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JUNE 3, 1923 THE GATE TO GLORY—John 12:37-50
Golden Text: “F o r they loved th e praise of men more th a n th e praise of God.” (John 12 :43 ). Outline: (1) P redicted Rejection of Jesus, vs. 37-41. (2) Positive Proof of H is Messiah ship, vs. 42-50. (1) PREDICTED REJECTION OF JESUS, vs. 37-41,7 “T hat th e saying * * * m ight be fulfilled.” It is always a solemn th ing to con template last messages. Here we have our Lord giving His last words to the world. He is to go ap a rt w ith H is own beloved disciples and give to them His p arting revelation and exhortation. He had worked His m iracles before th e people and given proof positive of His Messiahship. He had opened th e Scriptures to them and y et they be lieved not. He had given them th e prophecy of Isaiah 53:1 and of Isaiah 6 : 1 0 : ‘‘W h o h a th b eliev ed o u r r e p o rt? a n d to w h om is th e a rm of th e L o rd re v e a le d ? ” M ak e th e h e a r t o f th is p eo p le f a t a n d m a k e th e ir e a rs h e a v y , a n d s h u t th e ir e y e s; le s t' th e y se e w ith th e ir ey es, a n d h e a r w ith th e ir e a rs , a n d u n d e rs ta n d w ith th e ir h e a r ts , a n d c o n v e rt, a n d be h e a le d .” Their eyes were blinded by Satan so th a t they could not see. He had stop ped th eir ears, and they could not hear, and th e ir h earts had been hardened so th a t they would not receive th e tru th from the Word of God, nor from the lips of God’s Son. Isaiah had been privileged to have th e gate of heaven opened to him and to see th e glory of the Lord (Isa. 6 :1 ). “In th e y e a r t h a t k in g TJzziah d ied I sa w a lso th e L o rd s ittin g u p o n a th ro n e , h ig h a n d lifte d u p , a n d h is tr a in filled th e tem p le .” Now God H imself had come down and had opened th e Word to them and had revealed H imself to them . Yet they believed not (Heb. 1 :3 ).
“W h o b e in g th e b rig h tn e s s o f h is g lo ry , a n d th e e x p re ss im a g e o f h is p e rso n , an d u p h o ld in g a ll th in g s b y th e w o rd o f h is p o w er, w h en h e h a d b y h im se lf p u rg e d o u r sin s, s a t d ow n o n th e r ig h t h a n d o f th e M a je sty o n h ig h .” The g reat m ajo rity of th e Jews re jected His testimony as they do now, although they find under th e shadow of.^the Cross, in th is land, th e ir hap piest homes. Sin blinds th e eyes of men. Rejec tion of tru th hardens th e h ea rt. There has never been ;any change in th e a tti tude of men towards God. “The h eart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately w icked” (Jer. 1 7 :9 ), Some of th e ru lers believed in Him yet were afraid to confess Him pub licly. >“F ear h ath to rm en t” bu t when we do believe on Him, His perfected love casteth ou t fe a r,, (1 John 4 :18) and we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper and I will not fear w hat man shall do unto me” (Heb. 13 :6 ). The Bible is a sealed book to those who are no t born again. The light shineth in darkness and th e darkness comprehendeth it not (John 8 :1 2 ). Jesus is th e ligh t of th e world, and walking in the ligh t and lib erty and love of Christ we are able to witness for H im a good confession. (2) POSITIVE PROOF OF HIS MESSIAHSHIP, vs. 42-50, “Many of the chief ru lers believed on H im .” There was no question in th e ir m inds concerning His Messiahship, bu t th ere was fear, of th e loss of membership in th e synagogue. This was n atu ra l but cowardly. It is th e same sp irit which actuates many professed followers to day. How it must have h u rt th e h eart of th e Lord. W hat saith th e Scripture? (Rom. 1 0 :11 ). “F o r th e «Scripture s a ith , W h o so ev er b e lie v e th on H im s h a ll n o t b e a sh am e d .” There is g reat loss to those who seek to be secret disciples,— loss of fellow-
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