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Resisted unto Blood

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jun 19, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 25.

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Resisted unto Blood.

By T.

In exhorting us to the perfection of the example of Christ, the apostle Paul says, "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." In this scripture sentence the conflict that the Master waged in the Garden of Gethsemane is brought vividly to mind.
The Lord Jesus entered into the sufferings of men, and made Himself a partaker in the conflict that we are called upon to wage against sin by taking upon Himself the sinful flesh of humanity. Upon this point read the following soul-helpful scripture:
"Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same; that thru death He might bring to naught him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all them who thru fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily not to angels doth He give help, but He giveth help to the seed of Abraham. Wherefore it behooved Him in all things to be made like unto His brethren, that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted." Heb. 2: 14-18.
"The children are sharers in flesh and blood," says the apostle, and then he adds that the Master "Himself in like manner partook of the same." He "partook of the same;" and He partook of the same "in like manner." Then we may be encouraged in our conflict with the flesh against sin since the Master took upon Himself this same flesh that we find so much difficulty in bringing into subjection to the right. Our encouragement is heightened and deepened by the further knowledge that the Master assumed the same flesh and blood with us so "that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest." "For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted."
The only way that we mortals can be enabled to fully enter into sympathetic touch with one that is in deep grief or distress is to have passed thru the same thing, and in the same way. But having had the same suffering ourselves, we can come to the afflicted one and say, "I know just how you feel; I have passed thru it all." And when the suffering, distressed one is thus met by a person that has had actual experience in the things that he is now suffering, he can feel the "touch" of sympathy, even tho no other word is uttered aside from the statement, "I have passed thru the same thing."
Such is the law of sympathy and helpfulness among men. And the Master recognized that, even tho He were the Son of God Himself, yet He could not be a perfect sympathizer with humanity unless He actually tasted in His own person of the conflicts, the griefs, and the woes that are suffered by the sinful race. Thus does the Son of Man take infinite pains to give to the subjects of His salvation the strongest and at the same time the most delicate touches of sympathy.
He partook of the same flesh with humanity, and with the same handicap that enthralls sinful man, the Master fought the battle of overcoming sin completely. He met every temptation that we have to meet. For doth not the Scripture say:
"Having then a great High Priest, who hath passed thru the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest that can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but One that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need." Heb. 4: 14-16.
He has fought the battle clear thru. He has met sin at every turn. He "hath been in all points tempted like as we are." And He was successful in every conflict, for He came out of the battle "without sin."
His whole life from the manger to Gethsemane and Calvary was a part of the plan to fit Him to "touch" humanity with His heart of infinite sympathy. His life was the very life that He is seeking to lift us into. His whole life was lived to show how to link humanity with divinity so as to actually conquer sin and to live the real life of the righteous.
And, O, how bravely and unswervingly and unyieldingly He fought. He gave sin no quarter, and He allowed it no place anywhere in His life. It came surging against Him with its great temptations until in the supreme conflict of Gethsemane it forced from His agonized and agonizing person the death agony and blood sweat. But still He could not be forced to yield. O masterful Conqueror! O Hero of heroes! Thou hast not called us to resist sin in the fires of such indescribable agonies, but we humbly pray Thee to strengthen us to resist in the same spirit of unconquerable courage.
What an uplifting help it is to mankind when we are made aware of the fact that we have such a sympathetic, such a courageous, such an unconquerable High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary for our Mediator and Redeemer! T.