By Henry Law, 1879
8:1-4. "Oh, if only you were my brother, who nursed at my mother's breast. Then I could kiss you no matter who was watching, and no one would criticize me. I would bring you to my childhood home, and there you would teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, my sweet pomegranate wine. Your left hand would be under my head and your right hand would embrace me. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you stir not up, nor awake my love, until He please."
The Church is inflamed with intense desire for closest communion with her beloved Lord. Sisterly affection in glowing exercise presents a fitting model. The tender sister makes appearance. It may be supposed that she has been mourning for the absence of a dear brother. Suddenly she sees him in the streets. She cannot be restrained. Her close relationship justifies familiar exhibition of her feeling. With no fear of censorious blame she imprints kisses on his cheeks. She resists all further separation. Clinging to his side she conducts him to her mother's abode. There they receive words of welcome from maternal lips. She seeks to cheer and solace her recovered brother. She brings the goblet of her choicest wine. She shows every token of endearment and affection. Such the picture of the intensity of domestic love. Such the close intimacy between the loving brother, and the rejoicing sister.
In this picture we may read volumes of holiest truth. Is not the blessed Jesus, indeed, the believer's brother! In the plenitude of His heavenly grace, He who was God of God, and very God of very God, condescends to assume our nature--to be born one of human family--to be bone of our bones, and flesh of our flesh. The blessed truth is announced, "He is not ashamed to call us brethren." Not only is He thus qualified as one with man's family to be our representative--to undertake the office of our surety--to bear the penalties of the broken law--to fulfill the righteousness required by justice. As such He can hang accursed on the accursed tree, and shed the blood of atonement to obliterate human guilt.
But, moreover, by being made in all things like unto us--sin only excepted--He has a heart to sympathize with us in our trials and in our conflicts. He has tasted the cup of human woe. He can feel for those who are called to drink the same. Thus He can stick close, yes, closer than a mother's son.
As such He invites us to familiar converse. We may draw near, and pour into His heart the tale of all our need. He will not be slow to listen. He will be quick to bring relief. We may assure Him of the warmth and reality of our devoted love. We may clasp Him to our heart of hearts. We may embrace Him with tokens of rapturous delight.
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