MEETING a policeman at the corner of a, street; the writer handed him a little book, entitled “What think ye of Christ?” He immediately drew up, as he scanned the words, and quickly replied, “I think a great deal of Him.” Entering into a short conversation, it was manifest that he was a true believer on His blessed name, gladly expressing the joy of his soul in Him. How happy to be able to respond readily, and in such language, when faced with this all-momentous question! Dear reader, “What think ye of Christ?”
Doubtless, in these lands of Bibles, gospel teaching, and tracts, you are familiar with many foundation truths connected with His name, but what think ye of Him? You know He came and died, and rose and ascended, and you have heard He is coming again. Well, what think ye of Him? Do you respond from the heart with the same readiness as the one above, “I think a great deal of Him”? Or are you careless and different to the One who passed through these things for God and for us?
If you think a great deal of Him, it is the proof that you have tasted of His love. Naturally we have no heart for Christ; we think a great deal more of self. If we love Him, self gets displaced, and that is what we heartily dislike. And, moreover, to think rightly of Him exposes us, as He is the Son, and the Son is the Light. And we love darkness rather than light, and hate the light (John 3:19, 2019And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (John 3:19‑20)).
But if through grace we bow to His all-glorious name, and believe on Him, we begin to taste and enjoy His love; and this love begets love in our hearts in return. We begin to think a great deal of Him, and the more we enjoy His love the more we think of Him. He becomes the living Object of our soul’s joy. And as we continue to gaze upon Him, and to be occupied with Him, the soul is more and more enraptured, the heart captured, and self-displaced without regret, our natural hatred being dispelled by perfect love.
“What think ye of Christ? is the test
To try both your state and your scheme;
You cannot think right of the rest,
Unless you think rightly of Him.”
Then, what think ye? Some, thus tested, condemned Him to be guilty of death, and spat upon Him, buffeted and crucified Him (Mark 14:64, 6564Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death. 65And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands. (Mark 14:64‑65)). These are they with whom you are taking sides if you are going on with the world without Him. And there can be but one end for all such―the eternal judgment of God. What think ye?
The world has been tested by the presence of Christ. In principle God said to all, ‘What think ye of Christ, My Son?’ And man’s awful answer was, He is only worthy to be spit upon and crucified, and that, as we have seen, in the consummate wickedness of his heart, he did. But where sin abounded grace did much more abound. God raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory, and still waits in grace upon man, giving time for repentance, and to think rightly of Him.
Hence, once more, we appeal to you, dear reader of these lines, in His precious name, “What think ye of Christ?” Have you bowed in self judgment before Him and believed on Him?
“Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” “Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of bins, and by Him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)). The eternal welfare of your soul depends upon what you think of Him. May God in His rich grace lead you at once to consider this vital matter, and enable you to say from the heart with the one of whom you have just read, “I think a great deal of Him,” that you may know the forgiveness of your sins now for His name’s sake, and walk in His steps till He return. E. H. C.