Leaning Upon Her Beloved
The sermon emphasizes the importance of leaning upon Christ, proving our love through perfect trust, and feeding on His life to satisfy all our needs.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the importance of fully leaning on Jesus, akin to John resting on His breast at the Last Supper, as a demonstration of our love and trust in Him. He illustrates that true love for Christ involves casting all our cares upon Him without reservation, as He is capable of managing our burdens and fulfilling our needs. Simpson encourages believers to not only lean on Christ but also to feed on His life, highlighting that this resting and reliance is essential for the weary heart. He draws from the imagery of a heathen woman who sought confidence in her missionary, urging us to trust fully in the Lord. Ultimately, the sermon calls us to seek Jesus, asking where He nourishes His flock, as we lean upon Him.
Text
Will we make the claim most practical and real and, like John, at the Last Supper, lean our full weight upon our Lord's breast? That is the way He would have us prove our love. "if you love me lean hard," said a heathen woman to her missionary, as she was timidly leaning her tired body upon her stalwart body. She felt slighted by the timorous reserve and asked the confidence that would lay all its weight upon the one she trusted. Jesus says to us, [Cast] all your care upon [me]; for [I care] for you (1 Peter 5:7). He would have us prove our love by a perfect trust that makes no reserve. He is able to carry all our care, to manage all our interests, to satisfy all our needs. Let us go forth leaning upon Him and feeding on His life.
For John not only leaned but also fed.
It was at supper that he leaned. This is the secret of feeding on Him, to rest upon His bosom. This is the need of the fevered heart of man. Let us cry to Him, Tell me, 0 thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon (Song of Solomon 1:7).
Sermon Outline
- The Call to Lean Upon Christ points: - Proving love through perfect trust - Jesus' invitation to cast all care upon Him
- The Ability of Christ to Carry Our Care points: - He is able to manage all our interests - He is able to satisfy all our needs
- The Secret of Feeding on Christ points: - Resting upon His bosom - Crying out to Him for guidance and nourishment
Key Quotes
“if you love me lean hard” — A.B. Simpson
“He would have us prove our love by a perfect trust that makes no reserve.” — A.B. Simpson
“Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Trust Christ to carry your care and make Him your rock and refuge in times of need.
- Demonstrate a perfect trust in Christ by making no reserve in your faith.
- Rest upon Christ's bosom and cry out to Him for guidance and nourishment.