Reading: “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”—Hebrews 9:16–17
Here the Holy Ghost shows the necessity of Jesus’ death, in order that the testament, or will, He left, might have the intended effect: that all the benefits and blessings might be fully paid and made over to them. As a man makes his will, so Jesus made His, and as a man must die before his will can be put in force, so Jesus must die before His testament or will might have the full effect also. But there is one more sweet point to be taken into account, in which Jesus has infinitely surpassed all men.
When a man dies, he appoints an executor, to whom he must trust the management of all his effects after his decease; and should his executor prove unfaithful, his best designs may all fail when he is dead. Now here lies the sweetness of Jesus’ will; He not only made the will, but He Himself will see it fully executed; for as He died once, in order that by His death His will might be confirmed, so He ever lives to see the whole of His blessed gifts and legacies paid out to His people.
How sure then is Jesus’ will, and the certainty of every item of it being fulfilled. Recollect, that when men make their wills, it is to dispose of their effects to their relations and friends. Jesus also has His relations, His friends—His family. Yes, our dear Lord condescended to call His people His spouse, brethren, children, jewels, redeemed. Reader, do you claim relationship to Jesus? Can you prove, or have you proved His will? If you are His child and a joint-heir with Christ, you may safely look for His gifts. Surely Jesus has remembered you in His legacies, and oh, what an inventory you will find, what gifts, what an inheritance—all temporal blessings, all spiritual blessings, all eternal blessings!
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