Ezekiel 46:10 - Homiletics

The Prince in the midst of them.

The center of the glory of restored Israel was to be found in her prince. No prince appeared, however, who was able to accomplish the expectations of prophecy until the advent of Jesus Christ. He is "the Prince in the midst of his people."

I. CHRIST IS THE PRINCE OF HIS PEOPLE .

1. He is one of them . The Jew's Prince was a Jew, not a foreigner. Christ is "the Firstborn among many brethren." He is a true Man, the Son of man. He has been over the Christian course, and has himself lived the pattern Christian life.

2. He is their Head . Christ stoops to save, but he rises again to rule. Even during his earthly humiliation he plainly took the lead among his disciples. Now he is seated on his throne in heaven, reigning over his Church.

II. CHRIST IS IN THE MIDST OF HIS PEOPLE . During his earthly ministry he dwelt among men. Unlike John the Baptist, who retired to the solitude of the wilderness and to whom people had to come by leaving their homes, Jesus went about through the towns and villages of Israel, eating and drinking with all sorts and conditions of men. Although he is no longer visible, we have his assurance that he will be always with his true disciples ( Matthew 28:20 ). Christ does not simply visit his people in moments of great need; he is always with them. He does not select some choice followers for his companionship, to the neglect of the great body of his people, like a prince who enjoys himself with his courtiers and takes little or no notice of the bulk of the nation. Jesus is in the midst of his people, right in the center of the population of the kingdom of heaven.

III. CHRIST ENTERS INTO HIS PEOPLE 'S WORSHIP . When the people go in, i.e. to the temple, the Prince shall go in. The Prince must worship with his people. Prince and peasant must bow together before their common Lord. Every purely human prince needs to confess his sins as a penitent and to utter the publican's prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" Christ the sinless cannot take part in our confession except by sympathy. But he is with us throughout our worship. Christian worship at its highest is communion with Christ. In that most sacred act of worship, the Lord's Supper, we seek especially for the living presence of Christ. For surely every Protestant must admit that there is a real Presence—not in the bread or wine—but in the hearts of Christ's worshipping people.

IV. CHRIST GOES WITH HIS PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD . When the people go forth their Prince is to accompany them. It would be sad if Christ only met his people in their worship. He is more needed in work, in temptation, in trouble. Christ is with us in the world as well as in the Church. He does not confine his sympathy to ecclesiastical circles. But when we have some hard task to accomplish or some severe trial to face his presence may be especially looked for. The good leader will be in the thick of the fight, cheering his soldiers just where the battle is hottest. Our Captain of salvation accompanies us in the holy war against sin. If courage fails, this should be our cheering thought—the Prince is in the midst of us!