Address—P.R. Gladding
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May we turn first of all to the fifth chapter of Genesis.
Genesis 5.
Read the first verse. This is the book of the generations of Adam. This is the book of the generations of Adam. First chapter of Matthew. First verse the book of the generation of Jesus Christ. These two expressions are descriptive of the two great themes of Scripture. The Old Testament gives us a record of Adam and his descendants.
And the New Testament is devoted to the history of Christ, the Son of God.
And his people are redeemed. And so we have in the very first verse.
This precious save you mentioned Jesus Christ. We know there are two atoms mentioned in the 15th of First Corinthians.
And we find in Genesis 5, the first Adam, sin brought sin into the world. About the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ came to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And so we have here before us right away that Blessed One Jesus Christ.
You have noticed, of course, that this is the very first name mentioned in the New Testament, and it's the very last name mentioned in the end of the Revelation. So it would appear to me that the Spirit of God would always bring before us the person of the Lord Jesus Christ all through Scripture. And Matthew begins with the announcement of the coming Savior. Matthew ends with the promise of the perpetual presence of the Savior who has come.
I am with you always, even unto the end. How wonderful and precious this is that you and I who know this blessed person. We have the promise of His presence to the end of the journey, and then He's coming to take us home to be forever with Himself.
And so how good it is to be reminded right away as we open this New Testament, that the Spirit of God brings before us the Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And so we have here in this chapter his birth mentioned his coming into this scene in the 21St verse.
And she shall bring forth his Son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.
It reminds us of what the Psalmist could say. I think it's Psalm 62. From him cometh my salvation.
And from him cometh my salvation too. I wonder if we all know this blessed person here tonight, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Have we all received Him as our Lord and Savior? Have we felt our need of Him? I believe that's the first important thing for us to feel our need of a Savior. We never think of going to the doctor until we feel the need of the doctor, his services. And so the Sinner needs to realize his need of this blessed person.
Well, we have here the announcement of his coming in the very first chapter. Now return to the second chapter and there we have.
The story of his birth.
And I'd like to look at the story of his birth tonight and his three journeys to Jerusalem.
We'll read a few verses in the second of Matthew now, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King.
Behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews?
For we have seen his star in the east, and I come to worship him. When Herod the King had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and the scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him in Bethlehem of Judea. For thus it is written by the prophet. And thou, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, art not the least among the Princess of Judah. For out of thee shall come a governor, that your rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privilege, called the wise men, inquired of them diligently, What?
Appeared and he sent them to Bethlehem and said go and search diligently for the young child.
And when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also.
When they had heard the king, they departed, and lo, the star which they saw in the East went before them till it came, and stood over where the young child was.
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When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were coming to the house, they saw the young child with Mary's mother, and fell down and worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
And when they were departed, behold, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother.
And flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word. For Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled. Which is spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt, have I called my son?
Here we have the record of the birth of this blessed Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And if you read the chapter carefully, you will find these words mentioned five times, the young child and his mother.
Now we know today it's put in the reverse order, the mother is worshipped and not the young child, the Lord Jesus Christ. But how remarkable it is that we should find these words five times in the chapter, the young child and his mother, never once the mother and the young child. And so I believe we find here that the Spirit of God would bring before us.
All through Scripture this blessed person, the Lord Jesus Christ says in Colossians in all things he must have the preeminence.
And so the young child is mentioned first.
And we find in the first verse it says wise men came from the East to Jerusalem.
Saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews, for we have seen his star niece and I come to worship him.
I think it's in First Kings Four. We find there that the East is noted for its wisdom.
But these wise men came from the East, from the seat of human wisdom, all the way to worship Him who is the wisdom of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. And I suppose they were wise too, because they recognized in this humble infant the Christ, the King of the Jews.
And there was nothing here royal splendor or magnificence. And yet they saw in him the Christ, the Son of God, and they came to worship him. Yes, they left the seed of human wisdom to come and worship Him who is the wisdom of God.
And note what they said, saying, where is he that is born king of the Jews? Well, this is a very first question asked in the New Testament. Where is he? The first question asked in the Old Testament is, Where art thou? The Lord said that to Adam, did he not? Where art thou? Very searching question. If the Lord were to put the question to us here tonight, Where art thou? What would be our answer? Could we say, thank God I'm in Christ?
I know him as my Lord and Savior. Or should we have to hang our head in shame and say, well, I'm afraid I'm in my sins? Well, it's good to challenge our hearts, you know today as to the truth and reality of these things. Where is he that is born king of the Jews? Now no earthly potentate was ever born a king. Such were born Princess and became kings afterwards. But this blessed One was born a king.
Think of it, how wonderful. You and I were born sinners. He was born a king.
Well, he said, where is he that is born king of the Jews, for we have seen his star in the East.
Now the New Testament opens with his star and closes with him as the star, the bright and morning Star. And his star brought them to him, to Jesus where he was. But he is. The bright and morning Star is soon coming for us to take us home to glory. How wonderful and precious the thought, beloved Saints of God, to know that perhaps tonight.
We're going to see the Morning Star, the Lord Jesus Christ, and be with Him throughout eternity.
Well, it's cheering to my own heart, and I'm sure it is to many of us here.
We've seen his star in the East and I come to worship him, not his mother to worship him.
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Well, is is he worthy of our worship too? Indeed he is. And I think it's good for us to remember that in Scripture we find that worship always comes first before service, but often it's put in the reverse order. Service 1St. And men are seeking by service to become worshippers. But that's not the way, is it? Now worship has its first place in Scripture all through service has its place too, but second place.
And we have it brought before us in many scriptures. Well, it said, they said we have come to worship him.
And when heard the king had heard these things, he was troubled in all Jerusalem with him. And you know what he said in the end of the eighth verse when he found him? Bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also. Did Herod want to worship this dear child Jesus? Indeed not. He had murder in his heart, because we find in the end of the.
13th Verse For Herod will seek the young child to worship him, no to destroy him.
Or the very moment this dear baby arrived, there was murder in the hearts of those around him. They wanted to get rid of him right away. How solemn. It's a picture of our own hearts, beloved by nature. We did not want Christ, did we?
No, he said, if we didn't say it with our lips, we set it by our actions away with Him. We have no time for Jesus but all thank God when the time came for us to see ourselves as God sees this and all our wretchedness and ruin.
And in all our need, when we felt our need of Him and through grace, turned to Him.
Well, we find we will not go into all the details, but I'd just like to notice a few things in chapter. So we find then Herod professed to want to see Him, to worship Him, but that was not his idea at all. It says in verse 10, when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Now, beloved, when you and I see the morning star, the bright and morning Star, do you think we shall rejoice with exceeding great joy?
I'm sure we will. Or wouldn't it be a blessed and happy experience to see the bright and morning star tonight? The Lord Jesus Christ be caught up out of this poor scene which is doomed for judgment to be forever with Him and like Him. And that glory seen above. Well, when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. I was just thinking two of the 11Th verse. It says when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him.
Gifts Gold and frankincense and myrrh. These were highly significant gifts, were they not?
The gold, I suppose, would speak of his Deity, and the frankincense comes next. Frankincense and myrrh. This would speak, I believe, of the perfection of his wondrous life here on earth as a perfect man. And the myrrh is a bitter herb to the taste, and would perhaps suggest his sufferings here on earth as a man, and more so at Calvary, when he took up the question of sin and our sins, and had to suffer then not only.
Of men, but at the hands of a holy God. Or how it should solemnize our hearts when we think of this, that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, the sinless spotless one, came down here to be made sin, and go to the cross and take up the question of sin and your sins and mine, and settle it to the glory of God his Father, and for our eternal blessing and salvation.
Well, surely this should produce from our hearts eternal praise and worship.
And adoration, when we think of His infinite love, in leaving that glory seen above, to come down here for that purpose, to glorify His Father, and to seek and to save the last. Well, now these gifts here were presented to Him.
But if you turn to Philippians two, we find that these things characterized him. They were in him. Maybe just turn to it if Philippians 2.
The second chapter of Philippians and verses 6-7 and eight.
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not a robbery to be equal with God? Surely this would speak of the goal, the deity of His person, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Surely this would speak of the frankincense of His wondrous life here and then. Verse 8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself.
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And he came obedient unto death, even the death of a cross.
Surely this would speak of the Murrah, his sufferings here as a man and more so under the hand of a holy God. So I believe those three things which were were presented to him are seen in him here in this chapter.
Now maybe go back, just for a moment, to the turn to the second chapter of Luke.
You get a little more concerning the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ second chapter of Luke, beginning at verse 7.
And she brought forth her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a Manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
This is a very, very solemn statement, is it not? He was born in the stable of an inn.
But there is no room for him in the end.
In Luke 10 we find there is room for that poor man who fell among thieves. He was taken to the inn. They made room for him, but no room for the Son of God. How solemn this is. And yet this blessed person, the Lord Jesus, came down to earth to make room for you and me in heaven, and yet when He came, there was no room for Him. Well, is there room for Him in your heart tonight?
I trust SO with everyone here.
It's a challenge, isn't it? Have you any room for Jesus? We often sing in the gospel.
He will bore your load of sin as he knocks and seeks admission. Sinner, will you let him in? Well, have we all let him in? Will we find then? It says she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a Manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
This is very remarkable. I feel that he was born in the stable of an inn, and so the animal creation will be brought into blessing as a result of Christ's coming here and going to the cross. You turn to Romans 8, says The creature itself shall also be delivered from the ******* of corruption, brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
That would suggest to me, I think it's the 21St verse of the 8th of Romans.
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the ******* of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
We are not suggesting, of course, that the animal creation will be saved. That's not the thought at all.
But they will be brought into a into the glorious liberty of the children of God through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But how much more so you and I, who have received Him as our Lord and Savior?
Well, now monarchs when coming to their subjects are usually preceded by heralds and now announcing their coming. But there is no welcoming committee. When the Lord Jesus Christ came here, no, no one to welcome him, not a crowd to receive him and to welcome him, but God sent one. Oh yes, verse 13 And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth. Peace, goodwill toward men.
So although there was number welcoming committee to welcome him when he arrived, God sent one. Yes, he will have his son honoured, although he was despised and rejected here.
And it says they were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock. By night, Lo, the angels of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
And the Angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
How wonderful this is good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.
For unto you have very personal this is unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord. Now we find this blessed one was not only born a king, but he was born a savior. Is he your Savior dear friend, tonight thank God he's my savior. Is he yours? Well, it's well to challenge our hearts, you know because.
So many people take things for granted today that if they do the best and.
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Come from meetings or go to church. It's alright with them, but that's not the point at all.
Now we need to have personal dealings with God about our sins and receive God's provision for us in the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Fiona. For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Again I say, you and I were born sinners, but he was born a king and born a Saviour.
And now, a little further down, it's the 14th verse. Glory to God in the highest and on earth. Peace, goodwill toward men.
Now we often hear this remark. Where is the peace you Christians speak of? There's no peace in this world. Well, we have to remember before the proclamation of peace on earth was announced.
For declare the offer of good times, and great joy was given unto all people.
And so the reception of the Savior must come before we can have peace. We cannot have peace without the reception of the Savior.
And there is peace for everybody to death and only have it. The world is striving for some kind of peace, and yet they reject Christ, who is our peace. We can say of those of us who believe that he is our peace and he's made peace through the blood of His cross. I remember dear man in Bermuda who was very, very ill. He had cancer and was dying.
Her brother and I went to see him. We asked him where he was going at the end of his journey.
He said well I'm struggling hard to make my peace with God before I go.
Well, we said if I were you, friend, I would give that up because you'll never accomplish that. The poor man looked astounded.
He said, no, you can never do that. You know, you might as well give it right up. So we turned into the first Colossians and read that verse, having made peace through the blood of his cross, and we read it to him and got him to read it. He said, oh, I see it now. I've been trying to make something that Christ has made for me already, said yes, all you have to do is receive it. And he did just before he passed away. It seemed so blessed and simple.
And there are many like him today, you know, trying to make their peace with God. But how can we as sinners?
How can I approach a holy God in my sins apart from Christ? It's impossible. And so God has made a way whereby we can approach Him and is through His beloved Son, and only that way.
And now we find in Luke 19, it speaks of peace being in heaven. Peace was on earth here and the person of Christ at one time, but he's been rejected and cast out. Now peace has gone to heaven. That's where He is. And so if you want peace, friend, you have to get it by way of heaven, by way of the Lord Jesus Christ who is there. He's not here on earth now to give you peace, but you can have it through Him, through simple faith in Him.
And in his shed blood.
Christ, the Prince of Peace, was rejected and cast out, and now peace has gone to heaven in the person of Christ. That's where he is. But you and I can have peace. How blessed it is to have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and to be at peace with Him. And it's only through his beloved Son. Well, shall we just look now at the three journeys to Jerusalem?
In the same chapter.
Verse 22 or 21. And when 8 days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the Angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
We find this Blessed One went to Jerusalem in his infancy, in his boyhood, and in his manhood. Here we find he goes to Jerusalem with his parents in his infancy, and he was presented to the Lord. I suppose the law required this.
He was presented to the Lord. This, I suppose, would speak of the perfection of His purpose. He's presented to the Lord. And who was as devoted as Christ to God? His Father. Was he not devoted to his Father? Indeed he was.
And so we find here in the days of his infancy, he was taken to Jerusalem. Now in the 40th verse.
And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
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Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover, and when he was 12 years old they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of a feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
But they supposing him to have been in the company, they knew very well he was not in their company.
But they supposed he was in the company when today's journey, and they sought him. Among their kin spoke an acquaintance, And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. He came to pass that after three days they had found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
Now he's at the age of 12 years and his parents take him up to Jerusalem again after the custom of the feast.
And now they're returning from Jerusalem to Nazareth, and they thought he was in the company.
But he was not in their company.
And so they sought him. They went as day's journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
And when they found him not, they turned back to again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
What a different picture we have on the 24th of Luke.
Here we find Jesus. Parents were going back from Jerusalem to Nazareth and they missed Jesus. He was not in their company. They were without him.
And then they went back again to Jerusalem without him, and it took them three days to find him. Well, in the 24th of Luke we find there the disciples, two of them. They were rejoicing both ways, going from Jerusalem and coming back to Jerusalem. They found him as they did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us, by the way. And so here Jesus parents were sad both ways.
Going back from Jerusalem and returning to Jerusalem.
But the two in the 24th of Luke were glad both ways. They found him, and they went all the way back to Jerusalem to share their joy with others.
And that says when they had found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. They came to pass it. After three days. They found him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.
I suppose it would not really take us one day, would it, to get out of communion with the Lord and to lose sight of Him and get away from Him. But it might take his three full days to get back because of our wretched pride, the pride of our hearts. And we know, do we not, of some who have gotten away from the Lord, and it takes perhaps a lifetime for them to get back more than three days.
So I believe there's a solemn warning here for us.
If we get out of communion with the Lord and get away from Him, it may take a long time to get back. It need not.
But because of the pride of our hearts, we're not willing to admit or to judge ourselves, are we?
And admit that we've made a mistake. And so we keep away. That's been the sad history of many, but there's no need for it. If I may make this little illustration, I have enjoyed it myself. And I just pass it on and see what you think of it. I often think of the little dove that was sent out from the ark, you know, And it says it found no rest for the soul of its foot. So what did it do?
The Raven didn't return to the Ark. It flew around, about, back and forth, over the earth, over the waters of judgment.
But the dove returned to the AH, found no rest for the sole of its foot, and so it returned to the arc.
Well, may I say that in this sense, nor is a type of the Lord Jesus, because He put out His hand and pulled the little dovey. And did He not? He didn't push the dove away because the dove had returned. And I believe, beloved Saints of God, if you and I ever get away from the Lord, we will find Him ever ready and willing to receive us back. He put out His hand, receive us. He will only judge ourselves and own our mistake and come back to Him.
In confession and repentance.
So may we suggest that that little dove, perhaps is a picture of one who has left the ark and found no rest for the sole of its foot, and has returned to the ark? And what a beautiful picture to see Noah putting out his hand and pulling that little dove in again. I think that's a sweet picture of the Lord's infinite love and grace for the backslider, for those who may have strayed away.
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But it does take, does it not more than three days in many cases for those return who have.
Gotten away from the Lord because of wretched pride, but all how we need to be much before the Lord in self judgment do we not day by day?
And that's the only way that we can enjoy sweet communion with that blessed One who now adorns the throne of his Father.
And then we find it says in this 46th verse.
Being a boy, he did not take it upon himself to assume the place of a teacher to these venerable old men. No, he sat there and was asking them questions.
And it says he sat in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.
And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. So it was not long before they were asking him questions. These venerable old men, these doctors, they were asking this dear Lord Jesus 11 years of age, they were asking him questions, and they were astonished at his answers. Now that which amazed these venerable old men became so commonplace to Jesus parents that they could go a whole day without missing him.
But it took them three full days to find him.
And they said, you notice in the end of verse 48, Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
Saw the sorrowing, he said unto them, How is that the short that ye sought me? Wish ye not that I must be about my father's business? This is why he came down here, wasn't it? To do His father's business, to do his will. And he began at an early age to do it. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. What a beautiful picture this is.
The young ones here, he became subject to his parents. That's a very important thing for today, isn't it, For the dear young children of the children of the Saints to be subject to their Christian parents and to be subject to the Lord.
And it says his mother kept all these sayings in her heart, and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. Now the 9th chapter. Spend a little more time on this one. This is the last journey to Jerusalem, I believe.
Like to read from verse 28?
And it came to pass about an 8 days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James and went up into a mountain to pray.
Now these three disciples were with the Lord on three special occasions, when he was on the mount of Transfiguration shining, when he raised the daughter Jairus saving, and they witnessed him suffering. So they with him on three special occasions, and they went up into a mountain de prey. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance resulted, and his raiment was white and glistering.
And behold the talk with him two men, which were Moses and Elias.
In connection with this, I often think of the contrast between the Mount of Transfiguration and the Cross of Calvary.
We see the blessed Lord here on the Mount of Transfiguration with two of the most holy of men, Moses and Elias. On the cross we see him hanging between 2 Thieves, 2 malefactors. What a contrast. On the Mount of Transfiguration we hear the Father's voice of commendation of his beloved Son. He says, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. On the cross we hear that desolate cry from the sun Himself, my God, My God.
Why hast thou forsaken me?
And there again on the Mount of Transfiguration, it tells us in Matthew's Gospel, his face shone as the sun, but on the cross his face was so marred more than any man's. What a contrast. Beloved to see him on the cross of Calvary, hear his face shone as a sun on the Mount of Transfiguration. At the cross his face was so marred more than any man's.
What a contrast we have here. Well, it says.
That talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias, who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Now you and I never speak of death as an accomplishment, do we? They speak of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. No, death is the end of all human hopes, but they speak of his death as an accomplishment.
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Where was his death an accomplishment? Indeed it was.
Why, He accomplished the will of His Father here on earth, particularly so at Calvary. He accomplished that great and mighty work of redemption. He accomplished salvation for you and me all. His death was indeed a great accomplishment. To think that He accomplished the will of His Father on this earth and accomplished that great work of redemption for you and me.
And then he accomplished that salvation. He procured that salvation for you and me, which we can enjoy and have through simple faith.
In him.
And then it says, And Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they were awake, they saw his glory. And the two men that stood with him, he came to pass. As they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make 3 tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias, For Peter, not knowing what he said. Well now we often speak of Peter's failures and his downfall.
But may I suggest a word of commendation for poor Peter tonight?
I believe we see something here for which we can commend Peter in spite of his mistaken idea. Putting the Lord on the same level with the law and the prophets, Moses and Elias. He said it's good for us to be here, Lord. In other words, I'd like to stay here with you. This is a good place. No doubt it was, and but you notice what he said. Let us make 3 tabernacles, one for Peter, no one for thee in this case. He put the Lord first this time.
I think we should commend Peter for that because, you know.
It's good for us to put the Lord first, is it not? Do we all do that? Do I do that? Do you? Do we put the Lord first?
We'll see later on the chapter where two men put themselves first, but here Peter put the Lord 1St. And so can we not commend Peter for this? He didn't say one for Peter. No, there was not one for Peter here, one for the Lord, one for Moses, one for Elias. And no doubt it would have been good for Peter to remain there with Moses and Elias and with the Lord. But this was not to be.
And now we find it, says came a voice.
While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them. They feared as they entered into the cloud.
I take it that the cloud removed Moses and Elias and left Jesus there.
Now who did Peter see? He saw Jesus only. So it's Peter Jesus 1St and Jesus only with Peter on this occasion. Other times it was Peter 1St and but it's it's the Lord first here I believe we might suggest here too. We have 4 mounts spoken of in these few verses. We have Moses the lawgiver.
On Mount Sinai, he was present. Speaking of Mount Sinai.
Elijah was there Speaking of Mount Carmel, and I spoke of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem, speaks of Mount Calvary, and then he says they saw his glory.
His glory was seen.
And it's to be displayed when He comes on Mount Olivet, is it not? So we have 4 mounts suggested here. And the Father was there, the Son was there, and I suppose we could say the Holy Spirit in the form of the cloud removed to Moses and Elias. Now Peter sees Jesus only, but Peter I suppose still wish that he might remain there with the Lord. But that was not to be, says in verse 36. And when the voice was passed, Jesus was.
Found alone, and they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Now the 37 verse seems to me to be a very, very important verse and a very precious one. And it came to pass that on the next day now we find that the Lord Jesus did not remain on the Mount of Transfiguration. It says the next day when they came down from the hill, much people met him. And behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master.
I beseech thee look upon my son, for he is mine only child.
Now let us suppose that the Lord had taken to heart what Peter said, and had remained on the Mount of Transfiguration.
And all his glory there. What would have happened to this poor lunatic down in the valley?
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He would have undoubtedly perished. And beloved, what would have happened to you and me if the Lord had remained up in the glory and had not come down the hill, so to speak, did not come down from the glory to this earth, to the valley of sin and death? What would have happened to you and me? We would have been lost forever. So cannot we thank God that He came down on that occasion from the Mount of Transfiguration to meet this poor lunatic?
Indeed, we can and can we not thank Him for all eternity for coming down from the glory?
To save us, He came down into the valley of sin where we were to redeem us, to save our souls, and to bring us into a place of eternal relationship and blessing. Or how we should thank Him, and we will for all eternity for coming down, not for remaining up there, but He came down well. This dear man, he says, I beseechly look upon my son. What does the Lord say? Look under me.
And be say this poor man said, Lord, look upon my son. The Lord says in Isaiah 4522, look under me and be saved all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else. Now we find in the 38th verse he says, look upon my son, for he is my only child. How precious to see that two only sons met here in the valley.
The only son of this dear man was met by the only begotten Son of God, and what a blessing he received.
And isn't it the case with everyone of us, when we meet the only begotten Son of God as sinners and confess that we are sinners and confess Him as our Lord and Savior? What blessings we receive? Indeed we do.
And eternal blessings. I'm not suggesting that this dear man received eternal life or eternal blessings, but he was healed because Jesus chose to come down from the hill down into that valley to meet this poor man and all his wretchedness and need.
And so, beloved, you and I should never cease to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for coming down from the glory to the scene to seek and to save us, to redeem us, and to bring us to God.
And then we find in the 42nd verse it says, And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down and tear him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his Father. What a wonderful and blessed experience it must have been to this dear boy.
And to his father, to see that his only son healed and delivered.
To his Father. A little further down we find that time was coming for the Lord to be delivered, not to his father, but to sinful and wicked men. What a contrast. The Lord had met this poor lad and all his need, and healed him, and delivered him to his Father in health and strength.
Now it says in the.
44th verse Let these sayings sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
What a contrast, beloved. He delivered this dear boy, but he was to be delivered himself into the hands of men, wicked men, yes, wicked men, to be crucified, rejected, spit upon, slain. And yet it was all for you and me, because he loved us. And the Lord says.
Let these sayings sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man shall be delivered in the hands of men. But they understood not the saying, and it was hid from them.
That they perceived it not, and they fear to ask him of that, saying now what a solemn verse this 46 verse is. Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest, in spite of the fact that the blessed Lord had manifested that wondrous grace and loved that poor man, now they're asking, who should be the greatest?
Man who is absolutely nothing, wants to be everything. And beloved, that spirit is not dead today, is it?
Man wants to be something, whether it's in the world or in the assembly. How we need to guard against that spirit. It's not day-to-day.
I remember, dear old brother in the West Indies, he threatened the life of a younger brother, he said. Because you are head of the assembly and I shall be. What do you know? Can you imagine anything worse?
And he's now with the law. That old brother, he was over 80 then, and I heard him. He threatened the life of a younger brother. He said he's the head of the assembly and I should be. Do we not have a similar spirit? He is sad to say. Then there was a reasoning among them which of them should be greatest.
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Blessed One, who is the greatest of all, came down here in order to win our hearts and redeem us. He went into death for us. And yet they could ask which of them should be the greatest.
Now the 51St verse is the one I had before me, and it came to pass. When the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.
The time had come for him to be received up.
Now the blessed Lord could have gone back to the glory on this occasion, I take it.
The time was come for him to be received.
But did he go back to the Father? No, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
Steadfastly. What for? He was going there to redeem you and me. Yes, He could have gone back to the glory. Death had no claim upon Him. Whatever in Him was life. Death had no claim upon the Son of God. He could have gone back to the glory then, but He would have gone alone. Instead of that, He chose to go to Jerusalem, and He was going there to suffer. For my sins, Beloved, and for yours. How they should touch our hearts.
And call forth praise and worship and adoration to Him when we think of that.
Journey to Jerusalem, going there to suffer. He could have gone right back to the glory.
But now he wanted you and me to share that glory with him, about to be forever with Him up there. And so he went to Jerusalem to suffer. And then we get a little further down in verse 2054. When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them even as Elias did? I should have read the 53rd verse, however.
And they did not receive him because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
Now James and John saw this. They said, Lord, shall we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them as Elias did?
But the blessed Lord turned to them and said, in effect, this is not the day of judgment, this is a day of grace.
Turned and rebuked them and said, you know not what manner of spirit you're of. And what a beautiful answer. For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
What a message. The Son of Man came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. We read in the first verse in the 21St verse of Matthew one I should call his name Jesus, for He shall save his people from their sins. Here we find that He did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And that man going to Calvary did not.
I said reverently. The blessed Lord never could have saved you and me from our sins had he remained in the glory. No.
There must be the death of the sinless victim before you and I could have forgiveness of sins and peace with God, and it's through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So the Lord rebuked them. I often think of what we have in the 19th of Luke in connection with Zacchaeus.
Every verse begins with and until you come to the 10th verse and that begins with four.
For the Son of Man is come.
To seek and to say that which was lost for the Son of Man is come. What a message, beloved. Is there any message like it in the world? The Son of Man is come. He's been here already. He came to seek and to save the lust. What a mission to this earth. And do we not see a picture that here in the previous verse that we read says the next day when He came down from the hill, what a graphic picture of his mission to this earth to come down from the hill into that.
Meet this poor man and what a glorious truth that he came down from the glory scene to meet us in all our need and ruin to and to save our soul and to bring us into eternal blessing. Now we find that from verse 57 to the end we have three types of followers mentioned.
He came to pass that as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee with us, whoever thou goest. This was an unconditional statement, wasn't it? I will follow the Lord whithersoever thou goest.
Now the Lord tells him the next verse, what is going to cost him to do so? And we never hear another thing about the man. The Lord says, Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. In other words, I willing to abide by those terms. And we hear nothing about this man. Now after this, now look at the next verse. And he said unto another, You notice in this case.
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It was a man who said to the Lord, I will follow thee. Now in the next case it's the Lord saying follow me. Verse 59 follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Notice those words, me first, me first. Peter says, let us make 3 tabernacles, one for thee. He put Jesus first. This man puts himself first.
Suffer me first to go and bury my father.
It does not necessarily mean that the man's father was dead, but it could mean what we have in Acts 7. I believe it is in connection with Abraham. I wouldn't be dogmatic about this, of course, but it could be so.
In the 7th chapter of the Acts, in verse three. And said unto him, Abraham, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee. Then came he out of the land of Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charan. And from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land wherein you now dwell.
So Abraham partially obeyed the Lord, but not till his father was dead did he fully follow and obey.
We find that could be the same in this case, I believe. It's not to say the man's father had already died, but he was merely saying.
Postponing of the fact that he was willing to follow the Lord. But just wait till my father is dead. Then I'll have no obligations, and I can come and follow you then. So he said, Let me first go and bury my father. Suffer me for us to go and bury my Father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead.
But go down, preach the Kingdom of God. Now the whole world is in the undertaking business, isn't it? And you and I, beloved, through grace, are in the business of pointing dead souls to Christ. That's our business, not to be in the undertaking business. This man said, let me go and bury my Father. Me first. Let me first. Well, we get in the 21St chapter of Matthew, if I might just turn to it for a moment.
In the 28th verse what but what thinking A certain man had two sons, and he came to the 1St and said son, go work today in my vineyard.
Go work today in my vineyard.
His place is appointed and the time arranged. Go work today in my vineyard. Go work today. Well, this man was putting it off following the Lord and serving him until his father was dead. Verse 61 and another said all also said, Lord, I will follow thee, but let me first again me first go and bid them farewell which aren't home.
And again, this man was postponing service following the Lord.
About the Lord once prompt obedience beloved if any are here desires of following of the law. Let us take a little advice from that verse we just read in Matthew 21 son go work today in my vineyard his vineyard go work today and you notice it says son and there are many I fear who are not sons yet and yet they seek to serve the Lord and go and work for him. But how striking it is Son go work today in.
We must be sons before we can be servants to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. And so the Lord Jesus, in the last verse of our chapter, Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to plan, looking back, he spit for the Kingdom of God.
Well, I trust we might find something from these scriptures.
Search our house and to encourage us to and I often think of what the apostle says.
The Lord sent here. No man looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God. The apostle could say forgetting those things which are behind and pressing forward to those things which are before. I haven't stated correctly, but you remember the verse. But the apostle Paul was reaching forward all the time, pressing toward the mark, not looking back. If you and I look back, we may have lots of regrets, but if we look upward and onward, we'll be encouraged below it to go on.
And that's what the Lord wants us to do, does He not? To go on in simple dependence upon Himself, in obedience to His Word, and in separation from this world and all its defiling influences? Oh, may the Lord preserve His beloved from the spirit of this world. How its creeping in, is it not? How we need to guard against this evil and have our hearts and minds centered upon Christ, where He is in the glory in our hearts occupied?
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With Him, I do believe that if our hearts are really and truly occupied with Christ, all these other things will have no place in our hearts and lives.
And you've heard me quote that verse perhaps before. Lamentations 351 by an eye effective mine heart.
Well, that conveys a lot to me if my eyes fixed upon the trash of this world is going to affect my heart and soon get into my feet. On the other hand, if my eyes fixed upon Christ in the glory, my heart will be affected in a different way too. I'll be happy and satisfied. So may the Lord preserve His beloved and keep us till He comes, looking to Him, rejoicing in Him.
And seeking to follow him closely.