He looked up to the Father, who is the
fountain of life, of order, of health, of usefulness; who hates all
death, disease, infirmity; who wills that none should perish, body
or soul.
My friends, think of these cheering words; and try to look up to God
the Father, as Christ looked up. Look up to him I say, if but once,
as a Father. Not merely as your Father, but as the Father of the
spirits of all flesh; the good God who creates, and delights to
create; who orders all worlds and heavens with perfect wisdom,
perfect power, perfect justice, perfect love; and peoples them with
immortal souls and spirits, that they may be useful, happy, blessed,
in keeping his laws, and doing the work which he has ordained for
them. Oh think, if but once, of God the perfect and all-loving
Father; and then you will know why Jesus looked up to him.
And you will see, too, why Jesus sighed. He sighed because he was
one with the Father. He sighed because he had the mind of God.
Because God, the Lord of health and order, hates disease and
disorder. Because God, the Lord of bliss and happiness, hates
misery and sorrow. Because God made the world at first very good;
and, behold, by man's sin, it has become bad.
Why did he sigh? Surely, also, from pity for the poor man. His
infirmity was no such great one; he had an impediment in his speech,
and with it, as many are apt to have, deafness also: but it was an
infirmity.
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