But I shall go still further.  I shall go away from earth into the other world.  I shall summon the angels and ask what they think of Christ.  They saw Him in the bosom of the Father before the world was.  Before the dawn of creation, before the morning stars sang together, He was there.  They saw Him leave the throne and come down to the manger.  What a scene for them to witness!  Ask these heavenly beings what they thought of Him then.  For once they are permitted to speak; for once the silence of heaven is broken.  Listen to their song on the plains of Bethlehem, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”  He leaves the throne to save the world.  Is it a wonder the angels thought well of Him?

Then there are the redeemed saints—­they that see Him face to face.  Here on earth He was never known, no one seemed really to be acquainted with Him; but He was known in that world where He had been from the foundation.  What do they think of Him there?  If we could hear from heaven we should hear a shout which would glorify and magnify His name.  We are told that when John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and being caught up, he heard a shout around him, ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands and thousands of voices, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing!” Yes, He is worthy of all this.  Heaven cannot speak too well of Him.  Oh, that earth would take up the echo and join with heaven in singing, “Worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing!”

But there is still another witness, a higher still.  Some think that the God of the Old Testament is the Christ of the New.  But when Jesus came out to Jordan, baptized by John, there came a voice from heaven.  God the Father spoke.  It was His testimony to Christ:  “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  Ah, yes!  God the Father thinks well of the Son.  And if God is well pleased with Him, so ought we to be.  If the sinner and God are well pleased with Christ, then the sinner and God can meet.  The moment you say, as the Father said, “I am well pleased with Him,” and accept Him, you are wedded to God.  Will you not believe the testimony?  Will you not believe this witness, this last of all, the Lord of hosts, the King of kings himself?  Once more he repeats it, so that all may know it.  With Peter and James and John, on the mount of transfiguration, He cries again, “This is my beloved Son; hear him.”  And that voice went echoing and reechoing through Palestine, through all the earth from sea to sea; yes, that voice is echoing still, Hear Him!  Hear Him!