FOOD FOR YOUR JOURNEY

12 December

OTHERS

Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders said, He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we shall believe Him.

Matthew 27:41-42

The story is told of William Booth the founder of The Salvation Army who was walking down the streets of Whitechapel in 1865. He looked at the people passing him by and saw hundreds of souls who did not know the Saviour Jesus Christ. He hurried home and told his wife Kate, that he had found his destiny, that he would take the Gospel to the multitudes.

Years later the Salvation Army had spread all over the world and William Booth decided to send a New Years message to each company. He wanted the message to have real meaning, so he wrote out a short telegram and went to have it sent to over 100 companies but discovered that he did not have enough money to send them. He tried to shorten each message but found that it was still too expensive, and that his funds would allow 1 word only in each message.

He looked to the Lord for guidance and finally wrote down – OTHERS.

If only the Jewish leaders had known, that the One whom they looked upon and mocked was the very One who was condemned for their sakes. In actual fact the one word in that day, would have been CONDEMNATION, and in reality the Saviour, to be the Saviour, had to save others.

Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.

These words were written over His cradle and it is little wonder then that these words should have been written over His Cross:

He saved others Himself He cannot save.

This is the truth, and it will never be edited or changed by man’s word and even less so, by his reproaches and attempts to mock and ridicule.

The message that they all missed is that:

• He lived to save others.
• He died to save others.
• He rose to save others.
• He has promised to return to save others.

Gracious Father, help us to live according to Thy Word and that we may live in measure like Thy Son. This we ask in His precious Name. Amen