Keep a Fixed Eye Upon a Bleeding Christ
The sermon emphasizes the importance of keeping a fixed eye on Christ's sufferings to overcome fear, doubt, and sin.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the importance of focusing on the sufferings of Christ as a source of refuge and strength during times of fear, doubt, and temptation. He encourages believers to turn their gaze towards the crucified Savior, who bore their sins and offers healing for their wounded consciences. Brooks reminds Christians that by keeping a fixed eye on a bleeding Christ, they can find comfort and solace amidst their trials and tribulations. He warns against the tendency to dwell on personal struggles rather than on the redemptive work of Jesus, which can lead to greater despair. Ultimately, he calls for a continual meditation on Christ's wounds as the remedy for all soul troubles.
Text
Has Jesus Christ suffered such great and grievous things
for you? Oh then, in all your fears, doubts, and conflicts
with enemies, within or without--fly to the sufferings of
Christ as your city of refuge!
In every temptation let us look up to a crucified Christ,
who is fitted and qualified to support tempted souls. Oh
my soul, whenever you are assaulted, let the wounds of
Christ be your city of refuge where you may fly and live!
Let us learn, in every trouble which presses us--whether
it be sin, temptation, or any other evil--to translate it
from ourselves to Christ! And all the good in Christ--let
us learn to translate it from Christ to ourselves!
Do your sins terrify you? Oh then, look up to a crucified
Savior, who bore your sins in His own body on the tree!
When sin stares you in the face, oh then turn your face
to a dying Jesus, and behold Him . . .
with a spear in His side,
with thorns in His head,
with nails in His feet, and
a pardon in His hands!
Oh, remember that there is nothing in heaven or earth
more efficacious to cure the wounds of conscience, than a
frequent and serious meditation on the wounds of Christ!
Ah, Christians, under all your temptations, afflictions,
fears, doubts, conflicts, and trials--be persuaded to
keep a fixed eye upon a crucified Jesus! And remember
that all He did--He did for you; and that all He suffered
--He suffered for you! This will be a strong cordial to
keep you from fainting under all your distresses. Oh,
that Christians would labor, under all their soul-troubles,
to keep a fixed eye upon a bleeding Christ; for there
is nothing which will ease them, quiet them, settle them,
and satisfy them like this!
Many, may I not say most, Christians are more apt to
eye their sins, their sorrows, their prayers, their tears,
their resolves, their complaints--than they are to eye
a suffering Christ. And from hence springs their greatest
woes, wounds, miseries, and dejection of spirit. Oh, that
a crucified Christ might be forever in your eye--and
always upon your hearts!
Sermon Outline
- The Sufficiency of Christ's Sufferings
- Translating Troubles to Christ
- The Power of Christ's Wounds
- Keeping a Fixed Eye on Christ
- Christians should labor to keep a fixed eye on a bleeding Christ
- This will ease, quiet, settle, and satisfy the soul
Key Quotes
“Has Jesus Christ suffered such great and grievous things for you?” — Thomas Brooks
“Oh, that Christians would labor, under all their soul-troubles, to keep a fixed eye upon a bleeding Christ;” — Thomas Brooks
“There is nothing which will ease them, quiet them, settle them, and satisfy them like this!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- In times of trouble, translate your troubles from yourself to Christ.
- Meditate on Christ's wounds to cure the wounds of conscience and promote spiritual growth.
- Keep a fixed eye on a bleeding Christ to ease, quiet, settle, and satisfy your soul.