It is still the risen, living, and coming Christ. Notice, "Because I live, ye shall live also," are His precious words in John 14. With Him we are "in safeguard," indeed, as David told one of his trembling followers.

As certainly as He lives on the other side of death, so shall each and all of His beloved and believing people. For He is their life. Hence we read in Hebrews 7:25, "He ever lives to make intercession for us." Such is the present activity of His life in glory-- our High Priest and Intercessor.

"He that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." Oh! there is succour, sympathy, care, consideration, love in that tender heart up there on the throne! He has felt our pangs; He has shed our tears; He has known our sorrows; He was made like us in all things but sin; He calls us His brethren. He is the star and sun of the Christian life!

A creed, a rule, a form, a system, a kingdom, a heaven! Oh, more, infinitely more is our living, loving, tender, holy, faithful Lord! It is everlasting life!

No marvel that Paul could write of and crave for "the surpassingness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord" (Philippians 3:8). It surpasses and eclipses all beside.

This knowledge is no fable, nor myth, nor imagination. The Christ of God and of Christianity is a living Person-- truly God and truly Man-- the Son of the Father, the Redeemer of men, the risen, glorified Lord and Head of the church, who appeared once to put away sin by His own sacrifice, who is coming shortly to call His own to be for ever with Him in the Father's house-- those whom He loves to the end, and who will appear again in judgment and power and glory.

Beloved, it is ours today, during His rejection, to learn His personal worth-- to set our hearts on this one thing, so that we may bear the stamp of Christ upon us in the reproduction, in our poor frail bodies, of His beautiful life of love and holiness.