Christ

Christ

Incomparable Carpenter
Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40 and Jesus for only 3 1/2 years. Yet the influence of Christ's ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined years of teaching from these greatest of philosophers.
Jesus painted no pictures, yet some of the finest artists such as Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him.
Jesus wrote no poetry, but Dante, Milton and scores of the world's greatest poets were inspired by Him.
Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the music they composed in His praise.
Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth. Would You?
Once there was a well-trained carpenter who never asked for union wages; who never owned a home that he could call his very own; a brilliant young teacher who never asked for an increase in salary; a great physician who healed the sick and afflicted and never asked whether they had Medicare or insurance; a good neighbor who always tried to show His love and was never unfriendly.
He traveled all over the country trying to help somebody everywhere He went; and often fed large numbers of people when He found them hungry whether they had money or not. He was so wrapped up in trying to help people that He often wept over their pitiful condition. Yet, they crucified Him, and some of the very people He tried to help joined the senseless mob who mocked Him and spit in His face!

He Gave Up His Place
When the government phased out its surplus commodity food program, one man went early to the last distribution to secure a place in line before the foodstuffs ran out.
A few hours later, he was near the door where the cheese, butter, dry milk and peanut butter were handed out. He saw a friend walking by and called him by name.
He knew the man. Neither his wife nor he had any work for some time. They had four children. The man confirmed that his prospects were poor.
The man in line knew the food would run out soon, but he told the unemployed family man to take his place in the line. The poor man did so and the other went back to the end of the line.
Within a short time the distribution ended and the one who gave up his place had also given up his food.
This is like Jesus Christ, who drew us into His place, while He stepped in ours, taking upon Himself all the consequences of our failures.

Wounded for Me
During World War I the Prince of Wales visited 36 severely wounded men in a hospital in the outskirts of London.
The Prince and his escorts went through the main ward and shook hands with most of them. As preparations were made to leave, the Prince indicated that he had only seen 30 men. "Where are the other six?" Although he was informed that the six others were extremely severe cases and in a different section of the ward, the special visitor demanded to see the others.
Five other maimed and bruised men were viewed. "But where's the last one?" again the Prince inquired. Although the Prince was told that the grotesqueness of the man's appearance would be unbearable, the Prince insisted on seeing him.
The Prince stood silent for a moment, and then moved toward the man and stooping down, kissed him! With a breaking voice the Prince of Wales was heard to say, "Wounded for me."
"But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).

Anxieties Like Iron Filings
Joel C. Gregory recalls that when he was in junior high, "we did an experiment with iron filings on a piece of paper. When we poured the filings on the paper they fell into a disheveled pile. Then we put a magnet under the paper and, as if by magic, the iron filings lined up... and followed the magnet's shape and force of direction."
All our anxieties are like so many iron filings poured out on the surface of our lives. Jesus says, "Put My presence and My kingdom underneath your life, see Me as a habit, and you'll find that your worries will line up and take My shape." The greater gift is given, and the lesser ones will be taken care of."
That's His promise, and our choice.

Backsliders Do Not Bid Jesus Goodbye
Mr. Moody once said, "A rule I have had for years is to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. When I go away from home I bid my wife and children goodbye; I bid my friends and acquaintances goodbye, but I never heard of a poor backslider going down on his knees and saying, 'I have been near you for ten years; your service has become tedious and monotonous; I have come to bid you farewell. Goodbye, Lord Jesus Christ.'I never heard of one doing this. I will tell you how they go: they just run away!"