19. APOSTLE

by Henry Law
 

"Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess."—Heb. 3:1

The office of Apostle is invested with high sacredness. Let its consideration be approached with eyes uplifted for a ray from heaven.

It now belongs not to the sons of men. Exalted rank, and dignified position, and supreme authority may be accorded. Many succeed to ancestral honors. Ennobling titles may be won by merit. But the Apostolic station cannot now be reached. It ceased with those who held it by heaven's own investiture. To usurp such privilege in this age is ignorance, or a far greater fault.

The name is mainly glorious, because Jesus Himself vouchsafes to bear it. On His brow this diadem is placed. Nature throughout her varied realm, art in her rich storehouse of elaborate skill, literature in her learned page, all classes of profession have contributed to give representations of His worth. But other titles fade before the name of Apostle. The Holy Spirit, ever delighting to exhibit Christ, and to enrich our thoughts, thus designates Him, "The Apostle and High Priest of our profession." In meek obedience may we find refreshing profit.

The meaning of the term needs little explanation. An Apostle is one 'sent' and charged to execute commission. Jesus is thus sent. He is the Father's messenger from the courts of heaven. It is our privilege to glean much teaching from the copious Scriptures which announce this truth. They flow onward in broad streams, enriching the readers. Their sound is sweet as the resounding echoes of the songsters of the grove. They glitter as the dewdrops of the early morn. A luxuriant garden presents its ready flowers to the hand. A few only can be plucked.

A noble passage advances to the front. It not only proclaims Jesus as the Sent or Apostle from the Father; it also unfolds the motive of this act of love. "Here is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10) The avowed message of the Giver is the mercy of mercies. It wills that atonement should be made, expiation offered, sins washed away, transgressions obliterated, satisfaction infinitely secured. To accomplish this Jesus comes the Apostle of Salvation. But no merit on man's part procures this mission. There are no workings of the human heart which awaken pity and excite this condescending grace. The Father's love originates the scheme. In love He sends His Son. Thanks be to God for Jesus His Apostle.

A kindred statement brings corroboration. "This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him." (1 John 4:9) Another feature of this loving mission is thus shown. The Apostle comes from heaven charged with the gift of everlasting life. A world dead in trespasses and sins is spread before Him. Death had established its dark sway. Its iron scepter ruled. The Apostle comes with life eternal in His hands. "The wages of sin is death." (Rom. 6:23) He undergoes the death. He thus annihilates its claims and gives the heirdom of heaven's life to all whom He was sent to seek and save. He not only tells that the sinner's death is slain by His death, but that life forevermore is the purchase of His work. "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10) Thanks be to God for Jesus His Apostle.

Similarly in that wondrous prayer—and none more wondrous ever ascended from a fallen world—He testifies, "This is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." (John 17:3) The Apostle opens out this knowledge. He reveals the Father, and He reveals Himself. He gives the knowledge which leads infallibly by the sweet path of faith and peace to endless bliss. Such is the grand commission which the Great Apostle executes. It is worthy of the Father who devised the plan; worthy of the Son who executes; worthy of the Spirit who applies. Thanks be to God for Jesus His Apostle.

Let us advance from Scripture's copious statements to mark that the Apostle comes with no reluctance to this office. He shrinks not from the degradation and the pain. In treading the path of sorrow no murmurs or complaints, escape His lips. This is His testimony, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." (John 4:34) He ever joyed in the Apostolic work. He was cheered and refreshed by the thought that He thus obeyed His Father's will, and carried out His gracious designs, and brought glory to His name. As food supports the frame of man, so He found strength and animation in the discharge of His commission.

While it is precious to meditate on the Covenant of Peace, to survey its various terms, and to see an Apostle sent from heaven charged with their execution, so it is superadded preciousness to hear His own assurance, that in this work He found refreshment. "For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame." (Heb. 12:2) Oh! that we joyed as cordially in accepting salvation as Jesus joyed in earning it!

It closely follows that it should be our main delight to sit as pupils in His school. He teaches as the Father's Apostle. He cries, "My teaching is not My own. It comes from Him who sent Me." (John 7:16) Hence, when He speaks, His words are the echo of His Father's voice. How eagerly should we listen, with what intense delight should we drink in each sound, how fully should we receive, how faithfully should we trust, how reverently should we obey, with what confidence should we place our feet upon the firm rock of His instructions! His title is the Word. He is the Apostle to open out the Father's message. Who will not respond, "Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears!"

Next, the Apostle shows clear credentials from the Court of Heaven. He exhibits indubitable proof that He comes not unsent. Nicodemus shrewdly reasoned, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher sent from God; for no man can do these miracles that You do, except God be with him." (John 3:2) The truth shines forth beyond all doubt. He who performs what none unempowered by God can do, must be invested with divine authority. Jesus knew the might of this truth, and thus sets His seal to it. "I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father has given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me." (John 5:36) Faith gathers strength from this decisive evidence. It looks to Jesus controlling all the works of nature, speaking with almighty power, changing the properties of water, stilling the tempestuous billows, rebuking the fury of the winds, making the sea a pavement for His feet, turning all malady into instantaneous health, compelling the strong grasp of death to release its subjugated victims, and rising Himself a conqueror from the grave; and is persuaded, that this Apostle is accredited by God. No doubt remains. Jesus is the Apostle of the Father.

And when Salvation's work was fully finished, what home will this Apostle seek, where will He find welcome? Hear His own words, "Now I am going to Him who sent Me." (John 16:5) His work was fully done. He returned to sit beside His Father on His glorious throne.

Is He welcomed? The work which He still performs is sure reply. Every soul brought now by Him to life is evidence. "Because I live, you shall live also." (John 14:19) But would He be thus exalted if redemption had not been finished? Can we give sufficient praise that Jesus conspicuously reigns as having accomplished His commission as the Apostle sent from God!

With what implicit trust should we embrace His revelations! Let unbelief regard His message with cold indifference. Let conceited minds scorn the simplicity of His grand announcements; but let us receive each statement as an utterance from the throne of God. Let us adore Him as teaching what man unaided could not learn—what weak philosophy could never trace—the truths of God. It is not only true that, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father," (John 14:9) but He who has heard Me has heard the Father. Mark His words to Pilate: "For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth." (John 18:37)

He who appeared in person as an Apostle, also commissioned others to high work. In holy prayer He states to His Father, "As You have sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." (John 17:18) But though thus designated and empowered, their office was vastly inferior. They had no power but what was derived from Him. He was clad in all the essential might of His own Deity. As years advanced their strength decayed, and in due time they slumbered in the grave. He is invested with unfading life. No lapse of time can bring decline of energy to Him. He ever lives in all the freshness of undying power.

The Spirit indeed dwelt largely in them. They read with open eye the grandest mysteries of heaven. They could impart spiritual gifts to others. But they were but a little rill compared to Him, the boundless ocean. Hear the Baptist's testimony: "For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit." (John 3:34) He spoke as never man spoke. His words were clothed with the panoply of authority. We may listen with all the fullness of assurance. He cannot deceive. He could not be deceived. Let the command of God be heeded: "This is My beloved Son: hear Him." (Mark 9:7)

Hence the Holy Spirit's charge: "Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus." Consider His mission. He comes from heaven to teach, that through His instruction we might become wise unto salvation. With such an Apostle, ever ready to reveal all wisdom, let us not turn aside into the bypaths of ignorance and deceit. Antichrist indeed still stalks abroad, even that impostor: "whose coming will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." (2 Thess. 2:9, 10) How shall we escape, if we choose him and neglect Christ Jesus, the Apostle sent of God!