Page 13 - January 2023 - Truth & Tidings

Those who knew Him best, His apostles, even right to the end. He lived His life in
were united in their testimony about Him: complete dependence on the Father. He
“No sin!” (2Co 5:21); “No sin!” (1Pe 2:22); trusted and obeyed Him fully – all the
“No sin!” (1Jn 3:5). way to the cross (Php 2:7-8).
His Guileless Words His Spotless Sacrifice

“Neither was guile found in His mouth” “Who his own self bare our sins in his
(2:22). For Peter, Christ’s sinlessness was own body on the tree” (2:24). If He had
especially evident in His words: no guile, sinned even once in His life, then He
no reviling and no threats. We sin so easily couldn’t have been our Substitute. But as
with our unruly tongues; it only takes a the Sinless One, He was made sin for us,
moment’s carelessness to lie, exaggerate, that we might become the righteousness
threaten or boast. We’ve all regretted and of God in Him (2Co 5:21).
apologized for things we said, but He Prior to Calvary He had never known
never needed to. He was impeccable! anything but God’s delight and smile. But
He taught that our words reflect our there on the cross, He felt, for the very
hearts (Mat 12:34). He said this to people first time, God’s anger and wrath against
whose words revealed their wickedness, sin. He bore it in our place, laid down His
but His own words revealed His inward life, and then rose again triumphant over
purity. He was so “full of grace and truth” death. The grave could lay no claim on
(Joh 1:14) that people marvelled at His the sinless One.
“gracious words” (Luk 4:22). And when
the chief priests sent guards to arrest Him, His Present Aid
they came back empty-handed, saying,
“Never man spake like this man” (Joh “That we, being dead to sins, should
7:46). live unto righteousness” (2:24). As saints
we now have a lofty calling – to live unto
His Gentle Character righteousness – but we also have a great

“When he suffered, he threatened not” support: a Shepherd to guide us (2:25) and
(2:23). Sadly, our worst behaviour often a holy High Priest to sustain us (Heb 7:26).
comes when we’re under stress. We let He sits at God’s right hand as a glorified,
things slip that normally we wouldn’t perfect Man.
say. Our Lord was treated terribly and When the pressure of temptation feels
undeservedly so. But when they reviled crushing, we can turn for help to the One
Him, He didn’t revile in return. When who was tempted Himself as we are, yet
He suffered under their abuse, He didn’t without sin (4:15). He withstood tempta-
threaten. His response to their cruelty was tion’s relentless assault without ever yield-
this: “Father, forgive them” (Luk 23:34). ing an inch. He alone, of all men, bore its
full weight without flinching or giving in
His Unwavering Trust for a moment. Because of this, He can give
“He … committed himself to him that us grace to help in time of need (4:16). And
judgeth righteously” (2:23). One of man- if we fail, then He draws alongside as “Jesus
kind’s most basic sins is unbelief, but the Christ the righteous” to restore us (1Jn 2:1).
Lord Jesus’ trust in God never wavered, Thank God for our sinless Savior!

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