hound of heaven spurgeon

Moses is talking to God and God says, This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name (vs. 17). I suppose it is also necessary to address the fact that some say that by the way Mary and Martha address Lazarus as the one loved by Christ, that Lazarus is perhaps the author of this gospel and not John there are other times, of course, when the author refers to himself as the beloved of the Lord. [5]No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. (Hebrews 4:15-16). The Jews were so angry and threatened by Christs ministry that they were seeking to kill Him. For the world sits under the judgment of God for the wickedness and sin debt that we owe Him can never be paid back on our own. So often we mentally ascent to Gods power to do this or that, because weve read it in the Bible, but we dont ever think to apply it appropriately to our lives, as if He is somehow neutered of His power 2000 years later. His mission was to seek and save the lost and that ought to be ours as well.[4]. We will do this with His great help, and with David we say: Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! YOU WILL NEVER DIE. [31]When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. [39]Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days. [40]Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?. As the days of heaven on the earth. The reason I think this is significant has to do with what we know from other scriptures about Martha. ***Chapter 18 ought to remind us how much Christ prized us and how little we prized Him. His point is that they are not to lay again the basis of elementary teaching, but to make progress by building on it. Jesus obeyed the sovereign timing of the Father rather than His emotions. God knows absolutely everything about me! http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/why-memorize-scripture, [xiv] He says a ton of great things here. This is our condition apart from Christ (Romans 5:10). It is the story of Peters three denials, and the power of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Why do we sit under condemnation? They have dared to come before the burning bush without taking off the sandals, and in their ignorance and impudence theyve come to apprehend the One who fashioned the cells of their existence. Therefore, let me give you four things to take away from this passage: No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. The work of the Church will be completed, and the reckoning of results will take place. Imagine working all day long, getting dinner made, getting the laundry going, the kids finally in bed, the house somewhat clean (if youre lucky), and you sit down to get the money ready for grocery day tomorrow. 2, Spring, 2001, p. 7). The image, I say, is so far from being unnatural that it is most pregnant with suggestions and full of useful teaching. So when Christ says, let us go to Judea again we can perhaps understand the nature of the disciples concernthey knew full well the danger of what Jesus was suggesting. [34] Who is to condemn? Before He endured the cross, He wanted to shore up the faith of those disciples who had for so long been following His words and His teaching. One might wonder why it was that the disciples werent putting two and two together here. the raising of Lazarus provides an opportunity for God, in revealing his glory, to glorify his Son, for it is the Fathers express purpose that all should honor the Son even as they honor the FatherThe Father and the Son are mutually committed to the others glory. I love the fact that angels and all Gods elect children can look at the cross and say, see how He loved them!. This is something that David realized as well: Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. But the blessing of this passage is the reminder that even the greatest leaders can fall, and even the greatest falls can be restored. I love the fact that He has identified with us in our suffering. His justice is seen in His passing over those self-righteous older brothers who refuse to come in and eat with the prodigals. Christ called us to love our enemies (Matt. It is simply this: their reality, their perspective was heavenly. Comments will be approved before showing up. For as Paul says: o Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. As long as ever I could, I rebelled, and revolted, and struggled against God. The main thrust of John 11 seems to be two-fold: to show forth the glory and honor of Jesus Christ as the true Son of God, and to show how Lazarus was a type of Christ remembering that Jesus would soon triumph over the grave to the glory of God in Christ. Now as we look again to the context of todays passage, lets once again examine verses 8-10. Whom are you seeking? Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away. [16] Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned and said to him in Aramaic, Rabboni! (which means Teacher). greatly increases our love of time with the Lord and grows us in unexpected ways. North Little Rock, Arkansas. If these verses dont show you something of the humanity of Christ, then you are not reading the same text I am reading. I do not hate my enemy, because I can see his miserable situation. D.A. He is not simply in tears for His dear friend and the family of Lazarus, but also for a world whose response to death is not fully defined by the realities of God. [xiii] John Frame, Systematic Theology, Pg. Remember, He is not speaking to those who do not believe, but rather to those who love Him. Bruce both lay a very good case out for why its very hard to draw any particular conclusion simply from the use of different nouns especially in this Gospel when John has been using agape and phileo interchangeably up until now. So you can see how these perspectives function to shape our viewpoint of the book itself and the millennium. What am I doing here that He couldnt do in the blink of an eye? The theology fell out of style, yet there are some very smart theologians whom I respect who still hold this theology today. St. Luke's Episcopal Church. But when one reads the poem this strangeness disappears. Im not saying that the Postmillennial view is perfect, but their mindset on the nature of the kingdom certainly seems to make more sense and align more Biblically to me. You simply need to trust that it has, and repent of your sins. If you have come to a point where you realize the condemning nature of your sin, and the need for salvation, then I urge you to surrender and be forgiven and receive eternal life in the name of Jesus. Rather they knew the character of this man Jesus. This is the nitty-gritty of sanctification, and its also why reading the Bible and meditating on Christs actions here and every word that proceeds from His mouth, is so important. What can be done? Ezek. But he learned the hard way that leaning on Christ is the only way to make it through this life. [21] Why do you ask me? (Romans 5:12-21 ESV). The amillennialist would remind us of verses like we find at the end of Marks gospel, So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19 also see Ephesians 1:20-23)[i]. Such is the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ. [xvi] In the context of Hebrews 5 the call is to understand better the mystery of the priesthood of Christ. Realize that God is calling you not to a life of intellectual boredom, but to a renewed mind and transformed heart a mind which sees terrors as joys and trials as blessings. Is it not significant that Martha had a better understanding of the resurrection than the Sadducees? Heres what he says: I am ascending is part of the message Mary is to convey, not part of the reason Mary should not cling to Jesus. It isnt as though His staying away had any affect on the situation materially. Listen to what Paul says in Romans 15: For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show Gods truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. It is God who justifies. (Hebrews 11:17-19). [viii] These are foundational truths, as John MacArthur says, the phrase is equivalent to the gospel of salvation by faith rather than works. Christ once again uses the situation to remind them of a spiritual truth that He is the light of the world. Those things which Daniel saw as far away, John saw as fulfilled at least partially in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus and the inauguration of his kingdom. [55]Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. But long before I began with Christ, He began with me.[12]. We also see the kind of person he is chasing (sinners) and what the proper reply is to his calling (repentance). In order for anyone to believe upon Jesus, God must sovereignly intervene. I have been to this very spot where Jesus is said to have called these men to shore for breakfast. (Revelation 3:20-21). Our task isnt made any easier when we realize that throughout the rest of his gospel John sets the world over against the things of the Spirit. Yet this verse is also one of the most misunderstood, misinterpreted verses in Scripture. Jesus tells us explicitly that in order to be born again, one must be born of Water and the Spirit not of any human work (lest any man should boast). John MacArthur tells us that Ephraim was located about four miles northeast of Bethel on the edge of the wilderness, and about a dozen miles from Jerusalem.. Spurgeon sees a rich typology in this passage. When we are called to His side, when we are asked to do something, do we obey? 11:11-15After saying these things, he said to them, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him. [12]The disciples said to him, Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover. [13]Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. (1 John 4:19, ESV), You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. However, if you have been listening to this message and feel a stirring in your heart to know God, then I would implore you to seek Him while He may be found. Consider Ephesians 2:8-10: For by grace you have been saved through faith. We have loved ones with cancer. Through each parable we see the heart of Christ for the lost, the sinful, the wayward He sees them as valuable beyond measure. May we do the same. [4] Tony Romano, August 23, 2013 notes on Luke 15 teaching. And silvern chatter the pale ports o' the moon. We must notice three things about the Father: 15:25 Now his older son[10] was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. She is always on the move always doing something, shes a type A personality. [2] Ryken, Commentary on Luke, Volume II, Pg. And thats been the case since His saving work began. (1 Peter 2:2-3). He gives me this message and you dont believe me??? This is a bit mind bending, but I think it correlates well with the idea we find in other parts of Scripture that Gods ways are not our ways, and that He does many things that at the time we may not understand. Make yourself weak in your own eyes, and trust in His strength the strength of the great I AM who sustains you and the whole world. The full text is found here: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0182.htm. 11:1-2 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. One cannot understand or appreciate the need for Christs imputed righteousness, the importance of His being fully man, the significance of Christs non-Levitical (and eternal) priesthood, or the typological significance of this enigmatic character Melchizedek if one is still learning the basic truths upon which these are built. When you take the entire corpus of his work, his writing, youll see a man so transfixed on Jesus that in order to summarize his entire mission to the Corinthians he says that he resolved to know nothing else but Christ and Him crucified. [v] Hughes makes a wonderful point that the fact that they have become dull of hearing means that at one point they were not dull, they have regressed. It doesnt say God sent Jesus to die for the entire world. [11] So Jesus said to Peter, Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?. The meaning is understood. His mercy is showcased in the way in which He loves the unlovable whom He amazingly sees as valuable enough to search the earth over for and saves them out of a wretched situation. She unashamedly states that, in her opinion, if Christ had been with Lazarus, he never would have died. Jesus performs an amazing miracle, and the reaction is quite mixed. It is not that Peter is not valiant, or courageous, for perhaps he isthough I suspect he acted out of fear. This Scripture John is referring to comes from the lips of David: Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. The sadness we endure now is like that of Mary and Martha. There are three things we need to notice about this parable. He is the resurrection and the life, and those who believe that will never die. Could He have been any more blunt than this? The depth of the Sons suffering was the measure of his love for the Fathers glory. Although Thompson was a follower of Christ, he struggled with poverty, poor health, and an addiction to opium (which in those days was sold as an "over-the-counter" medication). but thats for future Sunday mornings! [45] If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son? [46] And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. We lash out against the breakers as they come crashing down on our beachhead, as if we can stop them by our own power. Had the Lords plans been concealed up until this point in time? As Jesus has already told us in chapter 10: For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. Why would John remark on that specifically? Act on that conviction and surrender your heart to His call. Christ is heaven and heaven is Christ.". Sign up for our newsletter: The choice would be obvious. It is but the effect of the fall, that man should love sin better than righteousness, and the ways of this world better than the ways of God. Let me suggest then that you do a few practical things: o Read the Word Daily: spend time taking in several chapters of the word each day. It runs between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives some 200 feet below the base of the outer court of the Temple it was on the west side of the city that Jesus was crucified (Pink/Josephus/Carson). You immediately start combing your purse, your wallet, your statements, you stop and think you must be missing something somewhere. John is simply saying that Jesus first advent was not the time of judgment, but rather of salvation a time to usher in the kingdom of God. [7] So he asked them again, Whom do you seek? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. [8] Jesus answered, I told you that I am he. [x] And it is Gods prerogative to use the instrument of His Word and Spirit to do this. Only the Holy Spirit can effect that change in a mans heart. Here are my notes for John 21:8-17. [xi] We must inculcate His truths into our minds and lives. 28:11-15), is false. Not following Jesus obviously did not occur to him as an option. Amillennialists believe that the binding of Satan took place during Jesus earthly ministry; Satan was restrained while the gospel was preached to the world, and this restraint continues today.[xii]. The verses that come to my mind as typically cited in terms of the defeat of Satan are as follows: The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name! And he said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Pink says is emblematic of that black stream through which He was about to pass. The brook was on the east side of the city and eventually flows into the Dead Sea. We have the benefit of looking back 2,000 years later and closely and slowly examining the sequence of events and the words of the Lord and the OT prophets. Jesus restores Peter, forgives Peter. The basics of the gospel are the foundation for understanding greater mysteries appertaining to the gospel, and to what the author is getting at here, namely the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in this context, His priesthood. How we think about the kingdom of God shapes how we view the book of Revelation, and perhaps the millennium question in particular. As C.H. This, to my own shame, was not the example of Christ. This also sets in sharp relief once again just how dangerous it would have been for Jesus to go back to the Jerusalem area. But such as receive it, and embrace Jesus the Savior by a true and living faith, are by Him delivered from the wrath of God and from destruction, and have the gift of eternal life conferred upon them., [iii] This list was taken from reformationtheology.com. Proper 19C'19. It is a supernatural strength which loves when hate is the natural (and perhaps deserved) response of our hearts. We have the down payment of this reality in the giving of the Spirit, yet not the consummation of this reality in the presence of our Lord and Savior. We need to build upon the foundation, not become so complacent in our learning that that were stuck in a perpetual process of groundbreaking!!! The passage goes like this: When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses. The last days of the earth shall be its worst days. A very straightforward proposition, however, just like not everyone would have been saved by the copper snake, not everyone is saved by Christs sacrifice. So that will make the victory all that much more sweeter when we enter into His presence and He banishes death and sickness once and for all! The sheep was 1 of 100, the coin was 1 of 10, but the prodigal was 1 of 2. For the first time, it seems, Mary peaks into the tomb to take a little closer look. When I read this passage several years ago I thought (rightly) that I cant teach anyone now, but realized that my inability wasnt God telling me not to teach, but rather it was Him calling me to learn and grow closer to Him in obedience in order to teach when the time presented itself. As this text was originally written, it referred only to the length of life and the length of existence which God promised to his obedient Israel. It is overwhelming to me. He recognized the state of his son as dead and now alive so are all men who were previously outside of the family of God. Yes while most everyone else in the world is either trying purposefully to spread the word of God, or trying hard to stop the spread of this word, the Catholic hierarchy is content to slow drip the Word to a body that is thirsty and dying of starvation. Such is the love the father had for his son. When someones heart is touched by the words of Christ they want to immediately go and tell others of the experience and bring them near to Christ. This series of verses has had an outsized impact on my own life and walk with the Lord. Its not a very long poem, and I have to admit that I got a little emotional at the end! Certainly the most glaring example of suffering and death being used for Gods pleasure is the example of Jesus Christs own passion and death. Heart Savor The Lion Roars. (Matthew 22:41-46). In everyway and on every level that you have provided for your children, the Father and His Son have far outstripped you. Its now been several days since her brother died, and Jesus appearance has opened the wells of her sorrow, and she bursts forth in tears. by Francis Thompson. Supposing him to be the gardener, and God to come and walk among the trees of the garden, then I expect he will remove the whole of the garden upward with himself to fairer skies; for he rose, and his people must rise with him. And though in sin or in human love, away from God it seeks to hide itself, divine grace follows after, unwearyingly follows ever after, till the soul feels its pressure forcing it to turn to Him alone in that never ending pursuit. 18:12-27 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. When it is most sublime when it is freest from the dust of earth, when it is carried up by he greatest knowledge, and kept steady by the most extreme caution, imagination cannot picture heaven. While Im not sure if Spurgeon was aware of and influenced by this poem, its hard not to see the parallels!Heres what 1 commentator John Francix Xavier Oonor wrote about the poem: The name is strange. Pink notes the fulfillment of a few OT types: in crossing the brook Cedron, accompanied by His disciples, another Old Testament type was most strikingly fulfilled. How many times have you been prevented from getting something, doing something, going somewhere because of situations or circumstances beyond your control? You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth. In 1955, a love letter from Suzanne Kempe to her philosophy lecturer, Thompson's poem is the source of the phrase, "with all deliberate speed," used by the, Thompson's poem was the inspiration for a series of 23 paintings by the American painter, "The Hound of Heaven" is the fifth chapter in, In 1975 "The Hound of Heaven" was mentioned in the suicide note of, Lines from the poem are recited between the discussion during the last scene in "The last enemy", which is the 2nd episode, 3rd season of, In 2002, Katherine A. One of these silver coins, called drachamas, was worth an entire days labor in the time of Jesus. He came down here, and He entered into our toil, our frustrations, and our tears. And if you are not a Christian then you have no lens to properly view these events. (Philippians 2:9-11 ESV). (Romans 8:31-39). John later would say this in his epistles: In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. Our natural tendency is not to love the light but to run from it, to hide from it and hate it. [13] And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land.

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