Reading: “Then was Jesus led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Matthew 4:1 It is a consolatory reflection to the child of God that Jesus was Himself subjected to a like discipline, equally as essential, yet infinitely more severe, to the completeness of His mediatorial character as the High [...]
Reading: “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 1 Peter 2:22 Purer than the purest crystal, more transparent than the brightest sun, was the character of Jesus. His foes sought with deception to ensnare Him, but He was too innocent to be ensnared. The moral atmosphere of His being was too [...]
Reading: “He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief.” Isaiah 53:3 Our Lord’s was a chequered history. Lights and shadows thickly blended in the marvelous picture of His life. The lights were but few; the shadows predominated. He did not come into the world to be joyful and happy, but to [...]
Reading: "When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” Matthew 21:10 Jesus was now enthroned upon the highest wave of popular favor. It was, perhaps, the only moment in His earthly history in which it might be said that His popularity was in the ascendance. The sun of human [...]
Reading: “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s.” Matthew 22:21 The obedience of Jesus, whether natural or moral—whether yielded to a divine or a human law—was, like all that He did, worthy of Himself. Rebellion against Satan and sin was the only insubordination that marked our Lord’s life on earth. On no occasion did either [...]
Reading: “He became obedient unto death.” Philippians 2:8 A higher obedience of Christ is this, than that we have just considered, since it is obedience to a divine law and to a heavenly parent. Those who honor and obey God will not be found wilfully and persistently dishonoring and disobeying an earthly one. The higher law, [...]
Reading: “He was subject unto them.” Luke 2:51 This was one of the most instructive and lovely traits in our Lord’s character; His subjection to parental authority. As Irenaeus beautifully remarks, “He came to save all who are born again unto God; infants and little ones, and children and youths, and those of old age. To [...]
Reading: “Be followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 Influence is the subject which these words suggest for our present meditation—the influence of Christ reflected in the influence of the Christian. ”Follow me, as I follow Christ.” The power of influencing others is a wonderful and responsible gift of [...]
Reading: “He became poor.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 The wealth of Jesus was essential to his being; His poverty was willingly assumed; “He became poor.” By an act of unparalleled beneficence, He emptied Himself of His wealth and linked Himself with a life of dependent poverty. The only riches He retained were the “unsearchable riches of His [...]
Reading: “He was rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 Rank and wealth may exist apart from each other. In Jesus they were combined. He could not be the divinest, and not be the richest being in the universe; the Creator, and not the owner of all worlds. Moreover, He could say, ”All souls are mine”—a wealth second [...]