The Noiseless Savior by C. Hiden

The Noiseless Savior

By C. Hiden

“He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets” (Matt. 12:19).

Deep waters are usually still. This furious, fussy age does not appreciate this truth. With our newspapers, steam-engines, telegraphs and telephones, we live in public. It is supposed that we know everything important that takes place. The quiet student is ignored. The work of Christ was quiet.

I. In its conception. This took place in the divine mind. It was no sudden emergency that produced it. Man’s great works are often the results of emergencies. “Necessity is the mother of invention.” There are no emergencies, in God’s government. In man’s preparations for great emergencies, what a noise he makes! His drums, his cannon, his “public speaking” burden the ear. But, in the divine conception of the scheme of redemption, God was so quiet that even the angels did not find it out. “Which things the angels desire to look into” (I Pet. 1:12).

II. In its execution. Perfectly performed feats are accomplished with apparent ease. “Hamlet” reads easily. The infant Jesus was heralded by an angelic host, singing such a song as had not been heard since the celestial chorus of the morning stars greeted the infant firmament, and delighted the new-born universe of God with their glorious heavenly melody. And this grand performance had for an audience some obscure shepherds whose very names are unknown.

It is commonly supposed that boys of genius are to be wild and wayward. The Galilean peasant boy minded His mother, and worked quietly in His father’s shop; and, until He was thirty years old, this is all we know of Him, except that he one day asked and answered some questions in a Bible-class at Jerusalem. His ministry was singularly quiet. There is not a single instance of His making an appointment beforehand to preach anywhere. All His sermons were occasional. He never troubled Himself about the size of His congregations, except when they became too large; and then He would retire, or else say something that would be sure to thin out the crowd. His marvelous sermon on regeneration was delivered to one Jew. The remarkable discourse at the well was delivered to one obscure and disreputable woman. His wondrous transfiguration, at which law, prophecy and Gospel---Moses, Elijah and Christ---all assisted, was transacted before an audience of three sacred fishermen. Probably no great crowd was present at His crucifixion. Nobody saw Him rise from the dead. And now His work is done, and He is about to return to His Father.

See that little knot of eleven men gathered on Mount Olivet. How eagerly they listen to the loving words of their risen Lord, as He promises that in a few days they shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit! Look at their beaming eyes and parted lips. His last lingering words die away on the pure mountain breeze; and look! He noiselessly mounts upon the air. No blinding lightnings blaze from the clouds upon the astonished eyes of the little band. No bellowing thunders reverberated through the skies, to tell that Heaven is weary of His long absence. No retinue of angels awaken the echoes of the mountain with their heavenly chorus of “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.” But a sunlit cloud opens its lovely portals and noiselessly receives the majestic form of the Prince of peace.

God’s mightiest agents work quietly. The glorious sun “sends down his rays of light and life and joy more quietly than the sleeping infant breathes.” The marvelous power of gravitation binds the sweet influences of Pleiades, and forges bands for Orion; but we hear no stroke of hammer in the great work-shop.

III. In its application. This consists in the conversion of the soul. This is not a noisy process. No machinery is necessary. You need not wait for turbulent exercises of mind before accepting Christ. The Redeemer did not break the bruised reed of the old dispensation. He did not stamp out the expiring sparks in the smoking flax of the Mosaic economy. The Gospel quietly superseded the legal economy. There was no violent revolution, but a quiet reformation.

Have you no interest in this work of Christ? Then remember His “judgment” and His “victory.”

“Every eye shall then behold Him

            Robed in dreadful majesty;

Those who set at naught and sold Him.

            Pierced and nailed Him to the tree.

When the solemn trump has sounded,

            Heaven and earth shall flee away;

All who hate Him, must confounded,

            Hear the summons of that day.”