JESUS CHRIST, THE SATISFIED LABORER

William Wilberforce (1759–1833 A.D.) was the foremost campaigner for the abolition of slavery in Britain. He led this campaign for forty-six years, from 1787, when he was thirty-two years old, until his death in 1833. He learned on his deathbed that the Slavery Abolition Act had passed. What joy it must have been to him to know that, upon his death, slaves in the dependencies of Britain would be freed, and that his efforts had not been in vain. He saw the results of his many years of labor, and was satisfied.

But the satisfaction of Jesus Christ surpassed that of Wilberforce! Jesus labored for the emancipation of Jehovah’s people. They were spiritual slaves: slaves of sin [JOHN 8:34], slaves of uncleanness [ROMANS 6:19], slaves of lawlessness, slaves of Satan [II TIMOTHY 2:26], slaves of their own will and lusts and desires [EPHESIANS 2:1-3]. What joy it must have been to Jesus to know that, upon His death for His people, all of them would be freed, and that His efforts had not been in vain. For Jehovah had prophesied of Him, “He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied” [ISAIAH 53:11].

This is the Jesus we preach to you! The spiritual Abolitionist. The victorious Emancipator. The glorious Liberator. The satisfied Laborer. If you believe this gospel, you may sing with us in the words of Haldor Lillenas:

“Once I was bound by sin’s galling fetters;
Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain.
But I received a glorious freedom
When Jesus broke my fetters in twain.
Glorious freedom! Wonderful freedom!
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator –
Now and forever He shall be mine.”

– D.E.P.