Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v03000

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 6KB | 108 lines

03013
 * Christ's departure into Galilee. (1-3) His discourse with the
 Samaritan woman. (4-26) The effects of Christ's conversation
 with the woman of Samaria. (27-42) Christ heals the nobleman's
 son. (43-54)

 #1-3 Jesus applied himself more to preaching, which was the more
 excellent, #1Co 1:17|, than to baptism. He would put honour upon
 his disciples, by employing them to baptize. He teaches us that
 the benefit of sacraments depends not on the hand that
 administers them.

03016
 #4-26 There was great hatred between the Samaritans and the
 Jews. Christ's road from Judea to Galilee lay through Samaria.
 We should not go into places of temptation but when we needs
 must; and then must not dwell in them, but hasten through them.
 We have here our Lord Jesus under the common fatigue of
 travellers. Thus we see that he was truly a man. Toil came in
 with sin; therefore Christ, having made himself a curse for us,
 submitted to it. Also, he was a poor man, and went all his
 journeys on foot. Being wearied, he sat thus on the well; he had
 no couch to rest upon. He sat thus, as people wearied with
 travelling sit. Surely, we ought readily to submit to be like
 the Son of God in such things as these. Christ asked a woman for
 water. She was surprised because he did not show the anger of
 his own nation against the Samaritans. Moderate men of all sides
 are men wondered at. Christ took the occasion to teach her
 Divine things: he converted this woman, by showing her ignorance
 and sinfulness, and her need of a Saviour. By this living water
 is meant the Spirit. Under this comparison the blessing of the
 Messiah had been promised in the Old Testament. The graces of
 the Spirit, and his comforts, satisfy the thirsting soul, that
 knows its own nature and necessity. What Jesus spake
 figuratively, she took literally. Christ shows that the water of
 Jacob's well yielded a very short satisfaction. Of whatever
 waters of comfort we drink, we shall thirst again. But whoever
 partakes of the Spirit of grace, and the comforts of the gospel,
 shall never want that which will abundantly satisfy his soul.
 Carnal hearts look no higher than carnal ends. Give it me, saith
 she, not that I may have everlasting life, which Christ
 proposed, but that I come not hither to draw. The carnal mind is
 very ingenious in shifting off convictions, and keeping them
 from fastening. But how closely our Lord Jesus brings home the
 conviction to her conscience! He severely reproved her present
 state of life. The woman acknowledged Christ to be a prophet.
 The power of his word in searching the heart, and convincing the
 conscience of secret things, is a proof of Divine authority. It
 should cool our contests, to think that the things we are
 striving about are passing away. The object of worship will
 continue still the same, God, as a Father; but an end shall be
 put to all differences about the place of worship. Reason
 teaches us to consult decency and convenience in the places of
 our worship; but religion gives no preference to one place above
 another, in respect of holiness and approval with God. The Jews
 were certainly in the right. Those who by the Scriptures have
 obtained some knowledge of God, know whom they worship. The word
 of salvation was of the Jews. It came to other nations through
 them. Christ justly preferred the Jewish worship before the
 Samaritan, yet here he speaks of the former as soon to be done
 away. God was about to be revealed as the Father of all
 believers in every nation. The spirit or the soul of man, as
 influenced by the Holy Spirit, must worship God, and have
 communion with him. Spiritual affections, as shown in fervent
 prayers, supplications, and thanksgivings, form the worship of
 an upright heart, in which God delights and is glorified. The
 woman was disposed to leave the matter undecided, till the
 coming of the Messiah. But Christ told her, I that speak to
 thee, am He. She was an alien and a hostile Samaritan, merely
 speaking to her was thought to disgrace our Lord Jesus. Yet to
 this woman did our Lord reveal himself more fully than as yet he
 had done to any of his disciples. No past sins can bar our
 acceptance with him, if we humble ourselves before him,
 believing in him as the Christ, the Saviour of the world.

03039
 #27-42 The disciples wondered that Christ talked thus with a
 Samaritan. Yet they knew it was for some good reason, and for
 some good end. Thus when particular difficulties occur in the
 word and providence of God, it is good to satisfy ourselves that
 all is well that Jesus Christ says and does. Two things affected
 the woman. The extent of his knowledge. Christ knows all the
 thoughts, words, and actions, of all the children of men. And
 the power of his word. He told her secret sins with power. She
 fastened upon that part of Christ's discourse, many would think
 she would have been most shy of repeating; but the knowledge of
 Christ, into which we are led by conviction of sin, is most
 likely to be sound and saving. They came to him: those who would
 know Christ, must meet him where he records his name. Our Master
 has left us an example, that we may learn to do the will of God
 as he did; with diligence, as those that make a business of it;
 with delight and pleasure in it. Christ compares his work to
 harvest-work. The harvest is appointed and looked for before it
 comes; so was the gospel. Harvest-time is busy time; all must be
 then at work. Harvest-time is a short time, and harvest-work
 must be done then, or not at all; so the time of the gospel is a
 season, which if once past, cannot be recalled. God sometimes
 uses very weak and unlikely instruments for beginning and
 carrying on a good work. Our Saviour, by teaching one poor
 woman, spread knowledge to a whole town. Blessed are those who
 are not offended at Christ. Those taught of God, are truly
 desirous to learn more. It adds much to the praise of our love
 to Christ and his word, if it conquers prejudices. Their faith
 grew. In the matter of it: they believed him to be the Saviour,
 not only of the Jews but of the world. In the certainty of it:
 we know that this is indeed the Christ. And in the ground of it,
 for we have heard him ourselves.