Thus prepared, He went forth to His mission, in every moment of His
contact with men exerting upon them an influence to bless, a power to
transform, such as the world had never witnessed.
[Sidenote: _Sympathy_]
He who seeks to transform humanity must himself understand humanity.
Only through sympathy, faith, and love can men be reached and uplifted.
Here Christ stands revealed as the master teacher; of all that ever
dwelt on the earth, He alone has perfect understanding of the human
soul.
“We have not a high priest”—master teacher, for the priests were
teachers—“we have not a high priest that can not be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted
like as we are.”[87]
[Sidenote: “_He Suffered Being Tempted_”]
“In that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor
them that are tempted.”[88]
Christ alone had experience in all the sorrows and temptations that
befall human beings. Never another of woman born was so fiercely beset
by temptation; never another bore so heavy a burden of the world’s sin
and pain. Never was there another whose sympathies were so broad or so
tender. A sharer in all the experiences of humanity, He could feel not
only for, but with, every burdened and tempted and struggling one.
[Sidenote: _What He Taught, He Was_]
What He taught, He lived. “I have given you an example,” He said to His
disciples; “that ye should do as I have done.” “I have kept My Father’s
commandments.”[89] Thus in His life, Christ’s words had perfect
illustration and support. And more than this; what He taught, He was.
His words were the expression, not only of His own life-experience, but
of His own character. Not only did He teach the truth, but He was the
truth. It was this that gave His teaching power.
[Sidenote: _Power to Win Hearts_]
Christ was a faithful reprover. Never lived there another who so hated
evil; never another whose denunciation of it was so fearless. To all
things untrue and base His very presence was a rebuke. In the light of
His purity, men saw themselves unclean, their life’s aims mean and
false. Yet He drew them. He who had created man, understood the value of
humanity. Evil He denounced as the foe of those whom He was seeking to
bless and to save. In every human being, however fallen, He beheld a son
of God, one who might be restored to the privilege of his divine
relationship.
“God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the
world through Him might be saved.”[90] Looking upon men in their
suffering and degradation, Christ perceived ground for hope where
appeared only despair and ruin. Wherever there existed a sense of need,
there He saw opportunity for uplifting. Souls tempted, defeated, feeling
themselves lost, ready to perish, He met, not with denunciation, but
with blessing.
[Sidenote: _Salutation of Blessing_]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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