"Forasmuch, then, as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same." (Heb. 2:14.)
If Satan has turned the truth of God into a lie, that is no reason why we should neglect or overlook any thing that is really God's:especially when that truth is concerning the blessed Son of God. Blasphemies have been taught regarding His humanity in more ways than one; some asserting that His nature was subject to sin and decay and death; others, that He was man from all eternity. Shocking as all this is to the worshiper of Jesus, we must not be deterred from dwelling with adoring wonder on " God manifest in the flesh." " The Word was made flesh." In the manger at Bethlehem, in the carpenter-shop at Nazareth, weary at the well, asleep in the storm, agonizing in the garden, we see not only that eternal life which was with the Father, but which was manifest to us through the vail of a real though perfect humanity. He whose delights were with the sons of men would be made like unto His brethren. Yet the carefulness of the Spirit of God in shielding His holy person from the faintest suspicion of taint, is seen in the use of the word " took part," in the passage quoted at the beginning. The children " had communion in " flesh and blood-they were in it of necessity. He voluntarily, as One from without, " took part,"-a different word. Still He was a man,-a perfect man; One fitted to sympathize with His people. He is not ashamed to call us brethren. But though this is the first strand in the threefold cord, of itself it was entirely insufficient. " Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone." The body which was prepared for Him was a body in which to die. " He took part of flesh and blood that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death." All thought of men being united with Him in His incarnation,-of their being elevated to His level by that, or any thing of the kind, is therefore vain. So His death is the second strand in that cord of love. He who knew no sin, was made sin for us. Those whom He came to save were dead, so He takes His place there; they dead in sins, He dead for sins. As the Samaritan came where the wounded man was, so our blessed Lord came where we were-at a distance from God. But oh! how His death has annihilated all distance! how it has slain all enmity! That love which sought us thus, grasped us to Himself; and the third strand, His resurrection, is the full manifestation of the power of that cord which binds us fast, held to His bosom, by One who will never loose His hold. Blessed be His precious name!
As has been frequently noticed, it is after His resurrection that He calls us "brethren." . " Go to My brethren," (John 20:) " I will declare Thy name unto My brethren." (Heb. 2:) The gift of the Spirit, uniting us to Him, is God's seal upon the perfectness and strength of this threefold cord. Flowing from such relationship is our heavenly position, our heavenly destiny. As the power of this cord is felt, it will draw our hearts out of the world as not belonging to it, up to heaven where He is. Let us have our minds fixed on Him, to " know the power of His resurrection."
" Drawn by such cords, we'll onward move,
Till round the throne we meet,
And, captives in the chains of love,
Embrace our Savior's feet."