His public
ministry from Nazareth, where He had been brought up, to Golgotha,
would necessitate a close scrutiny of every step of the way, every
act and every utterance which came from His holy lips. What
discoveries of His Grace and moral Glory we make, if under the
guidance of His Spirit we meditate on His life here below. Humility
and submission under God, patient waiting on Him, utter absence of
all haste, perfect calmness of soul and every other characteristic
of perfect patience, we can trace constantly in that wonderful life.
What patience is revealed in the forty days in the wilderness, when
He hungered and was with the wild beasts (Mark i:13). When Satan
tempted Him and asked for stones to be made bread, He exhibited
still His patience. In His service, that marvellous service rendered
by the perfect servant, no ambitiousness or ostentatiousness can
ever be discovered. He pleased not Himself but Him who sent Him. He
was constantly going about doing the Father's will. His kindness and
love were rewarded by rejection and insults, yet no complaint or
murmur ever came from His lips. He was always trusting in God,
perfectly calm, perfectly satisfied.

And how His patience shines out in dealing with men. What patience
He had with His disciples and how He bore with them in love. They
were slow learners. What patience and tenderness in his conversation
with her, whom He had sought, the woman at Samaria's well. And
greatest above all His patience in suffering. He endured the cross.
When He was reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He
threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth
righteously. (1 Pet. ii:23). He was oppressed, and He was afflicted,
yet He opened not His mouth; He was brought as a lamb to the
slaughter, and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb, so He opened
not His mouth. All the buffetings, shame, dishonors, griefs, pains
and sorrows He patiently endured. Oh! the patience of Christ, who
for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame!

And into this patience of Christ our hearts are to be directed. It
is to be the object of our contemplation and to be followed by us,
who belong to Him. The patience of Christ must be manifested in our
lives. For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His
steps. His humility, submissiveness, contentment, calmness, patience
in endurance, in doing and sufferin