the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions
April 10—Morning—John 19:26-27
"When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, woman, behold thy son. Then saith he to the disciple, behold thy mother."—John 19:26-27.
This was the second among the dying words of the Lord Jesus; and no doubt, of high importance in their full sense and meaning: not simply to recommend Mary to the care of the beloved apostle, John, but probably of greater moment in reference to the church of Jesus at large. My soul, is it not very certain that the Lord Jesus knew all the events which would take place in all generations of his people? And as such, did not Jesus perfectly well know also that the time would come when divine honours would be offered to Mary? These points cannot be disputed. Well then, is it not worthy the closest observation, that Jesus both in this place, and upon all other occasions, when speaking of Mary, called her woman? Why so? If, as Jesus knew, that there would be some who would pray to her, and call her mother of God, by which name the Holy Ghost never, distinguished her, neither the Lord Jesus himself; could there have been a more decided method adopted than this to discountenance such idolatry, than when Jesus, in his dying moments, called Mary only woman? Besides, was it not on another account, that as Jesus was to be the seed of the woman, which was promised to bruise the serpent’s head, such a dying testimony might serve instead of a thousand witnesses, in proof of the confirmation of the fact: and Mary’s song might be the song of thousands—"My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour!" But when we have thus attended to the second cry of Christ upon the cross, in reference to those sweet points, do thou, my soul, remember also how tenderly those expressions of thy Lord recommend all the endearing affections of love and regard through all the members of Christ’s mystical body. To behold our mother, or to behold our sons, are only different expressions to intimate that all true believers in Jesus are members of one another, and of his body, his flesh, and his bones. And as it was by our Lord himself in this life, so is it with all his redeemed, both in this life and in that which is to come; they who do the will of his Father, which is in heaven, the same are Christ’s brethren, and sisters, and mother.
April 10—Evening—Zechariah 13:7
"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."—Zechariah 13:7.
That this blessed scripture points to Christ, and to him only, the Lord Jesus himself fully confirmed in his discourse with his disciples at the Mount of Olives, Matthew 26:31. And indeed of whom could Jehovah thus speak, as "fellow to the Lord of Hosts," but to Him, who, "though in the form of God, and with whom it was no robbery to be equal with God, yet took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men?" But what call is this to the sword? Was it the flaming sword at the gate of Paradise, which was placed there to guard the way to the tree of life? And had the sword been for so many ages sleeping? Could none presume to enter but Jesus? And if he enters, the sword of God’s justice must first awake, and be sheathed in his heart? And is it God the Father himself that thus commands the sword to awake, and smite his only begotten Son? Did God indeed so love the world, that he thus gave his only begotten Son, "to the end that all who believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life?" Pause, my soul, over these solemn, but blessed thoughts. And is he God, on whom these things are to be transacted? Yes; for he is "fellow to the Lord of Hosts." And is he man also? Yes; for "the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us!" Such is the mystery of godliness; "God manifest in the flesh!" And, what! is he both God and man in one person? Yes; for so only could he be Christ. Well might the prophet exclaim, "Wonder, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth!"—My soul! take thy stand, this evening, at the foot of the cross, and contemplate, among the prodigies of that memorable day, that great wonder concerning Him crucified, who was fellow to the Lord of Hosts. View both his natures: He was truly and properly man; for it was one express article in the covenant of redemption, that "as by man came death, by man should come also the resurrection of the dead. And as by the disobedience of one many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one should many be made righteous." Moreover, the first promise of the bible, which came in with the fall, was express to this purpose: "The seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head." The devil had triumphed over the nature of man in the fall; and the same nature of man was promised to conquer death, hell, and the grave: and as both the law and the justice of God were solemnly concerned that the same nature which had rebelled should obey, and the same nature which had sinned should atone; and all the divine perfections were concerned, that he who undertook the purposes of redemption, should be the man that was fellow to the Lord of Hosts, even Christ Jesus. Secondly, as none but man could be suited for a Redeemer, so none but God could be competent to accomplish redemption. Hence he must be fellow to the Lord of Hosts. In point of dignity, in point of merit, the glory due to a Redeemer when redemption should be accomplished, and the adoration, love, and praise to be ascribed to him, could never be suitable to any less than God. Hence by the union of both natures, Jesus, and Jesus only, who thus formed one Christ, became the very person here described, and was, and is, and ever must be, "the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts." Now, my soul, whenever thou lookest up to the cross, (let it be daily, hourly, continually, yea, unceasingly) never lose sight of this glorious union of God and man in thy Jesus. Fix thine eyes, thine heart, thy whole affection upon him; and while thou art resting all thine assurance of pardon, mercy, and peace, the joy of this life, and the glory of that which is to come, wholly upon thy Jesus; Oh! let thine ear of faith receive in transports of delight, the proclamation of God thy Father concerning Him, "the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of Hosts."
