第44章 JESUS, THE GREAT OBJECT OF ASTONISHMENT.(4)

Oh， that He may be very high in our esteem！ He is not yet exalted and extolled in any of our hearts as He deserves to be. I would we loved Him a thousand times as much as we do， but our whole heart goeth after Him， does it not？ Would we not die for Him？ Would we not set Him on a throne as high as seven heavens， and then think that we had not done enough for Him， who is now our all in all， and more than all？

You notice what is said， concerning the Christ， as the most astonishing thing of all： "_So shall He sprinkle many nations_."

Now is it the glory of our risen Lord， at this moment， that His precious blood is to save many nations. Before the throne， men of all nations shall sing， "Thou wast slain， and hast redeemed us unto God by Thy blood." Not the English nation alone shall be purified by His atoning blood， but many nations shall He sprinkle with His reconciling blood， even as Israel of old was sprinkled with the blood of sacrifice. We read in the tenth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews， at the twenty-second verse， of "having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience，" and this is effected by that precious blood by which we have been once purged so effectually that we have no more consciousness of sins， but enter into perfect peace. The blood of bulls and of goats， and the ashes of an heifer， sprinkling the unclean， sanctified to the purifying of the flesh， and much more doth the blood of Christ purge our conscience from dead works， to serve the living God.

The sprinkling of the blood was meant also to confirm the covenant： thus Moses "sprinkled both the book and all the people， saying， This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you." Our Lord Himself said， "This is My blood of the new covenant， which is shed for many for the remission of sins." But is it not a wonderful thing that He should die as a malefactor on the tree， amid scorn and ridicule， and yet that He is this day bringing nations into covenant with God？ Once so despised， and now： so mighty！ God has given Him "for a covenant of the people， for a light of the Gentiles." Many nations shall by Him be joined in covenant with the God of the whole earth. Do not fall into the erroneous idea that this world is like a great ship-wrecked vessel， soon to go to pieces on an iron-bound coast； but rather let us expect the conversion of the world to the Lord Jesus. As a reward for the travail of His soul， He shall cause many nations to "exult with joy"， for so some read the passage； the peoples of the earth shall not only be astonished at His griefs， but they shall admire His glories， adore His perfections， and be filled with an amazement of joy at His coming and kingdom. I can conceive nothing in the future too great and glorious to result from the passion and death of our Divine Lord.

Listen to this， "_Kings shall shut their mouths at Him_.ó

They shall see such a King as they themselves have never been； they speak freely to their brother-kings， but they shall not dare to speak to Him， and as for speaking against Him， that will be altogether out of the question.

"Kings shall fall down before Him， And gold and incense bring."

"_For that which had not been told them shall they see_."

Kings are often out of the reach of the gospel， they do not hear it， it is not told to them. They would despise the lowly preacher， and little gatherings of believers meeting together for worship； they would only listen to stately discourses， which do not touch the heart and conscience. The great ones of the earth are usually the least likely to know the things of God， for while the poor have the gospel preached unto them， princes are more likely to hear soft flatteries and fair speeches. The time shall come， however， when Caesar shall bow before a real Imperator， and monarchs shall behold the Prince of the kings of the earth. "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout， with the voice of the archangel， and with the trump of God." They shall see His majesty， of which they had not even been told.

"_That which they had not heard shall they consider_." They shall be obliged， even on their thrones， to think about the kingdom of the King of kings， and they shall retire to their closets to confess their sins， and to put on sackcloth and ashes， and to give heed to the words of wisdom. "Be wise now， therefore， O ye kings： be instructed， ye judges of the earth." To-day， the humble listen to Christ， but by-and-by the mightiest of the mighty shall turn all their thoughts towards Him. He shall gather sheaves of sceptres beneath His arm， and crowns shall be strewn at His feet； and "He shall reign for ever and ever，" and "of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end." If we were astonished at the marring of His face， we shall be much more astonished at the magnificence of His glory. Upon His throne none shall question His supremacy， none shall doubt His loveliness； but His enemies shall weep and wail because of Him whom they pierced； while He shall be admired in all them that believe. Adorable Lord， we long for Thy glorious appearing！ We beseech Thee tarry not！

"Come， and begin Thy reign Of everlasting peace；

Come， take the kingdom to Thyself， Great King of Righteousness！"