The Things Concerning Himself

The Lord Himself – how precious it is to the soul to meditate on the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, We think of Himself as the sacrifice: "once in the end of the world (i.e., the ages) hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself",, Heb. 9. 26. The infinite value of His death on the cross and the efficacy of His precious blood alone avail for our eternal salvation. With Paul we can declare, “the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me”, Gal. 2. 20.

Then we think of Himself as the eternal Lover of the church: “Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it”, Eph. 5. 25. At such a cost He gave Himself for His bride that the Church should be His possession, finally to present it to Himself a glorious Church, the pearl of priceless Worth, “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but… holy and without blemish”, v. 27. Then shall we know the reality of the words

The bride eyes not her garments, but her dear Bridegroom’s face;

I will not gaze at glory, but on the King of grace; Not at the crown He giveth, but on His pierced hands,

Not e'en where glory dwelleth in Emmanuel’s land.

Again we think of Himself in exaltation: "Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone”, Eph. 2. 20; “the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner”, 1 Pet. 2. 7. Therefore, God “hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”, Phil. 2. 9-11.

In Luke 24, we think of Himself as the occupation: "Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them’, v. 15. The two disciples on the Emmaus road were utterly disheartened, and their hope of seeing the Lord was remote, but the Lord Jesus Himself sought their companionship. The sad-hearted disciples spoke to Him of the “things" which had come to pass, and the Lord asked, “What things?”, vv. 18,19. His last recorded words to them were, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself”, vv. 25-27,

We are so often occupied with many things, but our hearts alone overflow with adoration when we are occupied with Himself. What heart burning was the result of the revelation of the Lord Himself. It is not without significance that the Lord chose to make Himself known to them in the breaking of the bread, vv. 30-31. Is it any wonder that they desired Him, saying, “Abide with us"?

Finally, we think of the Lord Himself as descending from heaven at His manifestation to His own at the rapture of the saints. We shall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord, 1 Thess. 4. 16-17. As we journey onwards in all the changing scenes of life, may our hearts be more and more occupied with the Lord Himself; the language of our hearts will then be

To Christ the Lord let every tongue

Its noblest tribute bring;

Himself the subject of our song,

What joy it is to sing!