A reading of Anglican priest Robert Hawker’s (1753–1827) morning devotional writings from “The Poor Man’s Morning and Evening Portion.”
The music for this reading is “Red-winged Blackbird” by Chad Crouch and was adapted for length under a Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
MARCH 14
And for their sakes I sanctify myself. John 17:19.
Let thy morning thoughts, my soul, be directed to this sweet view of thy Saviour. Behold thy Jesus presenting himself as the surety of his people before God and the Father, Having now received the call and authority of God the Father, and being fitted with a body suited to the service of a Redeemer, here see him entering upon the vast work, and, in those blessed words, declaring the cause of it —I sanctify myself. Did Jesus mean that he made himself more holy for the purpose? No, surely: for that was impossible. But by Jesus’s sanctifying himself, must be understood (as the Nazarite from the womb, consecrated, set apart, dedicated to the service to which the Father had called him) a voluntary offering—a holy, unblemished sacrifice. And observe for whom: for their sakes; not for himself, for he needed it not. The priests under the law made their offerings, first for themselves, and then for the people. But such a High-Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; and who needed not daily, as those high-priests, so to offer. For the law maketh men high-priests which have infirmity; but the Son is consecrated for evermore. My soul! pause over this view of thy Jesus ; and when thou hast duly pondered it, go to the mercy-seat, under the Spirit’s leadings and influences, and there, by faith, behold thy Jesus, in his vesture dipped in blood, there sanctified, and there appearing in the presence of God for thee. There plead the dedication of Jesus; for it is of the Father’s own appointment. There tell thy God and Father (for it is the Father’s glory when a poor sinner glorifies his dear Son in him) that He, that Holy One, whom the Father consecrated, and with an oath confirmed in his high-priestly office for ever, appeareth there for thee. Tell God that thy High-Priest’s holiness and sacrifice was altogether holy, pure, without a spot; and both his Person, and his nature, and offering, clean as God’s own righteous law. Tell, my soul, tell thy God and Father these sacred, solemn truths. And while thou art thus coming to the mercy-seat, under the leadings of the Spirit, and wholly in the name and office-work of thy God and Saviour, look unto Jesus, and call to mind those sweet words for whose sake that Holy One sanctified himself; and then drop a petition more before thou comest from the heavenly court; beg, and pray, and wrestle, with the bountiful Lord, for suited strength and grace, that as, for thy sake, among the other poor sinners of his redemption-love, Jesus sanctified himself, so thou mayst be able to be separated from every thing but Jesus ; and as thy happiness was Christ’s end, so his glory may be thy first and greatest object. Yes, dearest Jesus! methinks I hear thee say, Thou shalt be for me, and not for another; so will I be for thee. O thou condescending, loving God! make me thine, that whether I live, I may live unto the Lord, or whether I die, I may die unto the Lord ; so that living or dying I may be thine.
