|
Headnote to Is. 53:10(a) [pending]
Jonathan Edwards sketched out this sermon,
dated around Aug. 1731-Dec. 1732.
Edwards
identifies Is. 53:10 with the Father pronouncing that Christ’s suffering will
be successful, and to which he shall give Christ the reward of seeing his
beloved church converted and brought to him.
Edwards penned
this Christocentric sermon within the frame work of the Covenant of Redemption.
The Christology focuses on one of the inward motivations for Christ’s
sufferings. “Christ has so set his love upon men, that the seeing this sight
[of men saved] is what he earnestly desired and greatly delights in.”
Some points of
interest are found when J.E. mentions Luke 22:29, “I appoint unto you a
kingdom, as my Father hath
appointed unto me,” along with other verses to show that Christ was subject to
God as mediator for he first volunteered so in the covenant of redemption. Edwards also mentions this verse in
miscellanies 1064 to show that Christ also entered into a Covenant of Grace
with the church writing, “the parties contracting in the covenant of
redemption are the Father and the Son, but the parties contracting in the
covenant of grace, Christ and believers, is what seems to be taught in that
Luke 22:29, "καγω διατιθεμαι υμιν καθως διεθετο μοι ο πατηρ μου βασιλειαν,
I do by covenant dispose unto you a kingdom, as my father by covenant disposed
unto me." For the word διατιθεμαι properly signifies to covenant, or make
a contract or testament, or to appoint or dispose by covenant or testament. This
is the word used, Acts 3.25, "Ye are the children of the prophets and of
the covenant which God made (διαθησομαι) with our fathers." So Hebrews
8:10, "This is the covenant I will make (διαθησομαι) with the house of
Israel." Therefore, the noun διαθηκη that comes of this verb signifies
covenant, which is the word translated "covenant" in the New
Testament.”
Furthermore, from
the framework of the Trinity in miscellanies 1062 Edwards also speaks how the father
not only is a judge of Christ in their covenant but likewise a giver of rewards.
He writes, “the whole tenor of the gospel holds this forth: that the Son acts
altogether freely, and as in his own right, in undertaking the great and
difficult and self-abasing work of our redemption, and that he becomes obliged
to the Father with respect to it by voluntary covenant engagements, and not by
any establishment prior thereto; so that he merits infinitely of the Father in
entering into and fulfilling these engagements. …From which engagements of the Son
the Father acquires a new right of headship and authority over the Son, to
command him and prescribe to him and rule over him as his proper lawgiver and
judge; and the Father also comes under new obligation to the Son, to give him
such success, rewards, etc.”
In Doctrine
Edwards explains two propositions. The first being that “God the Father
promised Jesus Christ a reward, if he would undertake to suffer for us,” and
J.E. expounds on this through a rising succession of questions and answers regarding
the covenant of redemption. The second proposition
laid forth is, “this is a part {of the reward that God promised him for his
sufferings}," and here J.E. explores this with a second set of rising set of
questions and answers centering on Christ’s love for the persons he died for so
that it is his love for them that having them is the reward. Staying on this
theme of Christ’s love for the elect J.E. ends the doctrine with the escalating
encouragement that “Christ doth as it were adorn himself with believers, as the
high priest was adorned with the precious stones.”
In Application we
are encouraged with several meditative and earnest responses for unbelievers and
believers, crescendoing with a special plea for believers to rejoice with
Christ when sinners are converted since they are united to him, for “it should
rejoice our hearts: for Christ herein has his rewards for his suffering.”
*
* * * *
Transcribed, edited & Headnote provided
by:
Jonathan
Edwards Center @ Yale University (http://edwards.yale.edu/),
Kenneth
Minkema,
Oshea
Davis.
2012
For
permission use see the Jonathan Edwards Center website: http://edwards.yale.edu/copyright
|
