MEDITATION

From this verse I shall speak of the grievous sufferings of Christ, and the glorious ornament he put upon them, even the ornament of a meek and patient spirit. He opened not his mouth; but went as a sheep to be shorn, or a lamb to the slaughter. The lamb goes as quiet to the slaughter-house as to the fold. By this lively and lovely similitude the patience of Christ is here expressed to us. Whence we learn, that

Jesus Christ supported the burden of his sufferings with admirable patience and meekness of spirit.

Patience never had a more glorious triumph than it had upon the cross. The meekness and patience of Christ’s spirit, amidst injuries and provocations, is excellently set forth in 1 Peter 2:22, 23: “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered he threatened not, but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously.”

In this point we have the burden of sufferings and provocations with which Jesus Christ was oppressed; his admirable meekness and patience; and the causes and grounds of the perfect patience he exercised.

I. The burden of sufferings and provocations which Christ supported was very great; for on him met all kinds of trouble at once, and those in their highest degrees: trouble in his soul, which was the soul of his trouble, “He began to be sore amazed and very heavy.” Mark 14:33. The wrath of an infinite God beat him down to the dust. His body was full of pain and exquisite tortures in every part. Not a member or sense but was the seat and subject of torment.

His name suffered the vilest indignities, blasphemies, and reproaches that the malignity of Satan and wicked men could utter against it. Contempt was poured upon all his offices. Upon his kingly office when they crowned him with thorns, arrayed him with purple, bowed the knee with mockery to him and cried, “Hail, King of the Jews;” his prophetical office when they blinded him and then bid him “prophesy who smote him.” his priestly office when they reviled him on the cross, saying, “He saved other, himself he cannot save.” They scourged him, spit in his face, and smote him.

All this, and much more than this, meeting at once upon an innocent and dignified person; one that was greater than all; one that could have crushed all his enemies as a moth — all this borne without the least discomposure of spirit, is the highest triumph of patience ever exhibited to man. It was one of the greatest wonders of that wonderful day.

II. Consider this almighty patience and unparalleled meekness of Christ, supporting such a burden.

Christian patience, or the grace of patience, is an ability to suffer hard and heavy afflictions, according to the will of God. It is a glorious power that strengthens the suffering soul to bear. “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness,” Col. 1:11 ; that is, strengthened with the might or power of God himself. God has several kinds of burdens to impose upon his people. Some heavier, others lighter; some to be carried but a few hours, others many days, others all our days; some more spiritual, bearing upon the soul; some more external, touching the flesh immediately and the spirit by way of sympathy; and sometimes both kinds are laid on together. So they were at this time on Christ. His soul full of the bitter apprehension of the wrath of God; his body filled with tortures; in every member and sense grief took up its lodging. Here was the highest exercise of patience.

III. Let us inquire into the grounds and reasons of this perfect patience:

1. This admirable patience and meekness of Christ was the fruit of his perfect holiness. His nature was free from those corruptions that ours groans and labors under. Take the meek Moses, who excelled all others in this grace — let him be tried and see how “unadvisedly he may speak with his lips.” Take a Job, whose patience is resounded over all the world, “ye have heard of the patience of Job,” and let him be tried by outward and inward troubles meeting upon him in one day, and even a Job may curse the day wherein he was born. Our nature is fretful and passionate. But it was otherwise with Christ. “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me,” John 14:30, no principle of corruption, as an inlet to temptation. Our High-Priest was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.” Hebrews 7:26.

2. The meekness and patience of Christ proceeded from the infinite wisdom with which he was filled. The wiser any man is, the more patient he is. Hence meekness, the fruit, is denominated from patience, the root that bears it,” the meekness of wisdom.” And anger is lodged in folly, its proper cause. “Anger resteth in the bosom of fools.” Wisdom filled the soul of Christ. He is wisdom in the abstract, Proverbs 8. In him, are hid all the treasures of wisdom.” Col. 2:3. Hence he was no otherwise moved with the revilings and abuses of his enemies than a wise physician is with the impertinence of his distempered patient.

3. His patience flowed also from his foreknowledge. He had a perfect prospect from eternity of all which befell him. He foresaw all these things: “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed.” Mark 8:31. Yea, he had agreed with his Father to endure all this for our sakes, before he assumed our flesh. Hence, “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” Isaiah 50:6.

4. His patience sprang from the faith he exercised under all he suffered. His faith looked through all those dark and dismal clouds, to the joy set before him. He knew that though Pilate condemned, God would justify him. And he set one over against the other; he balanced the glory into which he was to enter with the sufferings through which he was to enter it. He exercised faith in God for divine support under sufferings, as well as for glory, the fruit and reward of them.

5. As his faith, eyeing the glory into which he was passing, made him endure all things, so the heavenliness of his spirit filled him with tranquillity and calmness under all abuses and injuries. The more heavenly any man’s spirit is, the more sedate, composed, and peaceful. Certainly that heart which is sweetened frequently with heavenly, delightful communion with God, is not very apt to be embittered with wrath, or soured with revenge against men. Never was there such a heavenly soul on earth as Christ’s: he had most sweet and wonderful communion with God; he had meat to eat which others, yea, his most intimate friends, knew not of. The Son of man was in heaven upon earth, John 3:13; even in respect to the blessed heavenly communion he had with God.

6. As his meekness and patience sprang from the heavenliness of his spirit, so likewise from his complete and absolute obedience to his Father’s will: he could most quietly submit to all the will of God, and never regret any part of the work assigned him. For you must know that Christ’s death was on his part an act of obedience; he all along eyeing his Father’s command and counsel in what he suffered.

In making a practical improvement of this subject, the direct and main use is to press on us a Christlike patience in all our sufferings and troubles. And seeing in nothing we are more generally defective, I resolve to confine myself to this branch, even a persuasion to Christians unto all patience in tribulations, to imitate their lamb-like Saviour. Unto this, Christians, you are expressly called: “Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” Here is your pattern; a perfect pattern; a lovely and excellent pattern!

1. Look upward when tribulations come upon you; look to that sovereign Lord that commissions and sends them upon you. You know troubles do not rise out of the dust. Troubles and afflictions are of the Lord’s framing and devising, to reduce his wandering people to himself. You may observe much of divine wisdom in the choice, measure, and season of your troubles — sovereignty, in electing the instruments of your affliction in making them as afflictive as he pleases; and in making them obedient to his call, both in coming and going. But if you once come to see that man is a rod in your Father’s hand, you will be quiet. Psalm 46:10. It is for want of looking up to God in our troubles that we fret, murmur, and despond as we do.

2. Look downward, as well as up to that which is above you. You are afflicted, and you cannot bear it. Well, cast your eye downward and see those who lie much lower than you. Are you at the very bottom, and not a man below you? Surely there are thousands in a sadder case than you. Are you persecuted and afflicted for Christ’s sake? What think you of their sufferings, “who had trial of cruel mockings; yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented.” Hebrews 11:36, 37.

Or are your afflictions more spiritual and inward? Say not the Lord never dealt more bitterly with the soul of any than with you. What think you of the case of David, Heman, Job, Asaph, whose doleful cries, by reason of the terrors of the Almighty, may melt the hardest heart that reads their complaints? The Almighty was a terror to them; the arrows of God were within them; they roared by reason of the disquietness of their hearts. Or are your afflictions outward and inward together; an afflicted soul in an afflicted body? Well, so it was with Paul, Job, and many other of those worthies gone before you.

3. Look outward, and see who stands by and observes you under your trouble. Are there not many eyes upon you; yea, many envious observers round about you? To the wicked there can scarcely be a higher gratification than to see your conduct under trouble so like their own; for thereby they are conformed in their prejudices against religion, and in their good opinion of themselves. Oh, how do you dishonor Christ before his enemies when you make them think all your religion lies in talking of it.

4. Look backward, and see if there be nothing behind you that may hush and quiet your impatient spirit. Is this the first strait that ever you were in? If so, you have reason to be quiet, yet to bless God that has spared you so long, when others have had their days filled with sorrow. But if you have been in troubles formerly, and the Lord has helped you; if you have passed through the fire, and not been burnt; through the waters, and not drowned; O what cause have you to be quiet now, and patiently wait for the salvation of God! Did he help you then, and cannot he do so now? Oh call to mind the days of old, the years of the right hand of the Most High.

5. Look forward to the end of your troubles. Look to the end of their duration, and that is very near; they shall not be everlasting troubles if you fear the Lord. “The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Jesus Christ, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect.” 1 Peter 5:10. These light afflictions are “but for a moment,” compared with the vast eternity before you. What are a few days and nights of sorrow when they are past? Are they not swallowed up as a drop in the vast ocean? What do all these afflictions tend to and effect? Do they not work out an exceeding weight of glory? Are you not by them made “partakers of his holiness?” Hebrews 12. Is not the fruit of all this to take away your sins?

6. Look to the right hand, and see how you are shamed, convinced, and silenced by other Christians; and it may be such, too, as never made the profession you have done; and yet can not only patiently bear the afflicting hand of God, but are blessing, praising, and admiring God under their troubles; while you are sinning against and dishonoring him under smaller ones. It may be you will find some poor christians that know not where to get their next meal, and yet are speaking of the bounty of their God; while you are repining in the midst of plenty. Ah, if there is any ingenuousness in you, let this shame you. If this will not, then,

7. Look to your left hand, and there you will see a sad sight, and what one would think should quiet you. There you may see a company of wicked, unconverted sinners, acting under their troubles but too much like yourself. What do they more than fret and murmur, despond and sink, mix sin with their afflictions, when the rod of God is upon them? It is time for you to improve when you see ow near you are to them whom you hope you shall never be ranked with.

From The Fountain of Life by

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