Octavius Winslow

There is no beauty like Christ’s beauty. We might expect that such divine glory, if ever it tabernacled on earth—the world’s resplendent Shekinah¹ —would be enshrined in a temple in all respects worthy of its dignity. We therefore find language like this: “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me” (Heb 10:5). It was a body prepared by the Holy Spirit, of real, yet sinless flesh, in which the Son of God was to dwell. Hence, we find the inspired artist, in portraying Christ’s beauty as man, represents Him as “Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips” (Psa 45:2). Himself the source and author of all beauty, His own beauty eclipses all.

We love to trace the creations of His beauty in the varied and endless forms of loveliness that still linger, adorning and enriching this fallen world. Those bright constellations—Christ created them; those burning suns—Christ kindled them; those snow-wreathed Alps, those cloud-capped hills—Christ raised them; those verdant² valleys— Christ spread them; that blushing rose, that graceful lily, that exquisite fern, that curious sea-flower tossed upon the shore, that wayside violet that screens the dew-drop from the sun, that winding stream, that leafy grove—Christ formed and penciled it all! Christ clad that magnificent landscape with its robe of living green, scented the air with its fragrance, and hollowed out the depth of that expanding ocean dimpled³ with beauty by the gentle breeze or dreadful in its grandeur when trod by the giant storm. Truly, “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time” (Ecc 3:11). Oh! I delight to see the incarnate God, Who died to save, scattering from the opulence⁴ of His own boundless resources all this jewelry, making man’s sinful home so rich, so lovely, so attractive.

But His own beauty—who can describe it? His person so lovely, His nature so holy, His heart so fond, His spirit so gentle, His look so winning, His voice so soothing. His whole character, life, and demeanor so inlaid and resplendent with every human, spiritual, and divine perfection—truly, it was no imaginative picture, and it was no mere oriental imagery with which the church, in her just and lofty conception, described Him as “the chiefest among ten thousand” (Song 5:10) and “altogether lovely” (Song 5:16).

But Christ’s beauty is shared with all those who have union with Him. Washed in His blood, robed with His righteousness, and adorned with His graces, each believer is lovely through His loveliness put upon him. And there is more of wonder because there is more of God; there is more of beauty because there is more of Christ in that poor sinner who clings in penitence,⁵ faith, and love to the cross, looking up to God as a pardoned child, and pulsating with a life derived from the indwelling Spirit than in all this vast creation, enameled and sparkling with endless forms of loveliness.

Reader, has Christ’s beauty caught your eye, and penetrated your soul, transforming you—reflecting His image in your Christlike principles, your Christlike spirit, your Christlike walk, your whole Christlike life? Then, dim and imperfect as is the copy, before long, it will be complete, when you “shall see the king in his beauty” (Isa 33:17) and join the faultless throng who encircle the throne of God and the Lamb. Oh! then, be it your employment to contemplate, study, and reflect the beauty of Christ, for there is no beauty like His! “It is a finished portrait!” exclaimed an accomplished infidel, as the character of Christ was delineated to his view. It is a finished portrait—examine it, transfer it to yourself, and beware how you allow a creature’s beauty—a being of human loveliness and love to veil or shade a scintillation⁶ of Christ’s surpassing beauty from your eye.

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From None Like Christ (New York: Anson D. F. Randolph, 1868), 21-27, in the public domain.

Octavius Winslow (1808-1878): Prominent evangelical pastor and author; born in Pentonville, England, UK.

1. resplendent Shekinah – dazzling glory of God made visible to the human eye in the form of a radiant cloud of light. It first appeared in the Exodus as a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night (Exo 13:21-22). Later it covered Sinai (Exo 24:16), filled the Tabernacle (Exo 40:34-35), and filled the Temple (1Ki 8:11). Significantly, Ezekiel pictured its departure because of sin (Eze 10:18). After a long absence, the Shekinah glory reappeared in Christ at the transfiguration (Mat 17:5).
2. verdant – green with grass or other rich vegetation.
3. dimpled – marked with ripples.
4. opulence – great wealth.
5. penitence – repentance; regret for one’s sins.
6. scintillation – sparkle.