Guest Sermon by Rev. Edward Higginson
We’re invited by Jesus Christ to imitate God; to strive to become, “perfect even as our Father who is in heaven is perfect,” (Matt. 5:48) who “is kind to the unthankful and the evil,” (Luke 6:35.) But it’s obvious that this imitation can’t apply to the natural attributes of God: the self-existence, eternity, power, and presence which belong to God and God alone.
We’re invited by Jesus Christ to imitate God; to strive to become, “perfect even as our Father who is in heaven is perfect,” (Matt. 5:48) who “is kind to the unthankful and the evil,” (Luke 6:35.) But it’s obvious that this imitation can’t apply to the natural attributes of God: the self-existence, eternity, power, and presence which belong to God and God alone.
And our imitation even of His
moral perfections is, admittedly, so feeble and faint in the very best of humanity
that had Scripture not enjoined the duty, we’d neither have noticed nor dared
to aspire to such ideals.
Yet, we need the stimulus of an
example more approachable by our sympathies and level to our nature. We need to
see in what sense, and to what extent, Humanity may be like God. We need one
specimen exhibited to us of human nature actually made perfect, bearing the
brightest transcript possible of all the imitable perfections of our Father in Heaven.
And this need is supplied by the
history of Jesus Christ.
But not if he was in person
Divine and Human at once. If his example is both Divine and Human we could
neither confidently distinguish which is imitable, nor sufficiently
discriminate how much is beyond our reach. Nor, if he was an angel, or any
being except a man. The virtues of angels are not imitable by us in the way we
require.
Jesus is not in nature an angel,
but of the seed of Abraham (and indeed, of Adam.) “Wherefore it behooved him to
be made like unto his brethren.” (Heb. 2:16-17.) His example is itself human
duty exhibited in human life – duty fulfilled with matchless fidelity.
But we’re trained to look upon
Jesus as we might upon a visitor from another planet – a creature of a superior
order of being, the splendor of whose angelic character we must admire with a
distant and detached feeling of wonder. It’s not only a theological, but a
practical, mistake that makes the character of Jesus an object of distant
reverential wonder, rather than one for direct emulation, or his example a
matter of vague contemplation and admiring sentimentality, rather than direct
practical imitation. This should not be.
That Jesus should be a perfect
example for all men, throughout all time, to look up to and obey, it was
necessary for the validity of his example that he should be really and properly
human.
When we speak of the imitableness
of Jesus’ character, and rest this assertion on the belief that he was a man “tempted
in all points as we are,” we aren’t forgetting he was a Prophet, mightier in
word and deed than any God had ever sent before.
The example of Jesus is entirely human,
and strictly imitable in every respect. That sublime character was strictly of
natural growth, under supernatural influences.
The Prophet's amazing commission from
God acted upon Jesus, the Man, to produce a pattern so far advanced above all
men to furnish all the world, for all ages, a Standard of human Excellence.
Those who profess a religious horror at the doctrine of Christ's Humanity, don’t know of its full worth. The Character and Example of our Savior, viewed as strictly and properly human, and therefore properly imitable by men, have in them a storehouse of virtuous influences, which, when transferred into our own characters, renders him his highest glory.
The great religious advantage of
this “peculiar doctrine” of proper humanity, is that it allows our Master to be
what he’s not in any other system: a true Example for Humanity. An example of
perfected human nature, to guide our conduct here, and to animate our faith as
to what we may become hereafter.
Christ's virtues, however
exalted, are properly imitated; his perfect example is designed to be our
guide. He will "hold us by the hand,” will help, guide, and support us,
not with an angel's touch (for he helps not angels - and will perform upon us
no miracle, and not operate upon us like a magic charm) but will help us as the
wisest and holiest of the sons of Adam may help his less experienced brethren -
he will counsel, admonish, reprove and encourage, as one tried and perfected,
helping the yet imperfect struggling with their trials and temptations.
His example ought to help us in our
duties and our difficulties, to regulate the state of our minds, and suggest
the principles of our conduct. Only then do we make the proper application of
this great spiritual truth, that Jesus exhibited a perfect model of human duty.
- Adapted from “Christ Imitable; The Religious Value of Christ’s Proper Humanity” by Rev. Edward Higginson (1807-1880)