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Humble Hero
innocent happiness. The Son of man did not find the joy of a Jewish
marriage displeasing. By attending, Jesus honored marriage as a
divine institution.
In both the Old and New Testaments, marriage represents the
tender and sacred union that exists between Christ and His people.
To the mind of Jesus, the wedding’s gladness pointed to the rejoicing
on that day when He will bring home His bride, the redeemed, to the
Father’s house. “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall
your God rejoice over you.” “He will rejoice over you with gladness,
... He will rejoice over you with singing.
Isaiah 62:5
;
Zephaniah
3:17
. John the apostle wrote, “I heard, as it were, the voice of a
great multitude, ... saying, ... ‘Let us be glad and rejoice and give
Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has
made herself ready.’”
Revelation 19:6, 7
.
Jesus reached the hearts of the people by going among them as
Someone who desired their good. He met them in the streets, in
private houses, on boats, in synagogues, by the shores of the lake,
and at the marriage feast. He showed interest in their everyday lives.
His strong personal sympathy helped to win hearts. He prepared for
His work among people in their daily life by praying alone in the
mountains. From these sessions, He went out to relieve the sick and
to break the chains from Satan’s captives.
Jesus trained His disciples by personal contact and association.
Sometimes sitting on the mountainside, sometimes beside the sea,
or walking with them along the roads, He taught them the mysteries
of God’s kingdom. He did not sermonize. He did not command His
disciples to do this or that, but said, “Follow Me.” On His journeys,
He took them with Him, so that they could see how He taught the
people.
All who preach Christ’s Word should follow His example. We
should not take ourselves out of society, but meet all classes of
people where they are. It is not only pulpit preaching that touches
people’s hearts with divine truth. Another place to work, every bit as
promising, is in the home of the lowly, in the mansion of the great,
and in gatherings for innocent social enjoyment.
We will not mingle with the world to unite with them in fool-
ishness. We should never give approval to sin by our words or our
deeds, our silence or our presence. Wherever we go, we are to carry