"Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."
While the wise virgins amid the darkness of the midnight hour, are pressing to their saddened hearts the promises, "I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also;" "I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." "Yet a little while and he that shall come, will come and will not tarry," &c. There are not wanting sinners to contradict, saying, Where is the promise of his coming, all things continue as they were; those events and phenomena which you regard as signs, have been common to all times; this dark night will pass away and your beloved will not come. And as if all this were not enough, some of high standing in the churches, charge them with dishonesty and wickedness; viz; "Can such men be honest?" One of this class (though not a minister) said the other day to a brother, "You are supremely selfish, in desiring Christ to come and make you immortal. It is my business to obey God, without any anxiety for my own salvation. If I obey God, he is under obligation to save me."
The brother's reply was, "It seems to me that it is not supreme selfishness for me to receive with a thankful heart, the unmerited gift which God has freely presented."
But in view of all these things, let the "wise virgins" diligently "consider him that endured such contradiction"—that he "resisted unto blood, striving against sin." Let them not forget the shameful abuse he received from his ungodly neighbors at Nazareth, when they, filled with wrath, rose up and thrust him out of their city, and would have destroyed him, if their vengeance could have found means. He had lived quietly among them—been industrious in his calling—and blameless in his life; yet, when he came to read and to explain to them the Scriptures, the power of his word stirred their deepest revenge. See Luke iv, 16. Let them consider the wicked plot laid by the leading men in the Church for the purpose of bringing him under "the power and authority of the governor." Luke xx, 20. The ridiculous argument of the Sadducees against the resurrection of the body. Luke xxvii, 5. That desperate mob, armed with "swords and staves," and provided with "lanterns and torches," and headed by a professed minister—and that most shameful of all trials, in which, smiting, spitting, and mocking, were fully mingled.—
[Brethren, none of us have received this; if we should, may it be with the meekness and gentleness of Christ.]
Let the wise virgins consider well this Jesus, and the opposition he received from professed friends and open enemies, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Let your faith and hope be in God, that they may never fail.—Voice of Truth.