He Took Part With ‘The Children’
”Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil.”—Hebrews 2:14
We read of one who was so affected with the glory of the sun, that he thought he was born only to behold it. With what propriety may a Christian judge of himself, that he is born again to behold the glory, and delight himself in daily contemplating Jesus the Sun of righteousness! Lord, thou shalt never stoop to that mean office of ‘washing my feet,’ said honest-hearted Peter. But what was that stoop of abasement, when Jesus was in flesh, compared to his taking flesh upon him? Be astonished, oh heavens; rejoice, oh children of faith; admire and adore what you never can fully comprehend—The Lord of life and glory in your nature, clothed with flesh and blood; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with griefs. See Jesus, consider Jesus; oh dwell in contemplation on the abasement of the Son of God, till it warms the heart with love. Say, which is the greatest, his love, or his humility!
He took part with ‘the children.’ Such was Jacob’s delight in Benjamin, that ‘his life was bound up in the lad’s life.’ The soul of Jonathan was so knit to David, that ‘he loved him as his own soul.’ Verily our life is bound up in the life of Jesus. Truly he hath loved us better than life. He took our part against our invincible foes, sin, Satan, and death. He hath conquered all—for whom? ‘The children;’ by nature children of wrath, by practice ‘rebels against God,’ yet, amazing grace, the objects of the Father’s love. Hence, given to Jesus to redeem and save, they had an interest in Jesus’ love, ere they had a being in the flesh. Therefore he prays for them as their Mediator; he owns them by that special mark which the Holy Ghost puts upon each of them in the day of his power, namely, faith. ‘I pray for them also which shall believe on me.’ John 17:20.
We may say in triumph, If Jesus be for us, who shall be against us? The Lord taketh my part, therefore I shall see my desire upon them that hate me. Ps. 118:7. Every believer may be sure of victory. Faith in Jesus overcomes the world, disarms death of its sting, which is sin; enfeebles the strength of sin, which is the law. By the blood of the Lamb, Satan is overcome. Thus we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Christ gained the conquest over Satan and death, by taking away sin, which gave them power over his children. This he effected by his own death: for he that died once for sin, ever lives to save. ‘Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ 1 Cor. 15:57.
William Mason (1719-1791) was a High-Calvinist author. For many years he served as a Justice of the Peace, and in 1783 was appointed a Magistrate. He served as editor of the Gospel Magazine before and after the editorship of Augustus Toplady. He is best known for a morning and evening devotional entitled, “A Spiritual Treasury For The Children Of God.”
