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Starting with the 29th verse.
Verse 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming up to him and said.
Behold the Lamb of so often, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he and whom I said.
After me cometh the man which is preferred before me, for he was before me.
I knew it not.
That he should be made manifest to Israel.
Therefore am I come baptizing with water.
And John Bear record say I saw the third descending from heaven like a dove, and it's a cold upon you.
And I knew it not.
But he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit extending and remaining on him, The same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost.
And I saw a fair record that this is the Son of God.
I guess the next day after John stood his disciples.
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said, Behold the left car.
And the two disciples heard next week, and they followed Jesus.
Then Jesus turned and saw them following, and sailed under them. What seek ye?
And they said unto him, Rabbi, which is to say, he interpreted massacre where as well as thou.
He said unto them, Come and see.
They came and saw where he drives and the boat with him that day where it was about the 10th hour.
One of the two which heard John speak.
The followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
He first tried with his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We found the Messiahs, which is being interpreted to Christ.
And he brought him to Jesus, and when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Java. Thou shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation of stone.
The day following, Jesus would go forth into Galilee and find his Philippine said that the camp quality.
After the front office there in the city of Venezuelan leader.
We found him in the law of the prophets did write to Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
And there any good things about a ******* Phillips? And then there come and see.
Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him and say about him beholden, and her life indeed, in whom is no guy.
Nathaniel says unto him, Which knows thou me? Jesus answered them, set up to him before the Philip Crowley. When thou was under the big tree, I saw thee. Nathaniel answered and said unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel.
Jesus answered and said it again, Because I said after thee, I saw the end of the victory. Believe us, thou shall see greater things than these.
He said unto him, Verily, verily, I said to you, Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the ages of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
We have 3 days mentioned in this chapter, including the first verse of the second chapter first in Matthew, the Law and the Prophets.
For until John. After that the Kingdom of God is preached.
John, the last of the prophets in that sense.
And he represents the prophets as preceding the coming of the Lord Jesus into this world.
00:05:04
This chapter that we've read in the 29th of gives us the ministry of Jesus.
From the beginning of it until this present day.
That is, it's a picture of something for our souls until the time when the little remnants brought in and Nathaniel, and then we get the third day of the millennial day or really the wedding feast. And whether it be the wedding feast for Israel, which it will be the earthly pride or what does the Church.
They're both seeing as the wedding feast.
But what I have before me in these verses was the present day, that is, after John the Baptist ministry.
Now we noticed in the first chapter of Mark's Gospel, it was when John was put in prison that the Lord Jesus began his ministry.
And so the first part of this chapter gives us really John's ministry as the one who was the forerunner of Jesus.
And now we have the Lord Jesus before us, and I trust He'll be before us in these meetings and at the close. Why we have the wedding feast.
But precious thoughts we have here.
But we also have the Father, we have the Son, we have the Holy Spirit.
But how precious to our hearts.
Subject of the Lamb of God that we find here.
As well as the other topic, also the ministry or Jesus.
Seems to be connected, or at least the beginning of it was.
Being passed into prison.
But here in in the Gospel of John, we see that the heart again is ministry while John is still around. And John calls attention to the greatness of the Lord Jesus here and then I was thinking in the third chapter.
Where he cleans out, you might say entirely.
When he says he must increase verse 30, but.
I must love and above all he that is the security is first place.
Thinking that in John's Gospel we do not have a continuation, as it were, of God's testimony among men here on earth that we have in this optics.
In the state that stands, Ortiz is continues on when jobs and industry seasons. But in John's gospel, it seems that.
Way John the Baptist means God. It's to emphasize the superiority that which is brought in.
And the person of 14 because what is brought in in him is heavenly and inspirable, that we should come from above. And God in this sense represent what was currently they don't say worldly in the sense of being enough of God, but He represents the old art of things.
That is currently and that I had to do with man down here in the Lord Jesus.
Now is that one which comes down from heaven, and what He is brought in. Now is, is a heavenly and spiritual, and what it is besides His, the greatest, and the superiority of that which is brought in as this person of this one who is.
Declared to be the Son of God by the testimony of John himself. And so I think fittingly we find that in John's gospel we don't have his ministry terminating with his imprisonment and then the Lord beginning his, but he just sort of fades out as the one who decreases while that which is heavenly.
Brought down from above is brought into prominence and the person of the Lord Jesus.
Find it around us today that there are many.
00:10:03
Doctrines abounding where men will say that Jesus is the son of God, then they add that they are sons of God too. Now this is your first chapter.
Part we didn't read, it makes it very clear who the person is.
And all that we have in this on the 29th verse on depends upon who this person is.
So in the first verse of the chapter, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Now connect that with the 14th, 1St.
And the Word was made or became flesh, and dwelled among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Now this should silence all of these notions of man after the Person.
It's clearly states who he is. He clearly states is the same one who is God, who is the Word, is the one who became flesh and dwelt among men.
Now that should be very clear, the minds.
Of all, or there will never be any enjoyment of what we have in the following parts of the book.
The person himself very lovely too, is it not? To see the way this expression comes from John's heart and from his lips?
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. There's something so lovely about such expressions as this. I think we see something of the same in all and in theater when?
The truth and trusted to them is not simply being passed on to us as something that we ought to learn, but rather to hear them say from time to time. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again. Peter says, Paul says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings?
There's something that you can just sense is coming from the heart and being passed on to us. And so when John makes this very wonderful introduction of the Lord Jesus.
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. It's more than simply a statement, is it not? It's with a feeling of real delight and enjoyment that John utters these words.
I believe they came right from his heart and I believe if you and I read them today and don't find them touching our hearts, there is something wrong. And if I I believe to if there is not this kind of testimony in your life and mine, there certainly ought to be.
It's not just a select few that are responsible to proclaim.
They hold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. I believe every one of us ought to be so occupied with the Lord Jesus Christ, particularly in these last days, when everything is so dark, and when the discouragements are so many, to trust that the testimony of our life.
Both silent and spoken may be something of this very language. Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.
I'm wondering to what extent did John Abraham did what he said?
The other deciduous when he spoke of his death and so forth, they did not comprehend. I'm wondering just about what there was in John that saw the death of Christ.
The Lamb of God.
John had not seen the Lord Jesus prior to this.
That's the 31St verse and I knew him not.
Isn't it nice to know that John, no doubt by inspiration, but.
John was so taken up, the one who was coming, but the moment he sees him, he recognizes him.
00:15:04
The moment he sees it.
I believe that's what we have the next day John see if Jesus coming unto him.
Behold the Lamb of God that's taken away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh the man which is preferred before me, for he was before me, and I knew him not that he should be made manifest of Israel. Therefore him I come baptizing with water. So this must have been the first time that John met the Lord Jesus.
Now they they had lived in an area.
Close to one another.
You read that in the verdict part of loop but.
Apparently he did not see him because John was in the wilderness.
And after the wilderness?
And we just say this, but.
John lived in separation from all the evil that was around him.
And this could carry his heart, not only for the ministry he gave, but for the enjoyment of the person when he did need it. He was empty, as it were, as to this world he requested a religious world so that when he met Jesus, his heart was filled and ready for the enjoyment that he found ill. The person becomes collapse and it's only a person.
That can feel and satisfy these hearts of ours. It would seem that John speaks beyond that which we would expect him to understand. But I wonder if in a very wonderful grace of God.
This is the result of His gladly taking a place of being absolutely nothing. In the verses that precede, it has been remarked that His answers get smaller and smaller as they question Him, looking, if you wish, at verse 19. This is the record of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask Him.
Who are thou?
Well, today we hear a great deal when it comes to that question. Oh, so much can be said about this, that and the other religious personality of today. But how did John answer that question? I am not the Christ. What else matters? I am not the Christ.
Well, they questioned him further. What then art thou, Elias? And he said, I am not.
Art thou that prophet? And he answered no.
Would it be that because this dear man of God was willing to be absolutely nothing in order that Christ might be everything that there is made known to him that which was beyond what otherwise?
He would be able to give expression to in the words, Behold the Lamb of God.
I suppose we have brought before us.
In a particular way that which would.
Take us in our thoughts to the cross.
To see the Lord Jesus as the one who was the answer to what was said in the 22nd chapter of Genesis when it said God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.
And so we see the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God here. And this wonderful expression has been said of John the Baptist.
But when the verse goes on to say which taketh away the sin of the world.
I believe that really looks to can I say more than the cross? The cross is that which and the Lord Jesus has the sacrifice. There is the one who has put our sins away and we rejoice today to know that our sins are gone.
That they are forgiven, that they are cast behind God's back, that they are in the depths of the sea. That God has said your sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
But this verse speaks of bearing or taketh away, literally the sin of the world. And that, I believe, gives us to see how the Lord Jesus is the one who will one day remove every trace of sin from the sight of God.
00:20:03
That is, that those who die without Christ will be in the lake of fire.
That a world that has been spoiled by sin will, and that while that sin will actually remain in some measure in the Millennium, that in the eternal state there will be a new heaven and a new earth from which every trace of sin is gone, gone entirely, forever, never to be come back, never to have an opportunity to arise again.
So it's by one man that sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and it's by one man that sin will eventually be removed forever from the sight of God. It just rejoices our hearts, I'm sure, brethren today to think that there's a day coming.
Throughout all that God looks upon, there will never be anything in his sight, nothing that God sees but that is a delight to his heart. And that will be the result of the work of Christ at Calvary, the work of the Lord Jesus as the one who judges the world in righteousness, the one who by whom all things are made, and who will be the one who makes a new heaven and a new earth.
Or indwells righteousness.
Can't emphasize too much the expression Behold the Lamb of God.
We have another expression in Matthew 25. I think it is.
We hold the bridegroom.
It's wonderful what the Spirit of God gives us to behold.
And it's a person. It's not simply something that is for the president, but it's a person. And this has to do with not only about this glorifies God that brings man into his presence.
In a in a condition Fitzgerys presence.
Because when it speaks of the Lord Jesus and the Spirit is sending upon him, it gives us a picture of Pentecost at the same time, because all those who are identified with the Lord Jesus.
I'm referring now to the.
Well, first many received him, then gave him power to become the sons of God. Both personally chapter.
To them that leave in His name, I believe everyone will have the Holy Spirit.
Who has to brought into that place and so we're identified with the Lord Jesus whatever place he takes this man, he associates us with him in it. And so how wonderful it is then to have the highest fixed of funds to the person here as the Lamb of God because.
He is the one who made the face all blessing, it supposes all the perfection of the offering. In the 1St place a lamb, and in Samuel 7th chapter First Samuel, you see him in type as a sucking land.
That speaks of complete dependence.
And we're to behold the Lamb, and he's the Lamb of God.
And our brother said that the sacrifice that God has provided man has nothing to do with the provision of this sacrifice.
And the result is that the work is all of God through His Son, the Lord Jesus can. Whatever He did, He did it in complete dependence upon the Father's murder to develop Father.
Think there may be some significance to in the little expression coming unto him?
There was with John that willingness, we might even say that desire to be nothing in order, that the Lord Jesus might be everything. And then the next thing is he sees the Lord Jesus coming unto him, and that was delightfully.
Personal here is the Lord Jesus, and John says, oh, he's coming to me, and the result is this delightful expression which you and I have enjoyed so much. Well, I wonder, dear brethren, could we allow this to search our hearts? Is there with us that willingness to be nothing and to be nobody in order that Christ might be exalted?
00:25:12
As unknown and yet well known.
And is there something of that sense in our hearts too, that He who left that glory came into this world for who?
Am I really privileged to say that he came for me, that he came to seek me? I don't know how I could.
Enjoy that for a moment without there being something of this expression in the heart, and I hope perhaps on the lips too. John saw the Lord Jesus coming unto him, and immediately he proclaimed, Behold the Lamb of God.
Well, dear brothers and sisters, if you and I are privileged by the grace of God to take this personally, and I believe we are, there should be something of this.
Confession in our life.
All says the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for lovely make sure my brother is said to realize that one day.
I, I, I, I thought, I imagine others have too. But a brother, a brother was here with us today, made a comment at these meetings last year and I went home and the thought has been going through my mind for a year over and over again. Our brother Lundy made the comment last year when he said, remember brethren, we may walk the streets of glory yet today.
You know, when we go through each day with the conscious sense that we are going to see the Lamb of God. So our brother has said, there is this lovely thought for our souls to enjoy now.
Behold the Lamb of God to have by faith the joy now of the enjoyment of His presence, of beholding Him by faith. But Revelation, chapter 5.
Tells me that I'm going to see the Lamb of God. There we are in the glory and brethren, we're just about to step into the 5th chapter Revelation and a marvelous thing, we're just about to step into that scene and there are the redeemed, the four and 20 elders. And who is it that's in the midst? It's the Lamb, the very one that John the Baptist saw coming unto him. He's coming for us and.
Going to for all eternity we're going to be hold the Lamb of God. I thought too in connection with this 30th verse and the expression that used at the end of it, how the John says this is he of whom I said after me cometh a man which is preferred before me, that is that the Lord Jesus was the one who is the one whom God has marked out as entitled.
Place of preeminence. But then he adds the words, for he was before me. Now if we turn back to Luke's gospel chapter one.
We find that as to the actual date of his birth, the Lord Jesus was born probably six months after John the Baptist. But it seems that here John the Baptist, at least I believe the thought is that John the Baptist is given.
By the Spirit of God. How much he entered into these things fully we don't know, but he's given here by the Spirit of God to be able to bear testimony to the eternal existence of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was before John, even though John had appeared in this world.
Before the Lord Jesus.
And more than that, in the 18 first, continue that line of things.
No matter seeing God at any time, the only begotten sandwich is in the bosom of the Father. He has declared in now. It isn't simply a declaration as we speak of it.
But if we should be ushered into the glory today.
The whole Church of God.
We would have a complete display of God Himself in the first of Jesus.
She's a full display what God is.
And.
00:30:03
Only begotten Sons, which is in the bosom of the Father, He had declared His.
That's what the gospel is about. That's the subject.
It's a question now.
God sending his Son, and his Son is revealing the Father, and he's revealing to us what's in the bosom of the Father.
Now I know man knows the Son, but the Father.
But we find that the Sun is revealing the Father to us.
So we might know the Father.
And think of the person of Jesus.
All through eternity and we're with Him, we will see the thought in that sense because He's the full expression of all God is. I think this is very precious and it gives us the theme.
This last another thing I have enjoyed in connection with this 29th verse.
Behold, the Lamb of God. This actually took place in point of time. The Lord Jesus was actually here in this world.
John saw him, he pointed him out to others, and as we read in the 14th verse.
We'd be tell him glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And perhaps as we read it, we think, oh what a wonderful experience that must have been. Just think they were here on earth. They actually saw the Lord Jesus and saw displayed in him that wonder of grace and truth.
Then perhaps we feel, well, I wasn't here so I could read about it, but I wasn't here to behold him. I guess I missed something that John and the others of that day experienced.
When we come to the 17th chapter and we read Father I will that they also who now has given me, be with me where I am, that they may be behold my glory. All I say isn't that wonderful? As we have just been reminded this very day. We may hear His voice. We may be at home in that glory. This may be realized that faith give place to sight.
And so we look forward to that day when we shall be both that glory of Yonder. But those two thoughts would perhaps leave us looking back to something that we might feel we've missed, looking at it to something that we have not yet arrived at.
But then we find these glorious words, we all.
With unveiled face beholding the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit, so that there is today.
Right now that wonderful and happy privilege for everyone of us to be full the glory of the Lord our brother refers to Dom 17 verse what these words speak Jesus and lifted up his eyes to heaven said Father, the hour is come glorify thy son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.
It's wonderfully true that in reading of it, in meditation and in occupation with the Lord Jesus, we can from day-to-day, right here and now.
Enjoy the wonder of all, the glory that is rightly his, and I believe that if we do so, there will be the evidence in our life and testimony that such is the case. Not that we would look for that.
I remember years ago at the Montreal conference when it was held in Victoria Hall, a couple of sisters passed an older brother in the hall and he paused and said to them, are you enjoying the meetings?
Oh, they said, yes, brother, can't you see our faces shining? He looked at them and said. Moses wished not that his face shot. But I do believe that occupation with the Lord Jesus.
Which by the grace of God we can see in our brothers and sisters cannot be hidden, and it's a refreshment and joy to the heart to see it. That first of the 17th of John connects to the fifth verse. It's a question, is it not, of the Lord Jesus asking the Father to glorify Him? He should read along with thyself.
00:35:18
That is.
As God, He was always there in the glory.
And now he's going at that point, I'm referring to John 17. He's going there as a man.
But to be glorified alongside the.
Father is a man.
Why? You know why?
Because that's where we're going, and that's why He came down here, so that He could take us home, bring us into that glory in the Father's house.
It's a precious thought, brother, that you brought before us. Get more of that in the on the 35th verse of our chapter on if we have the time, these meetings another system get right into the the thoughts there of of the believer entering in.
Typically, of course, to the enjoyment of that position.
Familiar. We have baptism mentioned here now in this chapter.
In two ways.
And it's important that we distinguish because.
There's a teach, there are teachings abroad that baptism brings salvation.
That's not true.
Baptism is a picture of changing from one place to another.
Is collected with the subject of regeneration, that is.
The soul is taken from that old position. It needs to be washed.
Plans placed in a new position. A baptism is a figure of that.
Figure out. It also identifies us with that person in the new position. That's Jesus.
But then we have baptism again here. What is it? Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Now John's baptism is different again because this is the baptism of repentance that looks looking onward to Christ. But in the same sense that we spoke up first, there is to be a change or the person never seek the Lord Jesus.
There has to be a complete change and those who went down that were baptized in the baptism of repentance.
Spirit of God had brought in their soul they never would have done every flavor is baptized Spirit of God into one body that's on the day of Pentecost work was done once and for all and as each are gathered in there for brought into that position. But the work is the work of God by the Spirit and it began on the day of Pentecost but water baptism.
Does not give life, but it does bring us out of the old positions positionally.
Into a new position.
And that is identified with the Lord Jesus, but.
Can we say glancing away the old picture form and bring this into an entirely new place? Is there any record that the dove providing on anyone before this? The breed of the dove seeking rest for the soul is pushed and finding none.
Here at glasses of five, rest for the sole of its foot on the sun God. Believe there's much in this chapter for meditation and enjoyment.
I had quite a lengthy conversation once with the minister.
A large church.
I mentioned to him.
Something about the Gospel of John.
Always that you don't need to tell me that I spent a year studying nothing but the Gospel of John.
But I'm sure the man didn't have peace. I doubt if he knew who Jesus was. And it's been a year on nothing but the gospel truth.
So you see, brother, it's only the Spirit of God that can open the truth of the Gospel of John to our soul. But if we're in the attitude of John the Baptist.
He got a measure of the lightness to the person with all of the Spirit of God they produce. Now regarding the Lord Jesus.
00:40:06
How precious if we took that attitude of John, brother Johnson Rocky Forest and there would be.
A response in our hearts, because response really would be praised with nice skin. You speak of this man spending a year studying the Gospel of John.
Something of this came up at the meetings in Regina using the word study in connection with this most precious book, God's revelation. Has it been put into our hands and something to be studied, or has it been footed to our hands as a revelation from God, inspired from cover to cover?
To be read as that we should see and nourish our souls.
Quicken our affections, give light for our pathways, but.
The use of the word study when it comes to the word of God seems to me to be a bit out of place.
I trust that when we pick up this precious book to read it, we read it recognizing in some measure that we have in our hands a holy book inspired God for our edification, for our guidance, for our correction and instructions. But to use the word study seems to relate it with other matters and other topics.
Which we study regardless, shall I say, of a state of soul. A man in any state of soul can study mathematics or science. And when we pick up the Word of God, it addresses itself to us. It speaks to our consciences and to our hearts.
I don't want to be too critical in the matter, but I feel that to think of the Word of God as a book to be studied can involve danger to our souls. How about verse 36? Is that your thought, brother Albert? Yes, it is brother, but even the Chloe you might stay out of place.
To restrict one false study of one particular book.
I feel that.
The invention is that made of one who spent a whole year studying the Donald, John and.
I believe God's thought is that all scripture is given by inspiration of God and we wouldn't want to confine ourselves to certain portions of the word to make a special study of.
Because it's all the word of God from Genesis to Revelation. And really we find that if we confine ourselves to certain.
Special or we might say a favorite portions we find that even our understanding of those portions will be warped by not having a general understanding of the whole word of God, Genesis to Revelation, because it's all one whole and we find that the more we.
Read of even portions that one might feel are not the special portions for the people of God. Even in the Old Testament how that it gives us light and helps us to understand all of the word of God. So we do not want to to be selective in the sense that we we have special portions that we enjoy reading and.
Reading over and over again.
To the neglect of the rest of the Word of God. It's all the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. And I think it's important. Only recently in our own home reading, we've been going through Chronicles that, and even though it's been read many times, the Lord has.
Brought to our attention things in the books of Chronicles that we have perhaps never noticed before.
And we find this, that is, we read the word of God continuously and consecutively right through by how that the more we read, the more we're able to understand even the familiar portions that we've known and enjoyed for years. So I'm sure that the call of our brother in the in studying was not intended to convey to anyone the thought that we shouldn't be diligent in reading the word of God.
00:45:09
But I care what he had reference to is what was brought out in Regina that that to take up the word of God.
As to studying in the way in which one would study some science or some particular field of endeavor of human fault and intellect, but to take it up as it is the word of God to be received as the word of God. And when we do that, then we get light from God for our souls and for our pathways.
Over those verses again.
100 and 69173 Of course, that entire song has quite a bit about the word of God and the every detail, the value of it and what it affords in the way of food and light and direction and so forth.
And in our chapter, I was thinking of the the way, as it's been pointed out in the very beginning that these days.
Our brother wanted to impress upon us not so much the.
The dispensational aspects of things, but the presence, enjoyment of the person of the Lord Jesus.
And we find here that John is speaking about his baptizing with the Holy Ghost in verse 33. Does not add as he said if the I think it's the third chapter of Luke's gospel when he mentions there was one among them.
Who would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire? But here it's only the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Because I suppose the baptism of the fire would go on to look onto that day of judgment, which is yet future. But the baptism with the Holy Spirit is the day in which we live, as have been pointed out. The Spirit of God coming down, sit down really from the Lord Himself.
Sit down on the Day of Pentecost and adequate characterizes the present day.
Is the fact that the baptism of the Holy Spirit has taken place and his farm that one body here on earth, but the baptism with fire is injured where we when we read that he will judge the world in righteousness by that man in Acts 17, that is the Lord Jesus baptism with fire and loose speaks of his still future. Do I understand right that?
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Has taken place on a day of Pentecost so that if someone would refer to him.
Him receiving the Holy Spirit today as the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it wouldn't be quite correct.
If this is understood, it would remove some of the pretensions we have in Christendom, in Pentecostal circles and the Charismatic movement because.
The coming of the Holy Spirit is spoken of or.
Be receiving him. The Spirit as an individual is spoken of as the ceiling. Isn't it in Ephesians? Could someone elaborate on that little?
But I think you find that in various the baptism of the voting Spirit refers to what the place of the day of Pentecost and has reference to the Spirit of God coming down from heaven.
And indwelling the believers at that time is forming the body of Christ here on earth. And when you speak about individuals or the Scriptures speak about individuals.
Of receiving the Holy Spirit it is used. The expression is used that as they're being sealed, but not they're not spoken of as individuals being baptized.
In First Corinthians chapter 12.
Says that we all have been baptized in one body there it's a collective fault it's not individual that each one individually has been baptized but they had all been brought into that body of Christ by the baptism of the Spirit and of course the the body of Christ was formed on the day of Pentecost. I've heard the illustration used and I think it might be appropriate the.
00:50:01
Throwing of a stone if you wish in the middle of a tranquil pond.
This being perhaps pictured as the Day of Pentecost and the waves from that original activity broaden out.
And to take in a wider and wider circle. But it is the original activity that is being referred to. Isn't that so? So that by the grace of God we are part of that which was formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. We have been brought into that very wonderful position.
But it is not a repetition of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Scripture is careful to mention that there are 120 present there on the day of medical.
If there have been only one individual there, there would have been no baptism of the Holy Spirit. I think we sometimes place too much emphasis on time in connection with eternal things, and if we think more of the facts rather than the timing, I think we would enjoy it more.
Especially of this chapter and I saw in their record that this is the Son of God I saw.
A Bear record.
Now this was connected with the Spirit coming down as a dove, as a knot, and I saw.
Their record that this is the Son of God. Why this has never happened before?
It couldn't happen until Jesus became a man and coming as a man and now introduced by John.
I suppose this was the time of the baptism of the Lord. We have more details in other gospels in regard to it.
But still this never happened before.
And now what a wonderful thing it is.
We here today look back on that scene and John says I saw.
And bear record. And so we too by faith see in their records, this is the Son of God, not many sons of God, the Son of God.
There's only one in the sense we have it here now. It's true that.
Because you are sons, He sent forth spirit into your hearts. That's true, but not in the sense we have here.
We are creatures, He is the Son of God, He is the Word, He is God. What a vast difference person of Jesus.
And is connected to this name here coming down to this world Jesus.
The truth of his personal He is the taker away of the sin of the world. And verse 29, the emphasis there is not really so much upon the work as it is that this is the person who does it. He is to take her away. He's the baptizer with the Holy Ghost.
And yet we know later on at this same Gospel that is the Holy Spirit is spoken of as being coming from the Father. But here is the Lord Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Ghost, and now our emphasis is placed upon the truth of His person.
This is the Son of God. I'm thinking with contrast you'll turn back to Luke chapter one.
And I don't want to be misunderstood here, so I'm going to have to explain a little of what.
I had before me.
I'm not indicating that in loop.
He is not the Son of God personally, but it seems to me at verse 35 of the Gospel of Blue, the way it's presented, the wording is such that it's emphasizing more of the moral character of the one who is coming into this world to be displayed. It says the Angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee.
And the power of the High shall over shadow thee.
Therefore also that holy thing.
Shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Now of course he is the Son of God, but emphasis here is placed upon the humanity, that holy thing which shall be born of the We know that he's an eternal divine person, but here we have the beginning of himself in manhood as a man here in this world and it said that that that man that.
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That would be born of the virgin would be called the son of God and I believe here is to emphasize the fact that in that man there would be seen all of the characteristics not so much of the power of God is the creator sustainer, but the moral features and characteristics of God, righteousness, love, holiness.
And all of the moral features of God.
Would be, would come out in that man, that one that was born of the virgin. So Luke emphasizes the moral side of things, the moral character of that man. But in the Gospel of John, attention is drawn to his person. It's not so much of what will be seen in him, but who he is. He is the Son of God. That's his first one.
And in connection with that, as our brother has mentioned that as believers we're called sons of God is truth because you're sons, but in a not in the same sense that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God, but there is a sense in which we are associated with him as sons before the Father. But I thinking of John's epistle chapter 3. Behold what manner of love.
The Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of the children of God.
And there it is. We have the expression again that we should be called. I believe the thought is that God has so blessed us and has worked in our souls and bringing in divine life, giving us that eternal life, that there should be seen in us all of the family traits that belong to God, so that we would be called the children of God.
I think it has reference to what comes out in a person that people can see.
You remember, just as an example, in Romans 7 of this expression to be called something, it says that a woman that if she becomes to another man while she is married, will be called an adulteress. That is, she gave that that reputation. That's what comes out. And I think that's the thought of being called the children of God and the Lord Jesus being called the Son of God. Now He is the Son of God.
In John's gospel and it's his person, but it seems to me in Luke.
It's what is to come out in that wonderful man born into this world that will that would give everyone to see. It would be a public, you might say, display an example so that everyone would say as that centurion did. Truly this was the son of God.
S just by looking at that be a sample open. That's right.
I think that would be connected with it. That's what came out and so this one, but in John's cost.
It doesn't say he shall be called the Son of God.
But this is the Son of God. It emphasizes the truth of his person on the next two verses are not.
What John is teaching.
But what John is observing and enjoying?
This is what he is enjoying.
So again the next day after John Stewart and two of his disciples and looking upon Jesus that.
He walked, he said. She pulled the Lamb of God. Now I believe that this gives us sort of the character.
Of John in the sense in which we should look at.
The way we should read it.
John sets the example. I'll tell you what It's been said that any service from for Christ flows from communion. That's right. What happens? Let's decide.
Because they saw what John was occupied with and they saw it was good. And so they leave John and apologies. Now, this is a wonderful thing to observe here, that John was simply standing, and whether he was conscious of what he said or not, I mean, in the sense that others were hearing it, that makes no difference. He was enjoying it. Yes. It's a very, very beautiful privilege.
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I should say for every one of us.
His occupation with the person of the Lord Jesus was such that two disciples turned to follow the Lord. And I wonder if it's right to say that every life here has either that effect or the opposite.
You get in the opening of the Song of Solomon, Draw me, we will run after thee. There is an individual heart drawn by the Lord, and it has that effect. We will run after these, but then you find the other side effect in the case of four Peter.
I go fishing. We also go with the.
I believe it's right to say, dear brethren, and it's searching to say it, that your life, and my life is summed up in one or the other of those two pictures. Draw me. And that's what we have here. We will run after thee.
Or granted, it may be so, or else I go fishing. We also go with thee again in the Song of Solomon when they come to the pride of ask her, what is thy beloved more than another beloved? There's no hesitation. There's no stumbling for words. Immediately she begins to describe him, and she doesn't finish until she can say, yeah, he is.
Lovely, And the very next verse is Whither is thy beloved Dawn, that we may seek him with feet?
Well, I believe that this is very, very beautiful at searching. John stood, as we have been reminded. Not a picture of bustling activity, but John stood.
And simply uttered those words of personal occupation with the Lord and it had this effect. They followed him. Could you refer this to the 16 song Serve me, Oh God, for you need to, I trust. Well, we certainly need that language continually. My father, you great on that. He said he read that every day.
Would there be any?
Significant we noticed in verse 29 when he says, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
But there's no mention of anyone following or that.
But in verse 36, looking upon Jesus as evolved, he said behold the Lamb of God. And then we read of the two disciples who heard him follow Jesus. Would there be some significance in that that fact that it seems that when he when John is occupied with this one as he walked and called attention to that.
I I've been thinking of this that the.
We've been speaking about the greatness of the person of the Lord Jesus and take away of the sin of the world, the Baptizer of the Holy Ghost, Son of God, one who's come down from the glory. But when we really follow him in his wall and his pathway, we don't see one.
Who, you might say, sets forth his glory and set forth his greatness. But in John's gospel he takes the place of utter and complete defendants. He says even the very words that he spoke with what the Father had given. He couldn't do anything of himself. He's the most, he's in the most dependent position, and he's here to do nothing but the will of the Father.
And it seems to me that.
As we as we have in John's Gospel, the Lamb of God as he walked, how this draws out the heart to see one walking here. And though the the the greatest, the Son of God, the one who came down from the glory, and yet he takes such a place of attendance upon the Father and he takes the place of doing nothing but the will of the Father doing nothing.
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You might see from himself at all. I kind of my own self do nothing.
And it's it's really that that bulk that draws out the heart, is it not? It's the going down, you see, It's the the fact that it's just the opposite of the first man. The 1St man was was a creature created to be independence, to be dependent upon God and to be obedient to God. But he got out of that place. And here is one who passed to his own person thought it not robbery to be equal with God. He was in the very form of.
Now he's down here in this scene as a man, independence and doing the will of the Father. It's the end of the line of the prophets, and the prophets had two messages. John sums it up in his ministry. The first message was to call attention.
To the people of Israel.
The tremendous failure and responsibility committed to them. And the second point was how God was going to come in, in grace first really, and bring blessing to His people in spite of their faith. Now they refer, do they not through the sacrifices to the coming of Christ who was to be the true Lamb of God?
I'm sure there wasn't as much light as we have today on it.
But still it was there from Adam on down the land. Now John has come to that point. He's the last of the prophets.
And there he stands, love it, and he's looking at the very one that the prophets had spoken of, how his heart must have been filled. As he explains, regardless of whether anyone listened or not, his heart was full.
Behold the Lamb of God. I believe that salvation, redemption here works in beauty because the subject of John is life. We have it here in the person of Jesus.
What's my?