The Signs of the Times
April 29, 1903
Our Elder Brother
Christ came to this world as the unwearied servant of man's necessity. He clothed His divinity with humanity that He might stand among men as one of them, a sharer in their poverty and their grief. Love for the lost race was manifested in all that He said and did. ST April 29, 1903, par. 1
What a busy life He led! Day by day He might have been seen entering the humble abodes of want and sorrow, speaking hope to the downcast and peace to the distressed. Humble, gracious, tenderhearted, pitiful, He went about doing good, lifting up the bowed-down and comforting the sorrowing. None who came to Him went away unhelped. To all He brought hope and gladness. Wherever He went He carried blessing. ST April 29, 1903, par. 2
During His childhood and youth, the Saviour lived with His parents at Nazareth, willingly acting His part in bearing the burdens of the household. He had been commander of heaven's hosts, and angels had delighted to fulfil His word; now He was a willing servant, a loving, obedient son. He learned a trade, and with His own hands worked in the carpenter's shop with Joseph. In the simple garb of a common laborer He walked the streets of the little town, going to and returning from His work. When the time came for His public work to begin, He went forth proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom. ST April 29, 1903, par. 3
Christ brought His wishes into strict abeyance to His mission. He glorified His life by making everything in it subordinate to the will of His Father. When in His youth His mother, finding Him in the school of the rabbis, said, “Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing.” He answered—and His answer is the key-note of His life-work—“How is it that ye sought Me? wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?” ST April 29, 1903, par. 4
His life was one of constant self-sacrifice. He came to this world to live in our behalf the life of the poorest, to walk and work among the needy and the suffering. Unrecognized and unhonored, He walked in and out among the people for whom He had done so much. The Owner of the world, He had no home in it. “Foxes have holes,” He said, “and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.” “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” “He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” ST April 29, 1903, par. 5
Christ's work was not confined to any time or place. It was bounded only by His love and sympathy for those for whom He was soon to give His life. His compassion knew no limit. On so large a scale did he conduct His work of healing and teaching that there was no building in Palestine large enough to hold the multitudes that thronged to Him. In every town and village through which He passed was to be found His hospital. On the hillsides of Galilee, in the great thoroughfares of travel, by the seashore, in every place where there were hearts to hear His message, Jesus healed the people and pointed them to their heavenly Father. His life laid the foundation for a religion in which there is no caste, where Jew and Gentile, free and bond, are linked in a common brotherhood, equal before God. ST April 29, 1903, par. 6
Christ lived a life of prayer. Daily beset by temptation, constantly opposed by the leaders of the people, He knew that He must strengthen His humanity by prayer. In order to be a blessing to men, He must commune with God, from Him obtaining energy, perseverance, steadfastness. ST April 29, 1903, par. 7
Christ is our Burden-bearer. He came to bear the trials that we must bear, to resist the temptations that we must resist. He came to show that by receiving power from on high man can live an unsullied life. With sympathetic love and tender compassion, without a trace of harshness, He meets us in our necessities. He works with gracious helpfulness and unwearying patience. By the gentle touch of love He drives from the soul unrest and doubt, changing enmity and unbelief to confidence and faith. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us ... full of grace and truth.” “We have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” “In all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” ST April 29, 1903, par. 8