Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v03050

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 6KB | 107 lines

03055
 #43-54 The father was a nobleman, yet the son was sick. Honours
 and titles are no security from sickness and death. The greatest
 men must go themselves to God, must become beggars. The nobleman
 did not stop from his request till he prevailed. But at first he
 discovered the weakness of his faith in the power of Christ. It
 is hard to persuade ourselves that distance of time and place,
 are no hinderance to the knowledge, mercy, and power of our Lord
 Jesus. Christ gave an answer of peace. Christ's saying that the
 soul lives, makes it alive. The father went his way, which
 showed the sincerity of his faith. Being satisfied, he did not
 hurry home that night, but returned as one easy in his own mind.
 His servants met him with the news of the child's recovery. Good
 news will meet those that hope in God's word. Diligent comparing
 the works of Jesus with his word, will confirm our faith. And
 the bringing the cure to the family brought salvation to it.
 Thus an experience of the power of one word of Christ, may
 settle the authority of Christ in the soul. The whole family
 believed likewise. The miracle made Jesus dear to them. The
 knowledge of Christ still spreads through families, and men find
 health and salvation to their souls.
03067
 * The cure at the pool of Bethesda. (1-9) The Jews' displeasure.
 (10-16) Christ reproves the Jews. (17-23) Christ's discourse.
 (24-47)

 #1-9 We are all by nature impotent folk in spiritual things,
 blind, halt, and withered; but full provision is made for our
 cure, if we attend to it. An angel went down, and troubled the
 water; and what disease soever it was, this water cured it, but
 only he that first stepped in had benefit. This teaches us to be
 careful, that we let not a season slip which may never return.
 The man had lost the use of his limbs thirty-eight years. Shall
 we, who perhaps for many years have scarcely known what it has
 been to be a day sick, complain of one wearisome night, when
 many others, better than we, have scarcely known what it has
 been to be a day well? Christ singled this one out from the
 rest. Those long in affliction, may comfort themselves that God
 keeps account how long. Observe, this man speaks of the
 unkindness of those about him, without any peevish reflections.
 As we should be thankful, so we should be patient. Our Lord
 Jesus cures him, though he neither asked nor thought of it.
 Arise, and walk. God's command, Turn and live; Make ye a new
 heart; no more supposes power in us without the grace of God,
 his distinguishing grace, than this command supposed such power
 in the impotent man: it was by the power of Christ, and he must
 have all the glory. What a joyful surprise to the poor cripple,
 to find himself of a sudden so easy, so strong, so able to help
 himself! The proof of spiritual cure, is our rising and walking.
 Has Christ healed our spiritual diseases, let us go wherever he
 sends us, and take up whatever he lays upon us; and walk before
 him.

03076
 #10-16 Those eased of the punishment of sin, are in danger of
 returning to sin, when the terror and restraint are over, unless
 Divine grace dries up the fountain. The misery believers are
 made whole from, warns us to sin no more, having felt the smart
 of sin. This is the voice of every providence, Go, and sin no
 more. Christ saw it necessary to give this caution; for it is
 common for people, when sick, to promise much; when newly
 recovered, to perform only something; but after awhile to forget
 all. Christ spoke of the wrath to come, which is beyond compare
 worse than the many hours, nay, weeks and years of pain, some
 wicked men have to suffer in consequence of their unlawful
 indulgences. And if such afflictions are severe, how dreadful
 will be the everlasting punishment of the wicked!

03083
 #17-23 The Divine power of the miracle proved Jesus to be the
 Son of God, and he declared that he worked with, and like unto
 his Father, as he saw good. These ancient enemies of Christ
 understood him, and became more violent, charging him not only
 with sabbath-breaking, but blasphemy, in calling God his own
 Father, and making himself equal with God. But all things now,
 and at the final judgment, are committed to the Son, purposely
 that all men might honour the Son, as they honour the Father;
 and every one who does not thus honour the Son, whatever he may
 think or pretend, does not honour the Father who sent him.

03090
 #24-29 Our Lord declared his authority and character, as the
 Messiah. The time was come when the dead should hear his voice,
 as the Son of God, and live. Our Lord first refers to his
 raising those who were dead in sin, to newness of life, by the
 power of the Spirit, and then to his raising the dead in their
 graves. The office of Judge of all men, can only be exercised by
 one who has all knowledge, and almighty power. May we believe
 His testimony; thus our faith and hope will be in God, and we
 shall not come into condemnation. And may His voice reach the
 hearts of those dead in sin; that they may do works meet for
 repentance, and prepare for the solemn day.

03096
 #30-38 Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire
 agreement between the Father and the Son, and declared himself
 the Son of God. He had higher testimony than that of John; his
 works bore witness to all he had said. But the Divine word had
 no abiding-place in their hearts, as they refused to believe in
 Him whom the Father had sent, according to his ancient promises.
 The voice of God, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost,
 thus made effectual to the conversion of sinners, still
 proclaims that this is the beloved Son, in whom the Father is
 well pleased. But when the hearts of men are full of pride,
 ambition, and the love of the world, there is no room for the
 word of God to abide in them.