THE TENDERNESS OF HIS LOVE

"But when He saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd". Mathew 9:36

Summary: In the life and ministry of Christ we have perfect example of gentleness, of compassion, as Jesus was seeking to save as many as would be saved.

The compassion Lord felt the needs for other, his love and care reached all classes of people regardless whom they were in the society. Not only He loved His friends but also those who were considering Him as their enemies. He used carefully His words in correction and rebuking. In short in every field Jesus was seeking an opportunity to sow a soul.

The Woman caught in Adultery

John 8: 2-11

The compassion of Jesus was not only to this woman but extends to those who were so evil in their intentions.

He had not set aside the law given through Moses, nor infringed upon the authority of Rome.

"'Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more'. Her heart was melted and she cast herself at the feet of Jesus, sobbing out her grateful love, and with bitter tears confessing her sins.

This was to her the beginning of a new life, a life of purity and peace devoted to the service of God. In the uplifting of this fallen soul, Jesus performed a greater miracle than in healing the most grievous physical disease; He cured the spiritual malady which is unto death everlasting. This penitent woman became one of His most steadfast followers. With self-sacrificing love and devotion she repairs His forgiving mercy.

In His act of pardoning this woman and encouraging her to live better life, the character of Jesus shines forth in the beauty of perfect righteousness. While He does not palliate sin, nor lessen the sense of guilt. He seeks not to condemn, but to save. The world had for this erring woman only contempt and scorn: but Jesus speaks words of comfort and hope. The sinless one pities the weakness of the sinner, and reaches to her helping hand. While the hypocritical Pharisees denounce, Jesus bids her, ‘Go, and sin no more.'

It is not Christ's follower that, with averted eyes, turn from the erring, leaving them unhindered to pursue their downward course. Those who are forward in accusing others, and zealous in bring them to justice, are often in their own lives more guilt than they. Men hate sinners, while they love sin; Christ hates sin, but loves the sinner. This will be the spirit of all who follow Him. Christian love is slow to censure, quick to discern penitence, ready to forgive, to set wanderer in the path of holiness, and to stay in his feet."

[EGW, Desire of Ages, Ch.50 = "Among snares", page. 462]

1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Isaiah 1: 18, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be like crimson, they shall be as wool."

For the Children

Mathew 19: 13, 14, "Then were there brought unto Him little children, that he should put [His] hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Mathew 18: 2 - 6, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

"Jesus loves little children, when the mothers brought their children to Jesus, the disciples attempted to send them away. But Jesus rebuked them, and said, ‘suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven'. He then gathered them in His loving arms and blessed them. Those parents and teachers who have no love or patience with children are to be pitied, for they have not the mind of Christ. Those who are seeking to gather the children into the Sabbath school are doing a good work, the very work the master would be pleased to have them do. The expanding minds of even small children may comprehend very much in regard to the teachings of Christ, and may be taught to love Him with all their ardent affections. Teachers and parents would sow beside all waters, and if faithful they may have a harvest of souls by and by. And when they shall see the souls for whom they have labored, around great white throne, with crowns and white robes and harps of gold, they will feel than that their effort were not lost. The well done, good and faithful servant will fall upon their ears as sweet music".

[EGW, Counsels on Sabbath school work, Ch.2 = "A School for Bible study", page 6]

For the Lazarus Family

John 11:5, "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus."

Luke 10:38 -42

>>For Jesus, destiny hung upon every minute of His time with us, and in that context, kitchen work did not count regardless of its importance.

>>There's something infinitely more importance than entertaining, and many has found it.

"In the inspired record we are told that ‘Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus'. Yet after received the message [Lazarus was sick], He abode two days still in the same place where He was. Guided by divine wisdom, He did not go at once to His beloved friends. The message that came to Him did not meet with an immediate response. Mary and Martha did not say, ‘Lord, come at once and heal our brother!' They had confidence in Jesus, believing that He would do what was best for them. At length He said to His disciples, ‘Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake Him out of sleep.'"

[EGW, Daughters of God, Ch.3 = "Women of Note in the New Testament", pg. 59]

For His Enemies

Mathew 5:44, "But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

This is our Father's character. {Proceed to verse 48}

When our parents [Adam and Eve] fell into sin, the whole planet had united with Satan against divine authority. While were yet enemies of Christ still He loved us and came to redeem us.

Recall how many times Jesus tried to rescue Judas, how He healed the ear of the servant when Peter cut it.

"That prayer of Christ for His enemies, embraced the world. It took in every sinner that had lived or should live, from the beginning of the world to the end of time. Upon all rests the guilt of crucifying the son of God. To all, forgiveness is freely offered. ‘Whosoever will' may have peace with God, and inherit eternal life."

[EGW, The Desire of Ages, Ch. 78 = "Calvary", page 746]

For Israel

Mathew 23: 37, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!"

Mathew 23:25 - 37, >> woe unto Pharisees and scribes.

"Little did the Jews realized the terrible responsibility involved in rejecting Christ. From the time when the first innocent blood was shed, when righteous Abel fell by the hand of Cain, the same history had been repeated with increasing guilt. In every ages prophets had lifted up their voices against the sins of kings, rulers and people, speaking the words which God gave them and obeying. His will at the peril of their lives. From generation to generation there had been heaping up a terrible punishment for the rejecters of light and truth. Thus the enemies of Christ were now drawing down upon their own heads. The sin of the priests and rulers was greater than that of any preceding generation. By their rejection of the savior, they were making themselves responsible for the blood off all the righteous men slain from Abel to Christ. They were about to fill to overflowing their cup of iniquity. And soon it was to be poured upon their heads in retributive justice of this Jesus warned them."

[EGW, The Desire of Ages, Ch. 67 = "Woes on the Pharisees", pg. 619]

Though Jesus knew what was soon to face Israelite nation, He rebuked their sin and superstition so they might repent. He did not cherish for their loss but was grieved because though He was giving them a last warning they took it lightly.

CONCLUSION SUMMARY

 "In the work of soul-winning, great tact and wisdom are needed. The savior never suppressed the truth, but He uttered it always in love. In His intercourse with others, He exercised the greatest tact, and He was kind and thoughtful. He was never rude, never gave unnecessary pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure Human weakness. He fearlessly denounced hypocrisy, unbelief, and iniquity, but tears were in His voice as He uttered His scathing rebukes. He never made truth cruel, but ever manifested a deep tenderness for Humanity. Every soul was precious in His sight. He bore Himself with divine dignity; yet He bowed with the tenderest compassion and regards every member of the family of God. He saw in all, souls whom it was His mission to save. "

[EGW, Gospel Worker, p. 117]

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EGW = Ellen G White Writings

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THE MEANING OF HIS DEATH

"For even the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  Mark 10: 45.

"Mercy and truth are met together; Righteous and peace have kissed each other." Psalms 85:10

"And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." Revelation 12: 10

It was of His own free life that the savior gave His life for sinners. He came in order to save all those who will come to Him in faith.

Born To Die

Jesus was born to Die. Even before His humanity in this earth the Bible portray that Jesus was born to die. While He was born some people who were just and devoted to God, were given a message a savior is born. Jesus [He] himself foretold his death.

From the Bible we find the following:

>>Revelation 13: 8, "A lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

>>Luke 2: 30+, "this [child] is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against", by Simeon.

>>Mark 10: 45, "For the son of men came not to be ministered unto but to minister, and give His life a ransom for many", by Jesus Himself.

"So Christ was once offered to bear sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Hebrew 9: 28.

All these proves to us, the death a Jesus Christ was not by accident or fell under probability theorems, but it was well defined in the plan of redemption.

Pont to note, how serious a sin is?

"The law of Jehovah, the foundation of His government in Heaven and upon earth, was as sacred as God Himself, and for this reason the life of an angel could not be accepted of God as sacrifice for its transgression. His law was of more important in His sight than the Holy angels around His throne. The father could not abolish or change one precept of His law to meet man in his fallen condition. But the son of God, who had in unison with the Father created man, could make an atonement for man acceptable to God by giving his life a sacrifice, and bearing the wrath of his father. Angels informed Adam that, as his transgression had brought death and wretchedness, life and immortality would be brought to light through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ"

[EGW, The spirit of Prophecy vol. 1, Chap IV = "The Plan of Salvation", page. 51]

How It Happened

Clearly large part of the Gospel has talked about Jesus passion, death and resurrection.

Though Jesus suffered physical torture, but this is not what pained Him much, the much pain was on the weight of my and your sin.

"The tears of Jesus were not in anticipation of His own suffering. Just before Him was Gethsemane, where soon the horror of a great darkness would overshadow Him. The sheep gate also was in sight, through which for centuries the beasts for sacrificial offerings had been led. This gate was soon to open for Him, the great Antitype, toward whose sacrifice for the sins of the world all these offerings had pointed. Nearby was Calvary, the scene of His approaching agony. Yet it was not because of these reminders of His cruel death that the Redeemer wept and groaned in anguish of spirit. His was no selfish sorrow. The thought of His own agony did not intimidate that noble, self-sacrificing soul. It was the sight of Jerusalem that pierced the heart of Jesus--Jerusalem that had rejected the Son of God and scorned His love, that refused to be convinced by His mighty miracles, and was about to take His life. He saw what she was in her guilt of rejecting her Redeemer, and what she might have been had she accepted Him who alone could heal her wound. He had come to save her; how could He give her up?" 

[EGW, The Desire of Ages, Ch.63 = "Thy King cometh", pg.577]

Read Isaiah 53, Jesus was made shame for you and me, suffered pain for mine sake, whatever torture it meant for our salvation. But all these did not overwhelm His love for us.

"It was not the pain and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony. Christ was the prince of sufferers; but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become blinded to its enormity. Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart, how few would be willing to break from its power. He knew that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help. "

[EGW, Desire of Ages, Ch. 753 = "Calvary", pg. 753]

What did Jesus death accomplished?

In this lesson, this answer will be answered, what was necessity for Jesus death? If God is the Lord of mercy, did He fail to show mercy on His and His only son Jesus? Could He just simply forgive us?

Summary of this lesson:

Jesus death accomplished the following:

•Ø       Saving our sinful race from eternal ruin.

•Ø       The prophecies were accomplished. As our substitute, He paid a price for us.

•Ø       Christ has redeemed as from the curse of the law, being made for us.

•Ø       He might sanctify the people with His own blood. God reconciled the world with Himself through Jesus Christ.

•Ø       It manifested to the unfallen beings (angels, and other worlds), His love and His sacred law.

•Ø       The last link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world was broken.

Key text: "Mercy and truth are met together; Righteous and peace have kissed each other." Psalms 85: 10.

"Through Jesus, God's mercy was manifested to men; but mercy does not set aside justice. The law reveals the attributes of God's character and not a jot or little of it could be changed to meet man in his fallen condition. God did not change His law, but He sacrificed Himself, in Christ, for man's redemption, "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." 2 Corinthians 5: 19".

[EGW, Desire of Ages, Ch.79 = "It is Finished", pg. 762, 763]

Jesus revealed that justice is consistence with mercy contrary to Satan's arguments.

The Law of Jehovah is sacred as Himself. The penalty of breaking any line of it was [is] death. The whole world since the fall of our first parents we chose death. There was no way to change of its precepts and requirements. But our Father [God] of Love paid the death price for us.

"And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come Salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." Revelation 12: 10.

"Type has met antitype in the death of God's son. The great sacrifice has been made. The way into the holiness is laid open. A new and living way is prepared for all. No longer need sinful, sorrowing humanity await the coming of the high priest. Henceforth the savior was to officiate as priest and advocate in the Heaven of Heavens. It was as if a living voice had spoken to the worshippers. There is now an end to all sacrifices and offerings for sin. The son of God is come according to His word, "Lo, I come (in the volume of book it is written of written for me) to do Thy will, O God" By His own blood "He entereth" in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."

[EGW, Desire of Ages, ch.78 = "Calvary", pg. 758]

The security of the Universe

Note: Here I am talking not only our world but all God's entire creation, God created Heavens and Earths. Genesis 1:1

Our eternity is sure through Jesus, the Lamb slain even before the foundation of the world.

"The significance of the death of Christ will be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could not have a home in the paradise of God without the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. . . . The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels before the fall of Satan. Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden, the paradise of bliss. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God. The plan of salvation, making manifest the justice and love of God, provides an eternal safeguard against defection in unfallen worlds, as well as among those who shall be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb."

[Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1132]

Conclusion Summary

"Well, then, might the angels rejoice as they looked upon the savior's cross; for though they did not then understand all, they knew that the destruction of sin and Satan was forever made certain, that the redemption of man was assured, and that the universe was made eternally secure. Christ Himself fully comprehended the results of the sacrifice made upon Calvary. To all these, entire He looked forward when upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished"."