SA 40:11{One sees at a glance, by referring to a concordance, the touching fact that our Leader Himself experienced a very different leading. Never once was He gently led. He was led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matt. 4:11Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (Matthew 4:1)); He was led by men filled with wrath to the brow of the hill, that they might cast Him down headlong (Luke 4:2929And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. (Luke 4:29)); He was led away to Annas, led away to Caiaphas (John 18:13,13And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. (John 18:13) Matt. 26:5757And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. (Matthew 26:57)); led into the council of the elders and chief priests and scribes (Luke 22:6666And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, (Luke 22:66)); led to Pontius Pilate (Matt. 27:22And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. (Matthew 27:2)), and into the hall of judgment (John 18:2828Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. (John 18:28)). And then He, our Lord Jesus Christ, was led as a sheep to the slaughter (Acts 8:3232The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: (Acts 8:32)); led away to be crucified! (John 19:1616Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. (John 19:16)). Verily, "His way was much rougher and darker than mine." That is how Jesus was led. But as for His people, He "guided them in the wilderness like a flock. And He led them on safely, so that they feared not" (Psa. 78:52-5352But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 53And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. (Psalm 78:52‑53)).
Lord Jesus, Thou halt trodden once for all
The Via Dolorosa—and for us!
No artist-power or minstrel-gift may tell
The cost to Thee of each unfaltering step,
Where love that passeth knowledge led Thee on,
Faithful and true to God, and true to us.
Thy ways are ways of pleasantness, and all
Thy paths are peace; and that the path of him
Who wears Thy perfect robe of righteousness,
Is as the light that shineth more and more
Unto the perfect day. And Thou hast given
An olden promise, rarely quoted now,
Because it is too bright for our weak faith:
“If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend
Days in prosperity, and they shall spend
Their years in pleasures." All because Thy days
Were full of sorrow, and Thy lonely years
Were passed in grief's acquaintance—all for us!