Henry Martyn on Union with Christ

‘Union with Christ’ is one of my favorite Bible doctrines – at least, it has quickly become so since I seriously started thinking about it several months ago. It is a doctrine that is profoundly Biblical and thoroughly practical. I wrote before on how this topic explains the Christian’s righteousness. It was powerfully illustrated to me several weeks ago.

I was reading a biography of Henry Martyn, a missionary to India who died at the age of 31. He traveled to Persia (modern Iran) to translate the Scripture. In his journal, he recounted an incident in Persia that reminds us what it means, practically, to be ‘united with Christ.’

“Mirza Seid Ali told me accidentally, today, of a distich [a poetic couplet] made by his friend…in honour of a victory obtained by Prince Abbas Mirza over the Russians. The sentiment was, that he had killed so many of the Christians, that Christ, from the fourth heaven, took hold of Mohammed’s skirt to entreat him to desist. I was cut to the soul at this blasphemy. In prayer I could think of nothing else but that great day when the Son of God shall come in the clouds of heaven, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and convincing men of all their hard speeches which they have spoken against Him.”

“Mirza Seid Ali perceived that I was considerably disordered, and was sorry for having repeated the verse; but asked what it was that was so offensive. I told him that ‘I could not endure existence if Jesus was not glorified – it would be hell to me, if he were to be always thus dishonoured.’ He was astonished, and again asked, why? ‘If anyone pluck out your eyes,’ I replied, ‘there is no saying why you feel pain – it is feeling. It is because I am one with Christ that I am thus dreadfully wounded.'”

Union with Christ means that Christ identifies deeply with us. He identifies with our sufferings. He was tempted like us. He intercedes for us. But there is more to this doctrine. Because we are united with Christ, we begin to identify with Him. We identify with his sufferings and we yearn for his glory. If Christ was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5), we can learn to say to our Lord, like David, “the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.”

This is what it means to be united with Christ. It is not only a theological doctrine. It is also a practical, life-altering way of identifying ourselves fully with Jesus Christ.