Again, with f((ual apiiropriateness these words were used in tin' |i:iiallrl case of the Transfigura- tion (Mt 17 ■, ( f. M k '.!', I,U 9-5), when Jesus entered upon the final -,(a-r ..f His ministry. Then, in full view c.l ihr .1,,-^, at the close of our Lord's conference \\\\\i M..„., ami Elijah concerning 'his decease whiih li.' \^a^ about to accomplish at Jerusalem,' tliat Divine voice spoke in the audience of Jesus and the three disciples. Tlius a second time God set the seal of His Divine approval to His Son's submission, and testified to the com- placency with wliicli He regarded His resolve by His death to make atonement for the sins of the
In tliis connexion may be noted also those jias- sages in whidi Jesus speaks of the glory of God in
the triumph of redeeming love. Such are : Jn 10" ' Therefore doth ray F'ather love me, because I lay down ray life that I might take it again ' ; 1331.32 <Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him, and God shall glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him ' ; to which may be added St. Matthew's tr. of Is 42' in Mt 12'' 'My beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased.'
The thought of God's complacency in connexion with His contemplation of the fruits of Christ's redemptive work in the regeneration and recon- ciliation of the world is suggested by the closing words of the Angels' Song (Lk 2'^ RV), 'on earth peace among men in whom lie is well pleased ' (eVi yT}S elpiivri iv dvdpiviroLs evdoKlas), where again we find the technical word, if such it may be called, for this aspect of the Divine love.
It is now very generally admitted that this is the sense in which tiioxieti, honcB voluntatis, ought to be rendered. That is to say, here we have the assurance of another voice from heaven, a message expressly sent at the time of our Lord's nativity, for the comfort of those who waited for the consolation of Israel, of the complacent regard with which the Father, contemplating the objects of His grace, looked upon them as identified ■ "'
upon th we'll-beloved Soil. 'The eye of «od could i placency rest upon mankind,' regavdii sented by His Incarnate Son, and ii
spit
thei
being repre-
The same thought, that of the pleasure which God the Father takes in the spiritual welfare of His children, is suggested by passages which speak of God's joy over the return of penitent sinners. Such are : Jn 10", Lk 15'- '»• "• f ' ^ (in the parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son, in which vv.---^- are especially notable, where Jesus mentions the joy of the father over the son's return, and the reason which the father gives for that joy : ' It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad : for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again ; and was lost, and is found ') ; our Lord's assurance in another place that the prayer of the Publican ■i\'as accepted of God (Lk 18''') ; and again His testimony that prayer and almsgiving, if prompted by the right spirit, are rew'arded by the Father who seeth in secret (Mt
2. (a) Christ is represented as regarding with complacency His own character and work, and His perfect harmony ivith the Father. — This appears in many passages, especially in the discourses re- corded by St. John. In conversation with the Woman of Samaria, Jesus declares that He only can bestow the gift of living water which the soul of man requires ; and, in connexion with the same incident, tells His disciples that it is His meat and drink to do the Father's will and to finish His work (Jn 4'°-*'). Again He says to the Jews that He is in full accord with His Father in respect of will and of work (5"' '"), that ' the Father lovetli the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth. . . . That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father' (vv.'-^-^S). In His discourse on the Bread of Life (ch. 6) we find expres- sions indicative of His conviction that His work is in all respects well pleasing to the Father (v.""-). He challenges His adversaries to convict Him of sin (8*°). He enjoys perfect communion with the Father (7^- "% He claims that the Father glorifies Him, and bears witness of Him (8", cf. vv.'^-'*). He declares that He only is the Good Shepherd, and all that came before Him were thieves and robbers (K^'"'", cf. vv."- ''). He speaks of the excellence and thoroughness of His work, and of the satisfaction with which the F'ather regards it (10"'^-). He speaks of the success of His mission.
COMPLACENCY
CONDEMNATION
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and testifies the complacency with which He sur- veys His ministry. On the ni^lit of the betrayal He declares that hostility to Himself means hos- tility to the Father (14-1- -■' 15-^). A distinct! note of triumph marks His closing utterances. So in lf»-, cf. I3'"f-; and again, when He bids His disciples be of good cheer, for that He has over- come the world (16^). ■ Addressing the Father Himself in His intercessory prayer, He says : ' I have glorified thee on the earth : I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do' (XT'*) ; and again, speaking of the disciples : ' Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition ' (v.'-). Lastly, one of His last words from the cross is the exclamation of triumph, 'It is finished' (19™). The force of such passages cannot be mistaken. They show the Christ seeing ' of the travail of his soul,' and ex- pressing Himself as 'satisfied,' His complacency, as He surveys the work of redemption, appearing as a true parallel to the judgment pronounced by God upon the work of creation, when 'God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good ' (Gn 1").