EXTRACT ON THE GOSPELS

^[p. 521] EXTRACT ON THE GOSPELS

I have been thinking a little of the stupendous fact of the Son of God having become Man — and the results flowing from it. He could not by so doing change His Person (though, as J. N. D. has said, He in love left His first estate). Hence in Matthew He is Jehovah, Emmanuel, in relation to Israel; and in John, the only begotten Son, in relation to the Father; and in neither gospel is there any record of ascension. He could not, so to say, as such, be exalted. But in Mark He is in the form of a servant — and having served in humiliation and weakness, He is taken up to the right hand of God to serve in power. In Luke we have Him in the likeness of men, and having entered on humanity at the weakest point and gone down in the suffering of death to the lowest point, He is raised in the condition suited to the new place for man above all principality and power, and a cloud receives Him out of the disciples’ sight. So that though position and condition are changed, everything in Him abides; and as servant and Man He is highly exalted.