2. The Messenger of the Covenant
2
The Messenger of the Covenant1
The LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in.
—Malachi 3:1
Christ travels with tidings between the parties.2
1. He reports of God to us—that it is His Father’s will that we be saved (John 6:39).
2. Christ reports of Himself, for it sets3 Christ to be a broker4 for Himself and for Wisdom to cry in the streets, “Who will have me?” (Prov. 1:20–22; 9:1–5). It became5 the Lord Jesus to praise Himself: “I am that bread of life”; “I am the light of the world”; “I am the door”; and “I am the good shepherd” (John 6:48; 8:12; 10:9, 11).
3. He praises His Father: “My Father is the husbandman” (John 15:1).
4. He suits us in marriage and commends His Father, our Father-in-Law. “You marry me, dear souls. Oh, but my Father is a great person. In my Father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:2).
He commends us to the Father; a messenger making peace will do this. “They have received [thy words], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me” (John 17:8). “O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me” (John 17:25). Ministers cannot speak of Christ and His Father as He can Himself. Oh, come! Hear Christ, speak of Christ, and of His Father, and of heaven, for He saw all. O sweet believer! Christ gives you a good report in heaven; the Father and the Son are speaking of you behind backs. A good report in heaven is of much esteem; Christ spoke more good of you than you are worth. He tells over again Ephraim’s prayers behind his back (Jer. 31:18). Oh, woe to you when Christ is telling black tidings of you in heaven! Such a man will not believe in Me; he hates Me and My cause and My people. Christ cannot lie about any man.
1. Trial and Triumph, sermon 7, 77–78.
2. Earlier in the sermon, Rutherford explained that the two parties are God, and Christ the Mediator along with His children.
3. sets: is fitting for
4. broker: the middleman in a business transaction
5. became: was fitting for