He Cares Before We Ask

“Take it and give it to them for Me and for yourself” — Matthew 17:27.

There is a beautiful expression of loving thoughtfulness in the account of Christ’s miracle at Capernaum, when He provided the money for the tax. After Peter’s conversation with the tax collector, we read that when Peter came into the house, Jesus anticipated him. The old English translation says Jesus “prevented him.” Here the word means that He went ahead of Peter, not that He stopped him. He arranged for the need before Peter had to say anything about it, sending him to the sea to find the gold coin in the fish’s mouth.

In this way, our dear Lord is always thinking ahead about our needs. He loves to spare us embarrassment and anticipate our anxieties and cares. In His love, He prepares help before the difficult moment arrives.

Then the Master adds with exquisite tenderness, “Take it and give it to them for Me and for yourself.” He puts Himself first in this embarrassing need and takes the heavier share of the burden carried by His troubled, suffering child. He makes our cares His cares, our sorrow His sorrow, and our shame His shame. He is able to “sympathize with our weaknesses.”