Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v03100

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 6KB | 113 lines

03105
 #39-44 The Jews considered that eternal life was revealed to
 them in their Scriptures, and that they had it, because they had
 the word of God in their hands. Jesus urged them to search those
 Scriptures with more diligence and attention. "Ye do search the
 Scriptures," and ye do well to do so. They did indeed search the
 Scriptures, but it was with a view to their own glory. It is
 possible for men to be very studious in the letter of the
 Scriptures, yet to be strangers to its power. Or, "Search the
 Scriptures," and so it was spoken to them in the nature of an
 appeal. Ye profess to receive and believe the Scripture, let
 that be the judge. It is spoken to us as advising or commanding
 all Christians to search the Scriptures. Not only read them, and
 hear them, but search them; which denotes diligence in examining
 and studying them. We must search the Scriptures for heaven as
 our great end; For in them ye think ye have eternal life. We
 must search the Scriptures for Christ, as the new and living
 Way, that leads to this end. To this testimony Christ adds
 reproofs of their unbelief and wickedness; their neglect of him
 and his doctrine. Also he reproves their want of the love of
 God. But there is life with Jesus Christ for poor souls. Many
 who make a great profession of religion, yet show they want the
 love of God, by their neglect of Christ and contempt of his
 commandments. It is the love of God in us, the love that is a
 living, active principle in the heart, which God will accept.
 They slighted and undervalued Christ, because they admired and
 overvalued themselves. How can those believe, who make the
 praise and applause of men their idol! When Christ and his
 followers are men wondered at, how can those believe, the utmost
 of whose ambition is to make a fair show in the flesh!

03111
 #45-47 Many trust in some form of doctrines or some parties, who
 no more enter into the real meaning of those doctrines, or the
 views of the persons whose names they bear, than the Jews did
 into those of Moses. Let us search and pray over the Scriptures,
 as intent on finding eternal life; let us observe how Christ is
 the great subject of them, and daily apply to him for the life
 he bestows.
03114
 * Five thousand miraculously fed. (1-14) Jesus walks on the sea.
 (15-21) He directs to spiritual food. (22-27) His discourse with
 the multitude. (28-65) Many of disciples go back. (66-71)

 #1-14 John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its
 reference to the following discourse. Observe the effect this
 miracle had upon the people. Even the common Jews expected the
 Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The
 Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew
 most of Him who is the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge
 Christ as that Prophet, and still turn a deaf ear to him.

03128
 #15-21 Here were Christ's disciples in the way of duty, and
 Christ was praying for them; yet they were in distress. There
 may be perils and afflictions of this present time, where there
 is an interest in Christ. Clouds and darkness often surround the
 children of the light and of the day. They see Jesus walking on
 the sea. Even the approaches of comfort and deliverance often
 are so mistaken, as to become the occasions of fear. Nothing is
 more powerful to convince sinners than that word, "I am Jesus
 whom thou persecutest;" nothing more powerful to comfort saints
 than this, "I am Jesus whom thou lovest." If we have received
 Christ Jesus the Lord, though the night be dark, and the wind
 high, yet we may comfort ourselves, we shall be at the shore
 before long.

03135
 #22-27 Instead of answering the inquiry how he came there, Jesus
 blamed their asking. The utmost earnestness should be employed
 in seeking salvation, in the use of appointed means; yet it is
 to be sought only as the gift of the Son of man. Him the Father
 has sealed, proved to be God. He declared the Son of man to be
 the Son of God with power.

03141
 #28-35 Constant exercise of faith in Christ, is the most
 important and difficult part of the obedience required from us,
 as sinners seeking salvation. When by his grace we are enabled
 to live a life of faith in the Son of God, holy tempers follow,
 and acceptable services may be done. God, even his Father, who
 gave their fathers that food from heaven to support their
 natural lives, now gave them the true Bread for the salvation of
 their souls. Coming to Jesus, and believing on him, signify the
 same. Christ shows that he is the true Bread; he is to the soul
 what bread is to the body, nourishes and supports the spiritual
 life. He is the Bread of God. Bread which the Father gives,
 which he has made to be the food of our souls. Bread nourishes
 only by the powers of a living body; but Christ is himself
 living Bread, and nourishes by his own power. The doctrine of
 Christ crucified is now as strengthening and comforting to a
 believer as ever it was. He is the Bread which came down from
 heaven. It denotes the Divinity of Christ's person and his
 authority; also, the Divine origin of all the good which flows
 to us through him. May we with understanding and earnestness
 say, Lord, evermore give us this Bread.

03149
 #36-46 The discovery of their guilt, danger, and remedy, by the
 teaching of the Holy Spirit, makes men willing and glad to come,
 and to give up every thing which hinders applying to him for
 salvation. The Father's will is, that not one of those who were
 given to the Son, should be rejected or lost by him. No one will
 come, till Divine grace has subdued, and in part changed his
 heart; therefore no one who comes will ever be cast out. The
 gospel finds none willing to be saved in the humbling, holy
 manner, made known therein; but God draws with his word and the
 Holy Ghost; and man's duty is to hear and learn; that is to say,
 to receive the grace offered, and consent to the promise. None
 had seen the Father but his beloved Son; and the Jews must
 expect to be taught by his inward power upon their minds, and by
 his word, and the ministers whom he sent among them.