Yea, He Is Altogether Lovely
Jesus is the object of our warmest love, a love founded on His intrinsic excellence and complete perfection.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the unparalleled beauty and loveliness of Jesus, describing Him as the ultimate object of love rather than mere admiration. He invites believers to reflect on the sweetness of Christ's words and the perfection of His character, which captivates the hearts of His followers. Spurgeon asserts that every aspect of Jesus is attractive and worthy of adoration, contrasting Him with earthly beings that possess flaws. He encourages worshippers to love Jesus wholly, recognizing that He embodies perfection and is 'altogether lovely.' The sermon calls for a deep, affectionate devotion to Christ, who is the source of all beauty and goodness.
Text
The superlative beauty of Jesus is all-attracting; it is not so much to be admired as to be loved. He is more than pleasant and fair, He is lovely. Surely the people of God can fully justify the use of this golden word, for He is the object of their warmest love, a love founded on the intrinsic excellence of His person, the complete perfection of His charms. Look, O disciples of Jesus, to your Master's lips, and say, "Are they not most sweet?" Do not His words cause your hearts to burn within you as He talks with you by the way?
Ye worshippers of Immanuel, look up to His head of much fine gold, and tell me, are not His thoughts precious unto you? Is not your adoration sweetened with affection as ye humbly bow before that countenance which is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars? Is there not a charm in His every feature, and is not His whole person fragrant with such a savour of His good ointments, that therefore the virgins love Him? Is there one member of His glorious body which is not attractive?--one portion of His person which is not a fresh loadstone to our souls?--one office which is not a strong cord to bind your heart?
Our love is not as a seal set upon His heart of love alone; it is fastened upon His arm of power also; nor is there a single part of Him upon which it does not fix itself. We anoint His whole person with the sweet spikenard of our fervent love. His whole life we would imitate; His whole character we would transcribe. In all other beings we see some lack, in Him there is all perfection. The best even of His favoured saints have had blots upon their garments and wrinkles upon their brows; He is nothing but loveliness.
All earthly suns have their spots: the fair world itself hath its wilderness; we cannot love the whole of the most lovely thing; but Christ Jesus is gold without alloy-light without darkness--glory without cloud--"Yea, He is altogether lovely."
Sermon Outline
- The Attractiveness of Jesus
- The Perfection of Jesus
- The Admirability of Jesus
- His words are sweet and cause our hearts to burn
- His thoughts are precious and fragrant with good ointments
Key Quotes
“He is nothing but loveliness.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Yea, He is altogether lovely.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“His words cause your hearts to burn within you as He talks with you by the way.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should love Jesus fully, not just partially, by anointing His whole person with our fervent love.
- We can imitate Jesus' whole life and transcribe His whole character.
- We should not love Jesus with just our hearts, but also with our actions, by following His teachings and example.