His spring of life in His Father
“As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all My springs are in Thee.” (Ps. 87:7). These words of the pre-incarnate Son of God were His eternal love song to His Father. All of Jesus’ springs were in His Father. This we see most clearly in Gethsemane and on the cross when His Father “left Him, to try Him, that He might know all that was in His heart.” (2Chron. 32:31). All that Christ had ever done to test and try humanity, the Father did to His Son. All of Christ’s therapeutic stretching and pulling to get the kinks of sin out of man’s nature during the Old Testament, and later in the New Dispensation, the Son of God subjected Himself to by His Father in order “to fulfil all righteousness.” (Matt 3:15).
How could the Son of God discipline His prize possession without Himself first suffering under the same discipline? He is one in heart, mind, and soul with His redeemed race. He feels their every pain; He sorrows with all their sorrow. “A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief,” He loves us with all the strength of His soul and He glories in those who love Him with all that is within them. (Is. 53:3).
His heart is knitted together with the heart of His people. “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (1Sam. 18:1). We may, and we must, appropriate each word of scripture for ourselves. It was all written for us to hope in God for. His every word is for us to vicariously live through. “All scripture…is profitable…for instruction in righteousness.” (2Tim. 3:16).
Then upon the authority of God’s word let’s rewrite sacred history! “And it came to pass, when you had made an end of speaking unto God, that the soul of Christ was knit with your soul, and Jesus loved you as His own soul.” (1Sam. 18:1).
“That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.” (Col 2:2). “That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.” (Jn. 17:21). “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Eph. 4:4-6).
As seen in the closing prayer of His life’s ministry, hearts knitted together was Christ’s chief burden to accomplish in His followers. “The glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” (Jn. 17:22,23). “Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb. 2:17). “For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15).
Christ had a union with God that never ended. Whether eating or working, in carpentry or ministry, whether awake or sleeping, His connection with His Father was unbroken, His inner joy and peace in trusting ever present. He grew up as a tender plant “in the sunlight of His Father’s countenance,” Desire of Ages, p. 68. Butter and honey did He eat every day of His life, that He might know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good. Is. 7:15. God trained up His Son in perfection of heart and character, His well-beloved rejoicing in His Father’s voice through the scriptures and happily submitting to even the harshest lessons of life. All the hardship and trials of childhood and youth developed in Him fortitude and patient endurance to such infinite depth, that when He was grown He could not depart from it while continually dogged by the Pharisees, or even when terrorized by Satan on the cross.
He retained the flower of His youth, that tenderness and merciful kindness which He saw in His Father through the Bible and while in prayer. Like His great King, Jesus would stand for truth and law, and notwithstanding, like His God, He would only ever wound the transgressor in order to heal it from sin. He saw “the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (James 5:11). This was forever the purpose of the Man of Nazareth; and it is His purpose today, as Prince and Savior, to create in us repentance and then to provide us forgiveness.
“This Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel.” (Lk. 2:3,4). He is “a stone of stumbling” and “a rock of offence”—but also “a sanctuary”—for us. (Is. 8:14). “Jesus saith unto them,… Whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Matt. 21:42,44). So Satan is permitted to grind us to powder until we come to Jesus.
Christ was broken for us. He has led the way to God. “This is My body, which is broken for you.” (1Cor. 11:24). “His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men:” (is. 52:14).
“Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.” (Is. 53:4,5). Forever He wears His broken body as a lamb that has been slain, even til the day He returns. “And His brightness was as the light; He had [rays of light] coming out of His hand: and there was the hiding of His power.” (Hab. 3:4).
“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” Crucified with Christ’s crucifixion, “the prisoner of the Lord.” (Phil. 3:10;Eph. 4:1).
How could the Son of God discipline His prize possession without Himself first suffering under the same discipline? He is one in heart, mind, and soul with His redeemed race. He feels their every pain; He sorrows with all their sorrow. “A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief,” He loves us with all the strength of His soul and He glories in those who love Him with all that is within them. (Is. 53:3).
His heart is knitted together with the heart of His people. “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (1Sam. 18:1). We may, and we must, appropriate each word of scripture for ourselves. It was all written for us to hope in God for. His every word is for us to vicariously live through. “All scripture…is profitable…for instruction in righteousness.” (2Tim. 3:16).
Then upon the authority of God’s word let’s rewrite sacred history! “And it came to pass, when you had made an end of speaking unto God, that the soul of Christ was knit with your soul, and Jesus loved you as His own soul.” (1Sam. 18:1).
“That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ.” (Col 2:2). “That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.” (Jn. 17:21). “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Eph. 4:4-6).
As seen in the closing prayer of His life’s ministry, hearts knitted together was Christ’s chief burden to accomplish in His followers. “The glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.” (Jn. 17:22,23). “Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb. 2:17). “For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15).
Christ had a union with God that never ended. Whether eating or working, in carpentry or ministry, whether awake or sleeping, His connection with His Father was unbroken, His inner joy and peace in trusting ever present. He grew up as a tender plant “in the sunlight of His Father’s countenance,” Desire of Ages, p. 68. Butter and honey did He eat every day of His life, that He might know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good. Is. 7:15. God trained up His Son in perfection of heart and character, His well-beloved rejoicing in His Father’s voice through the scriptures and happily submitting to even the harshest lessons of life. All the hardship and trials of childhood and youth developed in Him fortitude and patient endurance to such infinite depth, that when He was grown He could not depart from it while continually dogged by the Pharisees, or even when terrorized by Satan on the cross.
He retained the flower of His youth, that tenderness and merciful kindness which He saw in His Father through the Bible and while in prayer. Like His great King, Jesus would stand for truth and law, and notwithstanding, like His God, He would only ever wound the transgressor in order to heal it from sin. He saw “the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (James 5:11). This was forever the purpose of the Man of Nazareth; and it is His purpose today, as Prince and Savior, to create in us repentance and then to provide us forgiveness.
“This Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel.” (Lk. 2:3,4). He is “a stone of stumbling” and “a rock of offence”—but also “a sanctuary”—for us. (Is. 8:14). “Jesus saith unto them,… Whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Matt. 21:42,44). So Satan is permitted to grind us to powder until we come to Jesus.
Christ was broken for us. He has led the way to God. “This is My body, which is broken for you.” (1Cor. 11:24). “His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men:” (is. 52:14).
“Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.” (Is. 53:4,5). Forever He wears His broken body as a lamb that has been slain, even til the day He returns. “And His brightness was as the light; He had [rays of light] coming out of His hand: and there was the hiding of His power.” (Hab. 3:4).
“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” Crucified with Christ’s crucifixion, “the prisoner of the Lord.” (Phil. 3:10;Eph. 4:1).
posted by David | 2:08 AM
2 Comments:
David, as I was reading this current post of 4th March, I liked you statement that he feels our pains and sorrows with us when in Sorrow. I just sounded a big amen, It give courage knowing He is with us in good or bad situations, Thank you and how I wish people could read it.
I have been reading this post again, I got a lot of interest in the certain points raised. My thoughts have run to a The stumbling and a rock of offense. It a good thing to fall on Christ the rock and get the heart broken in repentance. the last five paragraph is a wonderful challenge in my christian journey once again David, thank you for those thoughts, Good to note again that His body was broken for me, even if I were the only human being.
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