THE KING’ S BUSINESS
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rather than light, Satan rather than God. The reason men love darkness rather than light is because their deeds are evil. Trace any man’s rejection o f Jesus home to its ultimate source and you will find that his deeds are evil. The one that does evil hates light, he may pretend to love it, but he really hates it and shows his hatred by rejecting the One who is “the light of the world” (cf. ch. 8:12). The reason why men do not come to Jesus is because He is the light and they are not willing that their, deeds should be shown in their true character and reproved. The one who is conscious of doing good is glad to come to the light, he. is willing that his deeds should be made manifest, because his deeds are wrought in God. Sunday, April 23 . John 3 : 22 - 30 . John the Baptist and Jesus once more are near one another. The report o f Jesus’ miracles and o f the num ber'of disciples that are flocking to Him reaches the ears o f John’s disciples and arouses, a jealous feeling in their hearts. They cannot bear thè thought that any, other leader should have more disciples than their own master. They rush to John with their unkindly insinuations. They do not even call Jesus by name. They seem to imply that He was a disciple usurping his master’s place, for they say, “ He that was with thee baptizeth.” Yet they have not forgotten John’s own testimony to Jesus. But one can hardly fail to' note the querulous tone with which they speak o f Jesus’ popularity. Did ecclesi astical jealousy ever more clearly reveal its native hideousness? We see the same thing today, the members o f one religious party envious o f instead o f rejoicing in the suc cess o f a sister party. But John was made o f different stuff from his disciples. He replies in substance, “ There is no occasion for surprise, I told you I was not tie Christ, but simply sent before Him. O f course, men are leaving me and going to Him. I am glad it is so. Jesus is the bridegroom, not I. I am only the friend o f the bridegroom. My whole business is
to prepare the way for the union o f the bridegroom with the bride. I would not be so false as to win the affection o f the bride for myself even if I could. (Many a modern preacher would. He seeks to get the affection o f the church centered Upon himself rather than upon Jesus). Having brought the bridegroom and bride together, my whole business is to stand and hear Him. This, too, is my whole and my very great joy, to hear the bridegroom’s voice. This is fullness o f joy for me.” Can you say with John, “ This is my fullness o f joy, just to hear Jesus’ voice?” John saw him self growing less and less and Jesus becom ing more and more, and instead o f being grieved thereat, he greatly rejoiced. He said, and said gladly, “Jesus must increase; but I must decrease.” Yes, Jesus must increase, He must increase until every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Xesus Christ is Lord. Monday, April 24 . John 3 : 31 - 36 . These verses seem to be a commentary o f John the Evangelist upon the words of John the Baptist. Whether John the Evan gelist or John the Baptist was the speaker is not material. In either case God is the One who is really speaking through one or the other. The One that comes “ from' above” is the Lord Jesus. He came from heaven; in heaven He existed before He came into this world (cf. ch. 1:1-3; Phil. 2:6, A. R. V .). Since He came from above He is above all.” When He speaks, o f heaven He speaks o f a place where He has been and about which He knows everything. All human teachers are o f the earth, they have an earthly origin, and what they have to say is marked by their origin. All human philosophers and teachers, religious or oth erwise, must submit their teaching to the authority o f Jesus Christ who came from heaven and is above all. When He talks about heaven and talks about God He is talking about that o f which He has had personal experience, that which He hath seen and heard. But though His testimony is o f heavenly origin and is absolutely sure,
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