Can it be that this is the same Jesus who but a few years ago humbled himself to be baptized in the Jordan, suffered the temptation in the wilderness, wept at the grave of Lazarus, went about doing good, being homeless, with no place where to lay his head, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief? Only a little while ago, and the midnight stillness of Gethsemane is gently broken by the words: "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." The spirit of obedience abides with him in full measure even in this trying hour; and if not uttered in words, it is declared in act: "Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness."
One more trial awaits him. It is his last and great conflict with the "king of terrors" and the powers of darkness. Will his spirit of obedience and his resistance of sin bear the strain of this final test? Glory to his blessed name, it does. He says: "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." Ah, there is our salvation. The prince of this world found no place in his sanctified heart. Throughout his trial before the Jewish, as well as civil authorities, he was the same. No change from that meekness and lowliness of heart that characterized his whole life was visible now. He even bore his own cross; and I sometimes think that he voluntarily laid himself down upon it, placed his hands and adjusted his feet for the nails; for he had said before: "I lay down my life of myself: no man taketh it from me. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." The nails are driven. The foot of the cross, with Jesus upon it, is firmly fixed in the ground. The sun has veiled his face; and darkness broods over the land. With a loud voice he cries: "It is finished," and he gave up his spirit. This is the consummation of the suffering by which the Captain of our salvation was perfected, and by which he obtained all power in heaven and earth.
I can imagine there was now a shout of joy and a high jubilee in heaven, and a growl of disappointment and defeat in hell. His body is taken from the cross. Not a bone of him is broken. Joseph's new tomb becomes its receptacle. Not long does it remain there. The bands of death are loosed, and the glorified Lord forsakes the tomb. "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?"
Notice, further, the glory and honor with which his obedience is rewarded. In addition to the declarations bearing upon this subject already quoted, I here add what Paul says to the Philippians: "Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
We have now before us in the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ an example of perfect obedience. We have also noticed some of its rewards. But when we attempt to speak of the rewards of obedience, thought and language both fail; for heavenly bliss is ineffable, and celestial glory eternal. Christ's glorification is past comprehension. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard. But let us rejoice greatly this day in the excellency of this knowledge of Christ. "He is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him." "He has become the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him."
My brother, my sister, do you ever question your spiritual state, doubting as to whether you are a child of God or not, wondering in the obscurity of your mind as to how you stand in the sight of God? I do not think any one need be in doubt as to this matter. Are you living a life of obedience to Christ? Let us see. You surely have been baptized. As baptism was his first public act, for you to follow his example and walk in his steps it became you to submit to the same ordinance expanded and illuminated as to its significance and use by his subsequent teachings. This you did, and you did it in the true spirit of obedience and love. You are no hypocrite, I am sure; for the hypocrite never examines himself. He totally lacks the goodness and sincerity and honesty that lead to self-examinations. The hypocrite does not love the house of God. He does not breathe freely in an atmosphere of prayer. His highest ambition is to make a fair show in the flesh, to secure some personal aggrandizement through his formal professions.
You do not belong to this class. You feel in your heart that you love Jesus, and often weep that you do not love him more. This very love should assure your heart that you are a child of God, for "love is of God, and God is love." You cheerfully, and in love for the Brethren, stoop to follow his example and obey his command by taking part in the ordinance of feet-washing. You eat the Lord's Supper as nearly after his example as can be known, in honor of him, and partake of the Communion of the bread and wine in remembrance of his broken body and shed blood. In addition to all this you hate the inborn corruptions of your fleshly mind. You sometimes sing from your heart's pure depth:
"I hate my own vain thoughts that rise,
But love thy law, my God."
And to you one of the most pleasing contemplations of heaven is founded upon the assurance that there will be no sin or sorrow for sin there, nor sinful thoughts. You even here rejoice many times, in the sweet foretastes of that happy state. When you meet the loving eyes and friendly hands of brethren and sisters here assembled for worship, you feel a delicious calm and a holy peace in your soul. It is at such times and on such occasions that you realize just what the apostle means by what he says of the experience of some heavenly-minded Christian brethren and sisters who lived and felt eighteen hundred years ago very much as you feel now. Identifying himself with them, he says: "We have all been made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." "Be thou faithful unto death, and God shall give thee the crown of life."