_After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee_ THE REASON FOR THIS JOURNEY I. AS REGARDS HIMSELF. 1. To avoid the fury of Herod who had just slain the Baptist. 2. That the anger of the scribes and Pharisees (Mark 6:3) might abate. In this He teaches us to avoid all that might needlessly... [ Continue Reading ]
_Gather up the fragments_ SERMON FOR THE NEW YEAR The natural thought would be--let the fragments lie; a divine munificence can again be equal to a similar emergency; henceforth we will be in sublime disdain of fragments--a niggardly economy. But Christ prevents any such bad generalization from t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then those men when they had seen the miracle_ THE SEQUEL TO THE MIRACLE I. THE EFFECT OF THE MIRACLE ON THE MIND OF THE MULTITUDE. They, like all Jews of the time, were expecting the Prophet like unto Moses. The Divine commission of Moses was authenticated by the miraculous manna; what then coul... [ Continue Reading ]
_The day following_ JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE I. OUR LORD’S AVOWAL OF HIS DIVINE NATURE AND HIS HEAVENLY ERRAND. More than thirty times in this one discourse does He use the personal pronouns “Me” and “I,” in such connections as that it would be blasphemy if He were anything less than really God. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the people saw that Jesus was not there … they took Shipping, and came to Capurnaum_ ABUSE OF THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES AND FISHES I. A COMMENDABLE PURSUIT (John 6:24). 1. Where they sought Him. At Capernaum. Probably His abode. He has His house on earth still, and should be sought in His o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye seek Me not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves._ LABOUR NOT FOR THE MEAT WHICH PERISHETH. THE CARNAL EYE ON THE WORK OF GOD How different are things sometimes from what they seem! How pleasant to see a multitude in quest of the Son of God; but Our pleasure disap... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then they said unto Him, what shall we do that we might work the works of God_ SYNAGOGUE QUESTIONING I. THE SPIRITUAL IGNORANCE AND UNBELIEF OF THE NATURAL MAN. 1. When our Lord bade His hearers, “Labour for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life, they began to think of works to be done.”... [ Continue Reading ]
_What sign showest Thou then that we may see and believe_ CHRIST THE CHRISTIAN’S FOOD Hewitson writes: “I think I know more of Jesus Christ than of any earthly friend. ” Hence one who knew Him well remarked, “One thing struck me in Mr. Hewitson. He seemed to have no gaps, no intervals in his comm... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, evermore give us this bread_ I. THE VAIN PRAYER. Because 1. It recognizes not the Giver in the bread. 2. It recognizes not the Bread of Life in the giver. II. THE ANSWER OF JESUS aims to disclose their spirit 1. By insisting on the figure of the bread in His person. 2. By enlarging the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye also have seen Me and believe not_ THE REASON OF FAITH 1. The grand distinction of Christianity is that it makes its appeal to faith, and upon that rests the promise of salvation. 2. But this is the scandal of men. If we hold any truth by reason, perception, or on evidence what need of holdi... [ Continue Reading ]
_All that the Father hath given Me shall come unto Me, and him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out_ THE CERTAINTY AND FREENESS OF DIVINE GRACE I. GRACE TRIUMPHANT IN SPECIALITY. 1. Christ leads us up to the original position of all things. All men are naturally from the beginning in th... [ Continue Reading ]
_For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me_ THE LOVE OF THE FATHER The amazing love of the Father appears I. IN HIS SPARING THIS GUILTY WORLD, though He spared not the angels that sinned. His mercy is seen in man’s long day of grace, and in thy day of... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Jews then murmured at Him because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven_ WEIGHTY TRUTHS I. THAT CHRIST’S LOWLY CONDITION IS A STUMBLING-BLOCK TO THE NATURAL MAN. 1. Had He come as a conqueror with royal favours for His followers they would have received Him willingly; but their... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life_ EVERLASTING LIFE I. THE BLESSING, “everlasting life.” Everlasting life was never proposed in the schools of philosophy to the faith of man, or urged as a principle or motive to holiness. Those who taught were not sure of it themselves. What does it m... [ Continue Reading ]
_These things said He in the synagogues_ _ I._ The OCCASION of this wonderful revelation to the Church. The desire of the Jews to have the miracle of the manna repeated. Those of larger views may have had the supply of an army in thought. II. The DESIGN was to quench for ever any such ambition. I... [ Continue Reading ]
_Many therefore of His disciples, when they heard this, said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it?_ THE DEFECTION OF THE DISCIPLES I. OCCASIONED BY A HARD SAYING (John 6:60). It was unquestionably hard (John 6:51; John 6:53; John 6:57). 1. Difficult to understand even for Christians (John 14:17... [ Continue Reading ]
_From that time many of His disciples went back._ Those who are mentioned in regard to I. THE CHARACTER THEY ASSUMED. Disciples. This term was first used to designate the Apostles; then it was applied to or assumed by many whom our Lord had to distinguish from His “disciples indeed.” How many ther... [ Continue Reading ]
_Will ye also go away?_ … To whom should we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life HUMAN DESTINY AND ITS ATTAINMENT THROUGH CHRIST I. GOD HAS SET BEFORE US A DESTINY. “Eternal life.” 1. The idea of a future world in the abstract is probably present to every man. 2. It is impossible for any one... [ Continue Reading ]
_We believe and are sure that Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God_ THE CHRIST OF GOD Faith without knowledge is mere fancy. For the want of knowledge the faith of the ancient Jews gave way in the wilderness. So here the nominal disciples went away because they did not know who He was f... [ Continue Reading ]
_Have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?_ JUDAS ISCARIOT I. WHO THEN WILL SAY THAT THE MEN WITH WHOM CHRIST BEGAN HIS NEW KINGDOM WERE MORE THAN MEN; not bone of our bone, but a princely sort, quite away from the common herd? On the contrary, they fairly represented human nature i... [ Continue Reading ]