A Master to Help

A Master to Help

“Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?” Isa. 63:1. In the German Bible it says that He is a master to help.

Jesus, the great and good Master, is always ready to help us. Most people think that He is always ready to forgive us our sins, and that we can come to Him when we are sick or have some other difficulties. However, when it concerns real help, which the great and good Master wants to give us, He is left virtually standing by Himself. The more capable a professor is, the more difficult it is for him to find students whom he can help to comprehend the understanding and wisdom that he himself has.

There were many who followed Jesus because of the signs and wonders He performed, but only a few became His faithful disciples who wanted to learn to become like their Master. These were willing to be saved and to be helped to come to the Father’s throne. Paul had made great progress in this school of discipleship; he pursued the goal, which was to be like his heavenly Master in all things.

Jesus spoke to His disciples about righteousness, and if we wholeheartedly want to shun every kind of unrighteousness—both small and great—we will experience that He is mighty to save, and is a Master to help us.

Only those who are poor in spirit, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and who mourn over themselves can be helped to advance in the school of discipleship on the new and living way.

Most people are not in serious need over their sin. They are not too concerned if they commit a little bit of unrighteousness or use untruthful and inexact words, even though it is written that if they do such things, their religion is in vain. Jas. 1:26. They reckon with forgiveness but not help to overcome sin. If we become aware that some sin still has power over us—for example anger, bitterness, anxiety, and discouragement—then we should be in great need so that it becomes a matter of life and death to gain the victory. We should also have this need in our hearts because we are not like our Master. Through this poverty of spirit we become partakers of the kingdom of heaven to an increasingly greater degree. Matt. 5:3.

“For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Heb. 2:18.

It is not sin to be tempted; nevertheless, it is during the temptations that our cries for help must reach Him who is a Master to help. He Himself was tempted, but He always sought help from His heavenly Father so that He never sinned in temptation or in a trial. If He had given in to temptation even once, the devil would have had a part in Him, and death would have had power over Him, just as it does over all other people. There was a cry for help in His heart: “Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Heb. 5:7-9.

This wholehearted battle, with vehement cries and tears, and with prayers and supplications, was a battle to save us all from eternal death and perdition. How great and glorious our heavenly Master then becomes! He was victorious! Death and Hades could not hold Him! The victory was won by obedience and faithfulness in the temptations of life, and He is the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him. Yet He can neither help us nor save us if we are disobedient or stubborn.

The way to God’s glory is through self-acknowledgment, poverty of spirit, and obedience. If we have learned to be obedient to the commandments of Christ, we have learned something far more valuable than what we can learn in any of the schools and universities on earth. At the academy of discipleship the important thing is obedience and faithfulness, not human talents. This great and good Master is deserving of our love and obedience. Let us not leave Him standing alone with all the salvation and help He has available for us.

We will also become true helpers and guides to the degree that we have been willing to be helped and guided. There is an exceedingly great need for such people everywhere. They are the most useful people on earth. They make no demands, but they help and give! They are willing to be helped so that they can render help!

“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” Ps. 118:14. In our ministry to help the others, we must not forget that the Lord is also our song. It is fitting for us to sing His praises, to glorify and to praise His name for all His goodness and help. By faith in this help we can rejoice in all kinds of temptations and look forward to a bright future!