p. 7 | THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST by J. B. Silcox

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 23, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 34.

THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST.

By J. B. Silcox

THE name of Jesus is above every name, because He went down lower than any other in order to reform deformed humanity. Jesus did not come into the world to save a church, or an institution, or an ordinance, or a creed, or a ceremony. He came to save men. It was men He was after. The one thing, and the only thing, under the blue vault of heaven sacred to Him was the human soul, no matter how battered and bruised, how maltreated and mutilated, that soul might be. Jesus did not want to live in lonely supremacy above His fellows. He longed to bring the whole human race up to the heights He Himself had attained.

With the teaching and example of Jesus before us, it does not become us to hold ourselves aloof from humanity on the ground that they are below us in culture, wealth, or social standing. There is a feeling abroad that people vulgarize themselves by mixing too familiarly with common folks. As people rise in wealth and culture they are disposed to separate themselves from those less fortunate. That is, as they grow better they grow worse—they become less democratic and more aristocratic. Their culture makes them cold. Their refinement makes them exclusive. It is true they practise a sort of professional philanthropy. They give an annual contribution to some benevolent institution. But they never take a personal interest in individuals or families. They never come into close fraternal contact with the victims of poverty and crime. They could not by any stretch of the imagination be called the friends of publicans and sinners. They never take the outcast by the hand and show him friendship and interest. "Bring the poor that are cast out to thine house" is a command they never undertake to obey. "When thou makest a feast call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind," is not included in their rules of hospitality and etiquette.

What I am contending for is that we show personal sympathy with, and take a personal interest in, men and women in need. This is what Jesus did. Again and again, in reading His life, you notice that He took this one and that one by the hand. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the city. He reached out His hand and touched the leper. He took the devil-possessed boy by the hand and lifted him up. Jesus took all kinds of folks by the hand. He touched the eyes of the blind. His touch meant personal interest, personal sympathy, personal help. This is what helpless humanity needs to-day. They need food and clothing for the body, but above this they need human sympathy and human love.—Rev. J. B. Silcox.