Teacher Sent From God
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and increase his power to do good. He spoke of those truths that relate
to the conduct of life and that unite man with eternity.
Instead of directing the people to study men’s theories about God,
His word, or His works, He taught them to behold Him, as manifested
in His works, in His word, and by His providences. He brought their
minds in contact with the mind of the Infinite.
The people “were astonished at His teaching (R.V.), for His word
was with power.”
Luke 4:32
. Never before spoke one who had such
power to awaken thought, to kindle aspiration, to arouse every capa-
bility of body, mind, and soul.
Christ’s teaching, like His sympathies, embraced the world. Never
can there be a circumstance of life, a crisis in human experience, which
has not been anticipated in His teaching, and for which its principles
have not a lesson. The Prince of teachers, His words will be found a
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guide to His co-workers till the end of time.
To Him the present and the future, the near and the far, were one.
He had in view the needs of all mankind. Before His mind’s eye was
outspread every scene of human effort and achievement, of temptation
and conflict, of perplexity and peril. All hearts, all homes, all pleasures
and joys and aspirations, were known to Him.
He spoke not only for, but to, all mankind. To the little child, in
the gladness of life’s morning; to the eager, restless heart of youth; to
men in the strength of their years, bearing the burden of responsibility
and care; to the aged in their weakness and weariness,—to all, His
message was spoken,—to every child of humanity, in every land and
in every age.
In His teaching were embraced the things of time and the things of
eternity—things seen, in their relation to things unseen, the passing
incidents of common life and the solemn issues of the life to come.
The things of this life He placed in their true relation, as subordi-
nate to those of eternal interest; but He did not ignore their importance.
He taught that Heaven and earth are linked together, and that a knowl-
edge of divine truth prepares man better to perform the duties of daily
life.
To Him nothing was without purpose. The sports of the child, the
toils of the man, life’s pleasures and cares and pains, all were means
to the end—the revelation of God for the uplifting of humanity.