---

There is no Gospel apart from our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, it is not at all wonderful that, after the glorious Gospel invitations, expostulations, and exhortations of the first three verses of this chapter, we should come, in the fourth verse, to these words: "'Behold, I have given Him.' I have talked to you about waters, and about wine and milk, and about bread, and about fatness; but, 'behold, I have given Him,' for He is all these, — water, wine, milk, bread, fatness. I have spoken to you about 'an everlasting covenant even the sure mercies of David;' but I mean Him, for He is the great Surety of the covenant, and I have given Him for a covenant of the people." We cannot do without a personal Christ. The first word in our text, "Behold,' reminds us that this is a theme for wonder. A part of the wonder concerning Christ consists in the fact that His Father has given Him to the people. Not to you, O kings and princes; — not to you, a few aristocrats picked here and there; but, "I have given Him for a witness to the people." He is the people's Christ, the people's Leader, the people's Friend, the people's King. And the wonder increases when you recollect that the word translated "people" might be just as accurately rendered "nations." No doubt, the Lord's intention here is to refer to the Gentiles: — not to the chosen people, Israel, alone; but even to us, "sinners of the Gentiles," who were outside the favoured family of the Jews.

I. Let us, with believing eye, SEE OUR LORD IN THREE CHARACTERS OR RELATIONSHIPS.

1. Our blessed Lord is a Witness for the Father, — a Witness concerning the Father. We should never have known what God was like if it had not been that "the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." If, indeed, I do see God in Christ, what a blessed God He is to me! For who would not love Jesus! Nor is Christ merely the Witness concerning God's character, but also concerning God's bearing towards us. How does God feel with regard to His rebellious creatures! He also came to be witness of another matter, namely, that God has set up a kingdom among the sons of men. There is no way of entrance into the kingdom of Divine grace except by regeneration; and Jesus Christ is the Witness of that great truth. Whatever Christ has taught concerning any truth which has to do with our salvation, is His witness upon that point; and if we want to know the truth about anything, we must go to Christ to learn it.

2. The second office of Christ, mentioned in the text, is that, of a Leader to His own people. The word "leader might be rendered "the foremost; and, truly, Christ is the foremost of all His people, — the standard-bearer among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely. In the Church of God, Jesus Christ is the Leader, because His life is the perfect example of practical holiness. First, He is God's witness revealing to us the truth; then, next, He is our Example, working out the practical part of that revelation in His own life.

3. The third character our Lord bears, according to our text, is that of Commander. There may be many meanings given to that title, but it seems to me that it must relate mainly to those of His people who are not yet saved. To them, He is a Commander; to them He issues laws as a law-giver, for such is also the sense of the term. But I think there is more, in this title of Christ, than the mere fact of His making the law, and bidding us publish it abroad in His name. He is also a Commander because He has power to enforce His proclamations. He calls a nation that knew Him not, and then they learn to know Him.

II. THE THREE EXCELLENCES OF CHRIST IN CONNECTION WITH THESE THREE OFFICES.

1. Is Christ a Witness? Then He is a true Witness. There are no falsehoods or mistakes in the witness which Christ bears.

2. If our Lord be a Leader, he has, in that capacity, the quality of holiness. You may safely follow wherever He leads you.

3. If He be a Commander, you see in Him Divine power. It is no use having a commander-in-chief who issues proclamations, but who has neither wit nor wisdom in the day of battle.

III. THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND EXCELLENCES DEMAND FROM US THREE DUTIES.

1. Is Christ a true Witness? Then, believe Him.

2. If He be a Leader, and holiness is the mark of His Leadership, then, let us imitate Him.

3. Then, if He be a Commander, what does He require of us? Obedience.

IV. THERE ARE THREE BENEFITS WHICH WILL BE SECURED BY THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE DUTIES.

1. If you do believe Christ, "the faithful and true Witness," then you have certainty as to what you believe.

2. Then, if Jesus Christ be our Example, and we imitate Him, the next benefit we obtain is safety.

3. If Christ be our Commander, and He hath all power, and we obey Him, then victory is sure.

( C. H. Spurgeon.)

---

---

KJV: Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

WEB: Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples.