Father, Glorify Thy Name!
Christ's life and death were primarily motivated by the desire to glorify God's name.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that Christ's ultimate purpose in His death was not merely to save humanity, but to glorify the Father's name. He illustrates how Jesus' sacrifice showcases God's attributes of justice, wisdom, and love, all perfectly displayed in the atonement. Spurgeon highlights that the glory of God is the chief end of Christ's mission, and that each divine attribute shines without overshadowing the others. The sermon reflects on the profound significance of Christ's resolve to fulfill His purpose, even amidst inner turmoil, to ensure that God's name is exalted. Ultimately, Spurgeon calls believers to recognize and appreciate the multifaceted glory of God revealed through Christ's sacrifice.
Text
Why is Christ resolved to die? Is it to save men? Yes, but not as the chief reason. His first prayer is not, "Father, save my people," but "Father, glorify thy name." The glory of God was the chief end and object of our Savior's life and death. It is that the Father's name may be illustrious that Jesus would have souls redeemed. His passion had for its main intent the exhibition of the attributes of God. And, brethren, how completely he has glorified Jehovah's name! Upon the cross we see the divine justice in the streaming wounds of the great Substitute: for the Son of God must needs die when sin is laid upon him. There also you behold infinite wisdom, for what but infallible wisdom could have devised the way whereby God might be just and yet the justifier of him that believeth. There, too, is love, rich, free, boundless love - never so conspicuous as in the death of man's Redeemer.
Till this day it still remains a question concerning the atonement which of the letters best is writ, the justice, the wisdom, or the love. In the atonement the divine attributes are all so perfectly glorified that no one crowds out the other: each one has its full display without in the least degree diminishing the glory of any other. Our blessed Lord, that the Father might be glorified, pushed on to the end which he had set before him. Whatever conflict might be within his spirit, his heart was fixed upon bearing to the death our load, and suffering to the end our penalty.
From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled "A Golden Prayer," delivered December 30, 1877.
Sermon Outline
- The Chief End of Christ's Life and Death
- The Attributes of God
- The Atonement
- A perfect display of the divine attributes
- No one attribute crowds out the other
- Rich, Free, Boundless Love
Key Quotes
“His first prayer is not, 'Father, save my people,' but 'Father, glorify thy name.'” — C.H. Spurgeon
“There also you behold infinite wisdom, for what but infallible wisdom could have devised the way whereby God might be just and yet the justifier of him that believeth.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“There, too, is love, rich, free, boundless love - never so conspicuous as in the death of man's Redeemer.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should prioritize glorifying God's name in our lives, just as Christ did.
- The atonement is a perfect display of God's attributes, including justice, wisdom, and love.
- We can trust in God's infinite wisdom and love, as demonstrated in the atonement.