Jonathon Edwards wrote of Jesus that, “The admirable conjunction of diverse excellencies,” is what makes Christ glorious to us in this age. Edwards didn’t just read that somewhere, as I did; he came to this conclusion as he pondered the person and work of Jesus Christ.

 

John Piper puts it this way, “We admire Christ for his transcendence, but even more because the transcendence of His greatness is mixed with submission to God.” The excellence of Christ is gloriously displayed in the fact of His incarnation, which is God the Son clothed in Human flesh. Yet, the glorious picture of His excellence comes into focus even more as we see Christ’s humility before the Father and service toward sinners.

 

One can see this conjunction of diverse excellencies also in the two coronations of Christ. The first humble coronation occurred when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey a week prior to His death. He came into the city with humility not to rule upon the throne but to die upon the altar. His majesty is such that to rule would be right, but his meekness was displayed instead as he rode to his death.

 

Lest, we lose sight of the end let me remind you that another coronation is coming for Jesus. In the Revelation we see that he will return to the earth and usher in the end of the age. He will no longer be seated humbly upon a donkey, but he will ride upon a white war horse. He is riding to take up the rule of what is rightly his own possession. At this time he will rule with a rod of iron and will, “Tread the winepress of the furious wrath of God the Almighty (Rev 19:15).”

 

But that day has not yet come and in this age we still see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We see the majesty of the Godhead clothed in humility extending grace to an unholy people. There will be a day when the conjunction of diverse excellencies gives way to the sovereign dominion over all things. And on that day the glorious excellencies of Christ will be fully revealed for all the world to see. Until that day comes let us think upon Christ and marvel at his mercy.

 

Today, let us wake up and ponder the excellencies of Christ.