Teacher Sent From God
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world’s sin and pain. Never was there another whose sympathies were
so broad or so tender. A sharer in all the experiences of humanity,
He could feel not only for, but with, every burdened and tempted and
struggling one.
What He taught, He lived. “I have given you an example,” He
said to His disciples; “that ye should do as I have done.” “I have kept
My Father’s commandments.”
John 13:15
;
15:10
. Thus in His life,
Christ’s words had perfect illustration and support. And more than
this; what He taught, He was. His words were the expression, not only
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of His own life experience, but of His own character. Not only did He
teach the truth, but He was the truth. It was this that gave His teaching,
power.
Christ was a faithful reprover. Never lived there another who so
hated evil; never another whose denunciation of it was so fearless.
To all things untrue and base His very presence was a rebuke. In the
light of His purity, men saw themselves unclean, their life’s aims mean
and false. Yet He drew them. He who had created man, understood
the value of humanity. Evil He denounced as the foe of those whom
He was seeking to bless and to save. In every human being, however
fallen, He beheld a son of God, one who might be restored to the
privilege of his divine relationship.
“God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but
that the world through Him might be saved.”
John 3:17
. Looking upon
men in their suffering and degradation, Christ perceived ground for
hope where appeared only despair and ruin. Wherever there existed a
sense of need, there He saw opportunity for uplifting. Souls tempted,
defeated, feeling themselves lost, ready to perish, He met, not with
denunciation, but with blessing.
The beatitudes were His greeting to the whole human family.
Looking upon the vast throng gathered to listen to the Sermon on the
Mount, He seemed for the moment to have forgotten that He was not
in heaven, and He used the familiar salutation of the world of light.
From His lips flowed blessings as the gushing forth of a long-sealed
fountain.
Turning from the ambitious, self-satisfied favorites of this world,
He declared that those were blessed who, however great their need,
would receive His light and love. To the poor in spirit, the sorrowing,
the persecuted, He stretched out His arms, saying, “Come unto Me, ...
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