Acts 22:6-10 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come near to Damascus about noon… This is the name by which our ascended Saviour would be remembered. It contains the gospel of condescension. Nazareth was our Lord's early home, and remained His common abode until His personal ministry began. He might well say to startled Saul, "I am Jesus of Nazareth," for with no other point on earth had He so close and continued associations. Twenty-one times was He styled Jesus of Nazareth — by His enemies in the garden, and in the Judgment Hall; by the people generally; by His disciples, both during His lifetime and after; by the angels at the sepulchre; by devils; yea, by Himself. We shall find in His name — I. PRECIOUS DOCTRINE. 1. The identity of Jesus. Jesus of Nazareth in heaven was unchanged from what He was below. But when you add to this the ability which He claimed on high to dispense the blessings received of the Father, how does the assurance of His sameness bridge the distance between earth and heaven! 2. The influence of His Nazareth experience upon His present condition. All the things through which He passed have made Him in the skies far different from that before His birth in Bethlehem. Before He was with God, then He was Emmanuel, God with us. Now is He with God and God with us; bringing God near unto each disciple, and bringing every disciple near to God. He had the crowns of creation, of providence, of kingly control, before He wore the crown of thorns; but in the redemption of man Jesus holds the sovereignty. The centre of all worship is a Nazarene, who has been exalted by the Father because of His Nazareth experience. 3. The basis of His work on high is His Nazareth experience. Whilst resting in triumph, He does not forget Nazareth. The least and the lowest are as much His care as the proudest and the most princely. An identity of experience has given a new, deep meaning to the word "sympathy." But more, His qualifications, His plea in intercession, is in Nazareth. Our Advocate with the Father: "Jesus Christ the righteous," and His righteousness was wrought out in the Nazareth life. Even so His kingly, His prophetical, His sustaining, His comforting offices are based upon this one experience which He sums up in the word "Nazareth." Nazareth has long since become a ruin, but it is remembered in heaven. II. PERSONAL INSTRUCTION. Doctrine is worthless unless it comes down to life. It is bread; let the poor man eat it. Stop talking about its chemistry. It is a house; the storm overtakes one while the admiring critic is telling about its architecture. Open the door and let the man in to the well-spread table. The true theologian is the living Christian. Here we have — 1. A warning to persecutors. "I am Jesus of Nazareth." The wisdom and the hatred of men are this day in league against the Nazarene. An exalted Saviour, Himself maintaining a plea for men, is that which proud unbelief cannot endure. But let such listen. God hath thus exalted Him, and those who oppose Him will find it hard, as Saul did, "to kick against the pricks." It will be hard in thy conscience; it will be hard, growingly hard, in thy experience; it will be harder for thee by and by. 2. Great comfort in perplexity. It is a perfect key to every lock of the Dungeon of Despair. It makes a full provision for every anxiety of the Christian. Art thou ignorant? — Jesus of Nazareth is thy Teacher. Art thou weak? — He is thy Strength. Art thou fearful? — He is thy Power. Art thou tempted? — He is thy Defender. Has the hour of death come? — now thou enterest into life. Tell me some want of the soul for which this Nazarene Jesus does not present Himself as a specific! 3. Assurance of our partnership in His triumph. The Head carries with Him the members. Where our Forerunner has entered, there shall everyone who trusts Him and loves Him at last appear. (S. H. Tyng, D. D. , jun.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. |
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