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General Meetings Wheaton, August 1974. First reading Meeting.
I don't have the wealth of John. Could be about the subject for a ring.
That looks like a good job.
How far do you think we should read for their energy?
Well, we could read down through verse 19.
I think that's far enough.
Chapter 12 of 1St 19 verses.
Then Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper, and Martha served.
But Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him, then took Mary a pound of ointment of Spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair.
And the house was filled with the odor of the ointment, that is, that one of his disciples, Judith, the scariest Simon son, which should be trade him fire was not the assortment sold for 300 pence and given to the poor.
That he said not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the bag and bear what was put therein. Then said Jesus, let her alone against the day of my burying, as she kept it.
For the poor ye have, the poor always ye have with you but me ye have not always.
Most people of the Jews, therefore knew that he was there, and they came not for Jesus state only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death, because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away.
And believed on Jesus on the next day much people that were come to the feet.
When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem to branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him and cried hosanna, blessed is the king of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found a young *** sat there on, as it is written.
Fear not, daughter of Zion, Behold, thy king cometh sitting on an ass's coal.
These things understood not his disciples at the first, but when Jesus was glorified.
Then remember they that these things were written off him, and that they had done these things under him. The people, therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave and raised him from the Dead Bear record.
For this cause the people also met him, For they heard, for that they heard that he had done this miracles. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves perceived how he prevailed. Nothing.
Behold, the world is gone after him.
Is it right that this begins the last week on the Lord's suffering?
Said the six days before the Passover, would that make it the first day of that week?
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What are you having in mind, Brother Anderson, and speaking about the beginning of the Lord Sufferings?
Well, since this seems to be the the last week, the week in which the Lord was crucified, it would be a very, very solemn week, wouldn't it?
And the Lord was faced with the cross. Of course he knew all before.
But I'm sure the closer he he came to that time, the more the pressure of it came in upon his soul.
And I believe it's good for us to think about that.
Because I suppose we're apartment to read the scriptures about the sufferings of Christ.
And really not how it affects us.
As it should.
But when we think about this last week of the Lords suffering.
Surely it brings before us a tremendous volume of pressure that was being exerted on the Lord.
Now of course all of this was connected with his martyr, suffering, suffering for righteousness sake. It wasn't until he was on the cross, during the three hours that he was suffering for sin, suffering the judgment for sin, suffering at the hands of God. He was suffering now to a great extent at the hands of man and I suppose when we think of the.
Sufferings of Christ.
It puts in contrast what we have in the last part of what was read when there were the words of Hosanna. Blessed is the king of Israel and all of that.
I wonder how that affected the Lord.
Because he knew he was going to the cross.
And yet he saw that there was this sentiment among some of the people.
That they acknowledged him as king.
What contrast we get here?
This very precious the way the Lord was permitted to enjoy.
A little fellowship.
With this little company, especially three that are mentioned in Bethany before he went to the cross and laid down his life.
And died for our sins.
And where we are all I'm sure aware that this is not the large supper that we observe when we remember the Lord in the breaking of the bread, but.
Might it not remind us, in a way, of this special supper that the Lord has instituted?
I was thinking of it in this way.
What a comfort, the Lord.
So enjoyed.
At this time, when the dark shadow of the cross would lay across his whole pathway that he should have had a little time to enjoy.
The companionship.
And she expressed the love.
Of those there at Bethany, and what are our remarkable group? It is there was letters.
Only a short time before he was lying, corrupting in the grave.
Now raised, steered at the table with the Lord, and there was Martha.
And here we find Martha serving.
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At one time the Lord had to reprove Martha.
For much serving. But I would take it that Martha has learned a lesson.
The same as her sister, Mary had learned in company with the Lord what was acceptable and pleasing to him, for here her service.
Is not to reprove it would say that the Lord was.
Satisfied with the service of Martha on this occasion.
And I just thought of it in this way.
If we realize better.
What the remembrance of the Lord's death means to my blessed Savior.
What is not?
Touch our hearts in such a way that we would never unless it was sickness or some circumstance that made it impossible.
To ever miss being at that place.
Where the Lord has.
Loudspeaker, his presence to be in the midst of his own.
Looking down at this world of thin darkness and sorrow and all the grief, it means to his heart to have those that love Him and value His presence and would worship Him because of His work and His work to be there finally in His presence.
To remember his death.
Now in the breaking of bread.
Would you say that we have a little picture here of heaven the way it will be when we're at home? In Revelation 22 it says his servants shall serve him.
Well, that's Martha. But also we know that we'll be in communion with the Lord himself, and that is Lazarus. And then Mary sits at his feet.
Mary, here is in this picture is anointing, is it not his feet?
But that would make us think of the occupation of the Saints for all eternity, of the work that has been accomplished for us, because she anointed his body beforehand, anticipating what he was to go through. Would you not also say?
That in this chapter we have the summing up, as it were, the bringing together of many hearts, and the expression of these hearts. Also, just before the Lord is to go to the cross, we have this little picture.
That which refreshes his heart, of that which is our brothers expressed, sets forth the assembly.
The Church.
But also.
We have the Gentile character a little later in the chapter that we didn't read.
Where the Gentiles come in and ask that they might see Jesus. And so we have the expression also of the hearts of Israel, the leaders in the last two or three verses of the previous chapter. And we have the the expression of the heart of God in the last person of this chapter. So that we have a sort of summing up of things here.
Just before the Lord goes to the cross. Now another thought we might suggest.
When Adam was in the garden.
God would come down to commune with him, but that was broken. And then God raised up the people. Israel, that might be nearer to him, although there was a distance we know, but still a people that were set apart that he might.
Call his people.
Dollars fail, but then in sovereign grace he called out from among the Gentiles particularly.
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Of people who were themselves nothing, absolutely nothing.
And He has brought them into a place now where we see them in these three places, Martha and Mary and Lazarus.
It's a picture, I believe, as has been expressed of the assembly and we notice in Bethany in the Gospel of Luke or Mark, I suppose about the 10th chapter.
I'm not sure, but I think about the 10th chapter. We find the Lord going into the temple.
And he looked around about upon all things, and he went out and went to the House of Mary and her sister Martha and Lazarus.
He couldn't find anything in the temple that would satisfy his heart, but that which he had prepared through his grace, just a few that were concerned and interested in him, that his grace had wrought with he could feel at home in that house. We noticed too, that in the end of Luke's Gospel.
That the Lord.
Led his disciples as far as Bethany.
And then he was taken from them another little picture of his leaving the assembly here, the last ones who saw him before he left this world. Similar picture in Acts 1, so that we have the the name of Bethany that really stands out suggesting.
The assembly down here which is so dear to his heart.
And which he where he loves to be found in the midst of the two or three that are gathered to his precious name.
Now, I speak of this in a special way because it isn't simply that all believers are part of the one body. That's true. Very true. But I think what places the Lord is to have His people gathered together on that ground as drawn by the Holy Spirit, just for that one purpose to remember Him.
Looking at it in that light, and as our brother has remarked, as perhaps.
An intended little picture of the remembrance of the Lord. It seems to me that it becomes very, very sweet to think that, as our brother Anderson mentioned, this was, shall we say, their last opportunity to have such an occasion with the Lord.
Six days before the Passover. I don't believe they realize this. They didn't know that this happy occasion would be the last one in which they would have this joy. And can we not feel something of the same thing as we realize that the coming of our Lord Jesus is very, very near at hand? How sweet becomes a privilege of being gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus.
How much sweeter becomes a privilege from Lord's day to Lord's day of being able to be gathered together? And if we might dare to use the expression, to make him a supper to bring joy to his heart, by responding to the provision that he has made, never knowing when one of those occasions will be the very last one. Well, on this occasion, as Mary brings this box of very, very precious ointments.
I'm sure she didn't lay hands on it at the last moment. There must have been considerable thought and phasing in view of the opportunity of pouring this upon the feet of the Lord Jesus. And it mentions that she did so that it was.
Very costly. Mary doesn't mention this herself, but the Lord does. He mentioned that it was very costly.
And Judas kind of lets out about how costly it was. The assortment might have been sold for 300 pence. That would be about one year's income, would it? Not a penny a day being a man's wage, about one year's income spent on that which she poured in a moment at the feet of the Lord Jesus. And the house was filled with the odor of the ointment, or as I think of it as being in any sense, a picture of the privilege of being.
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Where the Lord is in the midst at that supper which is such a delight to Him, is it not a privilege to pour out that which he can enjoy? I like to make a little comparison when I read this, and I may be corrected for a wrong comparison, I don't know. But I think of Nicodemus now when I say this. I know that God has recorded that He voted us and loving care of Nicodemus and of Joseph as they took care.
Of the precious body of the Lord Jesus. But they brought 500 lbs. No, 100 pounds, 100 lbs. But there's no mention of the older. I'm sure it was very sweet, but it's not mentioned the Lord was gone.
And here was the last opportunity. She brings one power and the scripture records.
Costliness of that ointment, the sweet odor of that ointment, because it was bestowed upon the Lord Jesus while still there was an opportunity for him to enjoy it. There came a moment when he was gone and then £100 was brought. And I know it was a very practiced and very deeply valued thing on the part of Nicodemus. And it will be a wonderful thing in the course of glory when all the redeemed join in the eternal praises of our precious spager.
But I really feel their sense of God, that it will be a happy memory between your soul and his soul.
That while we were here, where he is unwanted and rejected, we're privileged that that suffer to pour out the ointment upon himself.
Regarding this Passover.
Might we not?
Recall the first Passover.
When the Lord had provided the lamb breach.
Individual, family and for them all neighbors.
And God had in mind.
The new time.
Of his own beloved Son, the Lamb of God.
Would fulfill in appetite.
All that which the original.
Passover speak and then the following, keeping the Passover down through the centuries.
But it became a formal affair.
And so in the preceding chapter in verse.
55.
It's called the Jews. Passover was not at hand.
And even the one who spoke prophetically chaos in verse.
51.
He prophesied that Jesus should.
Should die for that nation.
And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Well, this.
Last Passover.
In which the Lord Jesus himself partook with his.
And disciples.
Was indeed a great thing.
Though the grief and the soil and the cost, no doubt was on his heart and mind.
Yet I love to think of this.
Beginning of this wonderful chapter that has so much to say as to his death.
So much to say after his death and it is anticipated, but I like to think.
Of the joy that he had on this occasion. And there's a last verse of Psalm 110 that I love to think of.
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He shall drink of the book in the way.
He shall prove of the brook in the way. Now the brook is it not generally located.
Down low in the valley.
And.
So the Lord God gave him an incidental company.
Provided for this suite last occasion.
How good it was for his soul when his life had been spent with so much and the opposition and the nation rising up as it were against him, and our Gospel of John sees an increasing.
Bitter attitude on the part of his people.
At the most privileged spot on earth, Jerusalem. The most privileged tribe on earth, Judith.
And now the whole program in the Antichrist is about to be fulfilled in this last Passover. But how sweet, how sweet that there was an exception to the general run of the nation.
How sweet that they're elect setting. We love that exception in the beginning of Luke where we see.
Come in.
And Anna, and very few compared to the mass of the nation.
Who were the exception now, dear brethren, as we read this portion?
May we have a sense of our souls that we are at the end of a most highly privileged age. We're at the end of it.
And may we?
They so humble.
I won't let them screw myself, and I know you would too, so I'm humble.
That we might trend and not want the most precious truth on earth are being gathered to His name, to remember him in his death, and to offer our praise and Thanksgiving to him.
May we tremble, lest there be anything of the character, reducing it to a mere.
A mere practice. Hope you know what I mean.
Instead of.
A hard work.
Recorded in Matthew's Gospel.
March Gospel and now in John's Gospel.
And it seems to have a gospel writer gives a special thought in connection with the Supper.
In Matthew and I think Mark too, but we can see especially the reason why.
Mark Our Massive calls attention to the falling of the ointment on his head.
For the Lord was the true king.
And as such, all becoming House City, the third announcement was poured upon the kids.
While the true king of Israel.
Though rejected and soon to be given only the crown of thorns on his head.
In Mark's Gospel, you'll find that Mary broke the box.
Of costly ointment, and I'm sure the lesson for our souls, and the fact that in order of that ointment.
Might have respect the Lord. The box had to be broken. The box as well as the ointment was concrete and sometimes delivered in order that the Lord might have the poor.
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Praise from our hearts. There is that breaking our will broken.
Nearly our plans and feared with.
But surrendering to him.
So that he might have left, which truly delights his blessed heart.
And it's been marked that the Lord says she hath done what she could.
It was saying, you know, that it was a waste. And remember that, brother, that properly came to be very unimportant.
A very insignificant.
Service to the Lord may have such importance in his mind.
So that he could speak of it. She has done what she could others. Could you do the things.
And the toddler is ruler ways of serving the Lord. But we each individual have the privilege of carrying out something that the Lord can rejoice him, so he can speak of it as having done.
What she could or walk us up that, even if it's the Urnium and getting up a little earlier in the morning.
Will be at the remembrance of the Lord that's precious to his heart, where mothers have little ones that.
They have to prepare for the day.
So there's that side of things that mark cause attention to.
But you'll notice here in John's Gospel that he anoints his feet.
And I'm sure that it has been sanded to touch.
His cold heart of us, while it's the blessed pathway of the Son of God that would seem that Mary was occupied with, think of what had taken place in the preceding chapter. The Lord had gone to a place called Ephraim, where John first baptized.
When the news reached him that yeah, about Lazarus sickness.
The Lord had called those weary miles to get to Bethany at the time appointed.
And just when their hearts were broken.
And we find Mary at the feet of Jesus.
We find Martha saying, Lord, if thou had been here, my brother had not died.
Remember the elderly brother calling attention to the difference?
Martha said it not at his feet. Mary said exactly the same words, but she said those words.
At his blessed feet.
And there at his feet.
In the 10th of a look she had sprapped. Now look precious lessons from his lips and again it is feet. There she had.
Learned further lessons to comfort her heart when the Lord wept with our sisters in their believers, and now our touching our pressures to see where the ointment is used on this occasion.
And I thought of mercy that had proud earth railway that this she here on this occasion announced, and then wiped them with a hair or head. Woman's glory she there would be stole upon his blessed holy speech, or a lesson. May we will learn, beloved in this way.
Luke 10, brother.
Well, she's a learner there, isn't she in Luke Penn. But in 11, she's a mourner.
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In chapter 12, she's a worshiper. I was going to ask you a question, dear brother.
Would the testimony of Martha extend into the Kingdom?
Would that go beyond the testimony of Mary?
I couldn't quite get Maybe you got it with you, the testimony of the Martha. Oh, yes, Would What would you tell us?
Concerning her testimony, Well, I thought, Brother Smith, that not only had Mary learn deep lessons at the feet of Jesus, but Martha had learned lessons too.
Now she was.
So engaged with service in the 10th group, and she would have rocked Mary of the privilege of sitting at the feet of Jesus and hearing his word. And then the Spirit of God calls attention to this, that she was covered.
About much serving. It wasn't so much suspended, it was that she had made a burden of the service.
After the death of her brother.
And she objected to.
Even having the stone rolled away, Lord said, DeMarco said, I am not under thee, that if thou wouldst believe thou should see the glory of God, you have to leave the whole manner.
Will the Blessed Lord.
And I'm sure she learned at that time. That's our important lesson, our dependence upon the Lord and waiting on him that now first service.
Will inverted, keeping with the occasion.
So that there is no correction here the Lord could gladly and joyfully will say that service.
That was in keeping with his mom and suitable to the occasion in which it's found.
It's very interesting the the question of the Passover. It was kept in Egypt, wasn't it? And then kept in the desert and kept in the land. Well, I got a surprise when I first went to Bolivia, which made me feel that I was among some of the lost tribes.
I found an old Indian. He just finished his house and he had killed a lamb without blemish and he was dipping that course grass that grows on the mountains there of Bolivia. He was dipping it into the bowl.
And sprinkling the doorpost with the blood.
So I said to him, Why do you do that?
Oh, he says. It's a custom.
But I said, what? What else? He said. We never feel safe without the blood applied.
Over the door when I began to wonder whether I was among some of the lost tribes.
What interested me, brother Mary concerning Martha? Her testimony?
Would extend beyond Mary's, wouldn't it? Would you say that Martha had faith he was attached to the Lord Jesus and?
Just as those who had come through the great Tribulation period, they would get a blessing too.
Would Master be more of a type of of that of that remnant? Would you like to explain us more about that problem? I think Mr. Darby teaches that that I never.
Went into it so I could remember the special thoughts, but I know it was along that line that you're now Speaking of that I think it's very possible to our souls to see.
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That at the present time there are these three things meant.
Paris. And for Lazarus, he was sitting at table with him. There's communion, and there was married, anointing his feet with the ointment, so that the whole house is filled with the odor. We get worse.
And it's lovely, isn't it? Because we know that a woman's plate is fast in the Assembly of God, yet it was until, brother. It wasn't John, the beloved desire, but it was Mary, a woman who was the one who pictures to us.
That blessed the subject of worship.
All that far the heart of the one who is in him, that the enjoyment of the Lord occupied with his grace, his loneliness, his perfections, and yet the odor of that fills the whole house. And so for sisters, they can be just as truly worshippers.
In the presence of the Lord as the brother who may pray, a very acceptable excellent.
Worship and adoration.
To return to a verse that Song of Solomon in that connection.
Song of Solomon, the 4th chapter.
And we read from the sixth verse.
Song of Solomon 4:00 and 6:00.
Until the Daybreak.
And the shadows flee away. I will get me to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense.
Thou art all fair, my love. There is no spot in me. Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon. Look from the top of the Manor. From the top of Sheena and Herman. From the lion's den, From the mountains of the leopards. Thus ravish my heart. My sister, my spouse.
Thus ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. How fair is I love my sister, my spouse, How much better as I love than wine and the smell of thine ointments that all spices. Now I believe if I'm right, here we have the bridegroom speaking, and he likens this.
Which we speak of here in our chapter is worship.
To a mountain of murder, That's his estimate of it, a mountain of it, and.
He says until the day break and the shadows flee away. So we have this privilege of being in His presence in the place that he's appointed and the manner he's appointed until the Daybreak and the shadows flee away, which I believe is very soon.
But then.
He said I will get me to the mountain of murder and to the hill of frankincense. That's what he is saying now. The result is he expresses his affection for his bride.
And he says, Thou art all, bear my love. There is no spot in thee. Could it be, brethren, that as we gather together to remember the Lord and the Spirit of God, that lifts our hearts in worship, that he gives us a sense of Islam for us?
And the result would be.
The attraction away from this world in the following verses.
Because in the eighth verse you have the various dangers that accompany the past as a believer, and the only way, dear Brendan, that we are able to meet the animator the only way that we can.
Be spared from these dangers is to have a sense of his love.
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Otherwise, our fickle hearts will go after something else.
Because our hearts will be turned to present things unless we have a fixed object before us. I believe that's what we have here in the Song of Solomon, and in these various dangers they might be connected with something I and lofty in the estimate of man, as these mountains would suggest and still.
They're accompanied with dangers.
And the lion, you know, is the strongest among beasts. So we have the enemy waiting to catch us, and we're going to fall unless there's a real sense of his love. And I believe we find this and enjoy it in a special way as we're gathered around this person, to have him speak to us in this way. Thou art all fair, my love.
I was thinking about.
This word Bethany. I think we're acquainted with that word best. We find it in the Old Testament, like the word Bethel, the name of a place, and that means the House of God. Beth's house Errol is God, Bethel. Here we have Bethany.
And it's been suggested, I believe, that that means the House of affliction. I'm aware that there's another meaning that's been given to it, but I like to think of the meaning House of affliction as being applied especially to the House of of Martha Lazarus and Mary, the House of Affliction.
No doubt they had.
A sense in their souls of what the Lord was going through. Perhaps not a full, perfect sense, but I believe they were aware of the affliction that the Lord was going through.
He was not having it easy. It was not an easy pathway that he was walking here in this sea. I believe they knew it.
And perhaps this is one reason why they opened their home to the Lord Jesus.
And Jesus knew it very well. There was a sense of communion there between them.
And I suppose when the Lord entered that home.
It was in a natural way.
And they took him in naturally.
There was a kinship of feeling there between them.
They had a sense of what the Lord was going through, and then the Lord allowed them to go through affliction in connection with their brother.
And so it became more in another way, a House of affliction.
I wonder if we could think of the Assembly in that way. What kind of a house is it?
I know we're living in days of prosperity.
And perhaps we don't feel much affliction.
But we enter into the Lord's affliction, into the Lords suffering, what he went through in his past week, down here, and in going to the cross, all that burden of suffering that was laid upon him, their Calvary.
If we enter into his affliction.
I believe that the assembly can become, as it were, a House of affliction, and I believe it's well for us to enter into the sufferings of the Lord. More and more it's easy to forget how the Lord suffered for us and what He went through.
Perhaps the Lord allows afflictions in our own lives personally in our families, that we might be more made more aware.
Of the afflictions that our blessed Lord went through, or it wasn't easy for him.
I trust that the fellowship of the Saints, the assembly where they come together, might be characterized more by this as being a House of affliction, entering into the afflictions and sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Find that.
All registers seem to have.
Listened to Judas because the other gospels rights the disciples that.
Find fault with merit for spending so much money as though it was a waste could have been bestowed upon the poor.
We'll even have sad and sound too.
That a man like Judas could become the leader among the Lord's disciples.
Or better, now we need to go on near the Lord.
And independence upon him. And let the Lord search our hearts to see if there's anything.
That hasn't been judged in our lives.
Or as possible after we could be deceived.
By an unprecedented man like Judas.
With all heart is so lovely here, that when all the disciples were against one for one, the Lords voice defended her, The Lord took her part, and saw, no matter what may be better, how much criticism or condemnation there may be brought upon one who is seeking in faithfulness.
To follow him to honor Christ.
Give us true devotion to Him. The Lord will surely take part with one who is sincerely speaking to do His will and to walk in His ways.
Where we find in love who had been dead.
You know when I told you about anything that was said to win souls for Christ?
He was just probably sitting at tables and Jonathan will come to me in communion with the one who had just fallen from the dark too.
Where his body had been laid, but whoever said was yours to.
Have the sole winner On this occasion, you have only to look down in the chapter.
It fell in the ninth verse. Much people of the jewel therefore knew that he was there, and they came up, for Jesus sake only, but they might deliver it also.
Whom he had raised from the dead, But the chief priests consulted that they might put Laverne also to death, because now notice this, that by reason of skill many of the Jews went away.
And believed on Jesus.
So we'll show Beloved if we're walking in communion with the Lord.
How that hard testimony of going home.
And the enjoyment of himself that God can use that in a way that we learn here that many went away.
At all they laugh. Those wretched jewelry were keeming for the Lord's death. They went away.
And all how unspeakably precious it is. They believed in Jesus.
My brethren, is our testimony such that rules that we have to do. Those that we speak to are impressed with the facts.
That we have a person that we possess something that the world does not possess.
Remember some years ago in Des Moines? A comment was made in connection with those who.
Came out of their graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
And it was remarked that there might well be 3 questions raised about this company. First of all, who were they? Were they're numbered? Among them, any of those whose names we might have recognized?
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And another question was.
Did they die again?
But the thought was expressed that although they were an unknown, unnamed company.
And although we're not told whether they died again or not yet, their testimony was that of a people who were living witnesses to the power of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is nothing indicated as to what they said. They just simply appeared unto Manning. Their names are not known to us.
Their their faith shall I say. Did they die or did they not? The question is not answered in Scripture.
And is this not a picture of where we stand today? Are we not to be in this poor, doomed and guilty world awaiting it's our judgment, shall I say an unlained, unknown group of those who bear witness to the power of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ? And the same question remains unanswered about us also. Shall we die, or shall we be called home?
I feel we can well answer it on behalf of a good many here, because I feel maybe I'll be corrected for this too. But I surely feel I can say on behalf of ever so many years that we're going to hear that shout, we're going to hear that shout. And so the question remains unanswered, and we ought to bear testimony as dear Lazarus board, testimony to the power of him who can give life from the dead.
I don't know, Bill, if it was the same occasion, but I remember this coming up at a meeting in Des Moines years ago when Brother Park was there and they.
Was important about.
Those that came out of their grace.
Is that in the death of Christ?
We'll find the heavens dark, the heavens of love. Us were affected.
While I follow them.
Affected the realm of the earth. And then he said the realm of death was affected to by that sorrow moment when the Lord gave us surrendered his life there on the cross.
That's the meeting of the passage we have in Colossians, Colossians 3.
I was thinking of the connection at the cross. We see the power of Satan manifested in every way.
That here it says in Colossians 3.
And verse 15.
Well, we should read 14.
Colossians 2 and 14, I'm sorry.
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way.
Nailing it to his cross, and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them, openly triumphing over them in it. Now I suppose this refers to his resurrection, but does it not also include those?
That have been mentioned that were raised and visited in in Jerusalem.
That have just been named.
Different ones were raised out from among the dead for the moment, giving a public demonstration of the power of resurrection, Which you say that this applies to, to that?
Absolutely.
Mandy.
I've even wondered in that connection, and I surely raised this as a question in Romans one, it says, declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.
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Now I noticed that I don't want to die breath too much, but in chapter 10 when they come to the Lord and said, Thou being a man, make us thyself, God, Jesus answered them, saying, Is it not written in your law? I said you're God.
This sounds to me at first like brother, an unusual way to meet a question of that kind.
But then I have wondered if in the next chapter, Chapter 11, he declares himself to be the Son of God in a way that would set him completely apart from all others by the resurrection from the dead. Now I believe that primarily I should say I think that primarily in Romans one it does apply to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. But I have wondered if also he declares himself to be the Son of God with power.
By his power to reign from among the dead, which he declared in John 11. Is that a right? Yes, he does. Brother Hale and the I understand, brother. This can give us the Greek board. I'm sure that it's a different word, resurrection of dead ones.
It's not merely the Lord's all her direction, but the fact that he had.
All over death in the grave, that was one of the absolute positive thoughts that he was the Son of God, he declared to be such as power.
Resurrected among the dead. Yes, the dead.
We've been enjoying this truth of resurrection in our readings and in Luke 24. There are some notable truths there that we might just look at for a moment. Now we're on this.
Luke 24.
We were noticing that there are five different declarations here in this chapter.
In verse two, they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
There's the testimony of the open grave. That's one now. The next is.
In verse 31.
And their eyes were open and they knew him, and he vanished out of their sight. Here they have their eyes open. No wonder 11 One of our old writers puts it this way, that the resurrection is the keystone to the Christian faith, to Christian faith, the keystone. Here their eyes are open. And when we look a little further on.
We find that, he opened.
To them the Scriptures. Then He opened He their understanding.
That they might understand the scriptures.
Well.
A brother wrote me one day. He's with the Lord now, and I respected that dear brother, but he wrote me a strange letter before he died, he said. Brother Smith.
Why do you stress so much the Old Testament?
When we have everything in the new.
Well, I just wrote him a very simple little letter and quoted this.
That.
Let's see, we'll close it.
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself, and sent that verse to the brother.
And he didn't answer. But I was told that he listed on that was very heavy about that. Well then their understanding was open that they might understand the scriptures didn't this wonderful. And at last the 5th is the open heaven, the open heaven, and these two shining these angels that stood there in Acts one and said to the.
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Few who accompanied him before he went up in their Shekinah cloud, they said, You, men of Galilee, why stand you looking up into heaven? This same Jesus whom thou did see going to heaven, will come again in like manner. Oh beloved, we have a glorified man in heaven.
And he will be that forever. We're going to be like him. We're going to be like him. Will. These came up in our little reading. Their eyes were opened. Their understanding was open. The scriptures were open. The grave was opened, and heaven and heaven was open. What a wonderful testimony to say nothing of the 500. Bennett saw him at once. These are.
Witnesses is our brother. Albert has said there are witnesses.
Who was seen and heard and known? Is it anyone that the modernist attacked the truth of the resurrection, of resurrection so much.
Never said how bad it was to suggest.
The need of the poor, when all heaven was occupied, were the subject of the Lord going to the cross.
I'm doing our household cabbage to the Lords name have to be on our guard that nothing hits the place and the importance in connection with the remembrance of the Lords death.
He was the neighbor of ours who was connected with.
A an organization and at one time they started out very much like our meeting Wolf Bread every Sunday at the 11Th hour.
Now he told me that one Sunday morning he went to other churches and called it and the table was at the back of the room.
He asked the preacher, what does this mean?
You want to have a breaking of bridge. You can have half an evening.
11:00 in the morning is too good a time for a summer now. After a while, he said. Oh, one second.
Months is often enough.
So far I know that system. Why the blood supper has almost been ruled out. Well, doesn't that show a declension? He called. After all, may it not be fed, and rightly said that the remembrance of the Lord in his death, and the breaking of red hills, the chief meeting among the Saints.
And how important we should, how much importance we should get to that. It is not that Britain that has kept us together all these years. A week, coffee easily scouted and easily LED astray.
That there have been, and there still are those who put sufficient value on the remembrance of the Lord and death, that we go on and and give the Lords death, the remembrance of his death, the 1St and common place in connection, whereas.
Our testimony.
Bolivia We advise the Saints Brother Barry to procure to get work near to the assembly, not to go too far away from the assembly.
Some of them settle a long way away, and it's not very long before they begin to backslide. I believe what you said is most important. We should count at the breaking of bread is the important matter to attend to, and we're getting LAX.
Concerning, it is the remembrance of the Lord Jesus and His death, beloved. With all of that means may we even in looking for work. And I know it's not always easy to find work, especially in these days.
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May it be a portion to seek those who have to look for work, to seek for it as near to the meeting as possible, not to go too far away. Now we have two or three in the meeting where I am now who have.
To the way.
It's this is the question of looking for work, possibly too far away, and they don't come anymore. It's very sad, isn't it?
I never did know what the expression meant as Sabbath day's journey, and I looked it up in the Bible dictionary and if I remember correctly, it said the distance from the farthest corner of Jerusalem to the Temple. And it seemed to me rather interesting that at least the definition in that Bible dictionary was the distance from the farthest corner of Jerusalem to the Temple. And I believe that, as you remark, our home got to be.
In relation to the happy and the wonderful privilege of being gathered to the precious name of the Lord Jesus, and being able to remember him, to pour out that precious ointment before him in connection with that ointment, I believe that in the book of Exodus.
When the ointment and the incense are described in such minute detail.
They are reminded that.
They're never, never to use either the one or the other carelessly in connection with the Orange, and it was never to be poured upon the body of a stranger. It was for Jehovah and his service alone, and there was a very severe penalty.
If it was used for anything else and in connection with the incense, they were warned.
That if they compounded this incense to smell, there too they were to be cut off from Israel. That also was for Jehovah and for the ritual pertaining to Israel as Jehovah's people. So I feel that it's a very, very precious thing to see Mary pouring this appointment where it's rightly belong, pouring it upon the person of him who had fulfilled her heart. But I wonder when I see the warning that this is not to be compounded for.
The pleasure of man is there not there a warning that we see disregarded all around us, that men have introduced forms of worship, as they call them, compounded out of their own imagination, and really for their own delight, and certainly not for the Lord. And their form of worship is thought up and improved upon.
In order that they might enjoy it. In order that they might get some religious boost out of it.
But all beloved, what a privilege it is to know that there is that which belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ, but as we come and present it and pour it up to him, we do get the benefit of it. The house was filled with the odor of the ointment, but the ointment was for himself alone.
Word is the Hebrew Jehovah Shama.
Well, that just means the Lord is there. But we do know that that will be the expression that will be used when the when the Jew takes possession of the land which he will get when the Lord gives it to him, and not by the force of arms. But that's a wonderful word, beloved Jehovah, Jehovah.
The law is there now may we take notice of that when we come together to remember him in his death? The law is there, and what that will mean in the coming days to the Renmin.
We just can't imagine what it will be for the residents in that day when they recognize that at last the true Messiah is there, the Lord is there. I'm sure you've noticed that. I've enjoyed that, you know.
We're to buy the truth and sell it. Not, we're told in Proverbs, are we not? It's it's wonderful to see in scripture the very illustrations of the boldness of faith. And I recall the mind hearing of a young man who was transferred from somewhere in the eastern part of Canada to Winnipeg some years ago.
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And when he was transferred, he was told to call his new boss because he was given an advancement in his job.
So he called his boss, and his boss says I'll meet you at 11:00 Sunday morning.
His answer was I'm sorry Sir, but I have an appointment at 11:00 Lord day morning.
His boss says. And what could disappointment be? That's more important than your job, he said. I have to meet the Lord at 11:00.
Well, his boss was of the Catholic faith and he said to him, well, if that's what you're going to do, he said, I'll meet you Monday at 11:00.
So I believe that they that honor me, I will honor because the Lord is over all things and He knows exactly what circumstances we'll be in. But it's nice to see, isn't it, the boldness of faith.
Could we sing, O Lamb of God, Still Keep Us?
Close to thine Pearson's eyes.
Who has a #318?