THE FEELINGS OF CHRIST
This very simple verse, “Jesus wept”, came to mind as we were sitting at the beginning of our meeting before our brother read that verse in Ephesians, “See therefore how ye walk carefully”, Eph.5:15. The simple impression that one has is to do with divine feelings, especially of the feelings of Christ. We often are very concerned about the feelings of one another, and we should be, but what about the feelings of Christ? In this particular portion, after it says that “Jesus wept”, it says “The Jews therefore said, Behold how he loved him!” This was at the death of Lazarus; it is true that the Lord Jesus was very much affected by it. But not only was He affected by the death of Lazarus, He was affected by the conditions that brought about his death. Sin has brought in death, sin has caused sorrow, pain, suffering and darkness. How affecting it is to consider in this simple verse the way that it affected our Lord and Saviour.
Are we affected in the same way by what we may touch in this scene, things which sin has brought in and are contrary to the mind and heart of God, to the very nature of a God who is love? That is the exercise that one has. It is true that we could never be affected to the extent that the Lord was affected by what sin brought in, because He was here as a perfect, holy Man. We can take the opportunity at this time to express our thankfulness to God that He brought in the Lord Jesus, that such a One has taken up our cause, taken upon Himself what was due to us because of what sin had brought in. How wonderful it is to rejoice together. I trust that each one is deeply affected to consider that everything which was contrary to God has been addressed, has been taken on, by the Lord Jesus Christ. He has done so for you.
So the thought that came before me is, if these things so deeply affect Christ, how should they affect me? I am thinking of our brother’s exercise, “See therefore how ye walk carefully”. I wonder if it is helpful to apply the thought of divine feelings in relation to my walk. I trust it may be encouraging as we consider for one another in that way. We are so often concerned with the feelings of one another, or about what the world might think, what those at school might think, what those at work might think. But what does the Lord think? How does it affect Him? We so often take things up on the basis of what is right, and it is good to do what is right, but may we be preserved from simply taking things up on the basis of what is right simply because it is right. May it be that we are affected by what is for God, by what affects the feelings of divine Persons. Dearly beloved, consider the scene that is before us in this scripture, that “Jesus wept”; the divine feelings that were coming out from the heart of a blessed, perfect, holy Man because of all that was around Him. I trust that we too might feel these things that are contrary to God, and that what we do might be characterised by consideration for what is for the heart of Christ. Our movements, what we occupy ourselves with as our brother mentioned in his word, should be on the basis of what it means to the heart of Christ. Our relationships with one another should be on the basis of what is for the heart of Christ. The way that I treat you, the way that you treat me, our desire to go on for one another and with one another; the basis of all of that should be what it means to the heart of Christ.
The simplicity of that eliminates many things that come in amongst us which are so petty. How affecting it is to consider the One who gave His all for you, One who held nothing back, One who emptied Himself. He loves you and me in such a way, to such an extent. What depths He went into, dearly beloved, that He might secure you. May it be that not only would I consider what He went through for me, but as I look upon each brother and sister here in this room, indeed every true lover of Christ who has been bought by His precious blood, I might see them in that way, as those who are loved by Christ, the One who has given His all. The apostle Paul saw this at the time of his conversion, when he was arrested on his way by a light out of heaven. There was a voice saying “Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?”, Acts 9:4. Dearly beloved, that was the expression of the feelings of Christ in relation to His own. Saul was persecuting the assembly, he was persecuting the church and Christ felt that deeply. “Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest”. These things are very affecting to consider.
My simple impression is that as we walk in this scene through the everyday activities of life, and expressly in the way in which we move with one another, we might consider how we take things up, and that it might be in the spirit of wanting to bring in what is pleasurable to Christ. We should consider how much all that we do, and especially the way that we go on with one another, means to His heart, the way that it affects Him. Our brother mentioned the privilege that we have of being together, and the basis of our conversation and the use of our time being related to that blessed Man, the Standard. Christ is the Standard!
May it be that our relationships with one another might be more characterised by what is for the heart of Christ, for His name’s sake.
Word in meeting for ministry, Aberdeen ID
29 April 2015
S. Selman