“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds,” Hebrews 12:2-3.
Paul exhorts us to be “followers of God, as dear children,”Ephesians 5:1. The word “followers” in the Greek is mim-ay-tace. It is the word from which we get the English word ‘mimic’.
We can only imitate the Lord by constantly observing Him and reading the divine records of His words and ways. Thus Paul in our text urges upon us to ‘Look” unto the Lord Jesus, Who is God, and consider Him.
The two words, “look” and “consider” are very informative. The first one means to ‘to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on Him.’ The second word means: ‘to think over, consider, ponder.’
The Psalmist gives us an illustration of just what it is Paul is urging upon us.
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night,” Psalm 1:2.
“My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches,”Psalm 63:5-6.
“My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD,” Psalm 104:34.
“I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word,” Psalm 119:14-16.
I wish to set forth the blessed truth that Christ, as He faced the fury of His enemies at the cross, at the close of His earthly ministry, presents to us a picture of that which those who would live and walk as He did, will face as this age draws to a close.
1. From the beginning of His earthly sojourn, the Saviour faced the opposition and hated of evil men.
We are surely familiar with the scheming pretences of Herod as he enquired “diligently” (Matthew 2:1-8) of the wise men just when the ‘star’, that led them from the east, had first appeared. He claimed he wished to worship Him but it was murder he was planning!
“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men,” Matthew 2:16.
The spirit of Herod is illustrative of the opposition the Saviour encountered during His three year ministry. (more…)
