EMMANUEL –
GOD WITH US
BY C. A. J.
Art Thou He that
should come? Or look we for another? –St. Luke vii:19.
Our Saviour’s
answer to this inquiry was one eminently satisfactory, and it was thoroughly in
accordance with His statement made elsewhere, “Ye shall know them by their
fruits.” It was such an answer as might be delivered to John by his disciples
without liability to mistake, for pictures of the wonderful sights they beheld
must have been engraven on their minds.
For, “in
that same hour He cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil
spirits; and unto many that were blind He grave sight.” (St. Luke, viii:21).
These were “mighty
works” which no false prophet could perform, and for those who were willing to receive
the truth, the question was forever settled. There was no need of looking for
another and greater prophet; the long expected Messiah was indeed in their
midst.
Obvserve the
directness and simplicity of Jesus’ spoken
answer, “Go your way and tell John what things ye have seen and heard, how the
blind see, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead
are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached.” –(St. Luke vii:22.)
Here was the
fulfillment of prophecy, and yet there were more prophecies fulfilled. ‘He was
wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities the
chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed”
(Isa. liii:5), and even while these words were being fulfilled by Christ’s
agonies on the cross, some, mocking, said “He saved others; Himself He cannot
save.” –(St. Mark xv:31.)
What must
those revilers have thought when, three days later, He burst the bond of
death-a proof of the falsity of their charges. And yet there were some,
hardened in unbelief, who doubted still, and to this day many are rejecting the
only way of salvation, and are vainly looking for another.
The apostle
says, “If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is
also vain… but now is Christ risen from the dead.”-(1 Cor. sv:14,20) And again
we read, “When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts
unto men” (Eph. Iv:8), and we have continual testimony from those who are, up
to the present hour, receiving those precious gifts.
As
professing Christians we are ready to say that we believe this, but do we
believe it all? Have we faith enough to accept our Saviour’s promise, “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my
name He will give it you”? Are we ready to fill out this blank check with a
list of our needs, and then present it before the Throne? Some there are who
claim God’s promised mercies for soul and body; but does not the course of many
professing Christians remind us of the disciples who saw Christ walking on the
waters and were afraid? Again and again our Lord has assured us, as He assured
them, that He is with us and we need not be afraid, but still like Peter many
are saying, “Lord, if it be Thou, bit
me come unto thee on the water.”
And after
our Lord has bid us to come, we fail to fix our eyes steadfastly on Him, but
look, instead, at the boisterous waters, until, as a consequence, our weak
faith fails, we begin to sink, and then with all our hearts to cry, “Lord, save
us.”
No effort of
our own avails, but Jesus stretches forth His strong helping hand, with the
words, “O, thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” and in the claim
that follows we are ready to worship Him and say, “Of a truth Thou art the Son of God.”-(St. Matt. xiv:33.)
O, how we
need God’s Spirit to enable us to know Jesus, to abide in Him by faith, that
our every word and work may be as fruit growing on a purged and living branch,
springing from the Vine of eternal truth and life.
Yes, Lord,
take us, purge us, even in spite of ourselves, until Thou knowest that fruit we
bear will prove to ourselves and to others, that surely Thou art come, and we
need no “look for another.”
Be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus.
