Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v03400

Text File | 1994-03-01 | 6KB | 102 lines

03412
 #33-46 Christ's tender sympathy with these afflicted friends,
 appeared by the troubles of his spirit. In all the afflictions
 of believers he is afflicted. His concern for them was shown by
 his kind inquiry after the remains of his deceased friend. Being
 found in fashion as a man, he acts in the way and manner of the
 sons of men. It was shown by his tears. He was a man of sorrows,
 and acquainted with grief. Tears of compassion resemble those of
 Christ. But Christ never approved that sensibility of which many
 are proud, while they weep at mere tales of distress, but are
 hardened to real woe. He sets us an example to withdraw from
 scenes of giddy mirth, that we may comfort the afflicted. And we
 have not a High Priest who cannot be touched with a feeling of
 our infirmities. It is a good step toward raising a soul to
 spiritual life, when the stone is taken away, when prejudices
 are removed, and got over, and way is made for the word to enter
 the heart. If we take Christ's word, and rely on his power and
 faithfulness, we shall see the glory of God, and be happy in the
 sight. Our Lord Jesus has taught us, by his own example, to call
 God Father, in prayer, and to draw nigh to him as children to a
 father, with humble reverence, yet with holy boldness. He openly
 made this address to God, with uplifted eyes and loud voice,
 that they might be convinced the Father had sent him as his
 beloved Son into the world. He could have raised Lazarus by the
 silent exertion of his power and will, and the unseen working of
 the Spirit of life; but he did it by a loud call. This was a
 figure of the gospel call, by which dead souls are brought out
 of the grave of sin: and of the sound of the archangel's trumpet
 at the last day, with which all that sleep in the dust shall be
 awakened, and summoned before the great tribunal. The grave of
 sin and this world, is no place for those whom Christ has
 quickened; they must come forth. Lazarus was thoroughly revived,
 and returned not only to life, but to health. The sinner cannot
 quicken his own soul, but he is to use the means of grace; the
 believer cannot sanctify himself, but he is to lay aside every
 weight and hinderance. We cannot convert our relatives and
 friends, but we should instruct, warn, and invite them.

03426
 #47-53 There can hardly be a more clear discovery of the madness
 that is in man's heart, and of its desperate enmity against God,
 than what is here recorded. Words of prophecy in the mouth, are
 not clear evidence of a principle of grace in the heart. The
 calamity we seek to escape by sin, we take the most effectual
 course to bring upon our own heads; as those do who think by
 opposing Christ's kingdom, to advance their own worldly
 interest. The fear of the wicked shall come upon them. The
 conversion of souls is the gathering of them to Christ as their
 ruler and refuge; and he died to effect this. By dying he
 purchased them to himself, and the gift of the Holy Ghost for
 them: his love in dying for believers should unite them closely
 together.

03433
 #54-57 Before our gospel passover we must renew our repentance.
 Thus by a voluntary purification, and by religious exercises,
 many, more devout than their neighbours, spent some time before
 the passover at Jerusalem. When we expect to meet God, we must
 solemnly prepare. No devices of man can alter the purposes of
 God: and while hypocrites amuse themselves with forms and
 disputes, and worldly men pursue their own plans, Jesus still
 orders all things for his own glory and the salvation of his
 people.
03437
 * Christ anointed by Mary. (1-11) He enters Jerusalem. (12-19)
 Greeks apply to see Jesus. (20-26) A voice from heaven bears
 testimony to Christ. (27-33) His discourse with the people.
 (34-36) Unbelief of the Jews. (37-43) Christ's address to them.
 (44-50)

 #1-11 Christ had formerly blamed Martha for being troubled with
 much serving. But she did not leave off serving, as some, who
 when found fault with for going too far in one way, peevishly
 run too far another way; she still served, but within hearing of
 Christ's gracious words. Mary gave a token of love to Christ,
 who had given real tokens of his love to her and her family.
 God's Anointed should be our Anointed. Has God poured on him the
 oil of gladness above his fellows, let us pour on him the
 ointment of our best affections. In Judas a foul sin is gilded
 over with a plausible pretence. We must not think that those do
 no acceptable service, who do it not in our way. The reigning
 love of money is heart-theft. The grace of Christ puts kind
 comments on pious words and actions, makes the best of what is
 amiss, and the most of what is good. Opportunities are to be
 improved; and those first and most vigorously, which are likely
 to be the shortest. To consult to hinder the further effect of
 the miracle, by putting Lazarus to death, is such wickedness,
 malice, and folly, as cannot be explained, except by the
 desperate enmity of the human heart against God. They resolved
 that the man should die whom the Lord had raised to life. The
 success of the gospel often makes wicked men so angry, that they
 speak and act as if they hoped to obtain a victory over the
 Almighty himself.

03448
 #12-19 Christ's riding in triumph to Jerusalem is recorded by
 all the evangelists. Many excellent things, both in the word and
 providence of God, disciples do not understand at their first
 acquaintance with the things of God. The right understanding of
 spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, prevents our misapplying
 the Scriptures which speak of it.