Genesis 3:17-19
"And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

The Lord Jesus Christ bore the seven-fold sentence of death
1 Sweat (Luke 22:44)
2 Thorns (John 19:2)
3 Curse (Gal 3:13)
4 Sorrow (Lam 1:12)
5 Bruise (Isa 53:10)
6 Sword (Zech 13:7)
7 Dust (Psa 22:15)

Matthew - by Discourse
Mark - by Demonstration
Luke - by Dialectic
John - by Dialogue

The above characteristics and differences will be elaborated in my future posts, DV.

Gen 22:11 "Abraham, Abraham" - Sacrifice & Substitution
Gen 46:2 "Jacob, Jacob" - Sojourn
Exo 3:4 "Moses, Moses" - Shoe *
1Sam 3:10 "Samuel, Samuel" - Sanctuary
Luke 10:41 "Martha, Martha" - Serving
Luke 22:31 "Simon, Simon" - Sifting & Strengthening
Acts 9:4 "Saul, Saul" - Salvation & Service

* The shoe would speak of God's provision and at the same time the believer's readiness to serve Him.

Read Part 1, Part 2.

"And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, He looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all." Mark 6:41

The Lord is the only Person who can:
* Add by subtracting
* Multiply by dividing

Notes on the fragments
- They were not crumbs which were not reusable.
- The fragments verified that a true miracle had taken place.
- Twelve baskets for twelve disciples.

A basket each for those who served, though none for the Lord. His food was of a different kind. "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work." John 4:34.

The word "world" occurs 19 times in John 17.

v6 "out of the world", the believer's electing provision
v11 "in the world", the believer's physical location
v14, 16 "not of the world", the believer's spiritual condition
v18 "into the world", the believer's evangelical mission

What is the world to a believer? It is a
- deceived world (v1-5)
- dangerous world (v6-12)
- defiled world (v13-19)
- divided world (v20-26)

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15

One of the two disciples on Emmaus Road was a man named Cleopas. The other may have been his wife. One tradition is that it was Luke himself. Whatever the identity, they were in what I term the "circle of revelation". In this circle of revelation (Luke 24), there are full of opened things.

1. Open Sepulchre (v2, 24)
2. Open Scriptures (v27, 32, 44)
3. Open Home (v29)
4. Open Eyes (v31)
5. Open Heart (v32)
6. Open Lips (v34)
7. Open Understanding (v45)
8. Open Heaven (v51)

Contrast v27 with v44, there is a greater perception of Christ with a greater group.

It was mentioned in Genesis 39 four times that the Lord was with Joseph (vv 2, 3, 21, 23). Six times Joseph's hand were referred to (vv 3, 4, 6, 8, 22, 23). He was indeed "a prosperous man" (v2), "a goodly person, and well favoured" (v6) and "which he did, the Lord made it to prosper" (v23).

Consider in this chapter Joseph' reactions to
* Slavery (v2)- boundless energy
* Sin (v9) - blessed inability
* Slander (vv20-21)- beautiful integrity

Seven steps of Joseph's Condescension
1. Stripped of his coat (Gen 37:23)
2. Cast into the pit (Gen 37:24)
3. Sold to Ishmeelites (Gen 37:27)
4. Brought into Egypt (Gen 37:28)
5. Sold to Potiphar (Gen 37:36)
6. Cast into prison (Gen 39:20)
7. Bound with fetters (Ps 105:18)

Seven steps of the Lord's Condescension (Phil 2:7-8)
1. Made Himself of no reputation
2. Took upon Him the form of a servant
3. Made in the likeness of men
4. Being found in fashion as a man
5. He humbled Himself
6. Became obedient unto death
7. Even the death of the cross

Seven marks of the Lord's Humility (John 13:4-5)
1. He riseth from supper
2. Laid aside His garments
3. Took a towel
4. Girded Himself
5. He poureth water into a bason
6. Began to wash the disciples' feet
7. And to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.

Read Part 1.

Philip was concerned about the cost of the provision, "two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient". Andrew was concerned about the crowd which the provision was to be given, "what are they among so many?" It is not the cost, nor the crowd, but Christ.

From the perspective of the disciples, they were:
Matthew - natural ⁽¹⁾
Mark - rational ⁽²⁾
Luke - practical ⁽³⁾
John - logical ⁽⁴⁾

1. "the time is now past; send the multitude away"
2. "shall we go and buy 200 pennyworth of bread?"
3. "when the day began to wear away, the came the twelve"
4. "is not sufficient...what are they among so many?"

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."

1. Jehovah Shalom - The Lord send peace
"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters."

2. Jehovah Ropheca - The Lord that healeth thee
"He restoreth my soul."

3. Jehovah Tsidkeenu - The Lord our righteousness
"He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

4. Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will see and provide
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."

5. Jehovah Nissi - The Lord my banner
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies."

6. Jehovah Mekaddishkem - The Lord sanctify you
"Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."

7. Jehovah Shahmmah - The Lord is there
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."

Gen 3:15 - Seed of the woman
Gen 49:10 - Sceptre of Judah
Gen 49:10 - Shiloh
Gen 49:24 - Shepherd
Gen 49:24 - Stone 0f Israel

Seed - Our Salvation, God's promise
Sceptre - Our Satisfaction, God's power
Shiloh - Our Sanctuary, God's presence
Shepherd - Our Sufficiency, God's providence
Stone - Our Security, God's peace

First Section
- Serving as a shepherd
- Sent as a son
- Sold as a slave

Second Section
- Successful as a steward
- Steadfast as a saint
- Suffering as a sinner

Third Section
- Sagacity as a seer
- Seated as a sovereign
- Supreme as a saviour

Harold Paisley

These three apostles represent the church. They were in what I term the "circle of privilege". In the gospel accounts, they were the only apostles present with the Lord on three significant occasions: the raising of Jairus' daughter, the Lord's transfiguration and the Lord's agony at Gethsemane.

They witnessed the Lord's
* Greatness - in the raising of the damsel
* Glory - in His transfiguration
* Grief - in His agony before the cross

Peter - The Messenger, the porter of his discourse (using the keys of the kingdom)
James - The Martyr, the pioneer in his death
John - The Minister, the pattern of his doctrine

Read Part 1

"For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" Hebrews 7:26

holy - contrast Aaron
harmless - contrast Nadab and Abihu
undefiled - contrast Joshua (Zech 3:1)
separate from sinners - contrast Caiaphas
made higher than the heavens - contrast Melchisedec

By the above contrasts, how superior the priesthood of Christ is!

It is also possible to see these descriptions as referring to His first advent
- holy in His birth
- harmless in His life
- undefiled in His death
- separate from sinners in His burial
- made higher than the heavens in His resurrection and ascension

Besides the resurrection of Christ, the miracle of the Lord Jesus feeding 5000 men is the only miracle recorded in the four Gospels. It is recorded in Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9 and John 6. This must be a very significant miracle!

Although the four accounts can be harmonised to provide an overall picture, it is more profitable to understand the unique perspective of each evangelist's account. (Read this post on the reasons why it is better to leave the four accounts not harmonised).

From the divine perspective, the emphasis is on:
The Lord's command ⁽¹⁾ - Matthew
The Lord's compassion ⁽²⁾ - Mark
The Lord's charity ⁽³⁾ - Luke
The Lord's control ⁽⁴⁾ - John

1. "They need not depart: give ye them to eat"
2. "Jesus...was moved with compassion toward them...He commanded them...sit down...upon green grass"
3. "He received them...and they did eat and were all filled"
4. "He Himself knew what He would do"

Harold Paisley wrote in his commentary on Mark's Gospel in What the Bible Teaches series, "One of the outstanding features of Mark is the manner in which the Lord used His hands..."

1. Over Diseases - Peter’s mother-in-law
"He came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them." Mark 1:31

2. Over Defilement - The leper
"Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean." Mark 1:41

3. Over Death - Jairus' daughter
"He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise." Mark 5:41

4. Over Deaf and Dumb
"And they bring unto Him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech Him to put His hand upon him." Mark 7:32

5. Over Darkness - The blind man
"After that He put His hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly." Mark 8:25

6. Over Demon - The demoniac boy, lunatic, dumb and deaf
"Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose."
Mark 9:27

7. Over His Disciples and children
"He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them." Mark 10:16

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7.

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." Psalm 1:1

The blessed man's Direction (Way) - walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly
The blessed man's Position (Truth) - nor standeth in the way of sinners
The blessed man's Condition (Life) - nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6

It would appear to be, we may believe, an unwitting attempt to defeat the purpose of the Spirit of God in giving us four gospels to try to harmonise them. The Person of Christ is so inscrutable to the human mind that only by presenting Him in this fourfold manner can we be given a glimpse of His glory. Everything in each gospel is recorded consistently with the particularly object before the Spirit, and details which serve that object are included and other details which do not serve that purpose are excluded. This accounts for some items being found in only one gospel. It also accounts for the differences in details in recording the same incident. Even the arrangement of the record is given with this in view, and consequently the chronological order of the events is often ignored. We can't on any account assume that the historians fell into error: they were safeguarded from that by the Spirit of God who inspired them and what they wrote, and brought all things to their remembrance in accordance with the Lord's own promise on the night in which He was betrayed. That there are difficulties which we cannot solve is to be anticipated, seeing that it is God's word. Had it been the word of a mere man, we might have been able completely to understand it but God, being infinite, it is to be expected that His writings will partake of that same character. How then can finite man apprehend the infinite? Moreover, if in the interests of a special object some details are omitted in order to make the record serve the particular purpose in view, is it not likely that, did we know such omitted details, we should find there has been on inaccuracy and certainly no misrepresentation? Furthermore, often by putting all the records together we can form a complete picture which had it been presented as a whole would never have conveyed to us the distinctive teaching of each writer. We may confidently assume then that Scripture has no mistakes.

But the interpretation of Scripture, being that of fallible man often in mistaken and, consequently, great men differ in their explanation of certain passages. In such case we must be content with stating our convictions and leave the reader to judge for himself.

Taken from the book Jesus the Christ, A Survey of Matthew's Gospel, by E.W. Rogers

fruit (v2) ..... more fruit (v2) ..... much fruit (v5) ..... much fruit (v8) ..... fruit should remain (v16)

Verse 2 : The satisfaction of living is fruit-bearing
Verse 4 : The secret of fruit-bearing is abiding
Verse 7 : The strength of abiding is obeying
Verse 15 : The seed of obeying is knowing
Verse 9-10 : The sign of knowing is loving

"The Lord said, whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?" Luke 7:31

1. An evil generation. (Matt 12:39)
2. An adulterous generation. (Matt 12:39)
3. A wicked generation. (Matt 12:45)
4. A faithless generation. (Matt 17:17)
5. A perverse generation. (Matt 17:17)
6. A sinful generation. (Mark 8:38)
7. An untoward generation. (Acts 2:40)

"Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." 1 Peter 2:9

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6.

The believers in John 15 are described as
- Branches (John 15:5)
- Disciples (John 15:8)
- Friends( John 15:14)

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6

As disciples, they are following the Way.
As friends, they are communing the Truth.
As branches, they are receiving the Life.