Looking Unto Jesus

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. Isaiah 45:22

Behold, the Lamb of God

Behold, The Lamb

My main object throughout this post is to entreat you to look unto Jesus. I  especially have in mind those of you who have never looked to Jesus as  “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” You have looked elsewhere for hope and happiness. At the name of Jesus you turn away indifferently.

The name Jesus holds in it the thought of salvation. Jesus saves. His arm, unaided, brought salvation. To save is the prerogative of Jesus. The condition required of us is looking away from everything else and from ourselves to Jesus alone. Look to Jesus and be saved. Look and live.

See that meek and gentle One coming unto John the Baptist! Who is he? Listen to the answer: “Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.” Yes, it is the Lamb of Calvary, slain from the foundation of the world. The Messiah, the Prince of glory, the King of kings. He comes from the throne of eternal honors. He comes a paschal Lamb, an offering for sin, to suffer and die for a race of rebels. He knows he will be despised and rejected, and be made a curse for his heartless enemies: still he comes, the patient sufferer, waiting for that hour of amazing sacrifice. He was wounded and scourged that you and I might be healed. He was arrayed with scorn in the purple robe that he might procure for us sinners the robe of righteousness and salvation. He stood speechless that we might have an all-prevailing plea; he thirsted that we might drink of the water of life; he bore the wrath of the Father that we might enjoy his favor; he was numbered with the transgressors that we might be ‘equal with angels;’ he died that we might live for ever. Edward Norris Kirk

Do not turn your eyes away from the eternal Son of God. He stepped down        from heaven to walk on earth as a man of sorrows, that he might save you. He is beholding you at this moment. Your indifference, your unbelief, grieves him.

To what or whom will you go? He is now offered to save you from sin. He is calling you to commit your soul to his hand. He offers to take away your sin. And do you not wish it to be taken away? Can you carry the load any longer, and live and die under the dominion and defilement and curse of sin? Dare you turn in scorn and indifference from him? Remember that he is not only the Lamb of God, but also the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He is King of kings, and Lord of lords. He invites with gentle persuasion. But he also commands with divine authority. And the sin of sins is the rejection of Christ. Behold the Lamb of God! He stands before you, — spotless, gentle, patient, submissive to every blow your sins have deserved; for when they smote him “he opened not his mouth.” Have you looked into those eyes beaming with tenderness and compassion? Brother man, have you a heart to turn away in contempt or indifference? Pause and reflect what it means. He comes to “take away the sin of the world “— yours among others. And while he is offering to take yours away, he is listening to your heart that he may hear its response to his offer. And what is its answer? Edward Norris Kirk

The naysayers of these later days entirely fail to find a better way of peace than the old path of looking to the vicarious death of Christ. Millions are  vainly hoping that they will find some better way to heaven than the old-fashioned way of the cross. They will never find it. If they love life, they will have to turn at last to Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God.

“Jesus will always be the Lamb, even to the lost; it is ‘the wrath of the Lamb’ that they will dread. The Lamb is always conspicuous; He may be neglected, rejected, refused tonight, but He will be beheld in eternity, and beheld to your everlasting confusion and unutterable dismay if you refuse to behold Him now. Let it not be so with any of you.” Charles Spurgeon

Ye sinners, seek his face,
Whose wrath ye cannot bear;
Fly to the shelter of his cross,
And find salvation there.

Looking Unto Jesus

God does not require of us some great thing. He does not command us to inflict punishment upon ourselves. He suffered for us. He requires no price nor gift. He gave Himself for us and paid the debt. Only look. There is no act easier and more simple than turning around and looking. “Turn ye, turn ye, saith the Lord. Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God and there is none else.”

There is life for a look at the Crucified One,
There is life at this moment for thee;
Then look, sinner, look unto Him and be saved,
Unto Him who was nailed to the tree.

Look! look! look and live!
There is life for a look at the Crucified One,
There is life at this moment for thee.

Turning away from sin, and looking to Jesus brings salvation, with peace that passes knowledge and joy unutterable. This is the beginning. The “eyes of our hearts,” once turned toward Jesus and lightened with the light of His life, must never be turned away from Him. We are to continue, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2

“In the phrase ‘looking unto Jesus,’ it is useful and interesting to remember that the Greek word which, in our English Bible, we render ‘looking,’ is only found here in the New Testament. Literally translated it means ‘looking off,’—looking away from other objects to one, only one, and looking on that one with a steady, fixed, intent gaze. And the object we are to look at, you will observe, is a PERSON… a living Person; and that Person is Jesus the Son of God.” J.C. Ryle

Beholding is a steady kind of looking. Believe then, in Christ with a solid, abiding confidence. Come, ye sinners, come, and trust your Saviour, not for tonight only, but forever. Believe that he is able and willing to save you, and trust Him to do so.

Take your eyes off everything else, and behold the Lamb of God! You need not see anything else, nothing else is worth seeing; but behold Him. See how He takes your guilt, see how he bears it, see how He sinks under it, and yet rises from it, crying, “It is finished.” He gives up the ghost, He is buried, He rises again from the dead because He is accepted of God, and His redeeming work is done. Trust Him, trust Him, trust Him. ..

I am not saved by what I can do, but by what He has done; not by what I have suffered, but by what He has endured. There hangs our everlasting hope; we trust to Christ in life and in death, and we are accepted for His sake…

Therefore say I to you, my hearers…fly to Jesus at once, Behold, not tomorrow, but tonight, behold the Lamb of God, each man for himself. Charles Spurgeon

The Pilgrim

The Pilgrim is an old hymn that offers encouraging words to those of you who may be weary. I hope it comforts you.

THE CRY.

The way is dark, my Father! cloud on cloud    
Is gathering quickly o’er my head; and loud
The thunders roar above me. See, I stand
Like one bewildered; FATHER, take my hand,
And through the gloom
Lead safely home
Thy child.

The day goes fast my FATHER; and the night
Is drawing darkly down. My faithless sight
Sees ghostly visions. Fears, a spectral band,
Encompass me. O FATHER! take my hand,
And from the night
Lead up to light
Thy child.

The way is long, my FATHER! and my soul
Longs for the rest and quiet of the goal;
While yet I journey through this weary land,
Keep me from wand’ring. FATHER, take my hand,
Quickly and straight
Lead to Heaven’s gate
Thy child.

The path is rough, my Father! many a thorn
Has pierced me, and my weary feet are torn;
And bleeding marks the way. Yet thy command
Bids me press forward. FATHER, take my hand;
Then safe, and blest,
Lead up to rest
Thy child.

The throng is great, my FATHER! many a doubt,
And fear, and danger, compass me about,
And foes oppress me sore. I cannot stand,
Or go, alone. O FATHER! take my hand,
And through the throng
Lead safe along
Thy child.

The cross is heavy, FATHER! I have borne
So long, and still do bear it. Let my worn
And fainting spirit rise to that bless’d land
Where crowns are given. FATHER, take my hand,
And reaching down
Lead to the crown
Thy child.

THE RESPONSE.

The way is dark, My child! but leads to light;
I would not have thee always walk by sight;
My dealings, now, thou canst not understand:
I meant it so; but I will take thy hand,
And through the gloom
Lead safely home
My child.

The day goes fast, My child! but is the night
Darker to Me than day? In Me is light;
Keep close to Me, and every spectral band
Of fears shall vanish! I will take thy hand,
And through the night
Lead up to light
My child.

The way is long, my child! but it shall be
Not one step longer than is best for thee;
And thou shalt know, at last, when thou shalt stand
Close to the gate, how I did take thy hand,
And quick and straight
Led to Heaven’s gate
My child.

The path is rough, My child! but, O, how sweet
Will be the rest for weary pilgrims meet!
When thou shalt reach the borders of that land
To which I lead thee, as I take thy hand,
And safe, and blest,
With Me shall rest
My child.

The throng is great, My child! but at thy side
Thy FATHER walks! then be not terrified,
For I am with thee; will thy foes command
To let thee freely pass; will take thy hand,
And through the throng
Lead safe along
My child.

The cross is heavy, child! yet there is One
Who bore a heavier for thee- My SON,
My well-beloved. With Him bear thine, and stand
With Him at last, and from thy FATHER’s hand,
Thy cross laid down,
Receive thy crown,
My child.

from One hundred choice hymns

Photo courtesy of mijita

The Bible Lives On

Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations. Psalm 119:89, 90

Family Bible Reading

The Bible is the precious gift of God to our human race. There is no other book like it in all the world. It is the one book from which God speaks to us directly. In the Bible alone there is found a message for every man, woman, or child who has ever lived or will live while the world lasts: It is the Message of God’s Salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. The message is for all.

From the first page to the last, the Bible speaks of Christ. No man understands the Bible until he finds Christ in it. The written word is the living portraiture of the Eternal and Incarnate Word who was made flesh and dwelt among us. It is this that makes Christ and the Book inseparable. Should we take Christ out of the Bible there would be no Bible left. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27 “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” Luke 24:44

God has spoken in His Word. We must honor what He says to us. Over and over again Jesus challenged the people of his time with the words, “Have ye not read?” (Matthew 12:3; 19:4; 21:16, 42; 22:31) The Holy Scriptures deserve from everyone the most solemn consideration. The man who treats them with contempt is stifling the voice which would summon him to salvation. He is preparing himself for his own ultimate ruin. “Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:13 Those who slight the written Word, slight God Himself, whose stamp it bears.

“No book has ever had as much opposition as the Bible. Men have laughed at it, scorned it, ridiculed it, burned it, and made laws against it.” (Adrian Rodgers) However the Bible may be regarded by us, it will stand. The unbelief of man cannot make the Word of God invalid. Nations may pass, languages die, the whole world may change, yet the Bible will live on. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35

[The Bible] has been victorious as no other book. Though the Bible has been so bitterly hated and so vigorously assaulted, it has come off a complete victor. Centuries of assault have served only to prove its indestructibility and confirm its power. Celsus, Porphyry, Lucian, Diocletian, Voltaire, Volney, Hume, Tom Paine, Wellhausen, Graf, Kuhnen, Cheyne, and an innumerable host have trained their mighty guns against this Book; They have brought to bear against it all the powers of science, philosophy, literary criticism, ridicule, force, political and military power, and every other form of power that they possessed, and all their assaults have come to nothing.

The Bible has come off a complete victor in every conflict. Anyone who will take the pains to consult history will have no doubts as to the outcome of the present attacks upon the Bible. Individuals of the past have talked just as boastingly of what they would do with the Bible in a few years as do the individuals of to-day, and with far more show of reason. But their confident boasts proved empty and futile and as we recall them now in the light of the established facts of subsequent history they only move us to a pitying smile. Voltaire is dead and forgotten, but the Bible is still alive and marching on.

Attacks on the Bible may do injury to a few weak individuals…but they do not hurt the cause of truth, for they but prove anew the Divine indestructibility of the imperishable Book of God. R.A. Torrey

If the Bible has been intensely hated it has still more been intensely loved,

Lincoln Reading Scripture

loved by the rich and loved by the poor; loved by the illiterate and loved by the greatest scholars the world has ever known; loved by men digging in the ditch, and loved by men ruling on a throne. Men, women and children have gladly laid down their lives for this Book.

Eusebius, the first historian of the Christian church, to whom we are indebted for so much invaluable information, tells us a moving story about Marinus, a young Christian officer in the Roman army, at Caesarea, in Palestine. He had the confidence of his superiors and was to be promoted to the higher rank of captain. Then out of jealousy one of his comrades denounced him as a Christian. Summoned before his colonel, he was asked if this was true, and when he confessed he was urged to abjure his faith. The colonel gave him three hours’ time. So he went to the small Christian church, where he found the venerable old bishop. The bishop, hearing his story, took the Bible in one hand and the soldier’s sword in the other. “This is your choice,” he said. And the soldier, without hesitating, grasped the Bible, went back, and declared himself to be and to remain a Christian. And instead of receiving military promotion he became a martyr.

It is a significant little story. Indeed, after a hard struggle, lasting through nearly three centuries, when the Roman empire found it necessary to attempt the final destruction of Christianity the attack was mostly directed against the Bible. Diocletian, in 303 A. D., on the 24th of February, issued an edict ordering all Christian churches to be destroyed and all Bibles to be burned. He relied on the Roman law, which forbids not only the exercise of magical arts, but the science of magic, too, and therefore condemns all books of magic to be burned. The Christians were accused of employing magic, and their Bible was treated as a magical book.

Even to be found reading the Bible made a man guilty of obstinate resistance to the emperor’s law and involved him in penalty. There was a deacon at Catania in Sicily named Euplus. He was reading the holy Scripture when the sheriff laid hold of him. Brought before the judge he takes his copy of the Gospel and reads from it (Matt. 5:10): “Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” and (Matt. 10 : 38): “And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me.” The judge asks him: “Why did you not surrender those volumes which the emperors forbade?” “Because,” he replies, “I am a Christian and it was not loyal to surrender. It is better to die than to surrender.” We do not need the addition made by a late Byzantine hagiographer that the copy of the Gospels was hung on his neck when he was conducted to execution. It is clear enough that he was suffering for his devotion toward the Bible and that it was the gospel which inspired his boldness.

Euplus does not stand alone. I could mention a dozen martyrs whose acts all give the same impression. Sometimes a gathering of men and women is apprehended while reading the Bible, and the whole company is forthwith carried away to the most painful tortures.

These Christians knew what the Bible was to them. All declamations of later theologians about the inspiration and the authority of the Bible count for nothing compared with this testimony. Ernst von Dobschütz

Whether we love God’s Word, or whether we hate His Word, the Bible’s

Family Worship

promises to those who receive it, and its threatenings to all who slight it, are sure! The word which God hath spoken is inevitable and unalterable. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

The story of the first Manx Bible is so interesting. The translator had been over to the Isle of Man, in order to verify some translation, but, on his way back, his ship was wrecked, and he himself was saved with difficulty upon a rock; and, as the tide rose higher and higher, it rose higher and higher about this devoted Bible student, who had managed, amid the wreck, to save the MS.(manuscript) of his Manx Bible; and at last, when the boats were able to put off to save him, he was found up to his neck in water, holding above all the surging sea a copy of the Word of God. Hold fast the Bible, for this Word liveth and endureth for ever. Little Sermon Book

What Will You Do Without Him?

I could not do without Him!
Jesus is more to me
Than all the richest, fairest gifts
Of earth could ever be.
But the more I find Him precious-
And the more I find Him true-
The more I long for you to find
What He can be to you.

You need not do without Him,
For He is passing by,
He is waiting to be gracious,
Only waiting for your cry:
He is waiting to receive you-
To make you all His own!
Why will you do without Him,
And wander on alone?

Why will you do without Him?
Is He not kind indeed?
Did He not die to save you?
Is He not all you need?
Do you not want a Saviour?
Do you not want a Friend?
One who will love you faithfully,
And love you to the end?

Why will you do without Him?
The Word of God is true!
The world is passing to its doom-
And you are passing too.
It may be no to-morrow
Shall dawn for you or me;
Why will you run the awful risk
Of all eternity?

What will you do without Him,
In the long and dreary day
Of trouble and perplexity,
When you do not know the way,
And no one else can help you,
And no one guides you right,
And hope comes not with morning,
And rest comes not with night?

You could not do without Him,
If once He made you see
The fetters that enchain you,
Till He hath set you free.
If once you saw the fearful load
Of sin upon your soul;
The hidden plague that ends in death,
Unless He makes you whole!

What will you do without Him,
When death is drawing near?
Without His love-the only love
That casts out every fear;
When the shadow-valley opens,
Unlighted and unknown,
And the terrors of its darkness
Must all be passed alone!

What will you do without Him,
When the great white throne is set,
And the Judge who never can mistake,
And never can forget,-
The Judge whom you have never here
As Friend and Saviour sought,
Shall summon you to give account
Of deed and word and thought?

What will you do without Him,
When He hath shut the door,
And you are left outside, because
You would not come before?
When it is no use knocking,
No use to stand and wait;
For the word of doom tolls through your heart,
That terrible “Too late!”

You cannot do without Him!
There is no other name
By which you ever can be saved,
No way, no hope, no claim!
Without Him-everlasting loss
Of love, and life, and light!
Without Him-everlasting woe,
And everlasting night.

But with Him-oh! with Jesus!
Are any words so blest?
With Jesus, everlasting joy
And everlasting rest!
With Jesus-all the empty heart
Filled with His perfect love;
With Jesus-perfect peace below,
And perfect bliss above.

Why should you do without Him?
It is not yet too late;
He has not closed the day of grace,
He has not shut the gate.
He calls you! hush! He calls you!
He would not have you go
Another step without Him,
Because He loves you so.

Why will you do without Him?
He calls and calls again-
“Come unto Me! Come unto Me!”
Oh, shall He call in vain?
He wants to have you with Him;
Do you not want Him too?
You cannot do without Him,
And He wants- even you.

-by Francis Ridley Havergal

Images courtesy of Brooklyn Museum
James Tissot collection

Tidings of Great Joy

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:8-14

Good News

In these verses we have the most joyful message that was ever proclaimed to man. The angel appeared to the humble shepherds to tell them that none other than the Savior of the world had been born. This wondrous child was the long expected Messiah, promised in Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” He was God in the flesh!

When the angel announced the birth of Jesus, he declared himself to be the bearer of  “good news of great joy” and these glad tidings were immediately repeated and confirmed by a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.” The gospel, properly speaking, and in its own words, simply means glad tidings. “Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy;” the original expression is, “This is a gospel of great joy.”

Through the long, dark, weary ages man had been groaning in captivity to the tyrant powers of sin. He was incapable of saving himself. He  needed a deliverer. He needed a Savior. He needed good news. God had sent prophets many times to herald the coming Messiah. When the world was at its darkest, He sent his Son. “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” Hebrews 1:1,2

When our blessed Lord began His public ministry, He came proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The prophet Isaiah spoke of a Messenger who would publish good tidings to mankind. The Lord Jesus Christ is undoubtedly that Messenger.

The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,”The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.  And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:17-21

Isaiah is the fullest revelation of Christ in the Old Testament—so much so, that it is often called “the gospel (good news) according to Isaiah.” A wonderful reference to the Lord is found in Isaiah 52:7. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Never were feet so beautiful as those of the Lord Jesus.

I’m going to end this post by quoting pastor John Munro. I think his words will help you understand the greatest Christmas gift that has ever been given to mankind.

Although Jesus was truly a man, at His glorious birth He did not cease to be God. In Jesus Christ, the true light of the world comes, and His followers see “his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

This glory is manifested against the darkness of our sin and rebellion. We are held captive in a prison by sin. We are in a dark pit whose walls are so high that we cannot possibly climb out. We are all in the same darkness. We cannot help one another. But Christmas reminds us that in Jesus the Light of the world has come into our prison. “The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16). When Jesus comes He does not come to judge or to condemn, but to save (John 3:17). Jesus means Savior, Rescuer and Deliverer. This is what His glorious birth is all about: He comes to “save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). John Munro

Be sure to read the rest of John Munro’s article-The Glorious Birth of Jesus Christ. “It is still proclaimed in our ears that to us is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord. These should be glad tidings to all.” (Matthew Henry)