Chapter 2—Christ’s Sympathy for Suffering
Humanity
Christ Himself Suffers With Suffering Humanity—Christ iden-
tifies His interest with that of suffering humanity. He reproved His
own nation for their wrong treatment of their fellow men. The neglect
or abuse of the weakest, the most erring believers He speaks of as
rendered to Himself. The favors shown them are accredited as be-
stowed upon Himself. He has not left us in darkness concerning our
duty, but often repeats the same lessons through different figures and
in different lights. He carries the actors forward to the last great day,
and declares that the treatment given to the very least of His brethren
is commended or condemned as if done to Himself. He says, “Ye did
it unto Me,” or, “Ye did it not unto Me.”
He is our substitute and surety; He stands in the place of humanity,
so that He Himself is affected as His weakest follower is affected. Such
is the sympathy of Christ, which never allows Him to be an indifferent
spectator of any suffering caused to His children. Not the slightest
wound can be given by word, spirit, or action, that does not touch the
heart of Him who gave His life for fallen humanity. Let us bear in
mind that Christ is the great heart from which the lifeblood flows to
every organ in the body. He is the head, from which extends every
nerve to the minutest and remotest member of the body. When one
member of that body with which Christ is so mysteriously connected,
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suffers, the throb of pain is felt by our Saviour.
Will the church arouse? Will its members come into sympathy
with Christ, so they will have His tenderness for all the sheep and
lambs of His fold? For their sake the Majesty of heaven made Himself
of no reputation; for them He came to a world all seared and marred
with the curse, He toiled day and night to instruct, to elevate, and to
bring everlasting joy to a thankless, disobedient people. For their sake
He became poor, that they through His poverty might be rich. For them
He denied Himself; for them He endured privation, scorn, contempt,
suffering, and death. For them He took the form of a servant. This is
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