C H Spurgeon
(From ‘The Sword and the Trowel’ Issue 1, January 1865. Originally published as ‘What shall be done for Jesus?’ This article has been abridged.)
What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?
Esther 6:6
The wicked schemes of Haman were overruled to the honour of Mordecai, to the safety of the Jewish people, and to the glory of God. So will the devices of evil always be turned by the Most High to the promotion of good.
Satan has a great scheme in hand for the dethroning of King Jesus, but as yet, he has only made him to be the more exalted among men. All the stratagems and subterfuges of the enemy have been rendered subservient to the greater glory of the Mighty One, and to the fulfilment of the divine decrees.
So will it be to the end, and we shall see, in looking back from the starry heights of Heaven, how all the cruel malice and crafty subtilty of the serpent have been frustrated by infinite wisdom, and overruled by divine love.
The words at the head of this article may, without violence, be applied to our Lord Jesus. He alone of mortal men it is, of whom it may be said, that “the king”—Jehovah—“delighteth to honour” him.
Mordecai had done some service to the Persian state, but our Jesus has done infinitely more for us; and the Eternal King, who never slumbers nor sleeps, puts to us this question—“What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?”
What has the King himself done?
Christ honoured in election
God the Father has honoured the Son in every work of grace. In the decree of election, the Eternal Father chose his people, but he chose them “in Christ”. He made “the man Christ Jesus” the head of election. Watts has well sung—
“Christ be my first elect,” he said,
Then chose our souls in Christ our Head.
“According” says the apostle “as he hath chosen us in him from before the foundation of the world.”
Christ honoured in redemption
When did the prophets speak most evangelically or most sweetly? When did they dart bright flashes of light through the thick darkness of their times? Surely it was only when they spoke of him who bore our transgressions, and by whose stripes we are healed.
In the great work of redemption, God has honoured Christ, by laying our help upon him alone, as upon “one that is mighty”. He has “exalted one chosen out of the people”.
He trod the winepress alone, and of the people there was none with him. In redemption there is but one price, found in one hand, paid by one Redeemer: that price the precious blood, found in the veins of the Saviour, and paid down by him upon the accursed tree.
Christ honoured in every work of grace
In every other act of grace the design of the King is to honour the Lord Jesus. You cannot taste the sweetness of any doctrine till you have remembered Christ’s connection with it.
You are washed from every sin, but how? You have washed your robes, and “made them white in the blood of the Lamb”.
You are sumptuously arrayed from head to foot: are you not robed in the righteousness of your Lord Jesus Christ?
Up to this moment you have been preserved, but how? “Preserved in Christ Jesus.”
The Holy Spirit is the author of your sanctification, but what has been the instrument by which he has purified you? He has cleansed you by the water which flowed with the blood from the wounds of the expiring Saviour.
Our eternal life is sure; because he lives, we shall live also. We shall behold the face of God with transport and delight, because he has gone up to prepare a place for us.
The Father has studiously linked every Gospel privilege and every boon of the new covenant with the person of Jesus Christ, that in blessing you he might at the same time honour his own dear Son.
“Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.” He shall be the King’s almoner to the poor and needy, and the golden pipe through which streams of mercy shall flow to all his saints.
Christ honoured in his offices
The King, Jehovah, has honoured the Redeemer by the many offices which he has conferred upon him. Time would fail us to mention all these, but the three chief will suffice.
He is the prophet of his people. The Lord has given him “the tongue of the learned”; grace is poured into his lips; upon him the Spirit rests without measure, so that “never man spake like this man”.
He is “a prophet mighty in word and in deed”. With bowed heads the goodly fellowship of the prophets declare that he is peerless among them.
He is also a priest. God has been pleased to gird him with the Urim and Thummim, and to put the ephod of his pure mortality upon him. At the altar he stands to offer up his spotless and acceptable sacrifice.
At this moment he intercedes for us, being “a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek”. Why is he a priest, but that he may be honoured in his sacrifice and intercession?
He is king by right divine: as man he is “King of the Jews”; his kingdom shall stretch from shore to shore, and of his dominion there shall be no end.
“Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all.” Angels, prostrate yourselves before him! He was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, but now is he crowned with glory and honour.
“It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell”, and he is the head over all things to the church, which is his body.
The honours of Mordecai illustrate the honours of Christ
As the subject is boundless, we may illustrate it by the honours of Mordecai.
Is not Jesus apparelled with the King’s raiment? What splendour has God which Christ has not?
The chosen man was honoured to ride upon the king’s horse, and this is true of Christ our Lord. Do you not see him as he rides forth in the Gospel, conquering and to conquer? It is the power of the Eternal King whereon Jesus rides to victory.
The preaching of the Gospel is not mere man’s talk; it is Christ riding on his white horse, going forth conquering and to conquer.
Think not because we stammer that Christ falters. Dream not because we go to our beds lamenting that few have ‘‘believed our report”, that Christ is therefore defeated, or shall lose the travail of his soul.
See you not the Lord Jesus riding through the streets of this world this very day? Albeit that his servants have been persecuted and hunted about like partridges upon the mountains; yet, we see Christ riding on, despite his enemies, in brave tranquillity, from the day of his ascension even until now.
The honoured man was to be crowned with the crown-royal. Jesus Christ is proclaimed “King of kings, and Lord of lords”.
The head that once was crowned with thorns,
Is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns
The mighty victor’s brow.
Before this honoured man, proclamation was commanded to be made—“Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.”
Bow, then, before him, for unto him “every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that he is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
What shall we do?
Shall not we do something for King Jesus? Has he filled our house with hearers, and increased our church with converts, and shall we not do something in gratitude to him?
Many of you are already engaged in earnest and faithful labours, but there are some of you who have need to ask yourselves the question—“What shall I do for that glorious Saviour whom the King delighteth to honour? What shall be my tribute of gratitude to the Son of God for all that he has done for me?”
We want, especially when we are seeking a revival of religion in our midst—we want now to answer this question: What do we intend to do as a church for Christ Jesus, “whom the king delighteth to honour”? Let me answer briefly.
Believe him
Christ is always very pleased with his people’s faith. Beloved, confide in him. Tell him your troubles. Pour out your hearts before him.
Trust the merit of his blood, the power of his arm, the love of his heart. There is no box of precious ointment whose smell will more delight him than your simple, unwavering faith.
Love him
He is a God of love: if you would give him something choice, show him your love. Let your heart go after him, and with the arms of your love embrace him.
Say in your soul’s silent language, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for thy love is better than wine.” Give him, then, the choice jewel of your heart.
Love the brethren
He loves the saints; show your love to them. Forgive any who have offended you; help those who need your aid; comfort those who are bowed down; lift up the fallen; strengthen the faint-hearted; do good unto all men, but specially to such as are of the household of faith.
You give to Christ when you give to his poor and needy people.
Labour for souls
Christ has a hunger after souls. He yearns for the souls of men and women; labour, therefore, to bring souls to him. You cannot save sinners. but you may be the instrument of leading them to him.
There are no better brilliants which you can give your Master than your own children brought in the hands of prayer and faith, to be consecrated to his service. Nor let love end at home, but seek the good of all among whom you dwell.
Christ has been honoured by the Father, and he shall be honoured by his people. Let us close, then, by repeating the words we know so well:
“What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?”