Others could use some help in the form of good devotional writings. These writings are helpful in that they not only walk us through meditative thoughts, but they also model for us how to meditate on a verse or concept. By reading carefully, we can learn how to meditate on our own.
I’d like to recommend a few resources that would be a blessing to anyone desiring to meditate on Christ. They are highly devotional, intended to stir up the mind and affections for the Lord Jesus. Resources like these are a great supplement to our own Bible reading, can help us to read the Bible more closely…and may teach us to meditate.
Pride of place, given the topic at hand, is Consider Jesus, by Octavius Winslow, a 19th century British preacher. This is but one of Winslow’s many works, all of which are Christ-centered. In its preface, he quotes Hebrews 3:1 as the guiding aim of what follows: “Consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.” Winslow then embarks on 32 brief meditations on Christ, including “Consider Jesus - as Tempted by Satan,” “Consider Jesus - in Loneliness,” and “Consider Jesus - in Soul Trouble.” While the above link is to the kindle edition of Winslow’s complete works, here is a link to a free online version of Consider Jesus.
Another gem is Thomas Goodwin’s The Heart of Christ. The main idea of the book is that Christ’s passing from this world into heaven did not change His concern or affection for us. The heart that moved Jesus to wash His disciples’ feet in John 13 moves Him now to intercede for us. A primary text for Goodwin is Hebrews 4:15, For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. He argues that, if anything, Jesus’ heart beats more strongly for His own, not in spite of their toils and temptations, but because of them. This is worth a long, slow read.
Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ by John Bunyan is a classic Puritan work, exposing John 6:37, All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. As with other Puritan works, it is a master class on biblical meditation, slowly and yet engagingly considering virtually every word of the text. This work is particularly helpful in thinking deeply about the heart of Christ toward the “backslider,” that is, the one who has strayed for a time and perhaps doubts his salvation or the Lord’s welcoming disposition. Bunyan is among the most readable of the Puritans and a great place to start.
Finally, there is The Glory of Christ by John Owen. The book opens with a consideration of Christ’s desire in John 17:24 that His disciples might see His glory. “He is not concerned that his disciples should merely see how glorious he was, but that the beholding of his glory might bring encouragement, strength, and blessedness to his disciples.” To that end, Owen explores the glory of Christ in various aspects, with the final two chapters showing the great benefit to the believer—beholding the glory of Christ rescues the believer from spiritual decay.
Each of these works yells a hearty, “Amen!” to the author of Hebrews as he exhorts us to “consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.” They are no substitute for reading the Scriptures, but they can help us to read the Scriptures more deeply, and perhaps, become more skilled at meditation. For that reason, I highly recommend you incorporate one into your devotional routine, or, read one with another member at PBF.
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