And destroy Jesus.
The cruel purpose
Moral beauty generally admired, etc. None more lovely than “Jesus,” and yet He was envied, hated, persecuted, and crucified.
I. The efforts to destroy Jesus (Matthew 2:1-17; Luke 4:28). In the final conspiracy hired Judas, etc. (ch. 28). Though put to death, He rose, etc. Since then, Jews, etc., have laboured to destroy Him.
II. Why have they sought to destroy Jesus?
1. Not on account of the viciousness of His life.
2. Nor His opposition to law and order.
3. Nor the evil tendency of His doctrines.
4. Nor the injury He did by His influence (Matthew 27:4; Luke 23:14; Matthew 27:19).
It was-
1. Enmity to the truth.
2. Envy of His goodness.
3. Hatred of His person.
4. Love of wickedness.
III. How they have failed to destroy Jesus. Herod, Jews, Pilate, though they killed Him. He rose, etc. He lived on in His body, the Church. Trace the history of those destructive attempts down to Strauss and Renan, etc. Jesus is Divine, and cannot be destroyed. “He shall live,” etc. (Psalms 72:15-18). His titles. The enemies of Jesus shall be destroyed. The nations that will not serve Him shall perish. So individuals. Learn:-
1. The baseness of the human heart to try to destroy Jesus.
2. Our obvious duty and interest to accept and honour Christ.
3. He should have our hearts and lives. (J. Burns, D. D.)
Satanic policy defeated
I. The destructible Jesus. To what extent could the purpose of the foes of Jesus succeed? They might succeed in disparaging His character and station before men. Maliciously assaulting the person of Jesus-to this Jesus had long been subjected. Restraining His personal freedom. Silencing His tongue. The torture they applied to His feelings. His crucifixion. Suggestions: In that it was possible for Jesus to die, lies the very basis of our redemption. In the death of Jesus, promises of the deepest import to our race were accomplished. In the death of Jesus lay His most sublime victory for men.
II. The indestructible Jesus. The purpose of Jesus’s assailants was an entire and egregious failure. The very body of Jesus recovers its vitality. The Deity that was within the destructible temple they could not touch. They could not frustrate or retard His designs. The violent death of Jesus did not secure the permanence of the old Jewish establishment. Nor did it lead to the destruction of the New Kingdom, or to the dethronement of Jesus. Conclusion: Show who are in sympathy with this unholy purpose, and who are in living sympathy with the Indestructible Jesus. (Anon.)