The Beauty of Jesus by Charles Spurgeon

Song of Solomon, Chapter 5, Verse 16

Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend.

The soul that has been awakened by grace, drawn by the Spirit, and brought to behold the Lord Jesus through the eyes of faith, cannot help but echo this exclamation, Yes, he is altogether lovely. In every aspect of His person, every office He holds, every work He performs, and every word He speaks, Jesus is infinite in loveliness. The redeemed heart, taught by the Spirit, finds no flaw in Him and no rival to Him.

Consider the beauty of His person. He is fully God and fully man, God manifest in the flesh. In Him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily. He is the brightness of the Father's glory, the exact representation of His being. And yet He is tender and lowly, gentle and accessible. The glory of His majesty does not drive sinners away, it draws them near. The same hand that upholds the universe was stretched out to touch lepers and lift fallen sinners.

His character is equally lovely. His holiness is not austere, but beautiful. His righteousness is not harsh, but winsome. He was full of grace and truth, never compromising either. In Him, mercy and justice meet. He never turned away the penitent, never coddled the proud, never failed to glorify His Father. His every motive was pure. His every word was true. His every act was love.

The beauty of Jesus shines most in His sin-atoning sacrifice. He gave Himself for us. It was the grandest display of self-sacrificing love the world has ever seen. At the cross we behold the perfection of His grace and justice, meeting in breathtaking harmony. There is no beauty like the beauty of a bleeding Savior. none so lovely as He who was scorned, despised, and crucified for us. Would you know the sweetness of Christ? Come near to Him, look into His wounds, sit beneath His cross, and ponder His dying love for you.

The beauty of His work is beyond comparison. Who else but the Son of God would willingly humble Himself to the death of the cross? Who else could bear the full weight of God's wrath and yet cry, it is finished? He loved his people to the uttermost. He purchased them with his own blood. He rose in triumph, intercedes with compassion, and will one day return in glory. His beauty never fades. Unlike the passing charm of earthly things, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The more He is known, the more He is loved. The more He is seen, the more He is desired. The more He is worshipped, the more the soul cries, Show me more of Jesus. The longer we walk with Jesus, the more His beauty unfolds, dazzling us anew with His mercy, wisdom, and power.

Beloved, take time today to meditate on the matchless beauty of Jesus. Look into His heart of love, His hand of power, His crown of glory. In each of these, He is altogether lovely.

Let us then join the voice of the Bride in Song of Solomon. This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend. Not merely a doctrine, not merely a Savior, but our Beloved, the One our souls love, the One who has loved us with an everlasting love. Let us gaze upon Him with adoring hearts, worship Him with reverent love, and long for that day when we shall see Him as He is and be with Him forever.

Lord Jesus, You are the altogether lovely One. Captivate my heart with Your beauty. Help me to know You more clearly, love You more deeply, and follow You more closely. Amen.