I Have Exalted One Chosen Out of the People
Christ was chosen out of the people to be our brother, to know our wants and sympathize with us, and to guide us through difficult circumstances.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the profound relationship between Christ and believers, portraying Jesus as a brother who shares in our humanity and understands our struggles. He reassures believers that Christ, chosen from among the people, sympathizes with our needs and experiences, having faced temptation and suffering Himself. This connection offers comfort and confidence, reminding us that Jesus walks with us through life's challenges, including the darkest moments. Spurgeon encourages believers to cherish this relationship, knowing that Christ's presence and understanding provide strength and hope in adversity.
Text
Why was Christ chosen out of the people? Speak, my heart, for heart-thoughts are best. Was it not that He might be able to be our brother, in the blest tie of kindred blood? Oh, what relationship there is between Christ and the believer! The believer can say, "I have a Brother in heaven; I may be poor, but I have a Brother who is rich, and is a King, and will He suffer me to want while He is on His throne? Oh, no! He loves me; He is my Brother." Believer, wear this blessed thought, like a necklace of diamonds, around the neck of thy memory; put it, as a golden ring, on the finger of recollection, and use it as the King's own seal, stamping the petitions of thy faith with confidence of success. He is a brother born for adversity, treat Him as such.
Christ was also chosen out of the people that He might know our wants and sympathize with us. "He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin." In all our sorrows we have His sympathy. Temptation, pain, disappointment, weakness, weariness, poverty--He knows them all, for He has felt all. Remember this, Christian, and let it comfort thee. However difficult and painful thy road, it is marked by the footsteps of thy Saviour; and even when thou reachest the dark valley of the shadow of death, and the deep waters of the swelling Jordan, thou wilt find His footprints there. In all places whithersoever we go, He has been our forerunner; each burden we have to carry, has once been laid on the shoulders of Immanuel.
"His way was much rougher and darker than mine Did Christ, my Lord, suffer, and shall I repine?"
Take courage! Royal feet have left a blood-red track upon the road, and consecrated the thorny path for ever.
Sermon Outline
- Christ's Relationship with Believers
- Christ's Experience and Sympathy
- Christ's Example and Guidance
- Christ's way as a model for believers
- Christ's sacrifice and consecration of our path
- Christ's sympathy and understanding
Key Quotes
“He is a brother born for adversity, treat Him as such.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“His way was much rougher and darker than mine Did Christ, my Lord, suffer, and shall I repine?” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We can take courage in knowing that Christ has been our forerunner in all places, and that each burden we carry has once been laid on the shoulders of Immanuel.
- We can remember that Christ's way was much rougher and darker than ours, and that He has consecrated the thorny path for us.
- We can wear the thought of Christ as our brother like a necklace of diamonds, and use it to stamp our petitions with confidence of success.