I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my
mother's children.--Psalm lxix. 8.
Ah, my Lord, I know this to be thy voice of lamentation, at the
unfeeling conduct of those, from whom thou oughtest to have received
the kindest attentions. Thou wast as "a stranger unto thy brethren,
and as an alien unto thy mother's children;" "for even thy brethren,
and the house of thy father, even they dealt treacherously with
thee." They cried "depart hence, and go into Judea, that thy
disciples also may see the works that thou doest, for there is no
man that doest any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be
known openly. If thou do these things, show thyself to the world."
"For neither did his brethren believe in him." No sooner did he
show himself unto the world, and multitudes thronged to behold his
miracles, but they cry, thou art beside thyself. From his chosen
friends, the disciples, he also experienced much unkindness and
ingratitude. During his unparalleled agony in the Garden, instead
of endeavouring to mitigate, and sooth his sorrows, they slept, as
if careless of his woes. He marked their conduct, and exclaimed,
"What! could ye not watch with me one hour?" In the time of danger,
"all the disciples forsook him and fled." When in Pilate's hall,
and surrounded by men who thirsted for his blood, Peter, with oaths
and curses, thrice denied his Lord and Master, who heard, and
cast a look of reproof, mingled with love, towards his faithless
disciple. Blessed Jesus, how few of the tender charities of life
were exercised towards thee, though thy heart, cast in nature's
purest mould, was not insensible to the kindlier feelings of that
nature. Jesus particularly testified his affection towards John,
that beloved disciple, who laid in his bosom. He also discovered the
tenderness of his regard towards the three highly favoured subjects
of his friendship at Bethany. The sight of the sorrowing sisters
at the tomb of their only and dearly beloved brother, his friend
Lazarus, excited the tenderest sympathies of his soul, and drew
tears from the eyes, and groans from the heart of Jesus. "Behold
how he loved him," exclaimed the by-standers. Let us not think it
beneath the dignity of the eternal Son of God, to have shared in the
sorrows of such a scene; rather let us rejoice, that we have an High
Priest, "who can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and
that in all our afflictions he was afflicted." Was not this event
recorded to encourage us to present all our cares and trials before
him. The cry, "Lord, he whom thou lovest is sick;" will not, cannot,
be unnoticed by him who wept at the grave of Lazarus; for, though
he has changed his place, he has not changed his nature. As Man,
he can still sympathise with his people in all their sorrows and
afflictions. As God, he is ever able to extend his all-powerful arm,
and give the wished-for aid.