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Alexander Whyte
Alexander Whyte, born 1836, died 1921, was a Scottish preacher and theologian whose powerful sermons and imaginative biblical expositions left a profound mark on the Free Church of Scotland during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on January 13, 1836, in Kirriemuir, Angus, to an unmarried mother, Janet Thomson, and an absent father, John Whyte, he grew up in poverty, raised by his mother and stepfather, James Low. Largely self-educated while apprenticed to a shoemaker, Whyte’s intellectual gifts led him to teach at a local school before entering the ministry. He studied at King’s College, Aberdeen, and New College, Edinburgh, under luminaries like Alexander Duff, and was ordained in 1866, first serving at Free St John’s in Glasgow before moving to Free St George’s in Edinburgh in 1870, where he preached for over 30 years. Whyte’s ministry at St George’s drew large crowds with his vivid, character-driven sermons, often exploring the inner lives of biblical figures like Jacob and Paul, as seen in works like Bible Characters (1896–1902). Appointed principal of New College, Edinburgh, in 1909, he also served as Moderator of the Free Church General Assembly in 1898, balancing pastoral duties with academic leadership. A prolific writer, his books—Bunyan Characters (1893–1908), The Walk, Conversation and Character of Jesus Christ Our Lord (1905), and others—blended scholarship with devotional depth, earning praise from figures like Charles Spurgeon. Married twice, first to Jane Elizabeth Duncan (d. 1880) and then to Jane Barbour Stewart, he fathered eight children. Whyte died on January 6, 1921, in Edinburgh, and as of March 21, 2025, his legacy endures through his writings and influence on Scottish Presbyterianism.
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Alexander Whyte preaches about the profound sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who willingly endured immense suffering and humiliation, including being spat on, mocked, scourged, and crucified, all to fulfill the divine purpose of giving His life as a ransom for many. Despite the horrific events leading to Jesus' crucifixion, God the Father allowed it all to happen as part of His plan to remove sin from the world, showcasing His incredible love and mercy towards humanity.
To Take Away Sin
"... to give his life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:28). You have heard sometimes about hell being let loose. Yes, but hear this. Come to Caiaphas' palace on the passover night, and look at this. "Then did they spit in His face, and buffeted Him: they blindfolded Him and then they smote Him with the palms of their hands, saying: Prophesy to us, Thou Christ, who is it that smote Thee? And they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns"--I wonder in what sluggard's garden it grew!--"they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying: Hail! King of the Jews! And they spit upon Him again, and took the reed out of His hand, and smote Him upon the head. Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. After which they brought Jesus forth wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And when the Chief Priests saw Jesus, they cried out, Crucify Him! crucify Him! Then Pilate delivered Him to them to be crucified . " My brethren,--these are dreadful, most dreadful, things. And all the time, God Almighty, the God and Father of Jesus Christ, restrained Himself, He held Himself in, and sat as still as a stone, seeing and hearing all that. The arrest, the trial, the buffeting, the spitting, the jesting and the jeering, the bloody scourging, the crown of thorns, the reed, and the purple robe--Why? In the name of amazement, why did the Judge of all the earth sit still and see all that said and done? Do you know what made Him sit still? Did you ever think about it? And would you like to be told how it could be? God Almighty, my brethren, not only sat still, but He ordained it all; and His Son endured it all,--in order to take away sin.
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Alexander Whyte, born 1836, died 1921, was a Scottish preacher and theologian whose powerful sermons and imaginative biblical expositions left a profound mark on the Free Church of Scotland during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on January 13, 1836, in Kirriemuir, Angus, to an unmarried mother, Janet Thomson, and an absent father, John Whyte, he grew up in poverty, raised by his mother and stepfather, James Low. Largely self-educated while apprenticed to a shoemaker, Whyte’s intellectual gifts led him to teach at a local school before entering the ministry. He studied at King’s College, Aberdeen, and New College, Edinburgh, under luminaries like Alexander Duff, and was ordained in 1866, first serving at Free St John’s in Glasgow before moving to Free St George’s in Edinburgh in 1870, where he preached for over 30 years. Whyte’s ministry at St George’s drew large crowds with his vivid, character-driven sermons, often exploring the inner lives of biblical figures like Jacob and Paul, as seen in works like Bible Characters (1896–1902). Appointed principal of New College, Edinburgh, in 1909, he also served as Moderator of the Free Church General Assembly in 1898, balancing pastoral duties with academic leadership. A prolific writer, his books—Bunyan Characters (1893–1908), The Walk, Conversation and Character of Jesus Christ Our Lord (1905), and others—blended scholarship with devotional depth, earning praise from figures like Charles Spurgeon. Married twice, first to Jane Elizabeth Duncan (d. 1880) and then to Jane Barbour Stewart, he fathered eight children. Whyte died on January 6, 1921, in Edinburgh, and as of March 21, 2025, his legacy endures through his writings and influence on Scottish Presbyterianism.