Character of Jesus

The Christian’s Sorrows

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises 1 Comment

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. – Matthew 5:4

…to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning…  – Isaiah 61:3

Like his Lord, the Christian mourns for others. He mourns in Zion because of the deadness of the Christian church, its divisions, its errors, its carelessness towards the souls of sinners. He cries with Jeremiah, “How is the gold become dim! How is the much fine gold changed!” But, he mourns most of all for the unconverted. He sees their state of alienation from God, and knowing the danger of it, his heart shrinks within him, as with prophetic glance he sees what their end will be: when “there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” His heart breaks for the sins and sorrows of others, and, like his Savior, he could weep over the cities that reject divine love; he could say like Moses that he was almost willing to have his name blotted out of the Book of Life if others might be saved: he feels such sorrow and heaviness of heart for his kinsmen according to the flesh who are strangers to Christ, that he has no rest in his death concerning them. Dear brethren, he that is quickened by the new life obtains an enlarged heritage of mourning; but, let it not be forgotten, he wins tenfold more joy as well; and, meanwhile, such weeping is in itself sweet-tears not too briny, and griefs not too bitter; such griefs we would wish to feel as long as we live, especially if the Lord Jesus alternates them with the fulfilling of that most excellent promise, “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes.” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1016.cfm

Blessed Mourning

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises 3 Comments

…to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness… – Isaiah 61:3

True hearts mourn not only for their past transgressions, but they also sorrow over their present imperfections. If you are what you should be, dear friend, I am quite certain you see a great deal in yourself to grieve over. You cannot live as you would live. Whenever I meet with a person who feels that he is perfect, I conceive at once that he has not yet attained even a remote conception of what true perfection must be. The savage of Australia is satisfied with his weapons of war so long as he has never seen a rifle or heard of a cannon: to him his hovel is a model of architecture, for he has never heard of a cathedral or a palace… Men know not what God is, nor the infinity of His perfections, nor the majesty of His purity, else, when highest would they cry, “Higher, higher, higher,” and mourn because they have not yet attained, and need still to mount as on eagle’s wings. Brethren, I speak for you all when I say, there is not a day in which our service satisfies us, not a deed we have ever performed that contents us. We see our spots, and would fain wash them out with tears if we could, though we bless God they are removed by the precious blood of Jesus. Those are among the blessed who mourn because they cannot live a perfect life as they desire. To mourn after more holiness is a sign of holiness, to mourn after greater conformity to the image of Christ proves that we are already in a measure conformed thereunto; to sigh after more complete subordination of our entire life to the will of God is a mourning for which Jesus Christ will bring rich comfort. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1016.cfm

The Mourner’s Comforter

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, salvation, The Father 1 Comment

He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor…To preach the acceptable year of the Lord… to comfort all that mourn– Luke 4:18,19 and Isaiah 61:1,2

God has taken upon Himself human flesh. The infinite Jehovah came down from heaven and became an infant, lived among us, and then died for us. Behold in the person of the incarnate God the sure pledge of divine benevolence. “He that spared not His own Son, but freely delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Beloved, the very fact that a Savior came to the world should be a source of hope to us, and when we think what a Savior He was, how He suffered, how He finished the work that was given Him to do, and what a salvation it is which He has wrought out for us, we may well feel that the comfort of mourners is work for which He is well suited, and which He can execute most effectually. How beautiful upon Olivet and Calvary are the feet of Him that bringeth, in His person and His world “good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation.” But I must not linger. I have spoken to you enough to lead your thoughts to the blessed person who here declares that He will comfort the mourner. May the Holy Ghost reveal Him unto you in all the power of His arm, the love of His heart, the virtue of His blood, the prevalence of His plea, the majesty of His exaltation, and the glory of His character.

Oh that every one of us, if we have never felt mourning for sin may feel it at this hour. May we mourn to think that we have pierced the Savior, that we have transgressed against a God so good, and a Redeemer so generous…Mourners are not suffered long to tarry; grace takes their load of guilt away. Their transgressions are covered. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1016.cfm

Our Liberator

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, salvation Leave a comment

“He hath sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” – Isaiah 61:1

There were many downcast persons in Israel in the olden times-persons who had become bankrupt, and, therefore, had lost their estates, and had even sunk yet further into debt, till they were obliged to sell their children into slavery, and to become themselves bondsmen. Their yoke was very heavy, and their trouble was very sore. But the fiftieth year came round, and never was there heard music so sweet in all Judea’s land, as when the silver trumpet was taken down on the jubilee morn, and a loud shrill blast was blown in every city, and hamlet, and village, in all Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba. What meant that clarion sound? It meant this: “Israelite, thou art free. If thou hast sold thyself, go forth without money for the year of jubilee has come.” Go back, go back, ye who have lost your lands; seek out the old homestead, and the acres from whence ye have been driven: they are yours again. Go back, and plough, and sow, and reap once more, and sit each man under his vine and his fig-tree, for all your heritages are restored. This made great joy among all the tribes, but Jesus has come with a similar message. He, too, publishes a jubilee for bankrupt and enslaved sinners. He breaks the fetters of sin, and gives believers the freedom of the truth. None can hold in captivity the souls whom Jesus declares to be the Lord’s free men.

Surely, if the Savior has power, as the text declares, to proclaim liberty to the captive, and if He can break open prison doors, and set free those convicted and condemned, He is just the One who can comfort your soul and mine, though we be mourning in Zion. Let us rejoice at His coming, and cry Hosanna, blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Happy are we that we live in an age when Jesus breaks the gates of brass and cuts the bars of iron in sunder. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1016.cfm

The Beloved Physician of Men’s Souls

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, salvation 1 Comment

“He hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted. ” – Isaiah 61:1

Some hearts want more than words. The choicest consolations that can be conveyed in human speech will not reach their case; the wounds of their hearts are deep, they are not flesh cuts, but horrible gashes which lay bare the bone, and threaten ere long to kill unless they be skillfully closed. It is, therefore, a great joy to know that the generous Friend who, in the text, promises to deal with the sorrowing, is fully competent to meet the most frightful cases. Jehovah Rophi is the name of Jesus of Nazareth; He is in His own person the Lord that healeth us. He is the beloved physician of men’s souls. “By His stripes we are healed.” Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses, and He is able now with a word to heal all our diseases, whatever they may be. Joy to you, ye sons of mourning; congratulations to you, ye daughters of despondency: He who comes to comfort you can not only preach with His tongue, but He can bind up with His hand. “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names.” Precious promises are for poverty-stricken saints. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1016.cfm

 

We Shall Be Comforted

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, salvation, The Father, The Holy Spirit 1 Comment

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. – Isaiah 61:3.

Who gives this word? It is a word to mourners in Zion, meant for their consolation. But who gives it? The answer is not far to seek. It comes from Him who said, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,” “He hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted.” …If He declares that He will comfort us, then we may rest assured we shall be comforted! The stars in His right hand may fail to penetrate the darkness, but the rising of the Sun of Righteousness effectually scatters the gloom. If the consolation of Israel Himself comes forth for the uplifting of His downcast people, then their doubts and fears may well fly apace, since His presence is light and peace…

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath appointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek.” Remember what kind of preacher Jesus was. “Never man spake like this man.” He was a Son of consolation indeed. It was said of Him, “A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench.” He was gentleness itself…Now, if such be the person who declares He will comfort the broken-hearted, if He be such a preacher, we may rest assured He will accomplish His work.~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/1016.cfm

 

“All flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Sherry Attributes of God, Character of Jesus, Christian Life, promises, prophecy, salvation 1 Comment

…and on either side of the river, was the tree of life…The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations…Blessed are those who do His commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. – Revelation 22:2,14

Amongst the fancies of idolatry are there any inventions of man that can cool his fevered brow and sooth his griefs? Does Mohammedanism offer hopes for eternity that can light up the grave to an awakened sinner? Are there thoughts of bliss in idolatry calculated to cheer the sepulcher? All religions answer, “Comforts are not in us.” It is only at the cross, it is only by Jesus crucified that the world can be healed. Hitherto little has been accomplished compared with our desires; and in contrast to our ambitions, next to nothing; but faith, darting beyond the things that are seen, flying into the presence-chamber of God, can behold Him writing with the eternal pen, “All flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

We have sweetened the waters a little; no more the suttee burns; the African is free; the slave-ship crosses no more the deep. In some regions exterminating wars have ceased; the white dove of peace flies where the raven of war was seen. Glory be to God. A few leaves cast into the waters have done this. Let us bear a whole Christ and a whole gospel amongst the nations, and lay the tree in this Marah, until at last the whole world shall drink of the sweet waters of divine love, and God shall be all in all. ~ C.H. Spurgeon

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/sermons/0987.cfm