c 1 Sam. xxiv. 14. and xxvi. 20. d ver. 6, 12.
e John xi. 49—52.
f Isai. xl. 9. and xlv. 22. and Ixv. 1. and Zech. xii. 10. e Matt, xxvii. 19.
the mouth of a Christian preacher, and take occasion from them to lead you to the
Contemplation of your suffering Lord. I say then, " Behold the man ! " Behold him,
1. To engage your confidence —
[To a superficial inquirer, all these humiliating circum- stances would appear to justify a doubt whether Jesus were the Son of God. But to one who examines thoroughly the prophecies relating to him, these very circumstances afford the most satisfactory proof that he was indeed the Christ. Was he treated with the utmost contempt, and that too by the whole nation ? Was he mocked, reviled, spit upon ? Was he beaten with scourges, so that his flesh was even ploughed up with stripes ? Then I see that he was the Christ ; for not only the ancient prophets, but he himself expressly told us that it should be soh. Did he endure all these things without one word of murmur or complaint ? Then I am sure that he was the Christ1.
But it is not in this view only that his sufferings afford us grounds of confidence. Whilst they prove him to be the true Messiah, they prove also, beyond a possibility of doubt, his willingness to save all who come unto him. In enduring all these things, he submitted willingly. He could, if he had chosen, have had more than twelve legions of angels for his defence: but then the Scriptures would not have been ful- filled, nor would the work of our salvation have been accom- plished. If then he willingly submitted to these indignities for us when we were enemies, what will he not do for us when we throw down the weapons of our rebellion, and implore his mercy? Surely no person, whatever he may have been or done, shall ever apply to him in vain ]
2. To inflame your gratitude —
[It is well said by the Apostle, that " the love of Christ passeth knowledge." It is not possible for any finite mind to comprehend it. Something of it indeed " every saint may comprehendk ;" but its full extent can never be explored. That however which we do see of it, should operate with irre- sistible energy upon our minds. Brethren, " behold the man!" See the royal robe, which they have put upon him ; the cane in his hand, for a sceptre ; the crown of thorns upon his head ; and the blood issuing from his lacerated temples : see him ready to faint through the severities inflicted on him ; and
h Compare Isai. xlix. 7. and I. 6. and liii. 3 — 5. and Ps. cxxix.3. ■with Mark x. 32 — 34.
1 Isai. liii. 7. with 1 Pet. ii. 33. k Eph. iii. 18, 19.