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outward but inward, not physical but spiritual. It was th© Apostle Paul himself who said, " If any man hath not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his." And in St. Paul's own case, the wounds he bore, while in some respects the most striking, were not the deepest and most convincing " marks " of Jesus. The final and absolutely decisive proof that St. Paul belonged to Christ was that he had the spirit of Christ and that Christ lived over again in him. The brand of Christ may be upon the mind and heart as truly as upon the body : on the mind, in the effort we make to sub- due our natural arrogance and pride into humbleness and faith ; on the heart, in the loving pity we have for the misfortunes of others. Are our minds no longer conformed to the spirit of the world, but transformed to the image of the Son; so that the mind that was in Christ is the mind that is in us? Are our hearts thus quick to suffer in the suffering of others, as His was, who by force of sympathy bore our grief and carried our sorrows ? Therein only can we rest, thus only be at peace about ourselves ; and as we pass through the detractions and misunderstandings of this world, and as we journey down the long road whose goal is death, we can learn to say, "Let no man trouble me — let me not even be troubled for myself — I have the marks of Christ, I know whom I have believed, and who shall separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, my Lord ? " To have the marks, the brands, the stigmata, the open proofs of self -surrender and self-sacrifice — that alone counts.
^ There is a tendency, even in these days, to think Christ's " marks " are external and mechanical. We think sometimes that the " mark " of a Christian is that he observes the Sabbath and attends church services and belongs to some ecclesiastical organiza- tion. I do not disparage the Sabbath and church attendance and membership. But these external things are not the " real " marks of Jesus. Did not Jesus Himself say that a man may have all manner of Church guarantees and certificates and be none of His ? Did He not say, " Many will say to me in that day. Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out devils, and by thy name do many mighty works ? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." No, it is not the crucifix on the watch-chain, or the " S.A." on the collar, or the name on the church roll that constitutes the marks of Jesus. The marks are
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inward and spiritual. They are certain features of character, and especially these three, obedience, love, sacrifice. Indeed, our Lord Himself emphasized and underlined these three things as being, above all others, the marks of His servants. First, obedience. " Whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Secondly, love. " By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." And thirdly, sacrifice, " If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Have we got these marks ? Is our life characterized by an utter obedience to God, a great passion for souls, a remorseless sacrifice of self ? We ask sometimes, " Hath He marks to lead me to Him, if He be my guide ? " And we answer, " Yes, He has certain infallible marks : ' In His feet and hands are wound-prints, and His side.' " But there is another question : Have we the marks that single us out as His ? Does the world recognize Christ's marks on us ? Life always leaves its mark. The life of greed leaves its mark. The life of frivolous self-pleasing leaves its mark. The life of sin leaves its mark. And the life of Christian service leaves its mark. " They took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." The world, in their courage and devotion and self-sacrifice, saw the " marks of Jesus." But more important still, does Jesus see the " marks " ? " The Lord knoweth them that are his." How ? By the marks. We read how, in the last great day, there will be a division and a discrimination. The great Shepherd will then gather and fold His sheep. And that is how He will know them — by the " marks." Shall we then be amongst the sheep on the right hand ? It all comes back to this : Do we bear branded upon us the " marks " of Jesus — the infallible signs and tokens of His service ? Do we possess that spirit of obedience to God, and love to men, and utter self-sacrifice which a real surrender of ourselves to Jesus Christ always produces ? " For if any man hath not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his." ^