This is the mystery. It is the same Jesus, Emmanuel, the Son, and yet the Kinsman of the seed of Abraham. And here I would say- for there is a call for it-I know we are not to con-found the natures in this glorious and blessed One. I fully bow in faith to the truth that the Sanctifier took part of flesh and blood. I avow with my whole soul the true humanity in His person; but it was not an imperfect humanity, in the condition or under the results of sin, in any wise. But I ask, with that, Is there not some unsuspected and yet real unbelief touching the mystery of the Person in the minds of many? Is the undividedness of the Person throughout all the periods and transitions of this glorious, mysterious history kept in the view of the soul? I would have grace to delight myself in the language of the Holy Ghost, and speak of "the Man Christ Jesus."The " Man " that is risen is declared to be the pledge of resurrection to us (i Cor. 15:21) The " Man " that is ascended is the great assurance to us that our interests are, every moment, before God in heaven (i Tim. 2:5).The "Man" to return from heaven by and by will be the security and joy of the coming kingdom (Ps. 8:).The mystery of the "Man,"-obedient, dead, raised, ascended, and returned, thus sustains, we may say, the whole counsel of God. But still, again I say, the Person in its undividedness is to be kept in the view of the soul. " The perfect and complete work of Christ in every act of His office, in all that He did, in all that He suffered, in all that He continueth to do, is the act and work of His whole person."Yea, indeed, and His whole Person was on the cross, as everywhere else. The Person was the sacrifice, and in that Person was the Son, '' over all, God blessed forever." He "gave up the ghost," though He died under God's judgment against sin, and though He was by the hands of wicked men crucified and slain. And this is an infinite mercy.

It was Himself, beloved, from first to last. He trod the mysterious way Himself, though He trod it unaided and alone. None other than He, " God manifest in the flesh," could have been there. The Son became the Lamb for the altar here; and then the Lamb that was slain reached the place of glory, far above all heavens. It is the Person which gives efficacy to all. Services would be nothing; sorrows would be nothing; death, resurrection, and ascension, all would be nothing (could we conceive them), if Jesus were not the one He is. His Person is the "Rock;" therefore "His work is perfect" (Deut. 32:4). It is the mystery of mysteries. But He is not presented for our discussion, but for our apprehension, faith, confidence, love and worship.

Extract from "The Son of God" by J. G. B.