Messiah was justly deemed an evidence of God's good-will towards them ; and they did well in rendering unto God the utmost possible tribute of adoration and thanksgiving.]
But, not to occupy our time with that which merely
concerned them, let us consider,
II. What reason we also have for similar expressions of joy- That Jesus is come to us, we can have no doubt.
We, therefore, have reason for more exalted joy;
because,
1 . The evidences of his Messiahship are to us more
clear —
[We have all the same evidences that they had ; except that they saw the miracles with their eyes, whilst we only hear of them by the report of others. Yet, when that report is duly considered, it will be found not a whit less satisfactory than ocular demonstration. Besides, we have an evidence which they could not have ; an evidence far surpassing all other ; namely, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ himself from the dead. On this, Jesus had, from the very beginning, rested the whole weight and evidence of his pretensions : " Destroy this temple; and in three days I will raise it up again." This, we are told, " he spake respecting his body," which he would raise from the grave the third daye. Knowing, therefore, that he has accomplished this, we can have no doubt who He is, or that he is " declared to be the Son of God with power, by his resurrection from the deadf."]
2. The nature of his kingdom is, by us, more fully- understood —
[They, not excepting even his own Apostles, had an idea of a temporal Messiah, who should deliver them from the Roman yoke, and exalt their nation to greater power and splendour than ever they enjoyed even in the days of Solomon g. But we know, that his kingdom is spiritual; and that he is come to deliver us from sin and Satan, death and hell. We have indeed in ourselves an evidence of his power. We know what it is to have " his kingdom set up within us ;" to have both his enemies and ours bruised under our feet ; and to be " brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God." We, therefore, have proportion ably greater reason to rejoice ; because the benefits which we are taught to look for are so far beyond all that they had any conception of.]
• John ii. 19—22. * Rom. i. 4. * Acts i. 6.