
this subject, he exclaims in the next chapter–"For thus says the Lord;
Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations:
publish you, praise you, and say, O Lord, save Your people, the remnant
of Israel."

Moreover, he introduces to us that glorious Messenger of the Covenant
whom we delight in. He speaks of the Messiah, who is the Glorious One,
who has engaged His heart to approach unto God and, as when the sun
rises, darkness flees, so when the Savior appears, his sorrows vanish
and Jeremiah becomes as eloquent with joy as Isaiah himself! Think no
more of Jeremiah as exclusively the weeping Prophet, for the flashes of
his delight make the night of his sorrow brilliant with an aurora of
heavenly brilliance! The answer to the question of our text is the
reason why Jeremiah put away his dust and ashes and girt himself with
beauteous array.

God had, for a while, on account of their great sin, put away His
people and wounded them with the chastisement of a cruel one for the
multitude of their iniquities. They could not walk with Him, for they
were not agreed with Him. He could not accept their sacrifices, for
they were polluted. He could not listen to their prayers, for they were
hypocritical. He could not dwell with them, for they were proud-hearted
and rebellious. So Zion came to be called an outcast whom no man seeks
after. God, Himself, seemed to have given her a bill of divorce and to
have put her away–but it only seemed that way.

In Jehovah's heart of hearts He was still bound to His people whom He
loved with an everlasting love. He could not cast away the seed of
Abraham, His friend, and His heart yearned towards the people whom He
had loved of old and borne with in great long-suffering. He had put
them under a cloud because of their sin, yet He did earnestly remember
them, still, for He bears witness, saying, "I am a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is My first-born." The Lord loathed the distance which
separated His people from Him and He longed to see them approach Him
that He might comfort them

and satiate their souls with His goodness. How was this to be done?
This was the problem of that age, as it is the problem of all ages!

How can guilty man return unto the Holy God? How can there be peace and
amity, love and concord between the Judge of all the earth and His
revolting and polluted creature, man? It was necessary that one should
arise who would approach God on the behalf of the people, so that God
might be well pleased with them for his righteousness' sake. But where
was he to be found? Someone must come to God and, by his coming, make a
way through which those whom he represented might have access. But
where was this representative to be found? Paradise was lost–who was
he by whom it could be regained? The question was asked and in man's
ears it seemed to be asked in vain, for it is written, "There is none
to plead your cause; all your lovers have forsaken you." "Who is this
that engaged his heart to approach unto Me? says the Lord."

One was needed to bridge the chasm which divided man from God. Who
could do it? God, Himself, asked the question because He had, Himself,
found the Person and would have us see Him and understand His glorious
Character. My text comes from Jehovah's own lip–"Who is this that
engaged His heart to approach unto Me? says the Lord." He sets the
Mediator before us and asks, "Who is this?" We are sure that the Lord
does not need to ask questions of us that He may gain information from
us. "Known unto God are all His works," and much more must He be known
by whom His most grand work is accomplished! Speaking in the name of
Wisdom, our glorious Mediator says of the Lord, "I was by Him, as one
brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always
before Him."

So that the Lord only asks the question for our good, to set us
thinking. This enquiry is fitly the sinner's question, when, trembling
and convinced of sin and led to seek his God, he needs an Interposer,
One of a thousand, who can put His hand upon the offender and the
Offended and reconcile the rebel to his Lord. Therefore, in love the
Lord takes up the sinner's question and answers it by Another. Behold a
Daysman of Jehovah's own providing, who can lay His hands upon
both–look at Him and answer, "Who is He?" The enquiry is made, I
think, with three great designs–upon which I shall speak as I am
enabled of the Spirit of God.

First, to direct attention to this glorious Person–"Who is this?"
Secondly, to excite admiration of His wondrous work "that engaged His
heart to approach unto Me, says the Lord." And then, thirdly, to awaken
our interest in the result of this marvelous approach unto God–for by
it we are permitted and enabled to approach unto the Lord, ourselves,
and we become His people and He confesses Himself to be our God. O for
the Holy Spirit's own teaching, that I may speak aright to you upon
this transcendent subject!

I. The question of our text is asked TO DIRECT ATTENTION TO THIS
GLORIOUS PERSON. "Who is this that engaged His heart to approach unto
Me? says the Lord." We read the chapter and if you have read it
attentively, or will do so, you will learn that the Person who must
draw near to God must be one of ourselves. "Their nobles," or their
Glorious One, "shall be of themselves, and their Governor shall proceed
from the midst of them; and I will cause Him to draw near, and He shall
approach unto Me." It is clear that a fit representative for men must
be, himself, a man. It would not have been seemly that Adam, the
representative of our race, should have been an angel–it was natural
that he should be a man. In the same way, as man blocked up the road of
communion with God, it was fitting that a man should make a new road
and reestablish Divine communion.

In Adam we transgressed and died to God–in another Adam must we be
restored. If an angel were capable in all other respects of drawing
near to God, yet it is clear that he could not do it on man's behalf,
for an angel can only represent angels. Each order of beings must be
represented by its own kind. Our Lord, as Man, took not up angels, for
He was not made in their nature, but He took up the seed of Abraham
because He had assumed their nature. It needed a man, perfect in his
manhood, to head us up and stand as our federal head and
representative, or otherwise we could not be restored by him.

Now, then, Brothers and Sisters, where is this man to be found? "Who is
this?" If he is to come of ourselves, where is he? Not among this
assemblage–nor if all the myriads that dwell on the face of the earth
could be gathered together would there be found one who could undertake
this enterprise–"For all have sinned, and come short of the Glory of
God." We have, none of us, that perfection which is required for such a
work! How shall a sinner atone for sinners? He cannot make atonement
for his own sin! He cannot render unto God for himself and on his own
account the righteousness which Justice demands of him! How, then, can
he have anything to spare for his fellow men? The best of men are, each

one, in the condition of the wise virgins who, when the foolish virgins
said, "Give us of your oil, for our lamps have gone out," replied, "Not
so, lest there be not enough for us and you; but go you rather to them
that sell and buy for yourselves."

If the whole roll of history is searched, from Adam's fall to this
moment, there is not one mere man to be found who could represent the
race and make an approach for them to God on the ground of personal
perfection! This is God's own verdict–"All have sinned, and come short
of the Glory of God." The Lord looked from Heaven to see if there were
any among the children of men that had not transgressed, but He found
none, for, "they are all gone out of the way, they are together become
unprofitable. There is none that does good, no, not one." Nor is it
merit, alone, that is needed, for he that would approach unto the Lord
as mediator must be prepared with strength to suffer. Who can sustain
the load of human sin? Who can endure the indignation of the Lord
against iniquity?

Assuredly none of us could do it–the fire would consume us as stubble!
O for an Interposer! But where can he be found? Who is this who can, as
man, appear for men, and by his personal righteousness and sacrifice
render man acceptable with God? There was a Man of matchless birth, at
whose coming, angels sang, for they were told that He would bring Glory
to God in the highest and on earth, peace. Find Him in Bethlehem's
manger–there He lies, the son of Mary, truly Man, one of ourselves,
partaker of our flesh and blood, subject to human needs, weaknesses,
woes and able, therefore, to sympathize with us and have compassion
upon us! That Man grew up in this world without taint or spot, free
from sin whether natural or acquired, and yet He was, in the truest
sense, one of ourselves, so that He is not ashamed to call us brethren!

When the malicious eyes of Satan searched Him through and through, he
found nothing of evil in Him. He was without spot or wrinkle, or any
such thing, and He it is–glory be to His name–He it is that has
engaged His heart to approach unto God on our behalf! He is the Son of
Man, most truly, anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows,
but still truly fellow with men! Though He counted it no robbery to be
equal with God, yet He took upon Himself the form of a Servant and was
made in the likeness of men that He might redeem us from our sin! Now
look at the context and you will see that the Person who must approach
God for us must be a Prince-Priest, for He is called "their Glorious
One" and "their Governor," and yet it is said of Him, "I will cause Him
to draw near," which work of drawing near is in other places ascribed
to priests, for these God had set apart for the service of His
sanctuary!

The Hebrew word, "to draw near," signifies that peculiar action of a
priest when he stands dealing with God on the behalf of men. The
person, then, must be a priest and yet a prince. Who is he and where is
he? It is not David, for if David would approach unto God in the office
of a priest, he must not–he must resort to the priest who has the Urim
and the Thummim–and the priest of the house of Aaron must inquire of
God for David. This was one distinction between David and Saul, that
David knew the limits of his office and never thought to over step it.
David and Solomon never attempted to intrude into the holy office–they
knew that they were not priests, but only kings–and when Uzzah stood
to sacrifice like a priest, you know how the leprosy fell upon him. And
they drove him out of the house of God which he was desecrating by
intruding himself into the priestly office. He had to be shut up in a
separate house all the rest of his life!

Where shall we find one that even as a priest can really draw near to
God for mankind? For remember, Brothers and Sisters, that the priests
of old only drew near to God in figure and in metaphor–they could not
actually and in very deed do so–for God is a consuming fire! Even when
Moses went up unto the mount with God and did draw near in a certain
sense, yet he never saw the face of God, for the Lord said, "You cannot
see My face and live." The brightest vision that Moses ever had was
that he saw the skirts of Jehovah's robe, or what Scripture styles, His
back parts, for the face of God could not be seen. Mercy draws us near
to God in Christ Jesus, but apart from the Mediator, an approach to
absolute Deity means destruction!

Neither among kings nor priests could the one man be found who could
open the way to the Father! And certainly no king-priest could be
found–the combination of the two offices falls not to the house of
Aaron. A reverend personage had passed before the camera of history and
left a shadowy trace of himself. But where now is he who was named
Melchis-edec, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, to whom
Abraham gave tithes of all? He was raised up for a special purpose and
no one has inherited his peculiar call. That vision taught us what to
look for, but it did not supply the Object of our search! It has
prophesied the coming of the true Melchisedec, the Man without
beginning of days or end of years, the Man without predecessor or
successor, who is greater than Abraham and abides as both Priest and
King for-

ever, having once and for all drawn near to God on our behalf. You know
Him–the true Priest of God, not of the order of Aaron–and the King
eternal, immortal, invisible, King of kings, and Lord of lords! It is
He that engaged His heart to draw near to God on our behalf!

The question, however, may be answered in another way, so as to bring
out more clearly the matchless Person whom our hearts adore at this
moment. It was necessary that he who should draw near to God should be
chosen to that office by God, Himself, and should be qualified for it
by Divine power. "I will cause Him to draw near, and He shall approach
to me." Now, is there anyone among us all that God has ever chosen to
represent our fellow men as their mediator, acting as the head of the
race and, as such, entering into the immediate Presence of God on his
own merits? We have not, I hope, the presumption to imagine such a
thing! "There is one Mediator between God and man, the Man, Christ
Jesus." He it is that takes upon Himself our nature and our sin, and
then goes in onto God and stands there, amidst the blaze of the
ineffable Light, to represent manhood–and there is none else!

On Him rested the Spirit of God without measure. The Dove descended on
Him in the waters of His baptism and the Father said, "This is My
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." This was the great One elect
of Heaven, ordained of the Father before the foundation of the
world–and the Spirit of Glory and of might did rest upon Him–that He
might be equipped for His mighty service and might engage His heart to
approach unto God. This is He who said, "I looked, and there was none
to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore My own
arm brought salvation unto Me."

Moreover, to close this description, He was not only appointed of God
and qualified, but He was one who was willing to undertake the task and
ready to pledge Himself to it. He voluntarily covenanted to do it, as
it is written, "Lo, I come: in the volume of the Book it is written of
Me, to do Your will, O God: yes, Your Law is My delight." He engaged
His heart to this gracious office, resolving to carry out to a happy
issue the work of reconciliation. Moved by inconceivable, immeasurable
love and counting all the cost, He devoted Himself to the supreme
effort. "Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it." Of His own
free will He placed Himself before offended Justice to meet its claims
and so He removed every barrier which stood between us and the Throne
of God! He is that Breaker who has gone up before us, that King who is
at the head of all His chosen ones.

Now, where is such an One to be found unless it is the Lord Jesus? I
trust many of us have given ourselves up to God and to His fear, drawn
by almighty love. But it was never in our hearts to imagine that by
giving up ourselves to holy service we could stand before God and open
a way to Him for our fellow men! We are well aware of our incompetence
for so grand a task. None of us have struck hands and covenanted with
God to mediate, for we could not do it! I dread the thought of seeming
to intrude into so Divine a work! We are priests unto God, but not
mediators for men! When I hear of men pretending to hear the
confessions of their fellow men and absolving them of their sins, I
wonder that they sleep nights after professing so tremendous an act!

I am amazed at what the power of Satan over them must be that they can
rest after having assumed to act as vicars of Jehovah, He having given
them no warrant and no authority for such a mediatorial position!
Brothers and Sisters, this blasphemy of blasphemies may well become the
Mother of Harlots, but the Bride of Christ abhors it! But oh, when my
eyes rest upon Jesus, the only-begotten Son of God, in human flesh,
then I cry, "This is He! Glory be to His name!" And, lost in wonder, my
soul exclaims, "Who is this? Who is this? What manner of Man is this?
Who is a God like unto You?" All this in wonder, but not in doubt, for
the Lord Jesus can do this great work and He wills to do it! He has
resolved and He will not fail nor be discouraged!

Glory be to His name, He has done it! He has approached with engaged
heart unto God on our behalf and, by His Sacrifice, He has made a way
by which each one of us who is willing to do so may now approach unto
God, even the Father, without fear. "Who is this?" Our soul is filled
with amazement, but not with ignorance, for we answer this question in
a word–He is God, Himself, Light of Lights, very God of very God,
veiled in human flesh who has opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all
Believers. "Who is this?" I answer, it is the Lawgiver, Himself, who
has put Himself under the Law and who has borne the penalties of the
Law that the Law may be glorified, while sin is pardoned and
Law-breakers are justified! "Who is this?" It is infinite Holiness
which has burdened itself with human sin, "For He has made Him to be
sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of
God in Him."

Oh, if I had but words to speak with, I would try to extol Him who,
being infinitely pure, nevertheless was numbered with the
transgressors! Who, being incapable of spot, yet did bear upon Himself
the enormous and horrible load of human guilt! In His own body on the
tree, in flesh and soul, He suffered, the Just for the unjust, to bring
us to God! Mark those words, for they show His end and objective–"to
bring us to God." This is the way by which He brought us near, even by
His own most precious blood! Yes, it is the heavenly One, who is
blessed forevermore, who was made a curse for us! On whom, being
everlastingly the object of Jehovah's love, there fell Jehovah's wrath
on our account! Mystery of mystery! Miracle of miracles! This has
astonished Heaven and earth and Hell!

Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews and Son of the Highest, engaged His
heart that He might wait upon the Judge of all the earth and answer for
rebellious man with His own life–and so complete a way of access by
which we may rise from our abyss of woes to the bosom of the Eternal!
Though I have thus spoken to the best of my knowledge, I know that I
cannot set out before you the full Glory of the Person of our Covenant
Head. I shall go home saying to myself, "Who is this? Who is this?" and
I shall have succeeded in my endeavor if you will, each one, say, "He
could not tell us who He was. He could not reach the height of that
great argument, but we shall, all through time and in eternity, go on
wondering and saying, Who is this?"

The more we wonder, the more shall we love and praise the Lord Jesus
with our heart of hearts and say, "He has done all things well. We are
made near by Him, never more to be separated from the love of God which
is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Thus much upon the Person. How freely
could I weep because I speak in words so poor and ill-chosen! I do but
hold a candle to show the sun!

II. I come now TO EXCITE ADMIRATION OF HIS MATCHLESS WORK. If Jesus
Christ is to approach God for us, it is clear that He must come down
into our condition, for He must, first, descend or He cannot ascend.
Naturally there is such a Oneness between the blessed Persons of the
Trinity that there can be no approaching, in their case, to one
another, but Jesus, though He was forever in the highest sense, with
God, left His place of Glory and took the position of our shame.
"Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." There He
stands, even where we stood by nature! Where we lay in our blood, there
He came and engaged His heart to deliver us!

He stood at the Judgment bar because we had brought ourselves there. He
was rejected of the people because we were rejected as reprobate
silver. He was condemned because we were condemned and He was put to
death because such was the sentence upon us! He descended into our
depths to engineer a way from the lowest to the highest, to come back
from Bashan, and from the depths of the sea, leading the van of the
armies of His chosen as they return unto God with songs and everlasting
joy upon their heads!

This lowly place being taken, behold our Lord actually approaching unto
the offended Majesty on high! Though found in fashion as a Man, by
reason of His becoming a curse for us, He was denied the Presence of
the Father, so that He cried in anguish, "My God, My God, why have You
forsaken Me?" Yet He did approach unto God! He did come near! No, He
remains near–able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by
Him! He has passed under the cloud and the darkness and through the
consuming fire–and now He is the Lamb in the midst of the Throne of
God! He has gone into the Holy of Holies and revealed the Mercy Seat.
He has bridged the great gulf which sin had made! "It is finished," He
said, before He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.

As a result, the pathway is open! Every gulf is filled! Every valley is
exalted and every mountain and hill laid low! It is finished–the way
from man to God has been already trod by myriads of cleansed feet, for
our Glorious One has cast up the king's highway and made straight paths
for our feet! Come, let us tread the road. With holy confidence let us
draw near unto God! Our Lord, with all His heart, desired to do this.
He "engaged His heart" to perform it. Before all worlds, His master
purpose was to approach unto God as man's Representative. He is styled,
"the Lamb slain from before the foundations of the world," because this
was the firm resolve and bent of His entire Being, before ever the
earth was!

He had vowed in His soul that He would restore the banishment of the
Fall and bridge the distance between man and God. When God would not
have sacrifice and offering at man's hands, then Jesus said, "Lo, I
come." He says of Himself, "The Lord God will help Me; therefore shall
I not be confounded: therefore have I set My face like a flint, and I
know that I shall not be ashamed." His heart was determined and
resolved, for so the expression means, when the text says, "He engaged
His heart." But why this readiness, this eagerness? Love is the one
reply! His heart was occupied with love to God and love to man and He
could not rest till He had restored the broken concord between these
divided ones. With all

the forcefulness of His Divine Nature and with all the energy of His
perfect Humanity, He was resolved to bring men back to God.

While He was yet a boy He felt bound to be about His Father's business.
When He first appeared among the multitude it was by submission to the
Father's ordinance to fulfill all righteousness. He could not hold His
peace or take rest because His mission was urgent and His heart was in
it. Many a time He set aside a crown to bear a cross. All the kingdoms
of this world could not bribe Him from His sacred purpose, though
displayed before Him by the arch-tempter in a sudden blaze of
brightness. If any endeavored to dissuade Him from His purpose, even
though they did it out of love, He saw the evil spirit who was using
them as his instruments and, with indignation, He broke the snare! Even
though it were the beloved Peter, He looked on him as the devil's
advocate, and said, "Get you behind Me, Satan."

How full of meaning is that sigh, "I have a baptism to be baptized
with; and how am I straitened till it is accomplished!" He was shut up
like a man in a narrow prison and His only enlargement was to be by
anguish and death. He was straitened till He could give Himself up as a
Sacrifice and so open a door for us to our God! The insatiable desire
of our Lord's vehement spirit was the finishing of the work which the
Father had given Him to do. It was His meat and His drink to accomplish
the purpose of love. "Who is this?" "Who is this?" The more I turn it
over and think of it, the more I am astonished that so condescending,
gracious and glorious a work should engage the heart of the Lord of
All!

We had not loved Him, but He loved us! We were His enemies, but what a
Friend was He! Our hearts were set on wandering, but His heart was
engaged to bring us near to God! Let us each pause, here, and admire as
we say, "He loved me and gave Himself for me." Who is this that thus
has spent His love upon so poor a being? Having thus determined that He
would approach unto God on our behalf, He took all the consequences. A
correct reading of the passage would be, "Who is this that has pledged
His heart or His life to approach unto Me, says the Lord?" If you take
the meaning of the word, "heart," to be "life," since the heart is the
source of life, then we read that our Lord pledged His life, put His
life in surety that He would approach unto God, the Judge of All, and
bring us near to Him.

When He came as the Representative of sinful men–then vengeance with
its sword must smite Him–and He was willing to be smitten. Voluntarily
He gave His back to the smiters and His cheeks to them that plucked off
the hair. He did not hide His face from shame and spitting. He must die
if He draws near to God for sinful men, for such is the penalty due.
But He willingly laid down His life and, bowing His head, He gave up
the ghost. He must be deserted of God and He even submits to that, till
He cries, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" He might have
drawn back from His undertaking if He would, but He never thought of
drawing back. With desire He desired to eat that Passover!

In order to die, He broke off in the middle of a discourse, saying,
"Arise, let us go therefore." His slogan was, "The cup which My Father
has given Me, shall I not drink it?" He saved others, but Himself He
could not save because Love held Him bound in her chains. How intensely
ought we to love Jesus since He thus reckoned nothing too hard or
heavy, that He might appear in the Presence of God for us and make a
way to God for poor sinners such as we are! He even delighted in
suffering and dishonor for this end. "For the joy that was set before
Him, He endured the Cross, despising the shame." He made pledge, not
merely of hands or eyes, but of His heart and life! He came with His
life in His hands before Jehovah's face and gave up that life that He
might remove from us the death penalty due to justice–and so reconcile
us to the Lord of All!

Tune your harps, you angels! Make this Sabbath on which we think of
this sublime mystery a special festival of song! Oh, sing unto the
Lord, you redeemed ones who see His face! You are before the Throne of
Glory because He stood before the throne of vengeance and made it
possible for your robes to be washed white as snow! As for you, you
redeemed with blood who are still below, bring forth your loudest notes
and praise Him who has once and for all cleared the way and opened an
avenue of Grace for you! Who is this wonderful Savior? Who shall
declare the generation of Him who pledged His life that He might draw
near to God for us and endured all the consequences to the bitter end?

And now, today, Beloved, Jesus Christ rejoices to think that He has
approached unto God on our behalf and made eternal amity between God
and man! Let us rejoice with Him! Let us become happy in fellowship
with our God–

"'Tis finished all; the veil is rent,

The welcome sure, the access free;

Now then, we leave our banishment,

O Father, to return to Thee!"

This is the joy of Christ's heart forever! He welcomes our return to
God! He is glad when our communion is hearty and continuous! By His
Holy Spirit He draws us near! Blessed be His name!

III. Let me try, and may the Spirit of God help me, TO AWAKEN YOUR
INTEREST IN THE SWEET RESULTS

OF JESUS CHRIST'S HAVING APPROACHED GOD FOR US. The first result is
found in the chapter. Read that 22nd

verse. Read it with your own eyes and wonder that it should be put
there. "Who is this that engaged His heart to approach unto Me? says
the Lord. And you shall be My people, and I will be your God." That is,
because our royal High Priest approached unto God for us, therefore we
who were called outcasts; we whose wound was incurable and grievous; we
that were utterly ruined and undone–we, believing in this
Jesus–shall, in Him, become the people of God!

Let me speak plainly with you, beloved Brothers and Sisters–how many
of you have realized this? It is all idle for me to talk about Christ
making the way unless you run in the way. Are you the Lord's people?
Many of you humbly rejoice in this high honor, but there may be a few
here who are of another mind–you care nothing for having the Lord to
be your God. Possibly you sneer and call it cant. Yes, but if you knew
the Truth of God you would not do so. When we hear you speaking
contemptuously of being God's people, all we can say is, "Father,
forgive them, for they know not what they do." Will you mind thinking
just for half a minute? Will you try to think justly and rightly? Must
it not be good and right that the creature should love the Creator?
Must it not be a wise thing that the children whom God has formed
should love their heavenly Father and be on good terms with Him? Is it
not likely that it would be a happy thing for you if you were one of
God's people? You can never rest till you are!

But you ask, "How can I be?" Why, it all follows upon what I have been
talking of! Jesus Christ went to the Father for us, that we might
approach unto the Father in Him and through Him, that we might become
the Lord's own people and that the Lord might become our God! I tell
you I would sooner say, "This God is my God," than anything else that I
can imagine! To say, "This kingdom is my kingdom," or, "This whole
world is mine," were a miserable business compared with saying, "My
Beloved is mine and I am His!" You would not think I exaggerated if you
tried it! I invite you to an honest, practical test.

See if there is not joy in the salvation of God. Religion is, with some
people, a sort of dreamy thing on Sundays– you sit in your pews and
bear with us long-winded talkers about things which you do not care
for. Oh, if only you did value and enjoy them! If you could but taste
and handle them you would say, "Go on, Preacher! Go on! You are a poor
hand at it, for your themes are so great and wondrous that you cannot
reach to them, but, still, go on! Ring that bell again! Open more doors
and let us peep in upon the secret treasures. Bring us more clusters of
the grapes of Eshcol and let us, at least, pluck a berry here and there
if we cannot carry away a whole cluster–and so fill our mouths with
the inexpressible delight of being God's people and having Jehovah to
be our God!"

This bliss comes to those of us who rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no
confidence in the flesh because Jesus said, "I will wait upon the Lord
that hides His face from the house of Jacob." The face of the Lord is
no longer hidden from us! We have access with confidence into this
Grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the Glory of God. I seem
to see in my spirit that old legend of Rome worked out in very deed. So
says the story–in the Roman Forum there gaped a vast chasm which
threatened the destruction of the Forum, if not of Rome. The wise men
declared that the gulf would never close unless the most precious thing
in Rome was cast into it. See how it yawns and cracks, every moment,
more horribly! Hasten to bring this noblest thing! For love of Rome
sacrifice your best!

But what, or who is this? Where is a treasure meet for sacrifice? Then
Curtins, a belted knight, mounted his charger and, rightly judging that
valor and love of country were the noblest treasures of Rome, he leaped
into the gulf! The yawning earth closed upon a great-hearted Roman, for
her hunger was appeased. Perhaps it is but an idle tale, but what I
have declared is the Truth of God! There gaped between God and man a
dread abyss, deep as Hell, wide as eternity and only the best thing
that Heaven contained could fill it! That best thing was He, the
peerless Son of God, the matchless, perfect Man and He came, laying
aside His Glory, making Himself of no reputation. And He sprang into
the gulf which then and there closed, once and for all!–

"Down from the shining seats above With joyful haste He fled, Entered
the grave in mortal flesh, And dwelt among the dead. Oh, for this love
let rocks and hills

Their lasting silence break

And all harmonious human tongues

The Sa vior's praises speak."

One great result of Christ's having died is to leave us a way of access
which is freely opened to every poor, penitent sinner. Come! Are you
using that way of access? Do you use it every day? Having used it and
thus having drawn near to God, do you dwell near to God? Do you abide
in God? Is God the main thought of your life, the chief delight and
object of your being? If it is not so, I earnestly invite you, by the
Spirit's help, to make it so. You must engage your heart to come to God
in Christ. There is no coming to God without sincere resolve and eager
desire. Are you engaged to such an end? Alas, it may be you are drawn
elsewhere. Are you engaged? Alas, some are engaged to Madame Bubble!
Some are engaged to Belial! Some are engaged to self! Some are engaged
to Mammon! Some seem engaged to the very devil of Hell!

Be wise and break these unlawful engagements! Let your covenant with
death be broken and your league with Hell be annulled. Though you are
weary of my words, yet would I stir you up to interest in this
all-important matter. Break these deadly bands asunder! God help you,
by a sudden energy which He shall give you, to snap your fetters once
and for all and then, at once, firmly engage your hearts to Christ!
Never such loveliness, never such love will you find elsewhere! Come,
say now–Whatever else I do or do not do, I will do this–I will
approach to God by the way that Christ has opened for me–I will arise
and go to my Father! I will throw myself at my Father's feet–I must be
reconciled! I cannot live an enemy to Him! I must be made a friend–

"I will approach You– I will force

My way through obstacles to You." Jesus goes before me and I gladly
follow. I will not leave the throne till You, O Lord, have said, "I
have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness
have I drawn you." I shall be greatly happy, I shall be exceedingly
glad if I may induce one spirit to come to God by Jesus Christ! But if
the whole of you will come at once; if God's spirit shall now prompt
all Believers to come and all unbelievers to become Believers, and so
to come, what a splendid company of us will enter into the golden
gates! And what joy there will be in Heaven over all of us as we
approach unto the Most High! I think I note a seraph, as he takes down
his harp, stand in the center of the heavenly choir and suggest to his
fellow choristers that their theme should be, "Who is this that has
engaged His heart to approach unto the living

God?"

Hark how ten thousands of voices say–"Who is this?" Let us, in humble
notes, lift up our praises. Here is a verse which may serve our turn–

"Who is this that enters Glory, Clearing for His saints a way? Who
shall tell the wondrous story Who His glorious work display? Jesus
makes our access clear, To the Father brings us near."

Thus the question, "Who is this?" admits of a second answer, for now,
in Christ Jesus, all Believers with engaged hearts are approaching unto
God! Who is this? At first it is Jesus, Son of Man and Son of God. And
next it is His Church with all her heart engaged, approaching unto God
by Jesus Christ! My Hearers, can you join in the song of praise which
is now rising from Heaven and earth? Angels are waiting till you
approach their God! Come, hurry up! Hasten to be blest! At once
approach your God by Christ Jesus and as angels see you coming, their
song shall grow yet louder till it shall excel the noise of many waters
and out-voice the last great thundering! They come! They come! Sinners
are coming to God! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen.
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Brought Up from the Horrible Pit

A Sermon