The Penn's Grove record., 1910-09-02
In THE MASTERS
STEPS
By REV. JOHN H. KERR
Pastor Arlington Presbyterian Church
New York

Text: For even hereunto were We called;
because Christ also suffered for us. leav-
Ing us an example that We should follow
his stops.-Peter II. q.
WI en- the apostle Paul wrote those
words he referred specifically to the
example of our Lord under suffering.
Furthermore, 1t is worthy to note that
his words were primarily addressed to
those who were slaves.
1t is not at all my purpose to use
only this one side of the Masters ex-
ample. | want rather to gather to-
gether from a wider range than this
one text some of the leading charac-
teristics of the example set us by our
Lord. His is an ideal character OF
the ages, and we cannot too often
bring before our minds its salient fea-
lures.
The word example" here is the
translation of a word which Is used
only in this place in the New Tesla
ment. 1t means a writing copy"
such as might be found in a child's
exercise book and designated as an
aid in learning how to write correctly.
The word follow" is emphatic and
implies close and dilligent following.
II We catch the full meaning Of the
text, 1t Is necessary to bear in mind
these facts with reference to the two
most important words In 1t.
I'm the Masters steps," He has left
US an example that we should follow
his steps, The Master himself on
several occasions cited his own acts
as the only ones to be initiated by his
followers. Thus he said concerning
an act he had just performed: Il
have given you an example, that ye
should do as | have done to you" Or,
again: This is my commandment, that
We love one another, ever as l have
loved you" So the apostle Paul cites
our Lords example, saying: Have this
mind In you, which vas also in Christ
Jesus" And in another place we read:
Let each one of US please his neigh
Dor for that which Is good, unto edify-
ing. For Christ also pleased not
himself" The apostles aim in life
was to reproduce as far as he could
the life of his Lord. For to me to
live is Christ"
One of the reasons why sit behooved
him in all things to be made like unto
his brethren was that he might show
us the possibilities of which our ma
lures are capable. Man needed to see
how an ideal person acts. In addi-
ton to that which our Redeemer must
do to make atonement for our sins, he
must also set US an example in his
W life, 80 that We might have a
model after which we should attempt
to conform Gus lives.
OF course there we're many things
about our Lords life that we could not
initiate, but there are other aspects
of it which we must initiate. II we
are to be able successfully to lay
claim to his discipleship. We must
walk in the Masters steps.
In obeying the Fathers will. The
psalmist has said: 10, / am come; in
the roll of the book 1t is written Of me;
l delight to do thy will, o my God"
The writer of the epistle to the He
brews applies those words to Jesus,
WullSL uC ullucOA bdlQs W. Cob 40
to do the will of him that sent me
and to accomplish his will" Later in
his ministry in the presence of a great
multitude, Jesus affirmed: Il am come
down from heaven, not to do mine
w will, but the will of him that
sent me-" And in his last prayer
with his disciples he said: II glori-
fed thee on the earth, having accom-
plished the work which thou hast
given me to do" Though he was a
Son, yet learned his obedience by the
things which he suffered.
Obedience is about the first thing
the follower of Christ has to learn.
Obedience is the Masters test. "Ye
ere my friends, If We do the things
which l command you" No amount OF
p~rotestation that we are his followers
will take the place of obedience.
We should follow in the Masters
steps in resisting temptation. Our
Lord hath been in all points tempt
cl like we are, yet without sin" Nor
were the temptations of vi Lord mat.
tiers of little moment. He suffered
being tempted" The conflict with
Satan at the beginning of our Lords
ministry was a tremendous reality,
Temptation once came to him In the
words of Peter, so that Jesus said to
him: Get thee behind me, Satan:
thou art a stumbling block unto me"
So again and again our Lord was
tempted. 1t Is to be wondered at that
he should say so solemnly to his dis
ciples, just as he vas about to leave
them: Watch and pray, that ye en-.
ter not into temptation" We follow
in the Masters steps when We resist
temptation. What al encouragement
1t is to be assured that the Lord
knoweth how to deliver the godly out
of temptation"
In prayer is another way to follow
n his steps. Dur Lord repeatedly
prayer And this was not merely for
its effect on his disciples. The Mas
ter prayed because he needed thus to
hold communion with the Father. Re
member the TRANSPORTATION scene on
Mount Hermon, when, as he prayed
his c~ountenance was changed, and his
whole person became radiant with
glory. Our Lord said: Watch and
pray" If he needed to pray. much
more do we.
If we follow in his steps, we vi
be regular attendants on divire Wcr
ship. The record tells US the Re sas
his custom to go to the synagogue %
the Sabbath day. That 5inply means
that he was hfmse-i ar ratiplsi st
tendant on div 20 voreh'p