In Hebrews 4:15 it is said of our Lord Jesus that, "In all points He was tempted like as we are"- tested and tried in all things which His people may endure; He submitted Himself to all the trials that His people may pass through without sin against God-made thus a sympathizing High Priest for us, in that He has experienced all that His people may experience through all their journey here. What marvelous grace! What tender compassion towards us, coupled with perfect devotedness to the Father whom He had come to make known to us, and whom He perfectly glorified in all His journey through this world of sin, as we sing:
"Faithful amidst unfaithfulness,
'Mid darkness only light,
Thou didst Thy Father's name confess,
And in His will delight.
"Unmoved by Satan's subtle wiles,
Or suffering, shame, and loss,
Thy path uncheered by earthly smiles
Led only to the Cross! "
We may be astonished to hear Him say to His disciples," Ye are they which have continued with Me in my temptations " (Luke 22:28). In sad and humiliating contrast to their Master, we read but a few verses before that "there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest!" (ver. 24). Their selfishness and pride comes out so bluntly at times that it makes us ashamed as we discern in it a reflection of what is in our own hearts, if we are but humble enough to admit it.
In Matt. 20, as they were going up|to Jerusalem where the Lord was soon to be crucified, He takes the twelve apart and says to them, " Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn. Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him (all of which He experienced in full measure), and the third day He shall rise again" (vers. 18, 19). Immediately after, we read:
" Then came to Him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshiping Him, and desiring a certain thing of Him. And He said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto Him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom."
They looked for His being acclaimed as King instead of being crucified, and they wanted to have the first place in the kingdom. Compassionately the Lord regards their ignorance, and simply rebukes them with, "Ye know not what ye ask."
At another time, with fiery zeal for their Master's honor, and their own, the same disciples desire to call fire down from heaven to consume the villagers that refused him hospitality (Luke 9:54). Again John would restrain a man that did not follow their company, though he cast out demons in Jesus' name (Luke 9:49). At another time Peter, affrighted for his life, swears that he did not know the blessed Master who was there witnessing "the good confession."
Are these the ones to whom Jesus says, " Ye are they which have continued with Me in my temptations ?" Yes. Jesus said it.
Commingled as it were with what is of the natural, man, we see bright outshinings of faith and devotedness in them. When those who had eaten of the loaves and fishes would have made Jesus King there and then, they soon turned away from the word of truth uttered by the Lord :they said, "This is a hard saying; who can hear it?" And Jesus said unto the twelve, "Will ye also go away ? Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go ? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the Living God " (Jno. 6:60,67-69).
At another time in answer to the probing words, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?" Peter, deeply conscious of his failure, answers, "Lord, Thou knowest all things ; Thou knowest that I love Thee"-he cast himself upon the Lord's divine knowledge of his inmost heart, and as it were, hides in His bosom.
In John 2:23 we are told that " Many "believed in his name when they saw the miracles that He did." Yet Jesus "did not commit Himself to them;" for He well knew what was in them who were thus attracted by the wondrous power displayed in the miracles. But He did commit Himself to these poor fishermen that had heard John testify of Him, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world; " and had afterwards left boats and fishes, and father and relatives at the bidding of the Blessed One already enthroned in their hearts. Spite of the miserable nature within, which cropped out now and again, what depth of attachment, of love, of confidence and devotedness was produced in their hearts as they companied with Him whom they acknowledged as their Lord and Master.
His grace, His holiness, His power, His Person, had attracted and bound their hearts eternally to HIMSELF.
Fellow-believer and disciple of Jesus, has it not done the same with us ?
"Astonished at Thy feet we fall,
Thy love exceeds our highest thought;
Henceforth be Thou our All in all,
Thou who our souls with blood hast bought:.
May we henceforth more faithful prove,
And ne'er forget Thy ceaseless love."