ix. 6. _His name shall be called Wonderful, &c._
+I. Christ is wonderful in His nature.+ He is wonderful, 1. In
respect of _His essential Godhead._ 2. In respect of _His perfect
manhood._ _All_ excellencies were combined in him as a man, unlike
even His most eminent servants, who are distinguished for the
possession of _special_ graces, which too often are clouded by some
opposite defect. 3. In respect of the _union in Him of Deity and
humanity_ (1 Tim. iii. 16).
+II. Christ is wonderful in His offices,+ at once Prophet, Priest,
and King. 1. As a _Prophet,_ what wonderful disclosures He has made
to us of the Divine nature and will, and of human duty and destiny;
with what wonderful authority He spoke; with what wonderful
completeness and beauty He fulfilled all His own commandments! 2. As
a _Priest,_ how wonderfully He was at once sacrifice and offerer: how
wonderfully He still carries on the work of reconciliation (Rom.
viii. 34). 3. As a _King,_ how wonderfully He rules, with omnipotent
power, yet with lamblike gentleness.
+III. Christ is wonderful in his relation to His people.+ 1. In the
care He exercises over them (Ezek. xxxiv. 11-16). 2. In the abundance
of the grace which He ministers to them (2 Cor. xii. 9; John i. 16;
H. E. I. 936). 3. In His condescending thoughtfulness for each one of
them (John x. 3, 14, 15).[1] 4. In the perfectness of His sympathy
with them. He identifies Himself so entirely with His people, that
they have not a single care, trial, or temptation of any sort, but it
is as much _His_ as it is _theirs_ (H. E. I. 952-961).--_J. H. Evans,
M.A.: Thursday Penny Pulpit,_ vol. vii. pp. 336-348.
We are continually struck with one marked contrast between the
greatness that is human and the greatness that is Divine: human
greatness the more it is examined the less wonderful it appears, but
Divine productions, the more closely they are investigated the more
brightly they shine. We shall see that Christ is wonderful, if we
consider--I. _The excellences that compose His mediatorial
character._ God and man! Nor is this a wonder to men only (1 Pet.
i. 12). II. _The stupendous blessings He bestows on His friends._
III. _The reserves of glory which He waits to exhibit in now unseen
and future worlds._
Behold Him, and 1. Never hesitate to acknowledge Him as your Saviour
and Lord. 2. Yield a ready obedience to His authority. 3. Anticipate
His coming in glory.--_Samuel Thodey._