appearance in the flesh. Christ is here properly called " the Desire of all nations'1" —
Many in all nations do desire him —
[The Jews, by means of their captivities, or flight, were scattered through the Assyrian, Chaldean, Persian, and other empires, and since the establishment of Christianity there are Christians in every part of the globe. Amongst these, there is indeed found a considerable difference with respect to clear- ness of knowledge and fervour of affection ; but the desire of them all accords with that of the Apostle e.]
All nations, if they knew him, would desire him —
[He has in himself all imaginable excellencies, as God, as man, as mediator. Would we desire a mighty Saviour ? he is God over allf. Would we desire one in our own nature ? he was made flesh g. Would we desire one that had testified his love? he has died for ush. Would we desire one that from his oivn experience might sympathize with us? he has been tempted like us for this purpose1. If any hear of him, and desire him not, the reason is plain k — .]
He did in due season honour the temple with his
presence —
[The season of his appearance there was foretold1. At the appointed time he was brought thither by his parents"1 : at twelve years old he sat there among the doctors", and afterwards it became the frequent place of his resort.]
The prospect of this event was peculiarly consoling on account of, II. The consequences of his advent —
The presence of Christ in the temple " filled it with glory." It rendered the latter temple far more glo- rious than the former0."
He more than supplied all those things which were zvanting in this temple —
d All nations indeed do not actually desire him, because they know him not : but they may be said to desire him, just as the whole cre- ation is said to be waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, &c. Rom. viii. 19 — 21. or, as Mount Zion is said to be the joy of* the whole earth, Ps. xlviii. 2.
e Phil. iii. 8 — 10. f Rom. ix. 5. g John i. 14.
h Eph. v. 2. * Heb. iv. 15. and ii. 18. k 2 Cor. iv. 4.
1 He was to come while the temple was standing ; Mai. iii. 1. and the text. About forty years after his death it was utterly demolished.
m Luke ii. 27. n Luke ii. 46. ° Hagg. ii. 9.