Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc00/v02950

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 13KB | 221 lines

02952
 * The miracle at Cana. (1-11) Christ casts the buyers and
 sellers out of the temple. (12-22) Many believe in Christ.
 (23-25)

 #1-11 It is very desirable when there is a marriage, to have
 Christ own and bless it. Those that would have Christ with them
 at their marriage, must invite him by prayer, and he will come.
 While in this world we sometimes find ourselves in straits, even
 when we think ourselves in fulness. There was want at a marriage
 feast. Those who are come to care for the things of the world,
 must look for trouble, and count upon disappointment. In our
 addresses to Christ, we must humbly spread our case before him,
 and then refer ourselves to him to do as he pleases. In Christ's
 reply to his mother there was no disrespect. He used the same
 word when speaking to her with affection from the cross; yet it
 is a standing testimony against the idolatry of after-ages, in
 giving undue honours to his mother. His hour is come when we
 know not what to do. Delays of mercy are not denials of prayer.
 Those that expect Christ's favours, must observe his orders with
 ready obedience. The way of duty is the way to mercy; and
 Christ's methods must not be objected against. The beginning of
 Moses' miracles was turning water into blood, #Ex 7:20|; the
 beginning of Christ's miracles was turning water into wine;
 which may remind us of the difference between the law of Moses
 and the gospel of Christ. He showed that he improves
 creature-comforts to all true believers, and make them comforts
 indeed. And Christ's works are all for use. Has he turned thy
 water into wine, given thee knowledge and grace? it is to profit
 withal; therefore draw out now, and use it. It was the best
 wine. Christ's works commend themselves even to those who know
 not their Author. What was produced by miracles, always was the
 best in its kind. Though Christ hereby allows a right use of
 wine, he does not in the least do away his own caution, which
 is, that our hearts be not at any time overcharged with
 surfeiting and drunkenness, #Lu 21:34|. Though we need not
 scruple to feast with our friends on proper occasions, yet every
 social interview should be so conducted, that we might invite
 the Redeemer to join with us, if he were now on earth; and all
 levity, luxury, and excess offend him.

02963
 #12-22 The first public work in which we find Christ engaged,
 was driving from the temple the traders whom the covetous
 priests and rulers encouraged to make a market-place of its
 courts. Those now make God's house a house of merchandise, whose
 minds are filled with cares about worldly business when
 attending religious exercises, or who perform Divine offices for
 love of gain. Christ, having thus cleansed the temple, gave a
 sign to those who demanded it, to prove his authority for so
 doing. He foretells his death by the Jews' malice, Destroy ye
 this temple; I will permit you to destroy it. He foretells his
 resurrection by his own power; In three days I will raise it up.
 Christ took again his own life. Men mistake by understanding
 that according to the letter, which the Scripture speaks by way
 of figure. When Jesus was risen from the dead, his disciples
 remembered he has said this. It helps much in understanding the
 Divine word, to observe the fulfilling of the Scriptures.

02974
 #23-25 Our Lord knew all men, their nature, dispositions,
 affections, designs, so as we do not know any man, not even
 ourselves. He knows his crafty enemies, and all their secret
 projects; his false friends, and their true characters. He knows
 who are truly his, knows their uprightness, and knows their
 weaknesses. We know what is done by men; Christ knows what is in
 them, he tries the heart. Beware of a dead faith, or a formal
 profession: carnal, empty professors are not to be trusted, and
 however men impose on others or themselves, they cannot impose
 on the heart-searching God.
02977
 * Christ's discourse with Nicodemus. (1-21) The baptism of John
 of Christ John's testimony. (22-36)

 #1-8 Nicodemus was afraid, or ashamed to be seen with Christ,
 therefore came in the night. When religion is out of fashion,
 there are many Nicodemites. But though he came by night, Jesus
 bid him welcome, and hereby taught us to encourage good
 beginnings, although weak. And though now he came by night, yet
 afterward he owned Christ publicly. He did not talk with Christ
 about state affairs, though he was a ruler, but about the
 concerns of his own soul and its salvation, and went at once to
 them. Our Saviour spoke of the necessity and nature of
 regeneration or the new birth, and at once directed Nicodemus to
 the source of holiness of the heart. Birth is the beginning of
 life; to be born again, is to begin to live anew, as those who
 have lived much amiss, or to little purpose. We must have a new
 nature, new principles, new affections, new aims. By our first
 birth we were corrupt, shapen in sin; therefore we must be made
 new creatures. No stronger expression could have been chosen to
 signify a great and most remarkable change of state and
 character. We must be entirely different from what we were
 before, as that which begins to be at any time, is not, and
 cannot be the same with that which was before. This new birth is
 from heaven, ch. #1:13|, and its tendency is to heaven. It is a
 great change made in the heart of a sinner, by the power of the
 Holy Spirit. It means that something is done in us, and for us,
 which we cannot do for ourselves. Something is wrong, whereby
 such a life begins as shall last for ever. We cannot otherwise
 expect any benefit by Christ; it is necessary to our happiness
 here and hereafter. What Christ spoke, Nicodemus misunderstood,
 as if there had been no other way of regenerating and
 new-moulding an immortal soul, than by new-framing the body. But
 he acknowledged his ignorance, which shows a desire to be better
 informed. It is then further explained by the Lord Jesus. He
 shows the Author of this blessed change. It is not wrought by
 any wisdom or power of our own, but by the power of the blessed
 Spirit. We are shapen in iniquity, which makes it necessary that
 our nature be changed. We are not to marvel at this; for, when
 we consider the holiness of God, the depravity of our nature,
 and the happiness set before us, we shall not think it strange
 that so much stress is laid upon this. The regenerating work of
 the Holy Spirit is compared to water. It is also probable that
 Christ had reference to the ordinance of baptism. Not that all
 those, and those only, that are baptized, are saved; but without
 that new birth which is wrought by the Spirit, and signified by
 baptism, none shall be subjects of the kingdom of heaven. The
 same word signifies both the wind and the Spirit. The wind
 bloweth where it listeth for us; God directs it. The Spirit
 sends his influences where, and when, on whom, and in what
 measure and degree, he pleases. Though the causes are hidden,
 the effects are plain, when the soul is brought to mourn for
 sin, and to breathe after Christ. Christ's stating of the
 doctrine and the necessity of regeneration, it should seem, made
 it not clearer to Nicodemus. Thus the things of the Spirit of
 God are foolishness to the natural man. Many think that cannot
 be proved, which they cannot believe. Christ's discourse of
 gospel truths, ver. #11-13|, shows the folly of those who make
 these things strange unto them; and it recommends us to search
 them out. Jesus Christ is every way able to reveal the will of
 God to us; for he came down from heaven, and yet is in heaven.
 We have here a notice of Christ's two distinct natures in one
 person, so that while he is the Son of man, yet he is in heaven.
 God is the "HE THAT IS," and heaven is the dwelling-place of his
 holiness. The knowledge of this must be from above, and can be
 received by faith alone. Jesus Christ came to save us by healing
 us, as the children of Israel, stung with fiery serpents, were
 cured and lived by looking up to the brazen serpent, #Nu
 21:6-9|. In this observe the deadly and destructive nature of
 sin. Ask awakened consciences, ask damned sinners, they will
 tell you, that how charming soever the allurements of sin may
 be, at the last it bites like a serpent. See the powerful remedy
 against this fatal malady. Christ is plainly set forth to us in
 the gospel. He whom we offended is our Peace, and the way of
 applying for a cure is by believing. If any so far slight either
 their disease by sin, or the method of cure by Christ, as not to
 receive Christ upon his own terms, their ruin is upon their own
 heads. He has said, Look and be saved, look and live; lift up
 the eyes of your faith to Christ crucified. And until we have
 grace to do this, we shall not be cured, but still are wounded
 with the stings of Satan, and in a dying state. Jesus Christ
 came to save us by pardoning us, that we might not die by the
 sentence of the law. Here is gospel, good news indeed. Here is
 God's love in giving his Son for the world. God so loved the
 world; so really, so richly. Behold and wonder, that the great
 God should love such a worthless world! Here, also, is the great
 gospel duty, to believe in Jesus Christ. God having given him to
 be our Prophet, Priest, and King, we must give up ourselves to
 be ruled, and taught, and saved by him. And here is the great
 gospel benefit, that whoever believes in Christ, shall not
 perish, but shall have everlasting life. God was in Christ
 reconciling the world to himself, and so saving it. It could not
 be saved, but through him; there is no salvation in any other.
 From all this is shown the happiness of true believers; he that
 believeth in Christ is not condemned. Though he has been a great
 sinner, yet he is not dealt with according to what his sins
 deserve. How great is the sin of unbelievers! God sent One to
 save us, that was dearest to himself; and shall he not be
 dearest to us? How great is the misery of unbelievers! they are
 condemned already; which speaks a certain condemnation; a
 present condemnation. The wrath of God now fastens upon them;
 and their own hearts condemn them. There is also a condemnation
 grounded on their former guilt; they are open to the law for all
 their sins; because they are not by faith interested in the
 gospel pardon. Unbelief is a sin against the remedy. It springs
 from the enmity of the heart of man to God, from love of sin in
 some form. Read also the doom of those that would not know
 Christ. Sinful works are works of darkness. The wicked world
 keep as far from this light as they can, lest their deeds should
 be reproved. Christ is hated, because sin is loved. If they had
 not hated saving knowledge, they would not sit down contentedly
 in condemning ignorance. On the other hand, renewed hearts bid
 this light welcome. A good man acts truly and sincerely in all
 he does. He desires to know what the will of God is, and to do
 it, though against his own worldly interest. A change in his
 whole character and conduct has taken place. The love of God is
 shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost, and is become the
 commanding principle of his actions. So long as he continues
 under a load of unforgiven guilt, there can be little else than
 slavish fear of God; but when his doubts are done away, when he
 sees the righteous ground whereon this forgiveness is built, he
 rests on it as his own, and is united to God by unfeigned love.
 Our works are good when the will of God is the rule of them, and
 the glory of God the end of them; when they are done in his
 strength, and for his sake; to him, and not to men.
 Regeneration, or the new birth, is a subject to which the world
 is very averse; it is, however, the grand concern, in comparison
 with which every thing else is but trifling. What does it
 signify though we have food to eat in plenty, and variety of
 raiment to put on, if we are not born again? if after a few
 mornings and evenings spent in unthinking mirth, carnal
 pleasure, and riot, we die in our sins, and lie down in sorrow?
 What does it signify though we are well able to act our parts in
 life, in every other respect, if at last we hear from the
 Supreme Judge, "Depart from me, I know you not, ye workers of
 iniquity?"
02998
 #22-36 John was fully satisfied with the place and work assigned
 him; but Jesus came on a more important work. He also knew that
 Jesus would increase in honour and influence, for of his
 government and peace there would be no end, while he himself
 would be less followed. John knew that Jesus came from heaven as
 the Son of God, while he was a sinful, mortal man, who could
 only speak about the more plain subjects of religion. The words
 of Jesus were the words of God; he had the Spirit, not by
 measure, as the prophets, but in all fulness. Everlasting life
 could only be had by faith in Him, and might be thus obtained;
 whereas all those, who believe not in the Son of God, cannot
 partake of salvation, but the wrath of God for ever rests upon
 them.