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(Text and Matthew 3:16, 17; Matthew 17:5): —

I. THE THREE TESTIMONIES.

1. When the voices were heard —

(1) In relation to Christ's personal ministry.

(a) The first at the commencement of His public ministry.

(b) The second some little time after its central point.

(c) The last just before its close. How cheering at the beginning of a great enterprise to have God's testimony that He has sent you; how encouraging when the labour is heavy and the spirit faint to receive another affirming word; but best of all to have it when we are about to depart.

(2) In relation to His life and enterprise.

(a) The first celestial witness was given after He had lived for thirty years in obscurity. It was meet when He first appeared that there should be some token that He was what He professed to be. It came also before the temptation, for which there could not be a better forearming. So with us: before temptation, spiritual sustenance.

(b) The second was when our Lord (according to Luke) was about to send out other seventy disciples. Before extending His agencies of mercy He received a token for good. When the Lord calls us to wider service; let us go up into the mountain to pray, and there too we may expect to enjoy the comforting and strengthening witness of the Spirit.

(c) The third came just before His sufferings and death. It was meet that the Sufferer who must tread the winepress alone should receive a word meeting the point about which His soul was most concerned, viz., God's glory.

(3) In relation to His habits.

(a) The first came when He was in the attitude of obedience — "fulfilling all righteousness." When you are in the path of filial obedience you may expect the Spirit to bear witness with yours that you are born of God.

(b) The second came when He was in devout retirement. He had gone up into the mountain alone, and when you are there you may expect to receive Divine testimonies.

(c) The third came when about Isis work, preaching in the Temple. If you are called to any form of service, under no pretext neglect it, or you may lose the inward witness.

2. To whom the attestations were given.

(1) To an increasing number of persons. The first to John alone; the second to five; the last to many. God's testimony to Christ is an ever growing one.

(2) It was given in this wise.

(a) The first to the greatest of men, yet the voice revealed a greater than he.

(b) The second to the best of men, but the voice bear witness to a better.

(c) The third in the holiest place, and there it testified to a holier. Jesus is everywhere magnified beyond all others.

3. To what God bore testimony.

(1) The first was to Christ's miraculous origin: "This is My beloved Son."(2) The second sealed His appointment as the Great Prophet — "Hear Him."(3) The third bore witness to the success of His work — "I have glorified it," etc. Some have thought that the three voices attested our Lord in His threefold office.

(a) John came proclaiming the kingdom, and Jesus was in His baptism proclaimed the chief of the new kingdom.

(b) On the second occasion, "Hear Him," ordained Him the Prophet of the people.

(c) In the third He was owned as Priest. Is this threefold witness received in your hearts the testimony of God, who cannot lie. Behold Christ well pleasing to the Father; let Him be well pleasing to you. Hear Him proclaimed as God's beloved; let Him be the beloved of your hearts. Hear the testimony that He has glorified God, and remember that His further glorifying God depends in some measure on you.

4. How were these testimonies given?

(1) On the first occasion the heavens were opened and the Spirit descended. What if this proclaims to us that by His obedience our Lord procured the opening of heaven for us that our prayers might go up and our blessings come down!

(2) Heaven was not beheld as opened the second time — the overshadowing cloud represented the Mediatorship of Christ veiling the excessive brightness of the Godhead.

(3) In the third our mind rests neither upon the opening of heaven nor on the cloud, but on the voice. The opening of heaven and the interposition of a Mediator are but means to the great end of glorifying God. Let this one great object absorb all our souls.

5. What was it that was spoken?

(1) The first time the heavenly voice preached the gospel, "This is My beloved Son," etc. The gospel is tidings concerning a blessed person, and His acceptableness as the chosen of God, and of the Divine pleasure with those who are "in" Him.

(2) The second time the voice uttered the great command, "Hear Him." Salvation does not come by seeing, as Romanists have it. Faith cometh by hearing, and not the doctrines of men, even such as Moses and Elias, but Him.

(3) On the third occasion testimony was given to the gospel's result. It is through the gospel that God is glorified.

II. INSTRUCTIVE CIRCUMSTANCES CONNECTED WITH THESE TESTIMONIES.

1. On each occasion Jesus was in prayer. Learn that if any would have God speak comfortably to him, he must speak to God in prayer.

2. Each time His sufferings were prominently before Him. John, at the waters of Jordan, said, "Behold the Lamb," etc. On Tabor Moses and Elias spoke of His decease. In the Temple His soul was troubled at the prospect of His death. Learn, then, if you desire to see the glory of Christ, as attested of the Father, you must dwell much on His death.

3. Each time He was honouring the Father. In His baptism by obedience, on the mountain by devotion, in the Temple His very words were, "Glorify Thy name." If you would see God's glory and hear His voice you must honour Him. Conclusion: Receive these testimonies.

1. With assured conviction.

2. With profound reverence.

3. With unconditional obedience.

4. With joyful confidence.

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

WEB: Father, glorify your name!" Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."