His friendship for John-In a less degree, for all the disciples- The miracles mainly works of beneficence-Many parables reveal Christ's sympathy with suffering-The Prodigal Son-The Good Samaritan-The healing of the Gadarene demoniacs- Poverty of Christ-It was adverse to His claims-The more remarkable because of His descent from David-His deep pity for the poor—Many of His miracles wrought on their behalf Christ trained to manual labour-His followers were men of action-His public ministry a time of immense activity-His teaching reveals sympathy with an active life-Parables of the The disciples and Thomas after the Resurrection-Doubt com- mon and natural-No earnest mind content to abide in it- We cannot conceive of Christ doubting; but He profoundly sympathised with troubled minds-The synagogue at Nazar- Exposure to temptation part of Christ's sacrifice-His gratitude The woman at the house of Simon the Pharisee-Mary at the house of Simon the Leper-The widow's mite-Man's Proverbial scarcity of gratitude-Generous men are grateful — Christ pained by men's ingratitude—Christ's gratitude shown by His joy when men believed on Him; His commendation of the Syro-Phoenician woman; in the case of the centurion; and of the mothers who brought their children to Him-His THE HUMAN SYMPATHIES OF CHRIST. CHAPTER I. CHRIST'S SYMPATHY WITH NATURE. E are about to trace, as far as the record leads us, the human sympathies of Christ, the son W of Mary, the reputed son of Joseph, the man of Galilee, the villager of Nazareth, and the Teacher of the world. The most trifling incident connected with those whom we love is treasured up. Affection dwells on the smallest incident connected with the least renowned of friends, or the most helpless of infants; and the followers of Christ may profitably study for ever the distinctive characteristics, mental, moral, and emotional, of their Master. Of all the race He is the Man. Of all the race there is none to be so gazed on and persistently studied. We ponder the thoughts of others; we smile at their weaknesses; we allow for their prejudices; we condemn their errors; but in this Man there are no weaknesses, nor prejudices, nor errors. His judgments are ever accurate; His morals are ever perfect; B His emotions are ever pure. No personal ambition, or hatred, or love, or interest sways Him at any instant. He thinks as before God. He denounces as before God. He weeps as before God. He rejoices as before God. All He does is right. By Him alone was the precept ever fulfilled-" Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." When He said, "Consider the lilies of the field," He had become famous; and on the hill-side, rather than in the noisome streets, He gathered multitudes about Him and taught them. His life had passed in the quiet hollow of Nazareth, and amidst the beauties of Galilee. Green woods, green fields, fresh streams, fair flowers, gentle flocks, happy birds, had been with Him all His days. And now, entered on His work, it is there, on the hill-side, with the sky above and the grass beneath, that He pours out the tenderest and wisest strain mankind ever heard. The Sermon on the Mount is a sermon in the fields, and the calm of nature pervades it. In Jerusalem also, and its temples, He had to teach. But there He had to do battle, to bear mockery, to rebuke evil. Here, all is peace. His city work was His strange work. He was there, as ever, pre-eminent, but He was there, especially, conscious of strife with the power of darkness. At other places He was doubtless opposed, but Jerusalem was the city which killed the prophets and stoned all who were sent unto it; and Jerusalem contained His executioners, His cross, and His grave. All this He felt, and we find Him, true to earlier days, often leave its streets and its noise at nightfall, and tarry all through the silent hours under no man's roof, but amidst the trees on Olivet. |