Third Sunday in Lent.

"THE ARM OF THE LORD."

Learn, Isa. li. 9-11. Passages to be referred to,— Ps. lxxxix. 13-37; Isa. xxxiii. 1-6, lix.; Luke i. 46-55.

How comforting it is to think of our Saviour as the Arm of the Lord. It shows how condescending God is, to make us realise the fulness of His grace. He presents Himself to us in ways and by things with which we are all familiar. Though a Spirit, and having no parts or passions, John iv. 24; 1 Tim. i. 17, He speaks of His eye, Ps. cxxxix. 16; His hand, Num. xi. 23; His ear, Isa. lix. 1; His face, Matt. xviii. 10; and so, in the title before us, He speaks of Christ as the Arm of the Lord.

Now, this is something we all can understand. A little child knows the use and power of an arm, whether its own or another's. Three common uses of the arm may serve, therefore, to unfold the meaning of this name. We may think of

it

1. Embracing, Cant. ii. 6, viii. 3, 5. This is a sign of the tenderest love, Mark ix. 36, x. 16. And thus is the love of God shown "in His kind

ness toward us through Christ Jesus," Eph. ii. 7; Titus. iii. 4-6. It is all in and by Christ, Eph. i. 3; Col. ii. 10; the giving of Christ, John iii. 16; the sending of Christ, 1 John iv. 9. He is the Arm of God's love by which He doth embrace His people; and in that embrace is safety, Rom. viii. 38, 39; John x. 29.

2. Supporting. The weak and helpless need the support of an arm to sustain and carry them, Isa. xl. 11. And was there ever a support like Jesus? Matt. xi. 28. David found it so, Ps. iii. 5; and also Paul, 2 Tim. i. 12; and so may all the people of God, Ps. lv. 22. In leaning upon Jesus, we rest on one whose strength is everlasting, Isa. xxvi. 4. And so the promise to Israel was, that "underneath are the everlasting arms," Deut. xxxiii. 27.

3. Defending. It is with the arm we exert our power for defence, &c. And so we read of God, He used His arm in

Luke i. 51; Ps. xcviii. 1. creation, Jer. xxvii. 5. He used it in conversion, Isa. liii. 1. And is not this Jesus? Heb. i. 2; John v. 21. How often does God speak of His arm against His enemies and for His people? Jer. xxi. 5; Exod. vi. 6. And is not this "Christ, the power of God?" 1 Cor. i. 24. It is in this last sense we pray, "Stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty to be our defence against all our enemies." Oh! see that you are one with Christ, Cant. viii. 6; that He is your 66 arm every morning," Isa. xxxiii. 2.

Fourth Sunday in Lent.

"THE LAMB OF GOD."

Learn, John i. 35-39. Passages to be referred to, -Exod. xii. 1-13, xxix. 38, 44; Isa. liii. 6-8 ; John i. 29-36; Rev. v. 6-14.

IN thinking of Jesus as the Lamb of God, we must be careful to gather up all that the Spirit would teach us in connexion with that precious name. We might, perhaps, think that it only pointed to the Example of our Lord; His meekness, 2 Cor. x. 1; His patience, Isa. liii. 7; His submission, 1 Pet. ii. 23. But God would have us see in it, above all, the Sacrifice of His Son. To tell us to imitate the spotless Lamb, without the power of His blood, is mockery, 1 John i. 7; Heb. ix. 22.

Let us trace the history of God's Lamb in Scripture. He was ordained for blood-shedding before the world was, 1 Pet. i. 19, 20. After the Fall the man of faith sacrifices a lamb, Heb. xi. 4; Gen. iv. 4. Israel's first-born is saved by the blood of the Paschal Lamb, Exod. xii. 13. The daily sacrifice appointed by God for Israel's acceptance was the Lamb, Exod. xxix. 38. Prophecy

told of the Lamb slaughtered, Isa. liii. 7. And this went on till Jesus came, of whom the Forerunner said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," John i. 29; Rev. i. 5. But this is not all. Look at Jesus as He now appears in the presence of God for us, Rev. v. 6. See the redeemed in glory, Rev. vii. 14. It is the blood that gives the spirit to the new song," Rev. v. 9.

66

Observe, further, how God is careful to give us minute particulars concerning His Lamb.

He was to be chosen out of the flock, Exod. xii. 5; Heb. ii. 14.

He was to be without blemish and without spot --fit emblem of Him "who did no sin,” Heb. vii. 26, 27; 1 Pet. ii. 22. This even His enemies confessed, Matt. xxvii. 4, 24.

He was to be roasted with fire, Heb. xii. 29; Lev. ix. 24.

His blood must be sprinkled on every house for safety, Heb. ix. 20.

His flesh must be eaten according to the ordinance of God, John vi. 53-55.

Bearing this in mind, as God's express teaching, two lessons may sum it all up. What do we kill the gentle little lamb for ?

Clothing. It supplies a covering, and so does the Lamb of God, Rom. viii. 1; Eph. i. 6; see Rom. xiii. 14; Gal. iii. 27.

Food. It nourishes and sustains life, so does the Lamb of God, John vi. 56, 57.

How necessary, then, is it for each of us to see that Jesus has clothed us, 2 Cor. v. 3; that His precious blood hath cleansed, and is cleansing us from sins, Rev. i. 5; that we are covered with "the robe of righteousness," Isa. lxi. 10. And for our strengthening and nourishment, day by day, how important is it not to overlook the feeding on the Lamb, 2 Pet. iii. 18; John xxiii. 12; Ps. xxxiv. 8. So shall we know the value of the Lamb of God.