Normally in my pre-sermon writings I consider some Scriptural theme that will help our church family to prepare for the Sunday sermon. As I considered our topic for this week, “The Beauty of Christ,” I couldn’t help but give my personal testimony about a subject that has become more valuable to me than anything in this world and my undying passion in pastoral ministry.
About 11 years ago, two dear friends who have since become invaluable mentors introduced me to the great Puritan, John Owen, by giving me a copy of The Glory of Christ. Little did I know that this book would be used by God as a powerful instrument of change in my life. The Glory of Christ is a wonderful journey into seeing all the aspects of Christ’s beauty and glory in his character and works, but Owen also talks about the importance of gazing upon the beauty of Christ. For a guy who would often read the bible and look for argumentation, doctrine, information, and any tasty morsel that could be used to show that I was a “bible guy,” The Glory of Christ completely reshaped my view of the Scriptures and my view of myself.
Owen wrote, “No man shall ever behold the glory of Christ in heaven who does not, in some measure, behold it by faith in this world.” This might seem like a simple statement of fact well known to every Christian, but to a guy who was all about dogma, doctrine, and reputation, I had to ask myself a very solemn question: “Do I truly behold the glory of Christ by faith in my life right now?” I was a man who could defend the deity and humanity of Christ. I was a man who upheld the historicity of his incarnation and the supernatural reality of his miracles. I would be quick to proclaim the bodily resurrection of Jesus as essential to the gospel. (Disclaimer: All of these are vitally important and I am not saying we should ever neglect the need to defend Christian orthodoxy.) But Owen challenged me with an enormous question: “You know about the doctrines of Christ, but do you treasure him and how does it impact your life?”
The Glory of Christ gave me a new sense of the exaltation of Christ in all of the Scriptures. I started asking myself questions about the person of Christ rather than simply about the doctrines of Christianity. I gazed upon the beauty of Christ’s pre-incarnate glory. I gazed upon the beauty of Christ’s infinite condescension in his incarnation. I gazed upon his grace. I gazed upon his piercing truth that pinpoints the reality of my heart. I gazed upon his love and his unrelenting mercy. I gazed upon him suffering and dying in my place. I marveled at the perfection of my substitute atoning for my sin. I gazed upon his obedience to the Father in the perfect unity of the Trinity. I gazed upon his perfect holiness in every word and action. I gazed upon his death conquering resurrection, and I couldn’t stop rejoicing that he was the one true all-powerful and sovereign King of the universe – My King.
I reconsidered the way I held every position of doctrine and truth in my life, and it yielded an overwhelming change. I no longer believed in Christ because I could uphold the authority of the Scriptures. I upheld the authority of the Scriptures because I most treasured Christ. This may not seem like much of a change to you, but for me, it was huge. As I gaze upon Christ and delight in his beauty, he reveals my pride, my idolatry, my fleshly motivations and ambitions. When I see his glorious humility, he shows me a new way. When I see his spectacular love and mercy, he shows me a new way. When I see his compassion for the lost, he shows me a new way. When I see his glory in suffering, he shows me a new way. That new way is not just his example, but in seeing his glory in every word and deed I see him and his way as beautiful. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. This now has new meaning to me because the person of Christ is infinitely beautiful. My concern for what people think of me and how people treat me in this world has been transformed. I am no longer anywhere near as anxious for the things of this world because as I gaze at the beauty of Jesus, “the things of earth have grown strangely dim.”
Owen put it this way: “If we regularly beheld the glory of Christ our Christian walk with God would become more sweet and pleasant, our spiritual light and strength would grow daily stronger and our lives would more gloriously represent the glory of Christ. Death would be most welcome to us.”
Doctrine is important, but please, please, please, let it point you to the beauty of Jesus. Gaze upon him!