Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc00/v02900

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 11KB | 183 lines

02901
 ** The apostle and evangelist, John, seems to have been the
 youngest of the twelve. He was especially favoured with our
 Lord's regard and confidence, so as to be spoken of as the
 disciple whom Jesus loved. He was very sincerely attached to his
 Master. He exercised his ministry at Jerusalem with much
 success, and outlived the destruction of that city, agreeably to
 Christ's prediction, ch. #21:22|. History relates that after the
 death of Christ's mother, John resided chiefly at Ephesus.
 Towards the close of Domitian's reign he was banished to the
 isle of Patmos, where he wrote his Revelation. On the accession
 of Nerva, he was set at liberty, and returned to Ephesus, where
 it is thought he wrote his Gospel and Epistles, about A. D. 97,
 and died soon after. The design of this Gospel appears to be to
 convey to the Christian world, just notions of the real nature,
 office, and character of that Divine Teacher, who came to
 instruct and to redeem mankind. For this purpose, John was
 directed to select for his narrative, those passages of our
 Saviour's life, which most clearly displayed his Divine power
 and authority; and those of his discourses, in which he spake
 most plainly of his own nature, and of the power of his death,
 as an atonement for the sins of the world. By omitting, or only
 briefly mentioning, the events recorded by the other
 evangelists, John gave testimony that their narratives are true,
 and left room for the doctrinal statements already mentioned,
 and for particulars omitted in the other Gospels, many of which
 are exceedingly important.

 * The Divinity of Christ. (1-5) His Divine and human nature.
 (6-14) John the Baptist's testimony to Christ. (15-18) John's
 public testimony concerning Christ. (19-28) Other testimonies of
 John concerning Christ. (29-36) Andrew and another disciple
 follow Jesus. (37-42) Philip and Nathanael called. (43-51)

 #1-5 The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word,
 seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so
 was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father's mind to
 the world. What the evangelist says of Christ proves that he is
 God. He asserts, His existence in the beginning; His coexistence
 with the Father. The Word was with God. All things were made by
 him, and not as an instrument. Without him was not any thing
 made that was made, from the highest angel to the meanest worm.
 This shows how well qualified he was for the work of our
 redemption and salvation. The light of reason, as well as the
 life of sense, is derived from him, and depends upon him. This
 eternal Word, this true Light shines, but the darkness
 comprehends it not. Let us pray without ceasing, that our eyes
 may be opened to behold this Light, that we may walk in it; and
 thus be made wise unto salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ.

02906
 #6-14 John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Jesus.
 Nothing more fully shows the darkness of men's minds, than that
 when the Light had appeared, there needed a witness to call
 attention to it. Christ was the true Light; that great Light
 which deserves to be called so. By his Spirit and grace he
 enlightens all that are enlightened to salvation; and those that
 are not enlightened by him, perish in darkness. Christ was in
 the world when he took our nature upon him, and dwelt among us.
 The Son of the Highest was here in this lower world. He was in
 the world, but not of it. He came to save a lost world, because
 it was a world of his own making. Yet the world knew him not.
 When he comes as a Judge, the world shall know him. Many say
 that they are Christ's own, yet do not receive him, because they
 will not part with their sins, nor have him to reign over them.
 All the children of God are born again. This new birth is
 through the word of God as the means, #1Pe 1:23|, and by the
 Spirit of God as the Author. By his Divine presence Christ
 always was in the world. But now that the fulness of time was
 come, he was, after another manner, God manifested in the flesh.
 But observe the beams of his Divine glory, which darted through
 this veil of flesh. Men discover their weaknesses to those most
 familiar with them, but it was not so with Christ; those most
 intimate with him saw most of his glory. Although he was in the
 form of a servant, as to outward circumstances, yet, in respect
 of graces, his form was like the Son of God. His Divine glory
 appeared in the holiness of his doctrine, and in his miracles.
 He was full of grace, fully acceptable to his Father, therefore
 qualified to plead for us; and full of truth, fully aware of the
 things he was to reveal.

02915
 #15-18 As to the order of time and entrance on his work, Christ
 came after John, but in every other way he was before him. The
 expression clearly shows that Jesus had existence before he
 appeared on earth as man. All fulness dwells in him, from which
 alone fallen sinners have, and shall receive, by faith, all that
 renders them wise, strong, holy, useful, and happy. Our
 receivings by Christ are all summed up in this one word, grace;
 we have received "even grace," a gift so great, so rich, so
 invaluable; the good will of God towards us, and the good work
 of God in us. The law of God is holy, just, and good; and we
 should make the proper use of it. But we cannot derive from it
 pardon, righteousness, or strength. It teaches us to adorn the
 doctrine of God our Saviour, but it cannot supply the place of
 that doctrine. As no mercy comes from God to sinners but through
 Jesus Christ, no man can come to the Father but by him; no man
 can know God, except as he is made known in the only begotten
 and beloved Son.

02919
 #19-28 John disowns himself to be the Christ, who was now
 expected and waited for. He came in the spirit and power of
 Elias, but he was not the person of Elias. John was not that
 Prophet whom Moses said the Lord would raise up to them of their
 brethren, like unto him. He was not such a prophet as they
 expected, who would rescue them from the Romans. He gave such an
 account of himself, as might excite and awaken them to hearken
 to him. He baptized the people with water as a profession of
 repentance, and as an outward sign of the spiritual blessings to
 be conferred on them by the Messiah, who was in the midst of
 them, though they knew him not, and to whom he was unworthy to
 render the meanest service.

02929
 #29-36 John saw Jesus coming to him, and pointed him out as the
 Lamb of God. The paschal lamb, in the shedding and sprinkling of
 its blood, the roasting and eating of its flesh, and all the
 other circumstances of the ordinance, represented the salvation
 of sinners by faith in Christ. And the lambs sacrificed every
 morning and evening, can only refer to Christ slain as a
 sacrifice to redeem us to God by his blood. John came as a
 preacher of repentance, yet he told his followers that they were
 to look for the pardon of their sins to Jesus only, and to his
 death. It agrees with God's glory to pardon all who depend on
 the atoning sacrifice of Christ. He takes away the sin of the
 world; purchases pardon for all that repent and believe the
 gospel. This encourages our faith; if Christ takes away the sin
 of the world, then why not my sin? He bore sin for us, and so
 bears it from us. God could have taken away sin, by taking away
 the sinner, as he took away the sin of the old world; but here
 is a way of doing away sin, yet sparing the sinner, by making
 his Son sin, that is, a sin-offering, for us. See Jesus taking
 away sin, and let that cause hatred of sin, and resolutions
 against it. Let us not hold that fast, which the Lamb of God
 came to take away. To confirm his testimony concerning Christ,
 John declares the appearance at his baptism, in which God
 himself bore witness to him. He saw and bare record that he is
 the Son of God. This is the end and object of John's testimony,
 that Jesus was the promised Messiah. John took every opportunity
 that offered to lead people to Christ.

02937
 #37-42 The strongest and most prevailing argument with an
 awakened soul to follow Christ, is, that it is he only who takes
 away sin. Whatever communion there is between our souls and
 Christ, it is he who begins the discourse. He asked, What seek
 ye? The question Jesus put to them, we should all put to
 ourselves when we begin to follow Him, What do we design and
 desire? In following Christ, do we seek the favour of God and
 eternal life? He invites them to come without delay. Now is the
 accepted time, #2Co 6:2|. It is good for us to be where Christ
 is, wherever it be. We ought to labour for the spiritual welfare
 of those related to us, and seek to bring them to Him. Those who
 come to Christ, must come with a fixed resolution to be firm and
 constant to him, like a stone, solid and stedfast; and it is by
 his grace that they are so.

02943
 #43-51 See the nature of true Christianity, it is following
 Jesus; devoting ourselves to him, and treading in his steps.
 Observe the objection Nathanael made. All who desire to profit
 by the word of God, must beware of prejudices against places, or
 denominations of men. They should examine for themselves, and
 they will sometimes find good where they looked for none. Many
 people are kept from the ways of religion by the unreasonable
 prejudices they conceive. The best way to remove false notions
 of religion, is to make trial of it. In Nathanael there was no
 guile. His profession was not hypocritical. He was not a
 dissembler, nor dishonest; he was a sound character, a really
 upright, godly man. Christ knows what men are indeed. Does He
 know us? Let us desire to know him. Let us seek and pray to be
 Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile; truly Christians,
 approved of Christ himself. Some things weak, imperfect, and
 sinful, are found in all, but hypocrisy belongs not to a
 believer's character. Jesus witnessed what passed when Nathanael
 was under the fig-tree. Probably he was then in fervent prayer,
 seeking direction as to the Hope and Consolation of Israel,
 where no human eye observed him. This showed him that our Lord
 knew the secrets of his heart. Through Christ we commune with,
 and benefit by the holy angels; and things in heaven and things
 on earth are reconciled and united together.