August 8
Christ Fairer Than the Sons
The Christian's Daily PortionOF MEN.
Fairer than the children of men.—Psalms 45:2.
WHILE Jesus was truly and really a man, yet even as such, seeing he had not a defiled nature, he possessed a glorious pre-eminence over the sons of men. Moral goodness and the beauties of holiness were possessed by others in various degrees. Some excelled in possessing a spirit of devotion, as Enoch and David, others were remarkable for their fidelity and integrity, as Abraham, Moses, and Daniel, while others were men of holy courage and moral heroism, as Joshua, Caleb, and Nehemiah. Jesus was fairer and more interesting than any of them; for in him all the virtues and graces of the whole were concentrated. He possessed every excellency, and that in the highest degree. In him was no defect, no frailty, nothing to lessen the influence of his heavenly doctrines, or his holy life. Draw a portrait where there shall be a rich assemblage of every thing that is lovely and graceful, without any thing being redundant or deficient, and then you have truly before you the image of the blessed Jesus, who is "fairer than the children of men." This perfection of beauty was evinced in all the offices he assumed, in all the relationships he formed, and in all the actions he performed. As a teacher, grace was poured into his lips; as a prophet, he possessed all the plenitude of the Holy Spirit; as a priest, he was higher than the sons of men, a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec; as a king, he reigns in equity and in truth, the sceptre of his kingdom is a sceptre of righteousness. As the Saviour, he came with his heart overflowing with compassion and mercy, and freely received into his favour the most worthless and perishing of our fallen race. In him mercy and truth met together, righteousness and peace embraced each other. In him was combined all the glories of the Godhead, and all the excellencies of which our nature is capable. Believers on earth and glorified spirits and angels in heaven all concur in this divine statement, that he "is fairer than the children of men."