In this figurative prediction he intimated,
1. That his own body was typically represented by the temple —
[Both were formed, the one by man, and the other by God himself, as a residence for the Deity a; and in both God vouchsafed to dwell: in the one symbolically, by a visible cloud; in the other really, personally, bodily, even in all his fulness b ]
2. That they would in due time destroy it —
[His words are not to be construed as a command or advice, but simply as a prediction. He knew what they would do : he knew " what his heavenly Father had determined before to be done :" he knew what he had undertaken both to do and suffer for us : and he frequently, from his very first entrance on his ministry to the close of it, foretold the precise manner of his death, together with the various circumstances which should accompany it ]
3. That he, by his own power, would raise it up again in three days —
[" He had power to lay down his life, and power to take it again :" and he declared that he would put forth this power to the confusion of all his enemies. He fixed the time of his resurrection, agreeably to the predictions of the prophets concerning it; a time amply sufficient for ascertaining the reality of his death, though not sufficient for his body to contract any corruption. On the accomplishment of this prophecy he rested all his pretensions to the Messiahship ; and by it he would prove, that " he was indeed the very Christ" ]
The accomplishment of this event need not at this time to be insisted on : it is more to our purpose to shew,
II. How it proved his Divine authority —
We are told that Christ " was declared to be the Son of God with power by his resurrection from the dead." If it be asked, How did his resurrection prove his Messiahship ? we answer,
1. No impostor would rest his pretensions on such an appeal as this —
[An impostor would rather confirm his authority by an appeal to something which he might accomplish in his
* Heb. viii. 2. t> Col. ii. 9.
1607.] Christ's messiahship proved. 243
life-time, in order that his credit might be raised, and his hands be strengthened for the furtherance of his designs. At all events, he would not found his hopes of success on a matter so entirely out of the reach of all human power, where the failure might be so easily, so speedily, so demonstrably ascertained : to do this would be to counteract all his own wishes, and to expose himself and his adherents to utter contempt. Such conduct would be perfect madness : and therefore we cannot suppose that our blessed Lord, who on all occasions manifested such consummate wisdom, could have pursued it. Had he been an impostor, he would at least have selected some other test, more within the bounds of credibility, and less open to detection.]
2. Supposing such an appeal made in support of an imposture, God would never work a miracle to sanction and confirm it —
[That God has permitted wonderful things to be wrought by liars and impostors, is certain : but he has at the same time afforded means for discovering the imposture ; or rather, he has permitted those very wonders for the purpose of mani- festing his own superior power, and confirmed thereby the faith of his people, whilst his enemies were hardened in their own wilful delusions0. But in raising up Jesus from the dead, he has not only given us no contrary testimony to counteract the impression, but has left us no room for doubt. This must have been done by himself alone : none but an Almighty power could effect it. On this one point the whole weight of our Lord's pretensions rested. Our Lord was willing to be thought an impostor, if this miracle were not wrought in his favour. What shall we say then ? If God knew him to be an impostor, he himself interposed to give weight and efficacy to his impos- ture : he interposed to deceive his own people, and to blind the eyes of those who were most desirous to serve him aright. But can this be true ? Can we for a moment admit the thought ? The inference then is clear and undeniable ; that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world ]