“He is especially good at binding up a broken heart” by Richard Sibbes
“See the gracious manner of Christ executing His offices of prophet, priest, and king.
As a prophet, He came with blessing in His mouth, ‘Blessed be the poor in spirit,’ (Matthew 5:3) and invited those to come to Him whose hearts suggested most exceptions against themselves, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden,’ (Matthew 11:28). How did His heart of compassion yearn when ‘He saw the people as sheep without a shepherd!’ (Matthew 9:36). He never turned any back again that came unto Him, though some went away of themselves.
He came to die as a priest for his enemies. In the days of His flesh He dictated a form of prayer unto His disciples, and put petitions unto God into their mouths, and His Spirit to intercede in their hearts. And now He makes intercession in heaven for weak Christians, standing between God’s anger and them. And He shed tears for those that shed His blood.
So He is a meek King; He will admit mourners into His presence, a king of poor and afflicted persons: as He hath beams of majesty, so He hath a heart of tender mercies and compassion; ‘a prince of peace,’ (Isaiah 9:6). Why was He ‘tempted, but that He might succour those that are tempted,’ (Hebrews 2:18)? What mercy may we not expect from so gracious a mediator, (1 Timothy 2:5), that took our nature upon Him that He might be gracious?” He is a physician good at all diseases, especially at binding up a broken heart.”
–Richard Sibbes, “The Bruised Reed,” The Works of Richard Sibbes, Volume 1 (ed. Alexander Balloch Grosart; Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1639/2001), 1: 45.
