Christ in the Midst of the Church

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 5
 
He calls them His brethren, and sings in the midst of the Church. Think what it is!—not, You may sing now, for I have accomplished redemption, though this is true; but I will sing! Christ leads our praises: He has associated us with Himself now that He takes up all our thoughts and feelings. It is praise for redemption, but it is every thought and feeling I can express to God. For He is a man; He knows what it is, as none of us ever will know, to bear God's wrath. It is over; it is gone for Him on the cross; and it is gone for us by His having taken it. When risen, He declares the Father's name to His brethren, and leads their praises. It is from below the praises go up, founded on redemption and atonement; but the expression of every thought and feeling that can be in my heart, as an exercised man down here, goes up in praise. Christ has gone through all this, enters into it all, and sings in the midst of the Church—a figurative expression, but true. That is, He is the Person who leads every feeling and thought of exercised persons, because He has gone through it all.