The Character of Jesus Christ

Ch 04 The Character of Jesus Christ

I. THE HOLINESS OF JESUS CHRIST. THE FACT OF CHRIST'S HOLINESS
Acts 4:27; Acts 4:30 — "For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together. By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and what signs and wonders may be done by the name of the holy child Jesus."
Mark 1:24 "Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God."
Luke 4:34 "Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God."
Acts 3:14 "But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you."
1 John 2:20 — "For ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things."
First Proposition: Jesus Christ is holy, absolutely holy. He is "The Holy One."
Note. In the Old Testament it is Jehovah who is called the Holy One. Jehovah is called "the Holy One of Israel" about thirty times in Isaiah.
WHAT DOES HOLY MEAN?
Leviticus 11:43-45 — "Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves and ye shall be holy; for I am holy; neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy."
Deuteronomy 23:14 — "For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee."
(See the context.) Holy means free from defilement. To say that Christ is absolutely holy is to say that He is absolutely pure. (Compare to 1 John 3:3 — "Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.") The Bible brings out this absolute purity of Christ:
Hebrews 7:26 RV — "For such a high priest became us holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens."
Hebrews 9:14 RV — "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the Eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
1 Peter 1:19 — "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb
without blemish and without spot."
1 John 3:5 — "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."
2 Corinthians 5:21 — "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
Hebrews 4:15 — "For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
1 John 3:3 — "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."
Second Proposition: The Bible multiplies expressions and figures to produce an adequate conception of the absolute holiness or moral purity of Christ.
Nothing in nature compares to it except light.
1 John 1:5 — "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." (Compare to John 8:12 — "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.") The dazzling white light that glorified the face and garments of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration ( Matthew 17:2; Luke 9:29) was the outshining of the moral purity within.
HOW THE HOLINESS OF JESUS CHRIST MANIFESTED ITSELF
Hebrews 1:9 — "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."
Third Proposition: The holiness of Jesus Christ manifested itself in a love of righteousness and a hatred of iniquity.
It is not enough to love righteousness; iniquity must be hated as well. On the other hand, it is not enough to hate iniquity; righteousness must be lowed as well.
There are those who profess to love righteousness, but they do not seem to hate iniquity. They are strong in applauding right, but not equally strong in denouncing evil. There are also those who profess to hate sin, but they do not seem to love righteousness. They are strong in denouncing evil, but not equally strong in applauding right. Jesus Christ's holiness was complete as well as spotless; he loved righteousness and hated iniquity.
1 Peter 2:22 — "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth."
John 8:29 — "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."
Matthew 17:5 — "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." (Compare to John 12:49 — "For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.")
Fourth Proposition: The holiness of Jesus Christ manifested itself in deed and word — negatively, in His never doing sin or speaking falsehood, and positively, in His always doing what was pleasing to God and always speaking the things which pleased God.
The holiness of Jesus manifested itself not merely negatively in not doing or speaking wrong, but also positively in speaking all that God desired, all that was right to do or speak. A full manifestation of holiness does not consist merely in doing nothing wrong, but in doing all that is right.
Hebrews 4:15 — "For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
Fifth Proposition: The holiness of Jesus manifested itself in constant and neverfailing victory over temptation. It was not merely the negative innocence that results from being shielded from contact with evil, but also the positive holiness that meets evil and overcomes it.
The entire Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-48; Matthew 6:1-34; Matthew 7:1-29), especially Matthew 5:48 — "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
Sixth Proposition: The holiness of Jesus Christ manifested itself in demanding absolute perfection of His disciples and refusing any compromise with evil.
Matthew 23:13 — "But woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in."
Matthew 16:23 — "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."
John 4:17-18 — "The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he who thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly."
Matthew 23:33 — "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"
Seventh Proposition: The holiness of Jesus Christ manifested itself in the stern and scathing rebuke of sinners.
1 Peter 2:24 "Who in his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
1 Peter 3:18 — "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit."
2 Corinthians 5:21 — "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (Compare to John 10:17-18 — "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.")
Php_2:6-8 — "Who, being in the form of God, though it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Galatians 3:13 — "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: For it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."
Eighth Proposition: The holiness of Jesus Christ manifested itself in His making the greatest sacrifice in His power to save others from the sin He hated and to the righteousness He loved.
This was the crowning manifestation of His holiness. He so hated sin and loved righteousness that He was not only willing to die rather than sin Himself, but even to give up His divine glory, be made in fashion as a man, and die the death of a malefactor, and be rejected of man and separated from God, that others might not sin. He was willing to make any sacrifice to do away with sin.
Matthew 25:31-32; Matthew 25:41 — "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 — "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and they that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power."
Ninth Proposition: The holiness of Jesus Christ will manifest itself in the awful, irrevocable punishment of those who refuse to be separated from their sin. He died to separate men whom He loves from sin which He hates. If men refuse this separation, He leaves them to their self-chosen partnership and the doom which it involves. Men talk much of the holiness of God and the love of Jesus, but Jesus is just as holy as God, and God is just as loving as Jesus ( John 3:16; Ephesians 2:4-5). In this as in all else Jesus and the Father are one ( John 10:30). Let us remember that first of all our Savior is holy. Until we have an adequate conception of His holiness, we can have no adequate conception of His love.
WITNESSES TO THE HOLINESS OF JESUS CHRIST.
Acts 3:14 "But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you." — Peter.
1 John 3:5 — "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." — John.
2 Corinthians 5:21 — "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." — Paul
Acts 4:27 — "For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the People of Israel, were gathered together." — The whole Apostolic Company in Concert.
Acts 22:14 "And he said, the God of our Fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldst know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldst hear the voice of his mouth." — Ananias.
Luke 23:41 — "And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss." — The Dying Thief.
Luke 23:47 — "Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteousness man." — The Roman Centurion.
Matthew 27:19 — "When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him." — Pilate's Wife.
John 18:38 — "Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no fault in him at all."
John 19:4; John 19:6 — "Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him." — Pilate, himself, three times.
Matthew 27:3-4 "Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." — Judas Iscariot.
Mark 1:23-24 "And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God." — The Unclean Spirit.
John 8:46 — "Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?"
John 14:30 — "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." — Jesus himself.
John 16:8; John 16:10 — "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more." — The Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 1:8-9 — "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, that anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."
Matthew 17:5 — "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." — God the Father.
II. THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST TO GOD THE FATHER. THE FACT OF HIS LOVE
John 14:31 — "But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father giveth me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence."
First Proposition: Jesus Christ loved the Father.
The one thing that Jesus desired the world to know about Him was that He loved the Father. If the secret of His life was asked, it was this: "I love the Father." If we wish to know what loving God means in its purity and its fulness, we have to look at Jesus Christ.
HOW THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE FATHER MANIFESTED ITSELF
John 14:21 — "But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do."
John 15:10 — "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
Second Proposition: Jesus Christ's love for the Father manifested itself in His doing as the Father commanded him to do. (Compare to 1 John 2:3.)
John 6:38 — "For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me." His obedience to the Father's will faltered not at forsaking the glory of heaven for the shame of earth.
Php_2:8 — "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." His obedience to his Father's will faltered not at death, even death on a cross.
John 10:15; John 10:17-18 — "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." His death was in the highest sense voluntary. It was the goal toward which he deliberately walked.
Luke 9:51 — "And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. But it was not only on that last journey that "He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem." When He first took upon Himself the nature of man, He had steadfastly set His face to go to Calvary. The Jews stood beside the tomb of Lazarus and saw Jesus weeping and said, "Behold how He loved him [Lazarus]" ( John 11:36). We stand beside the cross and behold Jesus bleeding and we cry, "Behold how He loved Him [God]."
John 8:55, RV — "And ye have not known him: but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar; but I know him, and keep his word."
Third Proposition: Jesus Christ's love for the Father manifested itself in His keeping (i.e., attending to carefully, or guarding) the Father's word.
To keep God's word means more than to obey His commandments. One may obey commandments without a hearty love for them, but we cherish what we regard as a precious treasure. This Jesus did. The Father's word was Jesus' most precious treasure. He guarded it as others do their gold and jewels. This esteem for His Father's word was a peculiar mark of His love to the Father.
Matthew 26:39; Matthew 26:42 — "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass form me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."
Fourth Proposition: Jesus Christ's love for the Father manifested itself in unwavering submission to the Father's will, even when that will required something from which the soul shrank in heart-breaking anguish.
Psalms 40:8 — '2 delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."
Fifth Proposition: Jesus Christ's love for the Father manifested itself in delight in doing the Father's will.
The connection shows that the Father's will was Christ's own sacrificial death.
Luke 2:49 — "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" This delight in the Father's will manifested itself even in Jesus' boyhood.
John 4:34 RV — "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work." The doing of the Father's will, and accomplishing his work was Jesus Christ's meat, it was more to him than His necessary food. (See context.)
John 8:29 RV — "And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him."
Sixth Proposition:
Jesus Christ's love for the Father manifested itself in His always doing that which was pleasing to the Father.
This is more than obedience to expressed commands. A son may do whatever a father bids him, but a more loving son will not wait to be bidden, but learn what pleases his father and anticipate his will. To know what pleased the Father was Christ's constant study; to do these things was his unvarying practice.
John 5:30 — "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."
Seventh Proposition: Jesus Christ's love for the Father manifested itself in His seeking the Father's will.
The accomplishment of His Father's will was the one object of His pursuit. As other men hunt for gold, or pleasure, or honor, or the accomplishment of their own will, Christ sought the accomplishment of His Father's will.
John 5:34; John 5:41, RV — "But the witness which I receive is not from man: howbeit I say these things, that ye may be saved. I receive not glory from men." (Compare to verse 44.)
Eighth Proposition: Jesus Christ's love for the Father manifested itself in His seeking and accepting testimony and glory from the Father alone.
John 17:4 "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." Ninth Proposition: Jesus Christ's love for the Father manifested itself in His finishing the work the Father gave Him to do.
QUESTION: When was that work finished? ( John 19:30 — "When
Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost.")
ANSWER: On the cross. It was love to God before love to man that brought Jesus to Calvary. We speak of God the Father loving men in Christ, which is true, but it is also true that Christ's sacrifice for men finds its final reason and original source in obedience to the will of the Father, the object of His supreme love.
John 7:18 — "He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him."
John 17:4 "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."
John 17:1-26: l — "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee."
Tenth Proposition: Jesus Christ's love for the Father manifested itself in His seeking the glory of the Father alone.
The Father's glory was Jesus Christ's first and great ambition, the consuming passion of His life. For the Father's glory He planned, prayed, acted, suffered, and died. Jesus taught that the first and great commandment is "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" ( Matthew 22:37-38). His own life is the supreme manifestation of this law.
III. THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST TO MEN. WHO AMONG MEN DID JESUS LOW?
Ephesians 5:24 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."
First Proposition: Jesus Christ loved the Church.
The Church is loved by Christ in a particular sense and in a peculiar way. While a philanthropist may love all humankind and yet will in a peculiar way love his own wife as he loves no other woman, so Christ has a peculiar love for the Church, His bride. We must be on our guard, in studying the various passages in the Bible which speak about the love of Christ to note whether they refer to His love in general (i.e., His love for all humankind) or His love in particular (i.e., His love for the Church, which is His body and His bride).
Ephesians 5:2 — "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us as offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour."
Galatians 2:20 — "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now life in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
Second Proposition: Jesus Christ loves individual believers.
Jesus Christ not only loves His church as a whole, but He loves each individual who believes in Him.
John 13:1— "Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end."
Third Proposition: Jesus Christ "loved His own" which were in the world.
Not all men were "His own" when He was here upon earth, neither are all His own today.
QUESTION: Who are His own?
John 17:2; John 17:9; John 17:12 — "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled."
ANSWER: Jesus Christ's own are those who God the Father has given Him. The proof that anyone belongs to this elect company is that he comes to Christ. Refer to John 6:37 — "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." This highly favored company, made up of those given to Christ by the Father, and who come to Christ, are objects of Christ's special love. He ministers to them in a special way (see context John 13:1), and He guards them so that not one of them perishes ( John 17:12, RV — "While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scriptures might be fulfilled;" 18:9 — "That the word might be fulfilled which he spake. Of those whom thou hast given me I lost not one").
John 14:21 — "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." Fourth Proposition: Jesus Christ loves those who keep His commands.
Christ has an altogether special love for His obedient disciples; to them He manifests Himself differently than He does to the world.
John 15:10 — "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love." Those who keep his commandments abide in his love. This does not mean, as sometimes interpreted, "abide in the consciousness of his love." It means rather what it says. There is a love of Christ out of which one steps by disobedience.
Mark 3:35 — "For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother." Whoever does the will of God stands in closest kinship to Christ. Such a person is to Him his brother and sister and mother. A man may love all men and yet he has a peculiar love for his own brother and his own sister, and above all, for his own mother. Jesus Christ has a love that combines all three in one for whoever does the will of God.
John 15:9 — "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." (See also verse 10.) Jesus Christ's love to those who keep His commandments is just the same as His Father's love for Him.
Matthew 9:13 — "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy; and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Luke 19:10 — "For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Romans 5:6; Romans 5:8 — "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Fifth Proposition: Jesus Christ loves sinners — the lost, the ungodly.
Jesus Christ loves the vilest sinner as truly as He loves the purest saint, but He does not love the vilest sinner in the same way that He loves the purest saint. Toward the one He has pity, in the other He takes pleasure. There is an attraction in both cases. In the one case, it is need appealing to compassion; in the other case, it is beauty appealing to appreciation and delight. Christ pities the sinner and He delights in the saint. He loves them both. In the parable of the lost sheep, we see that the attraction of need is the greater.
Luke 23:34 "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
Sixth Proposition: Jesus Christ loves His enemies.
John 19:25-27 — "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."
1 Corinthians 15:7 — "After that he was seen of James." (Compare to John 7:5 — "For neither did his brethren believe in him.") After his resurrection, Jesus seems to have shown himself to no unsaved man except his brother.
Seventh Proposition: Jesus Christ loved His own kindred.
Jesus had a peculiar interest in and love for those who were His kindred according to the flesh. Christianity does not ignore but sanctifies natural ties.
Mark 10:13-16 — -"And they brought your children to him, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily, I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them."
Eighth Proposition: Jesus Christ loves children.
Children had a special attraction for Jesus, and were the objects of his special solicitude and care.
Matthew 18:3; Matthew 18:6; Matthew 18:10 — "And said, Verily, I say unto you, except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." The man or woman who does not have a special love for children is not Christlike.
John 11:5 — "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus."
John 19:26 — "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!"
Ninth Proposition: Jesus Christ loved special individuals in a special way.
While Jesus loves all people with infinite love, and while he has a peculiar love for His Church as His body and bride, and while He has an individual love for each member of His body, and while He has a special love to all who keep His commands and do His Father's will, the more open any heart is to Him by faith and love, the more that person is the object of His special delight.
HOW THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST TO MEN MANIFESTS ITSELF
2 Corinthians 8:9, RV — "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich."
Tenth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to men manifested itself in His becoming poor that we might become rich.
How great the riches He renounced and how great the poverty He assumed is seen in Php_2:6-8 — "Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." How great the riches we obtain through His becoming poor we see in Romans 8:16-17 — "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
Ephesians 5:2 — "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour."
Galatians 2:20 — "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now life in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
1 John 3:16 — "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
John 15:13 — "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Eleventh Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ for us manifests itself in His giving Himself, laying clown His life for us.
His is a self-sacrificing love. The death of Christ was not the only sacrifice He made, but the crowning one. His whole life was a sacrifice, from the manger to the cross. His becoming man at all was a sacrifice of immeasurable greatness and meaning ( Php_2:6-7).
Luke 7:48 — "And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven." Twelfth Proposition: The love of Jesus to the vilest sinner manifests itself in His forgiving us when we repent and believe on Him.
Revelation 1:5 — "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood."
Thirteenth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to us manifests itself in His washing (or loosing, RV) us from our sins in his own blood.
Luke 15:4-7 — "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.''
Fourteenth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to His lost sheep manifests itself (a) in His' going after them until He finds them, (b) in His rejoicing over the lost one found, (c) in His laying the lost one found on His own shoulders, and (d) in His bringing it safely home.
John 10:4 — "When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice."
Isaiah 40:11 — "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."
Fifteenth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to His flock manifests itself in HIS tender care for each member of the flock.
Matthew 8:17 — "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."
Sixteenth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ for men manifests itself in Him taking our infirmities and bearing our sicknesses.
Matthew 14:14 "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick."
Seventeenth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ for men manifests itself in HIS having compassion upon them and delivering them from their sicknesses.
Matthew 15:32 — "Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way."
Eighteenth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to men manifests itself in His having compassion upon them and supplying their physical needs. (Compare Hebrews 13:8, RV — "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yea and forever.")
Revelation 3:19, RV — "As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."
Nineteenth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to men manifests itself in His reproving them in order to bring them to repentance.
John 14:18, RV — "I will not leave you desolate: I come unto you."
Twentieth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to His disciples manifests itself in His not leaving them desolate. He Himself comes to them.
John 11:33-36 — "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, and said, Where have ye laid him? They say unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!"
Twenty-first Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ manifests itself in His weeping over the sorrow of HIS loved ones.
He knew that this sorrow was but for a moment, that it was founded upon a misapprehension, that in a few moments it would be changed for exceeding joy; but it was real, and as it was theirs it was His also.
John 14:1 — "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."
Twenty-second Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to His disciples manifested itself in his comforting them in their sorrow and anxiety.
This is the purpose of the entire fourteenth chapter of John. Note verses 1 and 27 — "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me . . . Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
John 14:27 — "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you," etc.
John 15:11 — "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full." Twenty-third Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to His disciples manifests itself in His leaving them His own peace and His own joy.
Mark 3:5, RV — "And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth: and his hand was restored."
Twenty-fourth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to men manifests itself in His grieving over the hardening of their hearts.
The hardening of their hearts, as shown by the context, was shameful and outrageous. It aroused Christ's anger. But it also moved Him to grief. Oh that we had His feeling toward even the most outrageous sin, so that our anger at sinners would be mixed with our tears.
Luke 22:32 — "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren."
John 17:15 — "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil."
Luke 23:34 "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." Twenty-fifth Proposition:
The love of Jesus Christ toward His disciples and toward His enemies was manifested in His praying for them.
This is a most important manifestation of love.
Luke 24:38-40 — "And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet."
John 20:24-29 — "But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came, the other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the prints of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."
Twenty-sixth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ toward skeptics manifests itself in patient dealing with unreasonable, inexcusable, and stubborn doubts.
Mark 16:7 — "But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."
Twenty seventh Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ toward a weak disciple was manifested by patient and tender dealing with his lapse into grievous sin and apostasy.
Romans 8:37 — "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."
Twenty-eighth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to those who believe in Him manifests itself in His giving them overwhelming victory in all their conflicts.
John 19:26-27 — "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, Behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."
Twenty-ninth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ manifests itself (a) in His forgetting HIS own awful agony in HIS sympathy for the sorrows of others, and (b ) by entrusting His own work to the one He loved.
It was to the disciple He loved that He entrusted His most sacred charge.
John 13:1-5, RV — "Now, before the feast of the passover, Jesus knowing that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and goeth unto God, riseth from supper, and laying aside his garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself. Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded."
Thirtieth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to men manifested itself in His performing the lowliest and most menial service for them.
It is easy to perform the most menial services for those we love. A mother can perform the most humiliating and repulsive service for the baby she loves. But love, wondrous love, enables the only begotten of God, in the full consciousness "that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He came forth from God, and goeth unto God," to arise from the table and with His own hands do menial service for His disciples. Judas was there, too, and the devil had already put it into his heart to betray Jesus (see verses 2, 10-11, RV).
John 15:15 — "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you."
Thirty-first Proposition: Jesus Christ's love for His friends manifests itself by His making known to them all things that the Father makes known to Him. When you discover some great truth, what do you wish to do with it? Do you not wish to hurry away to your most-loved ones and make it known to them? So Jesus, in the fulness of His love for us, hastens to make known to us all that the Father makes known to Him.
John 10:3 — "To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out." Thirty-second Proposition: Jesus' love to His own sheep manifests itself in His calling them by name.
This seems like a very small matter, but in that fact lies part of its significance. It is a tender illustration of the Savior's love for His own. There was also something peculiar in the way He called His own by name. (Compare John 20:16.) John 17:12 — "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me, I have kept and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scriptures might be fulfilled."
John 18:8-9, RV — "Jesus answered, I told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: that the word might be fulfilled which he spake. Of those whom thou hast given me I lost not one. Romans 8:35-39 — "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Thirty-third Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to His own manifests itself in His keeping them so that not one of them is lost.
Acts 9:5 — "And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."
Matthew 25:37-40; Matthew 25:41-45 — "Then shall the righteous answer him, Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart form me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was a hungered, and ye gave me not meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."
Thirty-fourth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to HIS disciples manifests itself in His so thoroughly identifying Himself with them that He regards all that is done to the least of them as done to Himself.
Ephesians 5:31-32 — "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."
Thirty-fifth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ for the Church manifests itself in His leaving the Father to cleave to the church, so that they two shall be one flesh. This is, indeed, a great mystery.
John 14:21-23 — "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."
Thirty-sixth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to those who keep His commandments manifests itself in His making Himself understood by them and making His abode with them.
John 14:2 — "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."
Thirty-seventh Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ for His disciples manifests itself in His going to prepare a place for us.
John 14:3 — "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also."
Thirtyeighth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ to His disciple will manifest itself in His coming again for us, that we may no longer be separated each from the other.
Compare to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 — "For the Lord himself shall
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall he caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.")
He comes Himself: "I come again." He sends no mere messenger.
He comes to receive us "unto Himself," not merely into heaven. It is as if He longs for us, longs to press us to His very soul. We long for Him, but not as he longs for us. Heaven is a lonely place to Him without us. Earth ought to be a lonely place to us without Him. Godet's comment on these words is worth repeating: "He presses him to His heart, so to speak, while bearing him away.
There is an infinite tenderness in these last words. It is for Himself that He seems to rejoice in and look to this moment which will put an end to all separation'' (Godet's John, Vol. 2, p. 270, Am. Ed.).
Ephesians 5:25-27 — "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it: That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
Thirty-ninth Proposition: The love of Jesus Christ for the Church manifested itself in the past by His giving Himself for it, manifests itself in the present in His sanctifying and cleansing it with the washing of water by the word, and will manifest itself in the future by His presenting it to Himself "a glorious church not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing," but "holy and without blemish. '
IV. JESUS CHRIST'S LOVE FOR SOULS.
Luke 19:10 — "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
First Proposition: The Son of man came to seek and to save the lost. This was the great object of His earthly mission, not to receive honor nor to accumulate wealth nor to gain a kingdom. He left behind greater glories than the world contained. He came to save the lost. Lost men were of more value in His sight than all earth's wealth and glory. A single soul was of priceless value. Each soul had this value in His sight, not only the soul of the philosopher and the saint, but the soul of the savage and of the outcast.
John 4:6-7; John 4:10 — -"Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink .... Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldst have asked him, and he would have given thee living water."
Second Proposition: Jesus Christ was ever on the watch for opportunities to save perishing souls.
We see this again in John 9:35 — "Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" We also see it in Mark 2:4-5 — "And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." "He made use of His miracles as stepping-stones to reach the soul." (Stalker: "Imago Christi"; p. 231.) Similarly, we ought to take every opportunity to perform acts of kindness.
Luke 15:4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?"
Third Proposition: Jesus Christ pursued lost souls.
He not only watched for and welcomed opportunities when they came, He sought opportunities. He not only received the lost when they came to Him, He pursued them. A true love for souls will always reveal itself in taking the initiative to pursue people and bring them into the Kingdom of God.
John 4:32-34 "But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him aught to eat?Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."
Fourth Proposition: Jesus Christ found His joy and satisfaction in saving lost souls.
In this work He forgot weariness, hunger, thirst, and found joy and refreshment for His body. Mark 3:20-21 — "And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread, and when his friends heard of it they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself." Jesus so lost himself in His work that He neglected the ordinary needs of his body and His friends said, "He is beside himself."
Luke 15:5-7 — "And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."
Fifth Proposition: Jesus Christ rejoiced with great joy over lost souls found. As a shepherd rejoices over the sheep he finds that had gone astray; as the woman rejoices over the found coin she lost from her marriage necklace; as the goldhunter rejoices over the great nugget of gold that he digs from the rock; as the merchantman seeking goodly pearls rejoices over the one pearl of great price — thus (and infinitely more) Jesus rejoices over a lost soul found.
John 5:40 — "And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."
Luke 19:41-42 — "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes."
Matthew 23:37 — "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
Sixth Proposition: Jesus Christ grieved over lost souls that refused to be saved.
No woman ever grieved over her stolen jewels, no mother over a lost child as Jesus grieved over lost individuals who refused to be saved. No words can picture the agony that shot through the heart of Jesus Christ when people refused to come to him that they might have life.
John 10:11 — '2 am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."
Matthew 20:28 — "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
Seventh Proposition: Jesus Christ gladly laid down His life to save souls.
V. THE COMPASSION OF JESUS CHRIST. THE OBJECTS OF CHRIST'S COMPASSION
Mark 6:34 "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."
Matthew 9:36, RV — "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd."
First Proposition: Jesus Christ had compassion for the multitude who were distressed and scattered abroad like sheep not having a shepherd.
What if Jesus were in Chicago? How does He feel toward the hundreds of millions in China? Consider the Pharisees in John 7:48-49 — "Hath any of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees? But this multitude which knoweth not the law are accursed." Who are we more like, Christ or the Pharisees?
Mark 8:2 — "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat."
Second Proposition: Jesus Christ had compassion for the hungry multitude.
Both the spiritual destitution of men and their physical need appealed to the compassion of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 14:14 "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick."
Third Proposition: Jesus Christ had compassion for the multitude in general. Whenever Jesus saw a crowd of men, He was moved with compassion. His compassion for the multitude is mentioned in the Gospels five times. A crowd of men is a pitiful sight; it represents so much of sorrow, pain, and sin. What is your feeling when you look out upon a crowd? Judging by the context of this passage, the sick seem to have especially drawn out His compassion.
Matthew 20:34 "So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him."
Fourth Proposition: Jesus Christ had compassion for the blind.
Mark 9:22; Mark 9:25 — "And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him."
Fifth Proposition: Jesus Christ had compassion for the demonized, the victims of the power of unclean spirits.
In the scripture above, there was much in the man that was repulsive and hateful, but Jesus beheld him with compassion.
Mark 1:40-41 — "And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean."
Sixth Proposition: Jesus Christ had compassion for the leper.
The world, even the religious world of that day, met the leper with repulsion, disgust, and scorn. Christ met him with compassion. While the world drew away from him, Christ drew toward him.
Luke 7:12-13 — "Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and much people of the city was with her. And when the Logo saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not."
Seventh Proposition: Jesus Christ had compassion for the bereaved.
This is the only recorded case where Jesus met a funeral procession. Here we see what His feeling was toward the mourner. What is your feeling toward mourners?
Luke 15:20 — "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." (Compare vv. 1-2 — "Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him, and the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.")
Eighth Proposition: Jesus Christ had compassion for the sinful, the lost, the spiritually dead.
Mark 3:5 — "And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other."
Ninth Proposition: Jesus Christ had compassion for all those afflicted by any form of misfortune, wretchedness, or degradation.
Jesus Christ did not go about his work from a cold sense of duty, but His own heart drew Him out toward those He helped and saved. His deeds of mercy cost Him something more than the sacrifice of leisure and the expenditure of effort and power. They cost him heartaches. He made others' sorrows His own sorrows, others' agony His own agony, others' sin and shame His own sin and shame. He could not look upon misery, pain, death, or sin without heart pangs. (John 11:33 — "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled.") Herein lies one great secret of His power. It is the misery we make our own that we can comfort; it is the want we make our own that we can fully satisfy; it is the sin we make our own that we can save another from. ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 — "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.") Real power to help others is an expensive thing, but anyone can have it who is willing to pay the price. However, the one who is not willing to give up lightness of heart, and take instead burden of heart over the world's sin and sorrow and shame, may as well give up the thought of being a helper, much less a savior of men. Men can not be saved by burning words, but only by bleeding hearts.
HOW THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST WAS MANIFESTED
Luke 10:33-36 — -"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him: and whatsoever thou spendeth more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?" The good Samaritan in the last analysis is a picture of Jesus Christ.
Tenth Proposition: The compassion of Jesus Christ was not manifested in mere feelings or words, but in action, in self-sacrificing, persistently ministering to the needs of the one for whom He had compassion.
Mark 6:34 — "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."
Eleventh Proposition: The compassion of Jesus Christ for the unshepherded was manifested in His patiently teaching them when He himself was weary and sore at heart.
He taught before he fed. Why? His showing of compassion is an act that all Christians should imitate. Find a street person or a homeless child and begin showing some real compassion.
Matthew 14:14 "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick."
Twelfth Proposition: The compassion of Jesus Christ for the unshepherded was manifested in His healing the sick.
Matthew 15:32 — "Then Jesus called his disciples unto him and said, I have compassion, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat." (See following verses)
Thirteenth Proposition: The compassion of Jesus Christ was manifested in feeding the hungry.
Matthew 20:32-34 — "And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him."
Fourteenth Proposition: The compassion of Jesus Christ was manifested (a) in standing still when, while on important and urgent business, he listened to the cry of two blind beggars, and (b ) in opening the eyes of the blind.
Mark 5:8 — "For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit."
Mark 9:25 — "When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him."
Fifteenth Proposition: The compassion of Jesus Christ was manifested in casting unclean spirits out of men.
Mark 1:41 — "And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will: be thou clean."
Sixteenth Proposition: The compassion of Jesus Christ was manifested (a) in putting forth His hand and touching the leper (for years that leper had not felt the touch of a clean and loving hand), and (b) in healing the leper.
Luke 7:12-14 "Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city were with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Wee[) not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise."
Seventeenth Proposition: The compassion of Jesus Christ was manifested (a) in bidding the sorrowing to no longer weep, and (b) in restoring the departed to the one bereft.
Luke 7:48; Luke 7:50 — "And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."
John 6:37 — "All that the father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
Eighteenth Proposition: The compassion of Jesus Christ was manifested in welcoming and pardoning the sinner and bidding her go in peace.
Let us remember Hebrews 13:8 — "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and forever," and 1 John 2:6 — -"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
VI. THE PRAYERFULNESS OF JESUS CHRIST. JESUS CHRIST WAS PRAYERFUL
Hebrews 5:7 — "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared."
First Proposition: In the days of His flesh Jesus Christ offered up prayers and supplications; He was a man of prayer.
The words "prayer" and "pray" are used at least twenty-five times in connection with Jesus, and there are many instances where His praying is mentioned and the words are not recorded. His praying is mentioned by each of the four evangelists.
Christ's life had many marked characteristics, but nothing is more marked than His prayerfulness. The extent to which he was a man of prayer will appear more clearly when we consider the next point.
WHEN CHRIST PRAYED
Luke 6:12 — "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
Second Proposition:
Jesus Christ prayed in the night, in some instances continuing all night in prayer.
QUESTION: Why in the night?
ANSWER: That he might be alone and have undisturbed communion with God.
Mark 1:35 — "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."
Third Proposition: Jesus Christ rose early in the morning to pray.
This was partly so that he might have solitude for communion with God and partly as a preparation for the day's work.
Luke 3:21-22 — "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptiz