“The love of Christ which passeth knowledge.” Ephesians 3:19The love of Christ in its sweetness, its fulness, its greatness, its faithfulness, passeth all human comprehension. Where shall language be found which shall describe his matchless, his unparalleled love towards the children of men? It is s
“And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.” Matthew 15:27This woman gained comfort in her misery by thinking GREAT THOUGHTS OF CHRIST. The Master had talked about the children’s bread: “Now,” argued she, “since thou art the Master of the table of
“Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.” Matthew 26:56He never deserted them, but they in cowardly fear of their lives, fled from him in the very beginning of his sufferings. This is but one instructive instance of the frailty of all believers if left to themselves; they are but sheep at the b
“When he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38If we have been partakers with Jesus in his shame, we shall be sharers with him in the lustre which shall surround him when he appears again in glory. Art thou, beloved one, with Christ Jesus? Does a vital union knit thee to
“Jesus said unto them, If ye seek me, let these go their way.” John 18:8Mark, my soul, the care which Jesus manifested even in his hour of trial, towards the sheep of his hand! The ruling passion is strong in death. He resigns himself to the enemy, but he interposes a word of power to set his discip
“The Son of man.” John 3:13How constantly our Master used the title, the “Son of man!” If he had chosen, he might always have spoken of himself as the Son of God, the Everlasting Father, the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the Prince of Peace; but behold the lowliness of Jesus! He prefers to call himself
“Betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48“The kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Let me be on my guard when the world puts on a loving face, for it will, if possible, betray me as it did my Master, with a kiss. Whenever a man is about to stab religion, he usually professes very great r
“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit.” Luke 10:21The Saviour was “a man of sorrows,” but every thoughtful mind has discovered the fact that down deep in his innermost soul he carried an inexhaustible treasury of refined and heavenly joy. Of all the human race, there was never a man who had a deepe
“He was heard in that he feared.” Hebrews 5:7Did this fear arise from the infernal suggestion that he was utterly forsaken. There may be sterner trials than this, but surely it is one of the worst to be utterly forsaken? “See,” said Satan, “thou hast a friend nowhere! Thy Father hath shut up the bow
“I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40But could the stones cry out? Assuredly they could if he who opens the mouth of the dumb should bid them lift up their voice. Certainly if they were to speak, they would have much to testify in prais
“His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:44The mental pressure arising from our Lord’s struggle with temptation, so forced his frame to an unnatural excitement, that his pores sent forth great drops of blood which fell down to the ground. This proves how tr
“Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.” John 17:24O death! why dost thou touch the tree beneath whose spreading branches weariness hath rest? Why dost thou snatch away the excellent of the ea
“And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed.” Matthew 26:39There are several instructive features in our Saviour’s prayer in his hour of trial. It was lonely prayer. He withdrew even from his three favoured disciples. Believer, be much in solitary prayer, especially in times of t
“Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands “Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?” Job 38:31If inclined to boast of our abilities, the grandeur of nature may soon show us how puny we are. We cannot move the least of all the twinklin
“Ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone.” John 16:32Few had fellowship with the sorrows of Gethsemane. The majority of the disciples were not sufficiently advanced in grace to be admitted to behold the mysteries of “the agony.” Occupied with the passover feast at their
