Matthew 17:14-21 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,… Life is full of changes and contrast. The best of man's quality and character is what he is in, and how he meets these abrupt and broken changes. I. CHRIST'S LIFE WAS MADE UP OF CONTRASTS. NOT ONE MORE, MARKED OR EXTREME THAN THIS, AND NOWHERE IS CHRIST SO FULLY AND TRULY SUPREME AND SUBLIMELY HIMSELF. The contrast was painful to Him, painful to all His soul in its love of the beautiful and true and right. What a descent it was! Every true life has such contrasts, and in them the true man is revealed. Christ found His lifework, not in His glory, but in the valley, and was there truly and fully the Messiah. The value of the vision and glory is but their gift of fitness for work and endurance. II. THE CONFUSED SCENE WHICH GREETS CHRIST IS A TRUE PICTURE OF LIFE, INTO WHICH WITH HEALING AND ORDER MAKING, CHRIST IS EVER ENTERING. 1. A sad picture of the world to-day. We are perplexed and almost despairful. 2. A sad picture of our own inner life. the home of so much strife, of so much unbelief. Our wondering question is often, Why could we not cast them out? (S. D. Thomas.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,WEB: When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him, saying, |
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