THE BROTHER
Exodus 4:14 (from “is not Aaron);
Philippians 4:1; 2:3(from “but, in lowliness”),4
The Lord Jesus has taken our brother to be with Himself. He had a place in the affections of those who knew him, but what a place he has in the Lord’s affections. No one loves him like the Lord Jesus. The apostle John said, “To him who loves us, and has washed us from our sins in his blood …”, Rev.1:5. Dear souls, take that in – “To him who loves us, and has washed us from our sins in his blood …”. That scripture brings assurance and comfort, and our brother knew that; he lived in the joy of that. If the Lord Jesus has washed you from your sins, you are indeed washed from your sins. Lay hold of that, dear soul. That gives you peace.
The Lord Jesus has not only suffered to wash us from our sins, which He did for our brother and for most in this room, He also suffered so that those who have fallen asleep through Jesus and those believers who are living might be with Him for ever. The Lord wanted our brother with Him for ever. I noticed that Mr Darby said that the point of death is ‘the happiest moment in a Christian’s existence’1. Is that not wonderful? May it be a comfort to sorrowing hearts here. Our brother knew joy and sorrow, and this occasion is mingled with joy and sorrow, but he has only joy now, because he is with the Lord Jesus, his Saviour. What bliss! He could not be in a better place, and he could not be with a greater Person. That is what the Lord Jesus has secured for our dear brother who is now with Him. The work of God is complete, in the way of formation in him, but there is a work of God for him which is still to be completed, and that is the provision of a glorious body which our brother will be given. How wonderful that is, that the work of God in him is suitable to be clothed with that body of glory like the glorious body that the Lord Jesus has in His present position (Phil.3:21). What a prospect we have, to be for ever with the Lord! Dear soul, take it in; the way of salvation is simple. Have faith in the work of Christ as our brother did, and he lived in the joy of it.
I read these scriptures because they refer to the brother. Our brother did not travel around very much after his wife was taken, and brethren in the area used to ask me about him. What I usually said to them was that he is a real brother. That is what I found him to be in our locality – a real brother. A brother is God’s provision for us. Aaron here was God’s provision for Moses; – he helped him. God knew all about Aaron; we do not have Aaron’s history, but He knew all about him. He knew what was in Aaron’s heart; God said that “when he seeth thee he will be glad in his heart”. The last time our brother came to a meeting, it was a Lord’s day afternoon reading, and I had joy in my heart when I saw him walking in. The reading would begin, and he would immediately bring in a living touch. We were thankful for our brother locally. We will miss him, the brethren generally will miss him, and his dear family will miss him most, but the Lord Jesus can comfort like none other. Come to Him; stay close to Him, for you will need Him.
God says here about Aaron, “He can speak well”. Our brother loved to speak well of the Lord Jesus. After meetings, that was what he wanted to do – to speak about the truth. We are not here to unduly occupy one another with him, but the Lord did say on one occasion, “Seest thou this woman?”, Luke 7:44. We can point out features of the Lord Himself that are seen in persons, and that is the profit in speaking about anyone else. Aaron was a helper, and it says that when he met Moses, he kissed him. So these are the features of one who is a brother, one marked by affection. Peter could refer to “unfeigned brotherly love, love one another out of a pure heart fervently”, 1 Pet.1:22.
I read in Philippians because Paul speaks of himself in many ways: in this epistle as a bondman, in 1 Corinthians as an apostle and a father, and in Timothy as a teacher. But here he says, “So that, my brethren, beloved and longed for”. All these other features are very much needed at the present time, and we are thankful for them, but they will pass. The brother will not pass, for that is an eternal thought. The thought of brethren is eternal. We do not call our Lord Jesus our brother, although the features of a brother were seen supremely in Christ. A brother does the best that he can for you. A brother is marked by affection, he is a helper, he is loyal. All these features mark the Lord Jesus in perfection. Paul is speaking here as one of the brethren, and that includes sisters. “Brethren” is an eternal relationship. In one way, to speak of one another as brethren is greater than all these other ways we could speak of the saints. “My brethren, beloved and longed for” – that is active affection. It is not simply that we love one another, it is active affection. What affection Paul had for the saints for whom he continually laboured.
I have spoken of our brother because these features impressed me during the time that he was with us, and I was thankful for them. Paul says here, “but, in lowliness of mind”. That also marked our brother – lowliness of mind, an unassuming character, and that was a feature of the Lord Jesus coming out in our brother. Then “each esteeming the other as more excellent than themselves”; that also marked our brother. “For let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”.
May we be encouraged by these thoughts, and may the sorrowing ones especially be comforted. Place your faith in that blessed Man and stay close to Him. May the Lord bless the word.
Given at a meeting for ministry on the occasion of a burial, Glasgow
3 December 2021
G Bruce Grant