Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc00/v01050

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 14KB | 242 lines

01052
 * Christ's resurrection. (1-8) He appears to the women. (9,10)
 Confession of the soldiers. (11-15) Christ's commission to his
 disciples. (16-20)

 #1-8 Christ rose the third day after his death; that was the
 time he had often spoken of. On the first day of the first week
 God commanded the light to shine out of darkness. On this day
 did He who is the Light of the world, shine out of the darkness
 of the grave; and this day is from henceforward often mentioned
 in the New Testament, as the day which Christians religiously
 observed in solemn assemblies, to the honour of Christ. Our Lord
 Jesus could have rolled back the stone by his own power, but he
 chose to have it done by an angel. The resurrection of Christ,
 as it is the joy of his friends, so it is the terror and
 confusion of his enemies. The angel encouraged the women against
 their fears. Let the sinners in Zion be afraid. Fear not ye, for
 his resurrection will be your consolation. Our communion with
 him must be spiritual, by faith in his word. When we are ready
 to make this world our home, and to say, It is good to be here,
 then let us remember our Lord Jesus is not here, he is risen;
 therefore let our hearts rise, and seek the things that are
 above. He is risen, as he said. Let us never think that strange
 which the word of Christ has told us to expect; whether the
 sufferings of this present time, or the glory that is to be
 revealed. It may have a good effect upon us, by faith to view
 the place where the Lord lay. Go quickly. It was good to be
 there, but the servants of God have other work appointed. Public
 usefulness must be chosen before the pleasure of secret
 communion with God. Tell the disciples, that they may be
 comforted under their present sorrows. Christ knows where his
 disciples dwell, and will visit them. Even to those at a
 distance from the plenty of the means of grace, he will
 graciously manifest himself. The fear and the joy together
 quickened their pace. The disciples of Christ should be forward
 to make known to each other their experiences of communion with
 their Lord; and should tell others what God has done for their
 souls.

01060
 #9,10 God's gracious visits usually meet us in the way of duty;
 and to those who use what they have for others' benefit, more
 shall be given. This interview with Christ was unexpected; but
 Christ was nigh them, and still is nigh us in the word. The
 salutation speaks the good-will of Christ to man, even since he
 entered upon his state of exaltation. It is the will of Christ
 that his people should be a cheerful, joyful people, and his
 resurrection furnishes abundant matter for joy. Be not afraid.
 Christ rose from the dead, to silence his people's fears, and
 there is enough in that to silence them. The disciples had just
 before shamefully deserted him in his sufferings; but, to show
 that he could forgive, and to teach us to do so, he calls them
 brethren. Notwithstanding his majesty and purity, and our
 meanness and unworthiness, he still condescends to call
 believers his brethren.

01062
 #11-15 What wickedness is it which men will not be brought to by
 the love of money! Here was large money given to the soldiers
 for advancing that which they knew to be a lie, yet many grudge
 a little money for advancing what they know to be the truth. Let
 us never starve a good cause, when we see bad ones so liberally
 supported. The priests undertook to secure them from the sword
 of Pilate, but could not secure these soldiers from the sword of
 God's justice, which hangs over the heads of those that love and
 make a lie. Those men promise more than they can perform, who
 undertake to save a man harmless in doing a wilful sin. But this
 falsehood disproved itself. Had the soldiers been all asleep,
 they could not have known what passed. If any had been awake,
 they would have roused the others and prevented the removal; and
 certainly if they had been asleep, they never would have dared
 to confess it; while the Jewish rulers would have been the first
 to call for their punishment. Again, had there been any truth in
 the report, the rulers would have prosecuted the apostles with
 severity for it. The whole shows that the story was entirely
 false. And we must not charge such things to the weakness of the
 understanding, but to the wickedness of the heart. God left them
 to expose their own course. The great argument to prove Christ
 to be the Son of God, is his resurrection; and none could have
 more convincing proofs of the truth of that than these soldiers;
 yet they took bribes to hinder others from believing. The
 plainest evidence will not affect men, without the work of the
 Holy Spirit.

01067
 #16-20 This evangelist passes over other appearances of Christ,
 recorded by Luke and John, and hastens to the most solemn; one
 appointed before his death, and after his resurrection. All that
 see the Lord Jesus with an eye of faith, will worship him. Yet
 the faith of the sincere may be very weak and wavering. But
 Christ gave such convincing proofs of his resurrection, as made
 their faith to triumph over doubts. He now solemnly commissioned
 the apostles and his ministers to go forth among all nations.
 The salvation they were to preach, is a common salvation;
 whoever will, let him come, and take the benefit; all are
 welcome to Christ Jesus. Christianity is the religion of a
 sinner who applies for salvation from deserved wrath and from
 sin; he applies to the mercy of the Father, through the
 atonement of the incarnate Son, and by the sanctification of the
 Holy Spirit, and gives up himself to be the worshipper and
 servant of God, as the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three
 Persons but one God, in all his ordinances and commandments.
 Baptism is an outward sign of that inward washing, or
 sanctification of the Spirit, which seals and evidences the
 believer's justification. Let us examine ourselves, whether we
 really possess the inward and spiritual grace of a death unto
 sin, and a new birth unto righteousness, by which those who were
 the children of wrath become the children of God. Believers
 shall have the constant presence of their Lord always; all days,
 every day. There is no day, no hour of the day, in which our
 Lord Jesus is not present with his churches and with his
 ministers; if there were, in that day, that hour, they would be
 undone. The God of Israel, the Saviour, is sometimes a God that
 hideth himself, but never a God at a distance. To these precious
 words Amen is added. Even so, Lord Jesus, be thou with us and
 all thy people; cause thy face to shine upon us, that thy way
 may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
01072
 ** Mark was a sister's son to Barnabas, #Col 4:10|; and #Ac
 12:12| shows that he was the son of Mary, a pious woman of
 Jerusalem, at whose house the apostles and first Christians
 assembled. From Peter's styling him his son, #1Pe 5:13|, the
 evangelist is supposed to have been converted by that apostle.
 Thus Mark was closely united with the followers of our Lord, if
 not himself one of the number. Mark wrote at Rome; some suppose
 that Peter dictated to him, though the general testimony is,
 that the apostle having preached at Rome, Mark, who was the
 apostle's companion, and had a clear understanding of what Peter
 delivered, was desired to commit the particulars to writing. And
 we may remark, that the great humility of Peter is very plain
 where any thing is said about himself. Scarcely an action or a
 work of Christ is mentioned, at which this apostle was not
 present, and the minuteness shows that the facts were related by
 an eye-witness. This Gospel records more of the miracles than of
 the discourses of our Lord, and though in many things it relates
 the same things as the Gospel according to St. Matthew, we may
 reap advantages from reviewing the same events, placed by each
 of the evangelists in that point of view which most affected his
 own mind.

 * The office of John the Baptist. (1-8) The baptism and
 temptation of Christ. (9-13) Christ preaches and calls
 disciples. (14-22) He casts out an unclean spirit. (23-28) He
 heals many diseased. (29-39) He heals a leper. (40-45)

 #1-8. Isaiah and Malachi each spake concerning the beginning of
 the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the ministry of John. From these
 prophets we may observe, that Christ, in his gospel, comes among
 us, bringing with him a treasure of grace, and a sceptre of
 government. Such is the corruption of the world, that there is
 great opposition to his progress. When God sent his Son into the
 world, he took care, and when he sends him into the heart, he
 takes care, to prepare his way before him. John thinks himself
 unworthy of the meanest office about Christ. The most eminent
 saints have always been the most humble. They feel their need of
 Christ's atoning blood and sanctifying Spirit, more than others.
 The great promise Christ makes in his gospel to those who have
 repented, and have had their sins forgiven them, is, they shall
 be baptized with the Holy Ghost; shall be purified by his
 graces, and refreshed by his comforts. We use the ordinances,
 word, and sacraments without profit and comfort, for the most
 part, because we have not of that Divine light within us; and we
 have it not because we ask it not; for we have his word that
 cannot fail, that our heavenly Father will give this light, his
 Holy Spirit, to those that ask it.

01080
 #9-13 Christ's baptism was his first public appearance, after he
 had long lived unknown. How much hidden worth is there, which in
 this world is not known! But sooner or later it shall be known,
 as Christ was. He took upon himself the likeness of sinful
 flesh; and thus, for our sakes, he sanctified himself, that we
 also might be sanctified, and be baptized with him, #Joh 17:19|.
 See how honourably God owned him, when he submitted to John's
 baptism. He saw the Spirit descending upon him like a dove. We
 may see heaven opened to us, when we perceive the Spirit
 descending and working upon us. God's good work in us, is sure
 evidence of his good will towards us, and preparations for us.
 As to Christ's temptation, Mark notices his being in the
 wilderness and that he was with the wild beasts. It was an
 instance of his Father's care of him, which encouraged him the
 more that his Father would provide for him. Special protections
 are earnests of seasonable supplies. The serpent tempted the
 first Adam in the garden, the Second Adam in the wilderness;
 with different success indeed; and ever since he still tempts
 the children of both, in all places and conditions. Company and
 conversation have their temptations; and being alone, even in a
 wilderness, has its own also. No place or state exempts, no
 business, not lawful labouring, eating, or drinking, not even
 fasting and praying; often in these duties there are the most
 assaults, but in them is the sweetest victory. The ministration
 of the good angels is matter of great comfort in reference to
 the malignant designs of the evil angels; but much more does it
 comfort us, to have the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit in our
 hearts.

01085
 #14-22 Jesus began to preach in Galilee, after that John was put
 in prison. If some be laid aside, others shall be raised up, to
 carry on the same work. Observe the great truths Christ
 preached. By repentance we give glory to our Creator whom we
 have offended; by faith we give glory to our Redeemer who came
 to save us from our sins. Christ has joined these two together,
 and let no man think to put them asunder. Christ puts honour
 upon those who, though mean in this world, are diligent in their
 business and kind to one another. Industry and unity are good
 and pleasant, and the Lord Jesus commands a blessing on them.
 Those whom Christ calls, must leave all to follow him; and by
 his grace he makes them willing to do so. Not that we must needs
 go out of the world, but we must sit loose to the world; forsake
 every thing that is against our duty to Christ, and that cannot
 be kept without hurt to our souls. Jesus strictly kept the
 sabbath day, by applying himself unto, and abounding in the
 sabbath work, in order to which the sabbath rest was appointed.
 There is much in the doctrine of Christ that is astonishing; and
 the more we hear it, the more cause we see to admire it.

01094
 #23-28 The devil is an unclean spirit, because he has lost all
 the purity of his nature, because he acts in direct opposition
 to the Holy Spirit of God, and by his suggestions defiles the
 spirits of men. There are many in our assemblies who quietly
 attend under merely formal teachers; but if the Lord come with
 faithful ministers and holy doctrine, and by his convincing
 Spirit, they are ready to say, like this man, What have we to do
 with thee, Jesus of Nazareth! No disorder could enable a man to
 know Jesus to be the Holy One of God. He desires to have nothing
 to do with Jesus, for he despairs of being saved by him, and
 dreads being destroyed by him. See whose language those speak,
 that say to the Almighty, Depart from us. This unclean spirit
 hated and dreaded Christ, because he knew him to be a Holy One;
 for the carnal mind is enmity against God, especially against
 his holiness. When Christ by his grace delivers souls out of the
 hands of Satan, it is not without tumult in the soul; for that
 spiteful enemy will disquiet those whom he cannot destroy. This
 put all who saw it upon considering, What is this new doctrine?
 A work as great often is wrought now, yet men treat it with
 contempt and neglect. If this were not so, the conversion of a
 notorious wicked man to a sober, righteous, and godly life, by
 the preaching of a crucified Saviour, would cause many to ask,
 What doctrine is this?