Thirty-one Meditations on Christ

dawn, and the day star” to enlighten them. When He shines in upon them, then are
they blessed and clear. When He withdraws His light, not <strong>one</strong> of them can be read.
And what is “the day dawn, and the day star” in the hearts of His people—
converting them from darkness to light, and from the power of sin and Satan to the
living God—but Jesus shining by His Holy Spirit within, and bringing them to the
knowledge, love, and enjoyment of Himself? Say, my soul, what was the day—the ever
blessed, ever to be remembered day—when God, Who commanded the light to
shine out of darkness, shined in upon your heart; and Jesus, “the day dawn, and the
day star,” arose to give you “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ” (2Co 4:6)?
Hail, glorious Light and Life of my soul! Oh, continue Your sweet influences,
morning by morning, and in the day dawn and evening star of Your grace. [Continue]
until, after many dark dispensations and wintry days of my blindness, ignorance,
and senseless state (during which You will renew me in the precious discoveries of
Your love), I am carried through all the twilight of this poor dying state of things below.
Then shall I awake up to the full enjoyment of Yourself in glory—to see You in
<strong>one</strong> full, open day, and to be made like unto You in Your kingdom of light, life, and
happiness forever and ever.
27
“Jesus wept.”
—John 11:35
My soul, look at your Redeemer in this account of Him. Was there ever a more interesting
62 portrait than what the evangelist has here drawn of the Son of God? If the
imagination were to be employed forever in forming a compelling scene of the miseries
of human nature, what could furnish so complete a picture as these two words
given of Christ at the sight of them: “Jesus wept”?
Here we have at once the evidence how much the miseries of our nature affected
the heart of Jesus. And here we have the most convincing testimony that He partook
of all the sinless infirmities of our nature, and in all points was truly man as well as
God. We are told by <strong>one</strong> of the ancient writers (perhaps St. Chrysostom 63 ) that some
weak but injudicious 64 Christians in his days were so rash as to strike this verse out of
62
interesting – engaging the mind, affections, or emotions.
63
John Chrysostom (c. 347-407) – Bishop of Constantinople, an important Early Church Father. He is
known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking.
64
injudicious – unwise.
32