SYMPATHY WITH CHRIST by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 16, 1880

SYMPATHY WITH CHRIST.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

CHRIST has become the connecting link between Heaven and earth. He was the Son of God, and also the Son of man. "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted."

In his humiliation his purity and holiness were never stained by sin. "We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." These words contain wonderful ideas, which reveal to us how finite man can connect with the infinite God, and be partakers of his nature, and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. Christ's human arm encircles the race, his divine arm the throne of God. The two natures are blended in one. To be a Christian is to be Christ-like. To partake of his spirit, to be actuated by motives which brought him from Heaven will not lead men to self-exultation, but humiliation. "For he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

Men possessing this spirit will not strive for earthly honor and reputation, but in lowliness of mind will esteem others better than themselves. They will labor, sacrifice, and suffer that others may receive exaltation and honor. The interests of others will be theirs. In this they will take delight.

This is Christianity. It is as foreign from selfishness as Heaven is higher than the earth. Those possessing this spirit have learned to suffer with Christ here, and they will reign with him in glory. The apostle ever felt that he was under obligations to others not others to him. "I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarian; both to the wise, and unwise." He very forcibly expresses this idea in Rom. 15 : 2, 3; "Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification, for even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me." It is thus we sympathize with Christ.

Nebuchadnezzar gloried in his own works. "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?" But how different was the glorying of the apostle, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."

In one case self is honored and God is left out, in the other self is abased and Christ and his work, which was for the salvation of man, are manifested. "If any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his." When men refuse to confess their sins, for fear it will cause them to be thought less of by their fellow-men, or refuse to bear burdens for others at the expense of their own ease or comfort, they need the transforming influence of the grace of God. They do not know the fellowship of Christ's suffering. They have not been made conformable to his death. Here lies the secret of the power of the Christian religion. It is our sympathy with Christ, his with us, and the same spirit extended to others which saves men.