Only 1 this week so this is your big chance to catch up and read the past ones. I mentioned last week that there is a new addition to both my post and the message sent out via e-mail. I will place a connecting scripture and text to read after every commentary. The challenge may come sometimes in the connection part. Some obscure, some obvious, but all most importantly His words. Let us together thank God for any opportunity to come to His word and pray that He may open our eyes and we may lift up His death in glory.
Extra Credit: Does God need a special house? This question I have asked in prayer many times. In that vain this is from Charles Spurgeon on Their homes were holy places
Jhn 12:33 This He said, signifying what death He should die.
Jhn 12:34 The people answered Him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
- What law were they referring to?
At first glance we see the graceless heart acting in concordance to how it usually acts. Man not knowing God, man not seeing the truth, man not hearing the word, man trying to fit their god into what they want. I heard it said but do not recall from who that God created man in His image and we as man try to create god in ours. What we read in our text today is the same response we generally here to the gospel as well. One of (but, we have heard out of the law). The law they do not know but try to enforce and place man under. They stumble over words of depravity, election, limited atonement, eternal salvation and security and claim they praise and lift up a son of man. They try to mute His sovereignty and in denial cry in response to the gospel of His grace, (who is this Son of man). These words we read today and responses we hear when Christ alone is preached, unfortunately to the redeemed heart does not surprise us.
But I stated this was at first glance. We seen, or at least I did, unredeemed non-Christian type men outside of the fellowship denying Christ. Think about this though, these were all very well acquainted with the Old Testament teachings. They knew the prophecy that their messiah must die, Daniels prophecy that He should be cut off, and other prophesy that were also now fulfilled. They knew exaltation could only come after His departed death and sufferings. These were the perceived godly men that were mainstream of there time. They read and knew their scriptures and believed the word to be truth but their hearts were still in darkness. Even more unfortunately this too does not surprise many. We see today those well versed in scripture and continuing to try to fit it to their own liking and meaning while living in darkness.
Psa 110:4
