p. 206 | Character of Christ

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 13, 1871

Character of Christ.

It is to the moral character of the Son of God that we wish particularly, now, to direct our attention. We arrive at the knowledge of his character by noting what he said and what he did. “By their fruits ye shall know them.”

He was submissive to his Father’s will—in other words, he was obedient. “I must be about my Father’s business.” “I came not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.” Such was his oft-repeated language, and such the principle that governed his life. Once, and once only, he faltered. ’Twas on the dark night of his betrayal. Prostrate he lay on the cold, damp earth, in the garden of Gethsemane. Alone he prayed—nay, it was agony! “He sweat as it were great drops of blood.” “The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weak.” From the great deep of his agonized spirit went up the voice of supplication, “Father, may not this cup pass from me?” “If it be possible, let it pass!” It was but for a moment. In an instant the great controlling principle of his life resumed its wonted sway. It nerved him for the conflict. It lifted him above the horrors that surrounded him, and enabled him to exclaim in the strength of a mighty triumph, “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, O God! be done.”

He was unselfish. Every motive that prompted him, every feeling of his heart, every action of his life was devoted to the good—to the happiness of others. He willingly exchanged the wealth of Heaven for the poverty of earth, the palace of his Father, God, for the stable where oxen fed, the throne of the universe for the manger of Bethlehem, the crown of glory for the crown of thorns, the adoration of angels for the scoffs and bitter taunts and revilings of heartless men and malignant demons. All this he did and suffered for no selfish end or object, but solely for the good of others—for our good.

He was zealous. Moved by a mighty motive—the elevation, purification, and glorification, of a sin-polluted and death-doomed race—he was earnest and indefatigable in the prosecution of his mission: To convert a race of polluted, miserable, and dying mortals. Animated by such a purpose as this, he put forth all the energies of his nature for its accomplishment. He shrank from no hardship; faltered at no difficulty; trembled at no danger; shunned no labor; avoided no sacrifice that was necessary for the consummation of an object so grand and beneficent.

He was courageous. We speak not now of what men usually call courage—a proud and reckless disregard of danger—a spirit which prompts its possessor to rush headlong into the deadly breach, and “seek the bauble reputation even at the cannon’s mouth.” We speak not of this, but of that moral bravery which walks forth “thrice

armed” in the conscious rectitude of its intentions, and in the strength of a high and holy purpose, to do battle for the RIGHT. Such courage he possessed in a super-eminent degree. And it manifested itself on all proper occasions. In every emergency of his eventful career under whatever of trial or of temptation he was placed, he boldly, yet meekly, maintained his integrity; he steadily pursued the path of duty. He redressed wrongs, exposed error, and rebuked sin in the lordly, as well as in the lowly; in the titled dignitary, as readily as in the humble poor; in the priest, as well as in the private individual; in prince, as well as in the peasant.

His moral courage was negative, as well as positive. It enabled him to do, but it also enabled him to bear. While it nerved him for action, it also nerved him for suffering. While a high degree of courage is often required for the prompt and faithful performance of a stern duty, in the face of bitter opposition, a still higher degree is requisite for the patient endurance of suffering when duty so demands. In this passive courage, this courage of endurance, oh! how brightly shines the character of the Christian’s Leader and Deliverer. “He patiently bore the contradictions of sinners against himself.” He meekly submitted to the insults of those he came to bless. “When reviled, he reviled not again.” When the crown of thorns was plaited, he meekly bowed his head to receive from the hand of malice the cruel mockery of his just pretensions to royalty. When spit upon, he gently wiped the insult from his face. When his back was bared for the cruel scourge, he uttered no word of complaint. When his strength gave way, and his steps tottered under the burden of the cross they compelled him to bear, no murmur escaped his lips. When he hung upon the tree—while the heavens grew black with amazement at the inhuman malice of his murderers; while the earth trembled and shook with horror at so fearful a crime; while the rending rocks and bursting graves testified their abhorrence and thundered forth their rebuke against the cruelty and injustice of his foes, he lifted his dying eyes toward Heaven, and in the sweet tones of pity, compassion, and love, prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

He was merciful. His labor was a “labor of love.” “He went about doing good.” He wiped the tear from pale sorrow’s eye, and poured the balm of consolation into the bosom of distress. He gave sight to the man born blind, that he might gaze on the sweet face of a mother whose tender love had watched over him in his darkness and in his helplessness. He gave hearing to the deaf one, that he might drink in the music of a loving father’s voice. He caused the lame to leap with joy and gratitude. He made the tongue that had been dumb, vocal with praises. He lighted up a smile on the pale sad face of the widow of Nain, bereft of her only son, by commanding the monarch of the tomb.

“To give the dear boy’s features To his mother’s gaze once more.”

He wept at the grave of Lazarus, while he dried the tears of the orphaned sisters, restoring their dead brother to their joyful embrace, by breaking the chain that bound him in the prison of death.

Such is the character, feebly sketched, of the Author of our holy religion. Reader, will you study his history as given by his inspired biographers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? Will you fill out this very imperfect sketch from your own reading and reflections? And then will you draw your conclusions in regard to the nature of that system of mercy and of salvation which he has given to the world? Will you embrace it? Will you give it your influence, your life, your all? Will you recommend it to others? Above all, will you earnestly seek to secure for yourself the high boon which it promises to all who sincerely embrace it, and faithfully practice its precepts, the boon of everlasting life?—Western (Cal.) Evangelist.