CHRIST: OUR LEADER: OUR FILE COMMANDER

"Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, a leader and commander for the people."—Isaiah 55:4

 

Four times in the New Testament Jesus Christ is called Leader or Prince.  Originally the word means the First of a file of men, and therefore their Captain or Commanding Officer (see Acts 3:15; Acts 5:31; Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 12:2).

 

Christ leads from death into life.   When the nation of Israel crossed over the Red Sea it is symbolic of the Christian crossing over from death unto everlasting life.  Probably Joshua was the first to pass over the dried bed of the Jordan, as the priests stood by bearing the Ark of the Covenant;  Jesus Christ has preceded the believer through the waters of death, and will hold them back until each of the ransomed has passed "clean over", “Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan” (Joshua 3:17).  And from Psalm 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.”

 

Christ leads His followers into victory. When our Lord was exalted to the right hand of power, He opened up a path to be trodden throughout the ages by a company which no man can number. As He overcame, we may overcome; as He reigns over all principality and power, so we believe that He will bruise Satan under our feet, and make us more than conquerors.  “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

 

Christ leads those who suffer to perfection. Though He was the Son of God, He learned obedience by the things that He suffered, and transformed suffering, showing that it was a purifying furnace, a means of discipline and strength. “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” (Hebrews 5:8-9),   If we are thrust into the fiery furnace of test and trials we shall find the Son of God walking at our side, and shall emerge without our bonds, and with no smell of fire upon us.   Jesus is the Leader of a long procession of martyrs and sufferers.  He leads us through no darker rooms than He went through before; He knows exactly how much we can bear, and will not test us beyond our strength.  He is with us "all the days," and will help us to learn obedience, faith, and hope, as we follow in His footsteps.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that Your way is perfect.  Help me to always trust in Your goodness and that I may walk with You and follow You in all simplicity.  Father help me to possess a quiet and contented mind and that I may cast all of my care upon You, for You care for me.  Thank You that it is You that has gotten me the victory and that I am more than a conqueror in You, in Jesus Name.  Amen.