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I. IT WAS CHRIST'S END IN EXECUTING HIS MEDIATORY OFFICE TO GLORIFY GOD.

1. What is it to glorify God? (Psalm 86:11; Revelation 4:11).

(1) Not to add glory to Him (Psalm 8:1; Psalm 106:2).

(2) But to declare the glory that is in Him (Matthew 5:16; Matthew 15:31; John 12:28; John 16:14).

2. This was Christ's end (John 7:18).

(1) Not His own glory (John 8:50; Hebrews 12:2).

(2) Not ultimately man's happiness (Philippians 1:11; Philippians 2:11), for —

(a)  God does all things for His own glory (Psalm 46:10; Proverbs 16:14).

(b)  All creatures are bound to glorify Him (Leviticus 10:3; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Peter 4:11).

(c)  His glory is the best end (Romans 11:36).

3. How did Christ glorify His Father? (John 14:13) —

(1) By declaring His holiness (ver. 11).

(2) By showing forth His praise (Matthew 11:25).

(3) By the works He did in His name (John 10:25; John 11:40).

(4) By the occasions He gave others to bless and praise God (Luke 17:18; Luke 18:43; Philippians 1:11).

(5) By teaching His disciples to ascribe all glory to Him (Matthew 6:13).

(6) By the holiness of His life (Matthew 5:16).

(7) By the manner of His death (John 21:19; Philippians 2:8, 11).

(8) By the conquest thereby obtained over the devil (Hebrews 2:14).

(9) By His glorious resurrection and ascension (Romans 1:4; Luke 24:51-53).

4. Uses —

(1) Comfort to believers, that their salvation is for God's glory (1 Timothy 2:4).

(2) Exhortation to follow Christ in glorifying God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

(a)  In your thoughts (Proverbs 12:5; Isaiah 55:7).

(b)  In your affections (Galatians 5:24; Colossians 3:2, 3).

(c)  In your words (James 3:6-9).

(d)  In your actions (1 Peter 2:12).

II. CHRIST HAS FINISHED THE WORK WHICH GOD GAVE HIM TO DO (John 4:34).

1. What was this work? The recovery of fallen man (1 Timothy 2:6).

(1) To this end the Father accepted Him as our ransom (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21).

(2) He, to capacitate Himself for this great work, assumed our nature and became man (John 1:14; 1 Timothy 1:15).

(3) Being thus made man, the Father exacted of Him (Isaiah 61:1-3; 1 Timothy 2:6) —

(a)  An entire obedience to His laws (Hebrews 7:26).

(b)  To undergo suffering for sin (Isaiah 53:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 2:9).

(4) By complying with such terms Christ ejected our redemption (Hebrews 4:15; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:30, 31).

2. How did Christ finish it?

(1) As to all sorts and kinds, He died and suffered (Philippians 2:8).

(2) As to all parts, everything required.

(3) As to all degrees, His obedience was perfect (1 Peter 2:22); and His sufferings were infinitely meritorious (1 John 2:2; Acts 20:28).

(4) As to all the times of obedience, He continued in all things (Galatians 3:10).

3. What benefits accrue to us hereby?

(1) We are redeemed from all evil (Isaiah 33:22; 1 Peter 3:13).

(a)  From the wrath of God (Romans 5:9).

(b)  From the power of Satan (John 16:11; 1 John 3:8).

(c)  From the prevalency of sin (Acts 3:26).

(d)  From the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13).

(e)  From eternal torments (Romans 8:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).

(2) Instatement in all good (Romans 8:32; 1 Corinthians 3:22).

(a)  In the love of God (Romans 5:1).

(b)  In a justified estate (Romans 3:24).

(c)  In the power of holiness (1 Peter 1:18).

(d)  In a title to eternal happiness (John 14:2).

III. WE, IN IMITATION OF CHRIST, OUGHT TO FINISH THE WORK WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN US TO DO (1 Peter 2:21; 1 Corinthians 11:1).

1. To glorify God.

(1) By acknowledging our dependence on Him, and honouring Him accordingly (Psalm 86:9).

(2) By discovering His glory and perfections one to another (Psalm 9:11).

(3) By blessing and praising Him (Psalm 86:12; Luke 5:25; 2 Corinthians 9:13).

(4) By confession of sins (1 John 1:9; Jeremiah 13:16).

(5) By a dedication of the whole man to Him (1 Corinthians 6:20).

(6) By being fruitful in holiness (John 15:8).

2. Why should we finish this work? This is the end —

(1) Of our coming into the world (Psalm 149:2; Proverbs 16:4; Revelation 4:11).

(2) Of our being endowed with rational souls capable of this work (Job 35:10, 11; Acts 17:26, 27).

(3) Of our preservation, and all the blessings we receive from Him (Acts 17:28; Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 107:8).

(4) Of all other works He enables us to do (Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 10:31).

(5) Of the gracious manifestations of His will to us (1 Peter 2:9).

(6) Of the glorious hope set before us (Colossians 1:27, 28; Hebrews 7:19).

3. How may we finish this work? We must celebrate —

(1) His omnipresence and omniscience by acknowledgement (Psalm 139:7, 8), by suitable behaviour (Psalm 16:8), by sincerity in all our ways (Job 11:11; 2 Corinthians 1:12).

(2) His omnipotence, by praying to Him (Ephesians 6:18), by depending on Him (Romans 4:20, 21), by fearing Him (John 4:24; Isaiah 8:13), and humbling ourselves before Him (Isaiah 2:10-12).

(3) His wisdom, by admiring it (Romans 11:33).

(4) His sovereignty by submitting to it (1 Samuel 3:18).

(5) His goodness, by loving Him (Deuteronomy 6:5), longing for Him (Psalm 42:1, 2), rejoicing in Him (Philippians 4:4).

(6) His veracity, by believing Him (1 John 5:10), and so with His other perfections, mercy, justice, spirituality, &c. Conclusion: Glorify God because —

1. He made you.

2. What you have He gave you.

3. He gave it for His glory.

4. The angels glorify Him.

5. He is highly offended in those who will not give Him glory (Malachi 2:2; Acts 12:23).

6. Glorify Him, and He will glorify you (1 Samuel 2:30).

(Bp. Beveridge.)

I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. Work: —

1. It is work that glorifies God.

2. Each one has his proper work assigned Him of God.

3. This work must be finished on earth.

4. To have finished this work is the most consolatory death-bed reflection.

(W. H. Van Doren, D. D.)

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KJV: I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

WEB: I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do.