I. That is the claim which Christ has upon us; that He knowsus. As it is said, "He knew what was in man," and He does not merely know our faces, our forms, but our true selves. You know nothing of any science or thing until you know its hidden inner secret. Man has a great hidden nature, waiting for revealment and development. Christ is the true Revealer of the hidden nature of man. He walked amidst the mysteries of man's spirit, as one there perfectly at home.
II. Knowledge of human nature is essential to all teaching. Have you not noticed that scarcely any mind can cross the broad disc of our Lord's even temporary association, without revealing, as it passes, its state. It seems as if any mind coming into the neighbourhood of His Divine character is compelled to yield itself up. Not only to His perfect knowledge, in the memorable events of His life, is illustrated how that which is done in secret is proclaimed on the housetops. The teaching of our Lord had the same influence as His personal character; it revealed the thoughts of the heart. (1) His knowledge was and is absolute. (2) Hence His authority over man. Whenever a man makes you feel his power it is because he knows you, because he reads you. (3) He revealed our thoughts in His sympathy.
III. Christ not only revealed the thoughts of many hearts by eliciting their peculiar moral character; but He spoke to the universal heart of men in all ages, both by His deeds and by His words. He transformed the great instincts of men in all ages into absolute revelations.
IV. You will see how eminently our Saviour knew us, if you think of the four things which it was necessary should be done for us, and which He, as our Saviour, wrought out, to make His righteousness ours. (1) He saw that human nature was dark, He came to enlighten it. (2) He saw the hardness as well as the darkness of man. He came to soften the world's heart. (3) He consecrated humanity. He revealed the holy destiny of man, for He knew what was in man. He knew that darkness and hardness were the indissoluble associates of impurity, therefore He came to consecrate human nature. (4) He came to sublime and to crown human nature, to reveal to man His brightest, boldest thought eternal life immortality.
E. Paxton Hood, Sermons,p. 116.
References: Luke 2:34. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xv., No. 907; J. C. Hare, Sermons in Herstmonceux Church,p. 129; Three Hundred Outlines on the New Testament,p. 44; Good Words,vol. vi., p. 242.Luke 2:34; Luke 2:35. Preacher's Monthly,vol. iv., p. 365; Homilist,vol. ii., p. 523.Luke 2:35. J. Keble, Sermons from Lent to Passiontide,p. 397. Luke 2:36-38. Christian World Pulpit,vol. xvi., p. 6. Luke 2:37. Preacher's Monthly,vol. ix., p. 55.Luke 2:39-52. E. Johnson, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xv., p. 148.