He had to borrow whatever he
needed. John Macduff, Heavenly Aspirations. For you know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes
He became poor, that you, through His poverty, might be rich. 2 Corinthians 8.9 When our Lord
dwelt among men, so extreme was His poverty, that He had nothing
which He could call His own. If we follow him through the
whole of his memorable career, we shall find that he had to
borrow whatever he needed. Did he ride in solemn state amid
the acclamations of the people to the Jewish capital? The humble
beast on which he was mounted was not his own, but belonged
to another. Did he join with his little flock
in celebrating the Paschal Supper on the night before he died?
The upper room in which they assembled was a borrowed room. Was there a garden to which he
was in the habit of resorting, in order to enjoy secret communion
with his Heavenly Father? That garden, fraught with such
hallowed associations, was a borrowed garden. Did he cross from coast
to coast for the purpose of performing his deeds of mercy and of announcing
the joyful tidings of pardon and peace to the ignorant and
guilty? The fishing-boats which conveyed
him on these compassionate errands were borrowed boats. Yes, if
we go back to the time of his birth, the place in which he
was born was a borrowed place, and while he was born in another
man's stable, he was also buried in another man's grave. Although
all things were made by Him, yet His circumstances were so
destitute that He was dependent for everything upon the charity
of others. To so poor and humiliating a
lot was the Lord of life and glory subjected. The foxes had
holes, and the birds of the air had nests, but he had nowhere
to lay his head. But why did he assume such a
debased condition? It was for our sakes. In his
deep poverty, as well as the other numberless woes to which
he voluntarily submitted, his unselfish compassion was signally
displayed, therein the kindness and love, the yearning pity and
matchless philanthropy, of God our Savior appeared. All that
He did and suffered was for us. He was made a curse for us. He gave Himself to die for us. He obtained eternal redemption
for us. May you experience the love of
Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Ephesians
3.19