Christ as a Teacher
The world’s Redeemer went about doing good. When before
the people, speaking to them the words of eternal truth, with what
earnestness He watched the changing countenances of His hearers!
The faces that expressed deep interest and pleasure as they listened to
His words, gave Him great satisfaction. And when the truth, plainly
uttered, touched some cherished sin or idol, He marked the change of
countenance, the cold, stern, forbidding look, which told that the truth
was unwelcome. Jesus knew that the plain reproof of sin was the very
thing that His hearers needed; and the light He shed into the darkened
chambers of their minds would have been the greatest blessing to them,
had they accepted it.
Christ’s work was to lay down in simple lines, yet so as to be clearly
understood, truths that, if obeyed, would bring peace and happiness to
the soul. He could look beneath the surface, and see the cherished sins
that were ruining the life and character, and shutting souls away from
God. He pointed out these sins, that all might see them in the true light,
and put them away. In some who presented the most hardened exterior,
He discerned hopeful subjects. He knew that they would respond to
the light, and that they would become His true followers.
As the arrows of truth pierced the hearts of Christ’s hearers, break-
ing through the barriers of selfishness and bringing humiliation, con-
trition, and finally gratitude, the Saviour’s heart was made glad. When
His eyes swept over the throng of listeners about Him, and He recog-
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nized among them the same faces that He had seen on former occa-
sions, joy was expressed in His countenance, that here were hopeful
subjects of His kingdom.
The messengers of Christ, those whom He sends in His stead, will
have the same feelings, the same earnest interest. And those who are
tempted to think that their labor is not appreciated, and are inclined to
be discouraged, should remember that Jesus had just as hard hearts to
deal with, and had a more trying experience than they have had or ever
can have. He taught the people with patient love. His deep, searching
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