more than twelve legions of angels, and scattered His enemies with a
word. He suffered voluntarily and of His own free will, to make
atonement for our sins. He knew that nothing but the sacrifice of His
body and blood could ever make peace between sinful man and a holy God.
He laid down His life to pay the price of our redemption: He died that
we might live; He suffered that we might reign; He bore shame that we
might receive glory. "He suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
that He might bring us to God." "He was made sin for us, who knew no
sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (1 Peter
iii. 18; 2 Cor. v. 21.)
Such friendship as this passes man's understanding. Friends who would
die for those who love them, we may have heard of sometimes. But who can
find a man who would lay down his life for those that hate him? Yet this
is what Jesus has done for us. "God commendeth His love towards us, in
that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. v. 8.)
Ask all the tribes of mankind, from one end of the world to the other,
and you will nowhere hear of a deed like this. None was ever so high and
stooped down so low as Jesus the Son of God: none ever gave so costly a
proof of his friendship; none ever paid so much and endured so much to
do good to others. Never was there such a friend in deed as Jesus
Christ!
III. Do we want _a mighty and powerful friend_? Such a friend is Jesus
Christ.
Power to help is that which few possess in this world. Many have will
enough to do good to others, but no power. They feel for the sorrows of
others, and would gladly relieve them if they could: they can weep with
their friends in affliction, but are unable to take their grief away.
But though man is weak, Christ is strong,--though the best of our
earthly friends is feeble, Christ is almighty: "All power is given unto
Him in heaven and earth." (Matt. xxviii. 18.) No one can do so much for
those whom He befriends as Jesus Christ. Others can befriend their
bodies a little: He can befriend both body and soul. Others can do a
little for them in time: He can be a friend both for time and eternity.
(_a_) He is _able to pardon_ and save the very chief of sinners. He can
deliver the most guilty conscience from all its burdens, and give it
perfect peace with God. He can wash away the vilest stains of
wickedness, and make a man whiter than snow in the sight of God. He can
clothe a poor weak child of Adam in everlasting righteousness, and give
him a title to heaven that can never be overthrown. In a word, He can
give any one of us peace, hope, forgiveness, and reconciliation with
God, if we will only trust in Him. "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth
from all sin." (1 John i. 7.)
(_b_) He is _able to convert_ the hardest of hearts, and create in man a
new spirit. He can take the most thoughtless and ungodly people, and
give them another mind by the Holy Ghost, which He puts in them. He can
cause old things to pass away, and all things to become new. He can make
them love the things which they once hated, and hate the things which
they once loved. "He can give them power to become the sons of God." "If
any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." (John i. 12; 2 Cor. v. 17.)
(_c_) He is _able to preserve_ to the end all who believe in Him, and
become His disciples. He can give them grace to overcome the world, the
flesh and the devil, and fight a good fight at the last. He can lead
them on safely in spite of every temptation, carry them home through a
thousand dangers, and keep them faithful, though they stand alone and
have none to help them. "He is able to save them to the uttermost that
come unto God by Him." (Heb. vii. 25.)
(_d_) He is _able to give_ those that love Him the best of gifts. He can
give them in life inward comforts, which money can never buy,--peace in
poverty, joy in sorrow, patience in suffering. He can give them in death
bright hopes, which enable them to walk through the dark valley without
fear. He can give them after death a crown of glory, which fadeth not
away, and a reward compared to which the Queen of England has nothing to
bestow.
This is power indeed: this is true greatness; this is real strength. Go
and look at the poor Hindoo idolater, seeking peace in vain by
afflicting his body; and, after fifty years of self-imposed suffering,
unable to find it. Go and look at the benighted Romanist, giving money
to his priest to pray for his soul, and yet dying without comfort. Go
and look at rich men, spending thousands in search of happiness, and yet
always discontented and unhappy. Then turn to Jesus, and think what He
can do, and is daily doing for all who trust Him. Think how He heals all
the broken-hearted, comforts all the sick, cheers all the poor that
trust in Him, and supplies all their daily need. The fear of man is
strong, the opposition of this evil world is mighty, the lusts of the
flesh rage horribly, the fear of death is terrible, the devil is a
roaring lion seeking whom he may devour; but Jesus is stronger than them
all. Jesus can make us conquerors over all these foes. And then say
whether it be not true, that there never was so mighty a friend as Jesus
Christ.
IV. Do we want _a loving and affectionate friend_? Such a friend is
Jesus Christ.
Kindness is the very essence of true friendship. Money and advice and
help lose half their grace, if not given in a loving manner. What kind
of love is that of the Lord Jesus toward man? It is called, "A love that
passeth knowledge." (Ephes. iii. 19.)
Love shines forth in His _reception of sinners_. He refuses none that
come to Him for salvation, however unworthy they may be. Though their
lives may have been most wicked, though their sins may be more in number
than the stars of heaven, the Lord Jesus is ready to receive them, and
give them pardon and peace. There is no end to His compassion: there are
no bounds to His pity. He is not ashamed to befriend those whom the
world casts off as hopeless. There are none too bad, too filthy, and too
much diseased with sin, to be admitted into His home. He is willing to
be the friend of any sinner: He has kindness and mercy and healing
medicine for all. He has long proclaimed this to be His rule: "Him that
cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out." (John vi. 37.)
Love shines forth in His _dealings with sinners_, after they have
believed in Him and become His friends. He is very patient with them,
though their conduct is often very trying and provoking. He is never
tired of hearing their complaints, however often they may come to Him.
He sympathizes deeply in all their sorrows. He knows what pain is: He is
"acquainted with grief." (Is. liii. 3.) In all their afflictions He is
afflicted. He never allows them to be tempted above what they are able
to bear: He supplies them with daily grace for their daily conflict.
Their poor services are acceptable to Him: He is as well pleased with
them as a parent is with his child's endeavours to speak and walk. He
has caused it to be written in His book, that "He taketh pleasure in His
people," and that "He taketh pleasure in them that fear Him." (Ps.
cxlvii. 11; cxlix. 4.)
There is no love on earth that can be named together with this! We love
those in whom we see something that deserves our affection, or those who
are our bone or our flesh: the Lord Jesus loves sinners in whom there is
no good thing. We love those from whom we get some return for our
affection: the Lord Jesus loves those who can do little or nothing for
Him, compared to what He does for them. We love where we can give some
reason for loving: the great Friend of sinners draws His reasons out of
His own everlasting compassion. His love is purely disinterested, purely
unselfish, purely free. Never, never was there so truly loving a friend
as Jesus Christ.
V. Do we want _a wise and prudent friend_? Such a friend is the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Man's friendship is sadly blind. He often injures those he loves by
injudicious kindness: he often errs in the counsel he gives; he often
leads his friends into trouble by bad advice, even when he means to help
them. He sometimes keeps them back from the way of life, and entangles
them in the vanities of the world, when they have well nigh escaped. The
friendship of the Lord Jesus is not so: it always does us good, and
never evil.
The Lord Jesus _never spoils_ His friends by extravagant indulgence. He
gives them everything that is really for their benefit; He withholds
nothing from them that is really good; but He requires them to take up
their cross daily and follow Him. He bids them endure hardships as good
soldiers: He calls on them to fight the good fight against the world,
the flesh, and the devil. His people often dislike it at the time, and
think it hard; but when they reach heaven they will see it was all well
done.
The Lord Jesus _makes no mistakes_ in managing His friends' affairs. He
orders all their concerns with perfect wisdom: all things happen to them
at the right time, and in the right way. He gives them as much of
sickness and as much of health, as much of poverty and as much of
riches, as much of sorrow and as much of joy, as He sees their souls
require. He leads them by the right way to bring them to the city of
habitation. He mixes their bitterest cups like a wise physician, and
takes care that they have not a drop too little or too much. His people
often misunderstand His dealings; they are silly enough to fancy their
course of life might have been better ordered: but in the
resurrection-day they will thank God that not their will, but Christ's
was done.
Look round the world and see the harm which people are continually
getting from their friends. Mark how much more ready men are to
encourage one another in worldliness and levity, than to provoke to love
and good works. Think how often they meet together, not for the better,
but for the worse,--not to quicken one another's souls in the way to
heaven, but to confirm one another in the love of this present world.
Alas, there are thousands who are wounded unexpectedly in the house of
their friends!
And then turn to the great Friend of sinners, and see how different a
thing is His friendship from that of man. Listen to Him as He walks by
the way with His disciples; mark how He comforts, reproves, and exhorts
with perfect wisdom. Observe how He times His visits to those He loves,
as to Mary and Martha at Bethany. Hear how He converses, as He dines on
the shore of the sea of Galilee: "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?"
(John xxi. 16.) His company is always sanctifying. His gifts are always
for our soul's good; His kindness is always wise; His fellowship is
always to edification. One day of the Son of Man is better than a
thousand in the society of earthly friends: one hour spent in private
communion with Him, is better than a year in kings' palaces. Never,
never was there such a wise friend as Jesus Christ.
VI. Do we want _a tried and proved friend_? Such a friend is Jesus
Christ.
Six thousand years have passed away since the Lord Jesus began His work
of befriending mankind. During that long period of time He has had many
friends in this world. Millions on millions, unhappily, have refused His
offers and been miserably lost for ever; but thousands on thousands have
enjoyed the mighty privilege of His friendship and been saved. He has
had great experience.
(_a_) He has had friends of _every rank and station_ in life. Some of
them were kings and rich men, like David, and Solomon, and Hezekiah, and
Job; some of them were very poor in this world, like the shepherds of
Bethlehem, and James, and John, and Andrew: but they were all alike
Christ's friends.
(_b_) He has had friends _of every age_ that man can pass through. Some
of them never knew Him till they were advanced in years, like Manasseh,
and Zacchaeus, and probably the Ethiopian Eunuch. Some of them were His
friends even from their earliest childhood, like Joseph, and Samuel, and
Josiah, and Timothy. But they were all alike Christ's friends.
(_c_) He has had friends _of every possible temperament and
disposition_. Some of them were simple plain men, like Isaac; some of
them were mighty in word and deed, like Moses; some of them were fervent
and warm-hearted, like Peter; some of them were gentle and retiring
spirits, like John; some of them were active and stirring, like Martha;
some of them loved to sit quietly at His feet, like Mary; some dwelt
unknown among their own people, like the Shunamite; some have gone
everywhere and turned the world upside down, like Paul. But they were
all alike Christ's friends.
(_d_) He has had friends _of every condition in life_. Some of them were
married, and had sons and daughters, like Enoch; some of them lived and
died unmarried, like Daniel and John the Baptist; some of them were
often sick, like Lazarus and Epaphroditus; some of them were strong to
labour, like Persis, and Tryphena, and Tryphosa; some of them were
masters, like Abraham and Cornelius; some of them were servants, like
the saints in Nero's household; some of them had bad servants, like
Elisha; some of them had bad masters like Obadiah; some of them had bad
wives and children, like David. But they were all alike Christ's
friends.
(_e_) He has had friends _of almost every nation, and people, and
tongue_. He has had friends in hot countries and in cold; friends among
nations highly civilized, and friends among the simplest and rudest
tribes. His book of life contains the names of Greeks and Romans, of
Jews and Egyptians, of bond and of free. There are to be found on its
lists reserved Englishmen and cautious Scotchmen, impulsive Irishmen and
fiery Welchmen, volatile Frenchmen and dignified Spaniards, refined
Italians and solid Germans, rude Africans and refined Hindoos,
cultivated Chinese and half-savage New Zealanders. But they were all
alike Christ's friends.
All these have made trial of Christ's friendship, and proved it to be
good. They all found nothing wanting when they began: they all found
nothing wanting as they went on. No lack, no defect, no deficiency was
ever found by any one of them in Jesus Christ. Each found his own soul's
wants fully supplied; each found every day, that in Christ there was
enough and to spare. Never, never was there a friend so fully tried and
proved as Jesus Christ.
VII. Last, but not least, do we want _an unfailing friend_? Such a
friend is the Lord Jesus Christ.
The saddest part of all the good things of earth is their instability.
Riches make themselves wings and flee away; youth and beauty are but for
a few years; strength of body soon decays; mind and intellect are soon
exhausted. All is perishing. All is fading. All is passing away. But
there is one splendid exception to this general rule, and that is the
friendship of Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus is _a friend who never changes_. There is no fickleness
about Him: those whom He loves, He loves unto the end. Husbands have
been known to forsake their wives; parents have been known to cast off
their children; human vows and promises of faithfulness have often been
forgotten. Thousands have been neglected in their poverty and old age,
who were honoured by all when they were rich and young. But Christ never
changed His feelings towards one of His friends. He is "the same
yesterday, to-day, and for ever." (Heb. xiii. 8.)
The Lord Jesus _never goes away from His friends_. There is never a
parting and good-bye between Him and His people. From the time that He
makes His abode in the sinner's heart, He abides in it for ever. The
world is full of leave-takings and departures: death and the lapse of
time break up the most united family; sons go forth to make their way in
life; daughters are married, and leave their father's house for ever.
Scattering, scattering, scattering, is the yearly history of the
happiest home. How many we have tearfully watched as they drove away
from our doors, whose pleasant faces we have never seen again! How many
we have sorrowfully followed to the grave, and then come back to a cold,
silent, lonely, and blank fireside! But, thanks be to God, there is One
who never leaves His friends! The Lord Jesus is He who has said, "I will
never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Heb. xiii. 5.)
The Lord Jesus _goes with His friends wherever they go_. There is no
possible separation between Him and those whom He loves. There is no
place or position on earth, or under the earth, that can divide them
from the great Friend of their souls. When the path of duty calls them
far away from home, He is their companion; when they pass through the
fire and water of fierce tribulation, He is with them; when they lie
down on the bed of sickness, He stands by them and makes all their
trouble work for good; when they go down the valley of the shadow of
death, and friends and relatives stand still and can go no further, He
goes down by their side. When they wake up in the unknown world of
Paradise, they are still with Him; when they rise with a new body at the
judgment day, they will not be alone. He will own them for His friends,
and say, "They are mine: deliver them and let them go free." He will
make good His own words: "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world." (Matt. xxviii. 20.)
Look round the world, and see how failure is written on all men's
schemes. Count up the partings, and separations, and disappointments,
and bereavements which have happened under your own knowledge. Think
what a privilege it is that there is One at least who never fails, and
in whom no one was ever disappointed! Never, never was there so
unfailing a friend as Jesus Christ.
And now, suffer me to conclude this paper with a few plain words of
application. I know not who you are or in what state your soul may be;
but I am sure that the words I am about to say deserve your serious
attention. Oh, that this paper may not find you heedless of spiritual
things! Oh, that you may be able to give a few thoughts to Christ!
(1) Know then, for one thing, that I call upon you to _consider solemnly
whether Christ is your Friend and you are His_.
There are thousands on thousands, I grieve to say, who are not Christ's
friends. Baptized in His name, outward members of His Church, attendants
on His means of grace,--all this they are, no doubt. But they are not
Christ's _friends_. Do they hate the sins which Jesus died to put away?
No.--Do they love the Saviour who came into the world to save them?
No.--Do they care for the souls which were so precious in His sight?
No.--Do they delight in the word of reconciliation? No.--Do they try to
speak with the Friend of sinners in prayer? No.--Do they seek close
fellowship with Him? No.--Oh, reader, is this your case? How is it with
you? Are you or are you not one of Christ's friends?
(2) Know, in the next place, that _if you are not one of Christ's
friends, you are a poor miserable being_.
I write this down deliberately. I do not say it without thought. I say
that if Christ be not your friend, you are a poor, miserable being.
You are in the midst of a failing, sorrowful world, and you have no real
source of comfort, or refuge for a time of need. You are a dying
creature, and you are not ready to die. You have sins, and they are not
forgiven. You are going to be judged, and you are not prepared to meet
God: you might be, but you refuse to use the one only Mediator and
Advocate. You love the world better than Christ. You refuse the great
Friend of sinners, and you have no friend in heaven to plead your cause.
Yes: it is sadly true! You are a poor, miserable being. It matters
nothing what your income is: without Christ's friendship you are very
poor.
(3) Know, in the third place, that _if you really want a friend, Christ
is willing to become your friend_.
He has long wanted you to join His people, and He now invites you by my
hand. He is ready to receive you, all unworthy as you may feel, and to
write your name down in the list of His friends. He is ready to pardon
all the past, to clothe you with righteousness, to give you His Spirit,
to make you His own dear child. All He asks you to do is to come to Him.
He bids you come with all your sins; only acknowledging your vileness,
and confessing that you are ashamed. Just as you are,--waiting for
nothing,--unworthy of anything in yourself,--Jesus bids you come and be
His friend.
Oh, come and be wise! Come and be safe. Come and be happy. Come and be
Christ's friend.
(4) Know, in the last place, that _if Christ is your friend, you have
great privileges, and ought to walk worthy of them_.
Seek every day to have closer communion with Him who is your Friend, and
to know more of His grace and power. True Christianity is not merely the
believing a certain set of dry abstract propositions: it is to live in
daily personal communication with an actual living person--Jesus the Son
of God. "To me," said Paul, "to live is Christ." (Phil. i. 21.)
Seek every day to glorify your Lord and Saviour in all your ways. "He
that hath a friend should show himself friendly" (Prov. xviii. 24), and
no man surely is under such mighty obligations as the friend of Christ.
Avoid everything which would grieve your Lord. Fight hard against
besetting sins, against inconsistency, against backwardness to confess
Him before men. Say to your soul, whenever you are tempted to that which
is wrong, "Soul, soul, is this thy kindness to thy Friend?"
Think, above all, of the mercy which has been shown thee, and learn to
rejoice daily in thy Friend! What though thy body be bowed down with
disease? What though thy poverty and trials be very great? What though
thine earthly friends forsake thee, and thou art alone in the world? All
this may be true: but if thou art in Christ thou hast a Friend, a mighty
Friend, a loving Friend, a wise Friend, a Friend that never fails. Oh,
think, think much upon thy friend!
Yet a little time and thy Friend shall come to take thee home, and thou
shalt dwell with Him for ever. Yet a little time and thou shalt see as
thou hast been seen, and know as thou hast been known. And then thou
shalt hear assembled worlds confess, that HE IS THE RICH AND HAPPY MAN
WHO HAS HAD CHRIST FOR HIS FRIEND.
XV
SICKNESS
"_He whom Thou lovest is sick._"--John xi. 3.
The chapter from which this text is taken is well known to all Bible
readers. In life-like description, in touching interest, in sublime
simplicity, there is no writing in existence that will bear comparison
with that chapter. A narrative like this is to my own mind one of the
great proofs of the inspiration of Scripture. When I read the story of
Bethany, I feel "There is something here which the infidel can never
account for."--"This is nothing else but the finger of God."
The words which I specially dwell upon in this chapter are singularly
affecting and instructive. They record the message which Martha and Mary
sent to Jesus when their brother Lazarus was sick: "Lord, behold he whom
Thou lovest is sick." That message was short and simple. Yet almost
every word is deeply suggestive.
Mark the child-like faith of these holy women. They turned to the Lord
Jesus in their hour of need, as the frightened infant turns to its
mother, or the compass-needle turns to the Pole. They turned to Him as
their Shepherd, their almighty Friend, their Brother born for adversity.
Different as they were in natural temperament, the two sisters in this
matter were entirely agreed. Christ's help was their first thought in
the day of trouble. Christ was the refuge to which they fled in the
hour of need. Blessed are all they that do likewise!
Mark the simple humility of their language about Lazarus. They call Him
"He whom Thou lovest." They do not say, "He who loves Thee, believes in
Thee, serves Thee," but "He whom Thou lovest." Martha and Mary were
deeply taught of God. They had learned that Christ's love towards us,
and not our love towards Christ, is the true ground of expectation, and
true foundation of hope. Blessed, again, are all they that are taught
likewise! To look inward to our love towards Christ is painfully
unsatisfying: to look outward to Christ's love towards us is peace.