Enniskillen Baptist Church

John 8 V12   Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

HIS PURITY   :  This is the second of Christ’s 7 ‘I am’ titles recorded in this fourth gospel.  He being the light of the world would speak first of all of his purity.  When we take this title in its context – this is just after the woman who was taken in adultery in the very act it was said. With his close proximity to sin and sinners he remained untainted – his purity.

HIS DIETY   :  He is light and in him is no darkness at all. That would surely convey
his diety. That he is God.

HIS IDENTITY   :  To emphasise that he alone is the light of the world – not just a light
in this dark world of sin. He is the light shinning amidst this darkness. It would speak to us of his identity. It was the Old Testament prophet Isaiah who wrote that our Lord was to be that light to lighten the Gentiles. Not just a light in Israel for the Jews but also for the Gentiles – the light for the whole world.

HIS IMMORTALITY   :  In 2 Tim 1 V10 Paul said concerning the Lord Jesus that he abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: – that is through the great work of Calvary’s cross.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY   :  In this great verse while we see so much about the Lord Jesus – let us also see that we have our own responsibility.  We need to follow him – to trust him – and if we do we shall not walk in darkness. The promise is that we shall have the light of life.
Howard McNally    15.10.11

John 6 V31   Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
V32   Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
V33   For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, & giveth life unto the world.                                                                                                                                                           V34   Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.                                         V35   And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; & he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

 
Jesus was in his home city of Capernaum and met people who had been following him.  He declared to them that day that he was the bread of life.  When he said ‘I am’ – he was meaning the great ‘I am’ of the Old Testament.  When Moses left speaking with God to go back to his people – the Hebrews – he said who will I say hath sent me.  God replied say ‘I am’ hath sent you.   Our Lord Jesus was now taking that title upon himself – for he is indeed the Lord God Almighty.

I am the bread of life.  In this very chapter where he had just fed the 5000 people he said  I am the bread of life.   The Jews who knew their history said the God had given them manna in the wilderness.   Manna means bread from heaven.   There was no food in the desert and God sent down bread from heaven faithfully every day so they could survive the wilderness crossing.

The Lord Jesus went further by saying my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. He was meaning his own self.   Jesus was the bread of heaven personified – the bread of God in person.  The bread of God is he – Jesus meant himself – he giveth life unto the world.

I am the bread of life – that’s Jesus identity

he that cometh to me – that’s mans responsibility

shall never hunger; – that’s absolute certainty.

Howard McNally     13.10.11

John  1 V49  Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel

Only 4 times and only in the gospels is this title given to our Lord Jesus.  There were only 3 kings before the Lord Jesus that rightfully had the title ‘king of Israel’ – Saul was the first, then David and his son Solomon.

After the reign of Solomon the Lord decided to remove the kingdom from Rehoboam and from then on the kingdom in Israel was divided between the kings of Judah (reigning over 2 tribes – Judah and Benjamin) and kings of Israel (reigning over the remaining 10 tribes).  After the Babylonian captivity there has been no king in Israel and never shall be until the Lord Jesus comes to reign at his second advent to earth.

When upon earth the Lord Jesus was addressed by Nathaniel early in his ministry.  Nathaniel first addressed him as Rabbi which means teacher and so many were willing to recognise him as such.  When our Lord Jesus preached from the scriptures he did so with great authority.   Then Nathaniel  went further and  said the Son of God.   He was recognising his Diety.  He then said king of Israel – this was royalty.

When the Lord Jesus came into Jerusalem on what we call ‘Palm Sunday’ so many cried to him as ‘king of Israel’ and yet 7 days later so many in that same city called for his crucifixion.  On the cross people shouted to him he saved others he cannot save himself – if he be king of Israel come down from the cross and we will believe him.   Thank God he did not come down for then would we have no Saviour. Also he did not come down for he  knew they would still not believe in him.

The first time he came as their king but they rejected him.  He will come a second time to earth and all the earth will recognise him as ‘king of Israel’ – yea and as king overall  the earth – Zech 14 V9.

 
Howard  McNally     12.10.11

Jn 1 V1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   V2  The same was in the beginning with God.   V3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  V14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John the apostle opened his gospel with the phrase ‘in the beginning was the Word’ – by ‘the Word’ he meant a person. We can see this from V14 when he said ‘the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father – and he meant the Lord Jesus Christ.

V1 ‘In the beginning’ – when ever anything that had a beginning began the Word was there.  This shows to us our Lord Jesus and HIS ETERNALITY – He never began – he always was – he is the eternal Son of God.   ‘The Word was with God’ – this is HIS EQUALITY –  He was co existent and co equal with God the Father.  To go on and say ‘the Word was God’ – that simply means HIS DIETY – He is God – of course He is.

V2 ‘The same was in the beginning with God’.   The word ‘was’ means that he always existed.  That would speak to us of HIS UNCHANGABILITY

V3 ‘all things were made by Him’ – surely we see here is CREATIVITY – our Lord Jesus was there in the beginning and he was the great Creator.   ‘And without Him was not anything made that was made’ – this again shows us HIS NECESSITY – without him there would be no creation he was there to create at the very beginning.

V14 ‘the Word was made flesh’ – He who was the great creator and eternal Son of God came down to earth to be my Saviour.  Yes the hymn is true when it says – ‘down from his glory,  Ever living story, My God and Saviour came, And Jesus was his name.

Howard McNally   03.09.11

Jn 1V29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

The John spoken of here in our text is John the Baptist and was preaching out in the wilderness.  Crowds flocked from the cities, towns and villages for to hear this man speak. On this particular day as he was addressing the congregation before him he saw in the distance the Lord Jesus coming towards him.  He immediately turned the attention of the people to the Lord Jesus and said of him – behold the Lamb of God which taketh away in the sin if the world.   We should always be careful to quote this correctly.  Note it said ‘the sin of the world’ and not the sins of the world.  If that were the case we would be preaching ‘universal salvation’ for all and therefore no need to preach the gospel message anymore if everyone was going to be saved eventually.

John looked upon Jesus as the Lamb of God.  Again note the word lamb has a capital L for it is not a woolly little creature in the field at spring time but the title of this most wonderful person ever to walk this earth that John had in mind.   To the Jew the lamb was the animal they associated with the sacrifice for sins.  The Lord Jesus would become that one great and ultimate sacrifice for sins on the cross of Calvary.

By the very mention of the Lamb of God – this was not the lamb of the people or of any person.  This was a very special lamb for it was God’s own lamb selected and sent down from heaven for this great purpose.  Only God’s lamb was fit for the purpose of taking away the sin of the world.  He did it at the place called Calvary.  No wonder we sing ‘burdens are lifted at Calvary Jesus us very near.’

Hallelujah what a Saviour.

Howard  McNally     01.09.11

Heb  12 V1   Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.  V2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

In Hebrews ch 11 we read of a number of great men and women of faith.  Paul is encouraged by that and said, let us run the race of life before us with patience.  All along the way we should be  looking unto Jesus. Never take our eyes of Jesus.   Just like Peter the moment we do disaster comes.

‘Author’ is the Greek word archegon which is made up of 2 Greek words which means ‘to
lead’ and ‘first’.   It means the chief leader – the one that takes the lead in order to set us an example to follow.  It can also be translated as the Jesus the one who is pre-eminent in faith – is one who far exceeds any other man or woman of faith spoken of in Hebrews ch 11.   He is the author of the faith – not the Christian faith which is spoken of but ‘the
faith’ – faith absolutely.

He is also said to be the ‘finisher’ of our faith. The word is ‘teleo’ (it is finished) which means to carry through completely to finish to make perfect or complete.   He became the complete or perfect example of faith.

Howard McNally     23.07.11

Heb  13 V20   Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,  V21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul said ‘our Lord Jesus that great shepherd of the sheep’  In John 10 V11 – Jesus spoke of himself as being the good shepherd who would lay down his life for the sheep in death – meaning the cross of Calvary.  In 1 Pet 5 V4 – the leading apostle spoke of Jesus being the chief shepherd who will one day come again for his sheep – that is something still yet future from here and now.

Lets just think of this one here before today – he is the great shepherd – why ? – because he has been brought again from the dead.  He is said to be good in his death but now described as great in his resurrection.  He is now that great shepherd of the sheep.  What has he to do in resurrection.  To lead us, his many sons and daughters home to the glory. Out in the middle east, the shepherd is always seen leading his sheep.  He goes before them all the time.  Jesus has gone on before us, on home to the glory land above.  He is leading us day by day home to heaven.  That is why we need the help that is spoken of here.  That the God of peace would make us perfect or a better word would be mature in every good work to do his will, working in us which is well pleasing in his sight.  He then finishes on that note of praise for he said to whom (meaning the Lord Jesus) be glory forever and ever Amen.

Howard McNally   22.07.11

Heb 13 V7   Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
V8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Paul was speaking about the elders in the local assembly – those men who have the rule over us.  Are we a member of the local assembly ? – do we recognise those who are on the oversight and therefore have the rule over us ?  Are we willing to be disciplined when we are wrong ?

The responsibility of the elder is to teach the word of God.  Thank God for those teachers of the Word of God in a past day. Thank God for those men of God that grounded us in the truth of God’s Word.  If an elder was doing his job well – then it would to be good to follow his example of faithfulness.

Considering the end of their conversation – this word ‘conversation’ has nothing to do with talking or having a chat with someone – the word here means the way of life – your manner of living – how you behave – how does the godly elder appear to those around him ? – the answer is simple – he portrayed an air of Jesus Christ being the same yesterday and to day and forever. He is not like some Christians who are up and down according to their moods.  He continues that balance in his life of remaining calm from one day to the next. This is the true interpretation of this text.

We can now apply it to so many things about the Lord Jesus – he is the same in his person – the same in his promises – the same in his passion (his love with never change toward us) – the same in his provision (he will always supply our every need) and so many more things.

Howard McNally      21.07.11

Heb13 V5   Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
V6   So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man
shall do unto me.

Heb  13 V5   Let your conversation be without covetousness; – this old English word ‘conversation’ has nothing to do with a talk or a chat with someone. ‘Conversation’ here means your way of life or your manner of living – is our behaviour as a Christian ought to be one with a life style of an  absence of covetuousness ? and be content with such things as ye have: – can we really say that we are content ? – for there are many people today who are not content – many are Christians who are not content – are we discontented Christians for we ought not to be.

for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee – just when and where the Lord said these words we cannot be sure – they do not appear anywhere in the four gospels – but he said it none the less – the Lord will never leave us – he will always be there – what assurance ! – what a comfort to know of the Lord’s presence with us so much in these days.

V6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, – after the Lord’s challenge to be content – he comforts us with his presence and we say the Lord is my helper.  He is – not was or will be – but right now as it says. The Lord is always there to be my own personal helper. The Lord is so good to me.

and I will not fear what man shall do unto me – it gives us courage to say we will not fear what man shall do unto me – why should we fear when he the Lord our helper is here.

Howard McNally     20.07.11

Heb 6V17  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the
immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:  V18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:  V19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;  V20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec – another title with the high priest in it – but this one with reference to Melchisedec.  Who was this Melchisedec, – he was a king and a priest away back in the days of Abraham who received a blessing from him in Gen ch 14.   It says without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

The Lord Jesus is a king and like Melchisedec he is a king of peace – not just the Prince of Peace.  The Lord Jesus is a Priest – as Paul has already noted a great high priest.  The Lord Jesus was Prophet, Priest and King – the 3 offices mentioned in the Old Testament who were anointed with oil.  With Melchisedec it does not mention his genealogy – it is simply shrouded in mystery. Also we are not told of how long his life was.  He did of course die but it too is shrouded in mystery.  So the reference to be like our Lord Jesus Christ.

All the other high priests in Israel were descendants of Aaron – so they were of the Aaronic priesthood.  Jesus was not – for all of Aaron’s descendants died and their period of being a high priest ended with death.  The Lord Jesus now lives in the power of an endless life – he will not die – his priesthood is not of Aaron’s.  It is of the order of Melchisedec for the Lord Jesus had neither beginning of days or end of life – so for that reason the Lord Jesus is said to be , made a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

 
Howard McNally       10.07.11