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The Ministry of Healing
and cultured Pharisee, the Jewish nobleman, and the Roman ruler.
He accepted their invitations, attended their feasts, made Himself
familiar with their interests and occupations,
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because
the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto
the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening
of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the
acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance
of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto
them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for
ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called
trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that
he might be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:1-3
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that He might gain access to their hearts, and reveal to them the
imperishable riches.
Christ came to this world to show that by receiving power from
on high, man can live an unsullied life. With unwearying patience
and sympathetic helpfulness He met men in their necessities. By the
gentle touch of grace He banished from the soul unrest and doubt,
changing enmity to love, and unbelief to confidence.
He could say to whom He pleased, “Follow Me,” and the one
addressed arose and followed Him. The spell of the world’s enchant-
ment was broken. At the sound of His voice the spirit of greed and
ambition fled from the heart, and men arose, emancipated, to follow
the Saviour.
Brotherly Love
Christ recognized no distinction of nationality or rank or creed.
The scribes and Pharisees desired to make a local and a national
benefit of the gifts of heaven and to exclude the rest of God’s family
in the world. But Christ came to break down every wall of partition.
He came to show that His gift of mercy and love is as unconfined as
the air, the light, or the showers of rain that refresh the earth.