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CHRIST’S LOVE TO HIS PEOPLE
IT is common for persons to feel an undue degree of solicitude for the bodily welfare of their friends, whilst they have little anxiety for the spiritual and eternal welfare of mankind at large. Hence, if a minister be in danger of impairing his health by his exertions, they are ready to say to him, “Spare thyself” but, if thousands be perishing all around them for lack of knowledge, they are not so ready to stir him up to increased activity and diligence. The near relations of our Lord were under the influence of this partial regard, when “they went out to lay hold on him, and said of him, “He is beside himself;” or, as it might rather be translated, “He is transported too far [Note: ver. 20, 21. ὅ ô é ἐ î Ý ó ô ç .].” It should seem that it was with that view that they called for him at this time: they were afraid that he would sink under the weight of his continued labours. But he felt, that both health, and life too, were well sacrificed in such a cause: and therefore he disregarded their message, and turned it into an occasion of expressing the greatness of his regard for his obedient followers.
From this declaration of our Lord, we shall be led to shew,
I. The character of those whom Jesus loves—
This is expressed in few, but comprehensive words; “They do the will of God.” But what is this will? It includes two things:
1. They believe in Jesus Christ—
[This is eminently the will of God [Note: 1Jn_3:23. Joh_6:29.]: and till this be done, nothing is done to any good purpose: the persons remain, and ever must remain, objects of his wrath [Note: Joh_3:18; Joh_3:36.] — — — This therefore they do in the first place — — — And they do it humbly, renouncing utterly every other ground of hope — — — and thankfully adoring God from their inmost souls for such a refuge — — —]
2. They seek after universal holiness—
[This also is the will of God [Note: 1Th_4:3.]; nor are the loudest professions of attachment to Christ of any avail without it [Note: Mat_7:21.] — — —And, this also they do. And they do it unreservedly, accounting “no commandment grievous [Note: 1Jn_5:3.]” — — — and in a progressive manner, never thinking they have attained, while any thing remains to be attained [Note: Php_3:12-14.] — — —
We pass on to consider,
II. The regard he bears towards them—
Our Lord gives them the preference to his nearest relations, as such; and honours them with the most endearing appellations of brother, sister, mother. Now from this we must understand, that,
1. He bears the tenderest affection towards them—
[We naturally expect the warmest affection to subsist between persons so closely allied to each other. But the love that is found amongst earthly relatives is but a faint image of that which both Christ and his Father feel towards all their obedient followers [Note: Joh_14:21.] — — —]
2. He will give them the most familiar access to him—
[His mother and his brethren were all this time without, whilst Jesus and his attentive followers were within, the house: and, though solicited by his own mother, he would not go out to her, because it would deprive them of the instructions which they were anxious to receive. And who can tell, what gracious communications Jesus will vouchsafe to those who serve him in spirit and in truth? They shall never seek his face in vain: they shall never call for him, but he will answer them, Here I am [Note: Compare Joh_14:23. with Isa_58:9; Isa_65:24.] — — —]
3. He will order every thing for their good—
[Any man that is not devoid of principle will consult the good of his family, when the management of their affairs is committed to him. And will not Jesus, who is constituted “Head over all things for the express benefit of his Church [Note: Eph_1:22.],” be attentive to the interests of his obedient people? Will he not supply all their wants, mitigate all their sorrows, and over rule all things for their eternal good [Note: Rom_8:28.]? — — —]
4. He will own them as his, in the last day—
[Suppose him in that day surrounded by the whole assembled universe; and many who were once related to him in the flesh, or who once professed themselves his followers, calling upon him, and saying, ‘We want a nearer access to thee; “we have eaten and drunk in thy presence; we have cast out devils in thy name, and in thy name done many wonderful works;” we are thy brethren, thy sisters, thy nearest and dearest relatives.’ Methinks he will then renew the same gracious declaration that is contained in our text; “Who is my mother, or my brethren?” And then, “stretching out his hand towards his obedient followers, he will say, Behold my mother, and my brethren: for, whosoever did the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”]
Infer—
1. How reasonable are the terms on which Christ proposes to acknowledge us as his disciples!
[He requires that all who would be his disciples should apparently cast off all regard for their nearest friends and relatives [Note: Luk_14:26.]. I say apparently; for nothing is really farther from his intentions, than to encourage, either by this declaration, or by that in the text, any disrespect to our parents: on the contrary, we are commanded to honour our parents; and are told by the Apostle, that “that is the first commandment with promise.” But when our love or obedience to earthly parents stands in competition with our obedience to Christ, then we must resemble Levi; in commendation of whom it is said, “He said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him, neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children [Note: Deu_33:9. with Exo_32:26-28.].” And shall this appear harsh or unreasonable? See what Jesus has done for us: He knew not his mother and his brethren in comparison of his believing and obedient people: and shall we prefer our earthly relatives to him? If he has so loved us, who are altogether polluted, and deserve nothing but evil at his hands, how much more should we so love him, who is altogether lovely, and deserves infinitely more love at our hands than eternity will be sufficient to express!]
2. What encouragement have we to comply with these terms!
[In complying with the terms which Christ has proposed, and adhering to him in opposition to the will of earthly friends, we may possibly incur their displeasure, and feel to the uttermost of their power the effects of their resentment: they may frown upon us, disown us, disinherit us. But “when father and mother forsake us, the Lord will take us up.” His express promise is, that for one father, mother, brother, sister, house, or estate we lose for his sake, we shall even in this life receive a hundred fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, houses, and estates [Note: Mar_10:29-30.]. Does any one ask, How shall this be accomplished? We might answer, that it is abundantly verified in the regard shewn to us by the Lord’s people: but, independent of that, we say, the Lord Jesus will give himself to us, and be to us more than ten thousand relatives, or ten thousand worlds. Let any one say, whether the love of Christ, the grace of Christ, and the glory of Christ, do not compensate a hundred-fold for all the creature-love, and all the temporal advantages, that we can lose for him? Let the determination then of Joshua be ours; that whatever course others may follow, and whatever obstacles they may lay in our way, “we, with God’s help, will serve the Lord.”]
3. How unlike to Christ are they, to whom a compliance with these terms is odious!
[None are so odious in the eyes of the ungodly world as the true, faithful, determined Christian. The generality, instead of loving him in proportion to his advancement in piety, will despise him; and will make his high attainments, not only the occasion, but the measure, of their contempt. They will be ashamed to acknowledge a pious character as a relation, or friend, or even as an acquaintance. They would rather be seen in public with an infidel or debauchee, than with one who was eminent for his love to Christ. But how unlike to Christ are they; when the very thing which endears them to him, renders them odious in their eyes! Surely it will be well for such persons to consider what Christ’s views of them must be? for if the godly are so precious to him because they are godly, surely the haters and despisers of godliness must for that very reason be most hateful in his eyes. Accordingly he has told us, how he will resent the contempt shewn to his people; and that “it were better for a man to have a millstone hanged about his neck, and to be cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of his little ones [Note: Mat_18:6.].”]