Sound Words for Pilgrims

"Behold my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, in whom my soul has found its delight." (Matthew 12:18 JND)

Come now, and view that manger, The Lord of glory see,

A houseless, homeless Stranger, In this poor world for Thee.

Oh, strange, yet fit beginning, Of all that life of woe,

In which Thy grace was winning, Poor man his God to know.

Bless'd Babe, who lowly liest, In manger-cradle there;

Descended from the highest, Our sorrows all to share.

J.N.D.

(Footprints for Pilgrims, pp. 85-88)

Every one found room in the inn save He, but any who wanted to find Him whom angels celebrate must go to the manger.

(Luke 4:4)  It is the written word He ever uses, and Satan is powerless.  What amazing importance Jesus gives the scriptures. ...  It was not as an act of divine authority He dismissed Satan, but the enemy is proved unable to grapple with obedience to the word of God. ... Jesus does not reason with Satan.  A single text silences when used in the power of the Spirit.  The whole secret of strength in conflict is using the word of God in the right way.

(Luke 4:16) "And He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up" -- the low, despised place, but just the place where spiritual power is found.  Was it not ever thus ?  When was it found allied to the great things of this world ?

God did not despise Nazareth, but man despises Jesus because He came out of Nazareth ... Man despises the lowliness to which grace brought Him --- wretched man !

Christ never worked miracles for Himself, but for others.

(Luke 8:37) The world beseeches Jesus to depart, desiring their own ease, which is more disturbed by the presence and power of God than by a legion of devils.

(Luke 9:30, 31) "Moses and Elias, who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease." They were occupied with His death while talking with Him.  One thing occupies the minds of heaven and earth.  He was going to be crucified where He ought to have been King.  Under such circumstances there was nothing for heaven or earth to talk about but His death.  And so for us, the great thing to talk about Messiah is, that He died. ... We shall never cease having interest in this subject: when with the Father in the glory, it will be the absorbing theme.  He said Himself, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life."  How much more shall we not love Him for the same cause ?

(John 12:1) Bethany receives Jesus for the last time; the blessed but momentary retreat of ... a heart which has given us, in His relations with this beloved family, the example of an affection perfect, yet human, which found sweetness in being responded to and appreciated.

(Luke 23:39-43)  Jesus crucified was more than King -- He was Saviour.  The poor malefactor was a testimony to it, and the joy and consolation of the Lord's heart -- the firstfruits of the love which had placed them side by side, where, if the poor thief bore the fruit of his sins from man, the Lord of glory at his side was bearing the fruit of them from God. ...  Through a work unknown to man save by faith, the sins of His companion were for ever put away, they no longer existed, their remembrance was only of the grace which had taken them away, and which had for ever cleansed his soul from them, making him that moment as fit to enter Paradise as Christ Himself his companion there !

--- J.N.D.