1 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:06,180 Let's turn to John's Gospel, Chapter 2. 2 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:10,920 The Gospel of John, Chapter 2. 3 00:00:19,090 --> 00:00:21,550 Verse 23 of John, Chapter 2. 4 00:00:22,350 --> 00:00:24,470 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the 5 00:00:24,470 --> 00:00:27,870 Passover, in the feast day, many believed in 6 00:00:27,870 --> 00:00:30,150 his name when they saw the miracles which 7 00:00:30,150 --> 00:00:30,650 he did. 8 00:00:31,409 --> 00:00:33,890 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, 9 00:00:34,130 --> 00:00:35,370 because he knew all men. 10 00:00:36,550 --> 00:00:38,330 And he did not that any should testify 11 00:00:38,330 --> 00:00:41,850 of man, for he knew what was in 12 00:00:41,850 --> 00:00:42,210 man. 13 00:00:42,350 --> 00:00:45,110 There was a man of the Pharisees, named 14 00:00:45,110 --> 00:00:47,550 Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 15 00:00:48,490 --> 00:00:50,710 Look with me in John, Chapter 6. 16 00:00:54,830 --> 00:00:56,470 Chapter 6, verse 1. 17 00:00:56,530 --> 00:00:59,630 After these things, Jesus went over the Sea 18 00:00:59,630 --> 00:01:02,290 of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 19 00:01:02,770 --> 00:01:05,510 And a great multitude followed him, because they 20 00:01:05,510 --> 00:01:08,290 saw his miracles which he did on them 21 00:01:08,290 --> 00:01:09,290 that were diseased. 22 00:01:10,230 --> 00:01:13,710 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and 23 00:01:13,710 --> 00:01:15,370 there he sat with his disciples. 24 00:01:16,070 --> 00:01:18,550 In the Passover, a feast of the Jews 25 00:01:18,550 --> 00:01:19,170 was nigh. 26 00:01:20,150 --> 00:01:22,710 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and 27 00:01:22,710 --> 00:01:25,870 saw a great company come unto him, he 28 00:01:25,870 --> 00:01:28,310 saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, 29 00:01:29,130 --> 00:01:30,490 that these may eat? 30 00:01:31,250 --> 00:01:33,250 Look in Chapter 11. 31 00:01:40,370 --> 00:01:42,310 Chapter 11, verse 55. 32 00:01:42,490 --> 00:01:44,630 In the Jews' Passover was nigh at hand. 33 00:01:45,230 --> 00:01:46,970 And many went out of the country up 34 00:01:46,970 --> 00:01:50,450 to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 35 00:01:51,270 --> 00:01:53,230 And sought they for Jesus, and spake among 36 00:01:53,230 --> 00:01:56,230 themselves, as they stood in the temple, What 37 00:01:56,230 --> 00:01:57,690 think ye, that he will not come to 38 00:01:57,690 --> 00:01:58,210 the feast? 39 00:01:58,830 --> 00:02:01,370 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees 40 00:02:01,370 --> 00:02:03,950 had given a commandment, that if any man 41 00:02:03,950 --> 00:02:06,650 knew where he were, he should show it, 42 00:02:07,050 --> 00:02:08,169 that they might take him. 43 00:02:09,110 --> 00:02:13,930 Then Jesus six days before the Passover came 44 00:02:13,930 --> 00:02:17,250 to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been 45 00:02:17,250 --> 00:02:18,870 dead, whom he raised from the dead. 46 00:02:19,770 --> 00:02:22,430 And there they made him a supper, and 47 00:02:22,430 --> 00:02:23,290 Martha served. 48 00:02:24,210 --> 00:02:25,970 But Lazarus was one of them that sat 49 00:02:25,970 --> 00:02:29,150 at the table with him, and then took 50 00:02:29,150 --> 00:02:32,290 Mary, a pound of ointment of spikenard. 51 00:02:33,010 --> 00:02:34,270 That's all I'd like to read. 52 00:02:34,730 --> 00:02:36,530 I'll try to fill in the gaps as 53 00:02:36,530 --> 00:02:37,350 the time allows. 54 00:02:38,590 --> 00:02:39,910 I think that if you look at the 55 00:02:39,910 --> 00:02:42,150 Gospel of John, you'll find, of course, we've 56 00:02:42,150 --> 00:02:44,770 all noticed this, that it's very different from 57 00:02:44,770 --> 00:02:46,030 the synoptic Gospels. 58 00:02:46,790 --> 00:02:48,290 I take it the Spirit of God has 59 00:02:48,290 --> 00:02:51,890 so directed this epistle in this particular way, 60 00:02:51,970 --> 00:02:55,390 that it might pertain to specific teaching that 61 00:02:55,390 --> 00:02:57,590 would be applicable to the presentation of the 62 00:02:57,590 --> 00:02:58,510 person of Christ. 63 00:02:59,170 --> 00:03:01,410 I appreciate what one has said, and that 64 00:03:01,410 --> 00:03:03,570 is that the Gospel of John is the 65 00:03:03,570 --> 00:03:04,690 Gospel of fulfillment. 66 00:03:05,770 --> 00:03:07,090 And that is that you find in the 67 00:03:07,090 --> 00:03:10,990 Old Testament different pictures presented, such as Jacob's 68 00:03:10,990 --> 00:03:13,610 well in chapter four, which is answered by 69 00:03:13,610 --> 00:03:14,990 the one who said, I am the living 70 00:03:14,990 --> 00:03:17,870 water, and who satisfied the soul of an 71 00:03:17,870 --> 00:03:18,370 individual. 72 00:03:19,010 --> 00:03:21,190 Again, in chapter seven, we have the one 73 00:03:21,190 --> 00:03:23,850 who, at the end of the Feast of 74 00:03:23,850 --> 00:03:26,650 Tabernacles, when the water was poured out, they 75 00:03:26,650 --> 00:03:28,450 could say that if any man thirsts, let 76 00:03:28,450 --> 00:03:29,710 him come unto me and drink. 77 00:03:30,570 --> 00:03:32,590 Then again, you find the living bread here 78 00:03:32,590 --> 00:03:36,010 in chapter six, where he refers back to 79 00:03:36,010 --> 00:03:37,910 an Old Testament picture, but he could say 80 00:03:37,910 --> 00:03:40,070 that I am the living bread that came 81 00:03:40,070 --> 00:03:40,890 down from heaven. 82 00:03:41,530 --> 00:03:43,710 And then going over to chapter 10 and 83 00:03:43,710 --> 00:03:46,290 other places, we notice the good shepherd and 84 00:03:46,290 --> 00:03:48,810 how the Lord Jesus fulfilled that picture that 85 00:03:48,810 --> 00:03:50,210 is presented in the Old Testament. 86 00:03:51,010 --> 00:03:52,690 And then, of course, the one who is 87 00:03:52,690 --> 00:03:54,210 indeed the life and the one who is 88 00:03:54,210 --> 00:03:57,070 the light in chapter nine, and chapter 11, 89 00:03:57,130 --> 00:03:59,270 the life, and then, of course, the true 90 00:03:59,270 --> 00:04:00,590 vine in chapter 15. 91 00:04:01,070 --> 00:04:02,770 So what we notice is that this is 92 00:04:02,770 --> 00:04:05,010 the gospel that fulfills, in the person of 93 00:04:05,010 --> 00:04:08,330 Christ, every one of these Old Testament typical 94 00:04:08,330 --> 00:04:11,370 presentations of him, and the way they so 95 00:04:11,370 --> 00:04:16,310 simply and wonderfully point out the manifestation of 96 00:04:16,310 --> 00:04:17,670 the great way of our Lord Jesus. 97 00:04:18,750 --> 00:04:20,290 I've noticed as well that when you look 98 00:04:20,290 --> 00:04:22,070 at the Gospel of John, that you find 99 00:04:22,070 --> 00:04:25,470 at least three Passover's that are specifically mentioned, 100 00:04:25,930 --> 00:04:27,590 and we've read those three mentions. 101 00:04:28,310 --> 00:04:30,710 Now, I know very well, because some might 102 00:04:30,710 --> 00:04:32,390 come to say something to me about it, 103 00:04:32,730 --> 00:04:34,810 that in chapter five and verse one, we 104 00:04:34,810 --> 00:04:35,770 have another feast. 105 00:04:36,550 --> 00:04:39,050 And very possibly that's another Passover, depending on 106 00:04:39,050 --> 00:04:39,930 how you look at it. 107 00:04:40,450 --> 00:04:42,810 But it's not specifically mentioned, so I will 108 00:04:42,810 --> 00:04:46,230 confine myself to these remarks in relation to 109 00:04:46,230 --> 00:04:46,810 these three. 110 00:04:46,810 --> 00:04:49,690 I would say that each of these Passover 111 00:04:49,690 --> 00:04:52,410 events in the life of the Lord Jesus 112 00:04:52,410 --> 00:04:55,650 seems to form the basis for and to 113 00:04:55,650 --> 00:04:59,390 provide a background for some specific teaching or 114 00:04:59,390 --> 00:05:02,070 some event that is applicable to the lives 115 00:05:02,070 --> 00:05:03,790 of each one of us as the Lord's 116 00:05:03,790 --> 00:05:04,450 people today. 117 00:05:05,150 --> 00:05:07,190 I want to just say that what we 118 00:05:07,190 --> 00:05:09,530 have pictured here in the first Passover is 119 00:05:09,530 --> 00:05:12,450 the inception of the beginning of life, which 120 00:05:12,450 --> 00:05:14,010 is connected with the new birth. 121 00:05:14,010 --> 00:05:16,830 In chapter six, we have the sustaining of 122 00:05:16,830 --> 00:05:19,310 that life, which is pictured to us in 123 00:05:19,310 --> 00:05:21,510 the bread upon which we feed. 124 00:05:21,570 --> 00:05:24,050 He said, eat of this bread shall live 125 00:05:24,050 --> 00:05:24,470 forever. 126 00:05:25,210 --> 00:05:27,550 In chapter 11 and 12, we have the 127 00:05:27,550 --> 00:05:29,730 purpose of that life, and that is worship. 128 00:05:30,370 --> 00:05:33,350 The occupation of the heart and devotion poured 129 00:05:33,350 --> 00:05:35,010 out to the feet of the Lord Jesus 130 00:05:35,010 --> 00:05:37,710 that is expressed, of course, by the person 131 00:05:37,710 --> 00:05:39,510 of Mary and her activity. 132 00:05:39,510 --> 00:05:41,670 So that I would take it that these 133 00:05:41,670 --> 00:05:45,310 Passovers in the Gospel of John indicate to 134 00:05:45,310 --> 00:05:47,510 us a kind of progress that should be 135 00:05:47,510 --> 00:05:49,570 seen in each one of our lives individually. 136 00:05:49,950 --> 00:05:51,210 And God desires progress. 137 00:05:52,130 --> 00:05:54,050 Certainly, we can't begin to progress in a 138 00:05:54,050 --> 00:05:55,690 Christian life without the new birth. 139 00:05:56,290 --> 00:05:57,810 But the result of the new birth will 140 00:05:57,810 --> 00:05:59,510 be a life that is begun that is 141 00:05:59,510 --> 00:06:01,830 going to be manifested and can only be 142 00:06:01,830 --> 00:06:04,790 sustained by the bread that came down from 143 00:06:04,790 --> 00:06:05,070 heaven. 144 00:06:05,070 --> 00:06:07,970 It's only by feeding upon Christ that you 145 00:06:07,970 --> 00:06:10,210 and I, brethren and sisters, can be sustained, 146 00:06:10,870 --> 00:06:13,570 nourished, strengthened, and help to go on in 147 00:06:13,570 --> 00:06:15,190 the wilderness scene in which we're found. 148 00:06:15,970 --> 00:06:19,530 And if we're not feeding upon Christ, if 149 00:06:19,530 --> 00:06:22,150 we're not feeding upon Christ, possibly there's no 150 00:06:22,150 --> 00:06:22,870 life there. 151 00:06:23,830 --> 00:06:25,750 And certainly the life will never be manifested 152 00:06:25,750 --> 00:06:27,190 without feeding upon him. 153 00:06:28,070 --> 00:06:30,230 And if we're feeding upon Christ in the 154 00:06:30,230 --> 00:06:32,050 right way, then the result will be the 155 00:06:32,050 --> 00:06:35,490 outpouring of worship and the expression of deepest 156 00:06:35,490 --> 00:06:37,530 appreciation for the person of Christ. 157 00:06:38,310 --> 00:06:40,490 That should be manifested in every one of 158 00:06:40,490 --> 00:06:40,830 us. 159 00:06:41,290 --> 00:06:43,490 And I trust it is so for the 160 00:06:43,490 --> 00:06:44,930 glory and the honor of the Lord Jesus. 161 00:06:45,170 --> 00:06:46,710 So we should be making progress. 162 00:06:47,310 --> 00:06:49,170 It's certainly a good exercise. 163 00:06:49,470 --> 00:06:51,690 I trust we all engage in it, not 164 00:06:51,690 --> 00:06:54,330 in a wrong way perhaps, but to ask 165 00:06:54,330 --> 00:06:57,370 ourselves, am I making progress in the things 166 00:06:57,370 --> 00:06:57,910 of God? 167 00:06:58,270 --> 00:07:00,530 Am I growing in likeness to Christ? 168 00:07:00,730 --> 00:07:03,070 Am I knowing more of yieldedness to the 169 00:07:03,070 --> 00:07:03,850 Spirit of God? 170 00:07:04,450 --> 00:07:07,590 Am I experiencing more of his power in 171 00:07:07,590 --> 00:07:10,070 my life to change me and make me 172 00:07:10,070 --> 00:07:11,210 more of what I ought to be? 173 00:07:12,350 --> 00:07:15,310 Sometimes sadly we'd have to acknowledge, if we're 174 00:07:15,310 --> 00:07:18,430 honest, that there's been very little progress made 175 00:07:18,430 --> 00:07:19,010 spiritually. 176 00:07:19,750 --> 00:07:21,990 I take it that that's God's desire and 177 00:07:21,990 --> 00:07:23,730 that's one of the reasons for the indwelling 178 00:07:23,730 --> 00:07:27,550 Spirit of God, that we might be strengthened 179 00:07:27,550 --> 00:07:29,630 in the spiritual life and go on from 180 00:07:29,630 --> 00:07:29,830 here. 181 00:07:30,510 --> 00:07:32,630 So if we look at John chapter 2, 182 00:07:33,050 --> 00:07:36,110 just notice in each case something to the 183 00:07:36,110 --> 00:07:39,550 background that occurs before each one of these 184 00:07:39,550 --> 00:07:40,830 Passovers is mentioned. 185 00:07:41,790 --> 00:07:43,550 And obviously if we look at chapter 2 186 00:07:43,550 --> 00:07:45,970 of the immediate past, we find that the 187 00:07:45,970 --> 00:07:48,210 Lord is engaged in the cleansing of the 188 00:07:48,210 --> 00:07:48,510 temple. 189 00:07:49,090 --> 00:07:51,090 That is, he went in that place that 190 00:07:51,090 --> 00:07:56,610 had been so corrupted by the desire of 191 00:07:56,610 --> 00:07:59,930 men to gain money from the necessities of 192 00:07:59,930 --> 00:08:00,350 the people. 193 00:08:01,310 --> 00:08:03,730 And he could say, make not my father's 194 00:08:03,730 --> 00:08:05,050 house a house of merchandise. 195 00:08:06,010 --> 00:08:07,190 It had become corrupted. 196 00:08:07,410 --> 00:08:08,290 It had become ruined. 197 00:08:09,150 --> 00:08:11,650 The attitude and the aspect of genuine worship 198 00:08:11,650 --> 00:08:13,310 was no longer being expressed. 199 00:08:13,790 --> 00:08:15,930 And so we find in the background before 200 00:08:15,930 --> 00:08:19,090 the Lord deals with this man Nicodemus, he's 201 00:08:19,090 --> 00:08:20,410 dealing with a house. 202 00:08:20,870 --> 00:08:22,950 And he's doing something to bring about restoration. 203 00:08:23,370 --> 00:08:25,350 I think I can link with that, perhaps 204 00:08:25,350 --> 00:08:27,490 in a vague way, not specifically, but I 205 00:08:27,490 --> 00:08:29,910 can look back into the experience of Israel 206 00:08:29,910 --> 00:08:31,030 in the land of Egypt. 207 00:08:31,650 --> 00:08:33,650 You remember, it's very clear that they were 208 00:08:33,650 --> 00:08:35,950 occupied to some extent with idolatry. 209 00:08:35,950 --> 00:08:38,210 They carried with them out of Egypt the 210 00:08:38,210 --> 00:08:39,870 idols of Molech. 211 00:08:40,330 --> 00:08:42,510 And even the Lord had to challenge them 212 00:08:42,510 --> 00:08:43,970 at the end of the wilderness journey that 213 00:08:43,970 --> 00:08:46,010 they still had remnants of Egypt with them. 214 00:08:46,650 --> 00:08:48,690 They were surrounded in an environment that was 215 00:08:48,690 --> 00:08:51,670 corrupting and certainly contrary to the mind of 216 00:08:51,670 --> 00:08:53,750 God for them to continue in that environment. 217 00:08:54,770 --> 00:08:56,390 And then we find the Lord not only 218 00:08:56,390 --> 00:08:59,150 dealing with that environment and the corruption of 219 00:08:59,150 --> 00:09:01,390 the house of God, but he predicts his 220 00:09:01,390 --> 00:09:01,750 death. 221 00:09:01,750 --> 00:09:04,270 He said, destroy this temple and in three 222 00:09:04,270 --> 00:09:06,190 days I will raise it up again. 223 00:09:06,310 --> 00:09:09,970 Certainly anticipating what the Passover looked forward to 224 00:09:09,970 --> 00:09:13,170 when the lamb was taken and selected out 225 00:09:13,170 --> 00:09:15,650 of the flock and slain on that 14th 226 00:09:15,650 --> 00:09:16,350 day of the month. 227 00:09:16,910 --> 00:09:19,690 The blood applied and is only by the 228 00:09:19,690 --> 00:09:22,390 reality of that which it pointed forward to 229 00:09:22,390 --> 00:09:25,070 that there would be salvation and deliverance. 230 00:09:25,250 --> 00:09:27,290 But the Lord not only speaks about that 231 00:09:27,290 --> 00:09:30,250 death, but also the raising up again of 232 00:09:30,250 --> 00:09:30,490 it. 233 00:09:30,490 --> 00:09:33,410 And then of course we find in the 234 00:09:33,410 --> 00:09:36,750 end of chapter 2 the mixed multitude that 235 00:09:36,750 --> 00:09:37,330 is pictured. 236 00:09:37,970 --> 00:09:39,690 A mixed multitude you know came out of 237 00:09:39,690 --> 00:09:39,970 Egypt. 238 00:09:40,690 --> 00:09:42,210 And here we have a multitude of people 239 00:09:42,210 --> 00:09:44,090 that profess to believe in his name. 240 00:09:44,730 --> 00:09:47,090 And yet evidently they had no reality because 241 00:09:47,090 --> 00:09:48,670 the Lord did not believe in them. 242 00:09:49,250 --> 00:09:51,430 He did not commit himself to them because 243 00:09:51,430 --> 00:09:53,650 he recognized and knew what was in man. 244 00:09:54,170 --> 00:09:56,630 And he could not accept them as being 245 00:09:56,630 --> 00:09:58,330 genuine believers in Christ. 246 00:09:58,950 --> 00:10:00,630 But here we have the Passover. 247 00:10:01,350 --> 00:10:04,330 And the Passover of course indicates what is 248 00:10:04,330 --> 00:10:07,150 so necessary for one to begin a life 249 00:10:07,150 --> 00:10:08,530 and a relationship with God. 250 00:10:09,250 --> 00:10:11,870 The Passover was the beginning of a national 251 00:10:11,870 --> 00:10:14,010 relationship, a national existence. 252 00:10:14,890 --> 00:10:16,470 It was the beginning of them being called 253 00:10:16,470 --> 00:10:19,150 out of the bondage and the slavery of 254 00:10:19,150 --> 00:10:19,590 Egypt. 255 00:10:19,590 --> 00:10:24,270 And deliver from that kind of condition which 256 00:10:24,270 --> 00:10:27,290 of course indicates where we were before God 257 00:10:27,290 --> 00:10:28,210 saved us. 258 00:10:28,810 --> 00:10:30,850 How wonderful it was that God intervened on 259 00:10:30,850 --> 00:10:31,470 their behalf. 260 00:10:32,350 --> 00:10:34,070 How precious to each one of us that 261 00:10:34,070 --> 00:10:36,310 God ever intervened in our lives. 262 00:10:36,810 --> 00:10:38,430 And did a work that was beyond our 263 00:10:38,430 --> 00:10:39,030 capacity. 264 00:10:39,710 --> 00:10:41,150 A work that brought us out of the 265 00:10:41,150 --> 00:10:43,630 darkness and the danger in which we were 266 00:10:43,630 --> 00:10:44,010 found. 267 00:10:44,650 --> 00:10:46,210 And brought us into the liberty of the 268 00:10:46,210 --> 00:10:47,070 sons of God. 269 00:10:47,070 --> 00:10:49,930 There are some limits, there are some relationships 270 00:10:49,930 --> 00:10:52,390 I believe between the Passover and the event 271 00:10:52,390 --> 00:10:55,210 of Israel being delivered out of Egypt and 272 00:10:55,210 --> 00:10:56,670 what we read in chapter 3. 273 00:10:57,950 --> 00:10:59,790 And of course we know very clearly what 274 00:10:59,790 --> 00:11:01,510 the Lord is doing is dealing with a 275 00:11:01,510 --> 00:11:06,570 man that represented the highest possible attainment of 276 00:11:06,570 --> 00:11:08,610 an individual under the Jewish law. 277 00:11:09,210 --> 00:11:10,970 A man yet had all of these things 278 00:11:10,970 --> 00:11:12,930 and yet he had no spiritual life. 279 00:11:12,930 --> 00:11:15,250 And had never known the reality of a 280 00:11:15,250 --> 00:11:16,550 relationship with God. 281 00:11:17,130 --> 00:11:19,270 Sad to know how a person can rise 282 00:11:19,270 --> 00:11:21,670 so high in their knowledge of truth. 283 00:11:22,290 --> 00:11:24,110 And even adherence to it in an outward 284 00:11:24,110 --> 00:11:27,970 way and even a legalistic following of that 285 00:11:27,970 --> 00:11:29,950 law that had been given to him. 286 00:11:30,610 --> 00:11:32,790 And yet do it without any essence of 287 00:11:32,790 --> 00:11:34,830 reality spiritually in his life. 288 00:11:35,730 --> 00:11:38,170 We think of the Passover as in some 289 00:11:38,170 --> 00:11:39,690 way we relate to what we have in 290 00:11:39,690 --> 00:11:40,370 chapter 3. 291 00:11:40,370 --> 00:11:43,530 Because you know that in Israel's deliverance out 292 00:11:43,530 --> 00:11:47,790 of Egypt that deliverance was a work that 293 00:11:47,790 --> 00:11:50,990 was essential for them to become one of 294 00:11:50,990 --> 00:11:51,570 the kingdom. 295 00:11:52,090 --> 00:11:54,550 For them to be entered into a relationship 296 00:11:54,550 --> 00:11:56,670 that God was establishing. 297 00:11:57,650 --> 00:11:59,590 And the Lord says to this man Nicodemus 298 00:11:59,590 --> 00:12:01,670 that except a man be born again he 299 00:12:01,670 --> 00:12:03,690 cannot see the kingdom of God. 300 00:12:03,690 --> 00:12:06,870 No part in that great kingdom of which 301 00:12:06,870 --> 00:12:09,350 Christ is the Lord and the ruler. 302 00:12:09,830 --> 00:12:12,070 Under which we have entered in to enjoy 303 00:12:12,070 --> 00:12:13,190 a place today. 304 00:12:13,270 --> 00:12:15,570 Israel entered into that relationship with God by 305 00:12:15,570 --> 00:12:18,450 way of deliverance that was accomplished by the 306 00:12:18,450 --> 00:12:19,510 work of God alone. 307 00:12:20,630 --> 00:12:23,070 Also in chapter 3 in verse 4 we 308 00:12:23,070 --> 00:12:25,530 notice that that was a deliverance that was 309 00:12:25,530 --> 00:12:28,130 not according to man's comprehension. 310 00:12:29,190 --> 00:12:31,910 You notice that Nicodemus had to say how 311 00:12:31,910 --> 00:12:32,950 can these things be? 312 00:12:33,650 --> 00:12:36,010 How can a man enter into his second 313 00:12:36,010 --> 00:12:38,130 time in his mother's womb be born? 314 00:12:39,030 --> 00:12:40,870 When you look back to the Passover the 315 00:12:40,870 --> 00:12:43,250 way of God's deliverance of his people remember 316 00:12:43,250 --> 00:12:45,350 that it was not the way that man 317 00:12:45,350 --> 00:12:46,410 would normally have chosen. 318 00:12:47,510 --> 00:12:49,390 It was certainly not by way of man's 319 00:12:49,390 --> 00:12:51,690 force of arms and by means of the 320 00:12:51,690 --> 00:12:55,370 normal methods by which men would be delivered 321 00:12:55,370 --> 00:12:56,770 from slavery. 322 00:12:57,650 --> 00:12:59,850 By God intervening in a way that went 323 00:12:59,850 --> 00:13:00,830 beyond their capacity. 324 00:13:00,830 --> 00:13:03,330 How would anyone have ever thought that God 325 00:13:03,330 --> 00:13:05,610 would deliver them by bringing in ten plagues 326 00:13:05,610 --> 00:13:06,870 upon the nation of Israel? 327 00:13:07,630 --> 00:13:09,790 The broad judgment not only upon the nation 328 00:13:09,790 --> 00:13:11,650 of the land but also upon their God. 329 00:13:11,830 --> 00:13:14,430 So God's means of deliverance in the new 330 00:13:14,430 --> 00:13:17,970 birth is not by man's own wisdom. 331 00:13:19,210 --> 00:13:21,330 We find that in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 332 00:13:21,330 --> 00:13:21,690 don't we? 333 00:13:21,770 --> 00:13:24,510 Where we find very clearly that God's manner 334 00:13:24,510 --> 00:13:26,690 of salvation is by means of the preaching 335 00:13:26,690 --> 00:13:27,450 of the cross. 336 00:13:27,450 --> 00:13:30,790 And not according to man's wisdom whatsoever. 337 00:13:31,630 --> 00:13:33,990 And then in the third place we notice 338 00:13:33,990 --> 00:13:36,290 that this was a deliverance that was accomplished 339 00:13:36,290 --> 00:13:37,550 by God's power. 340 00:13:38,410 --> 00:13:40,130 They were brought out by the power of 341 00:13:40,130 --> 00:13:43,170 God and I was reading this morning in 342 00:13:43,170 --> 00:13:45,430 my daily reading in fact in chapter 12 343 00:13:45,430 --> 00:13:47,990 of Exodus how God delivered them. 344 00:13:48,990 --> 00:13:50,990 How they were urged by even the people 345 00:13:50,990 --> 00:13:53,790 of Egypt to leave and to depart from 346 00:13:53,790 --> 00:13:54,070 them. 347 00:13:54,570 --> 00:13:56,070 They were thrust out hastily. 348 00:13:56,070 --> 00:13:58,310 It was a matter of God working. 349 00:13:59,270 --> 00:14:00,790 And when we think of the new birth 350 00:14:00,790 --> 00:14:04,370 he reminds Nicodemus that it's not a natural 351 00:14:04,370 --> 00:14:04,790 birth. 352 00:14:04,850 --> 00:14:06,350 He says it's a birth from above. 353 00:14:06,630 --> 00:14:08,290 It's a birth that is accomplished by the 354 00:14:08,290 --> 00:14:09,070 spirit of God. 355 00:14:09,730 --> 00:14:11,350 And that's what you and I have experienced 356 00:14:11,350 --> 00:14:14,490 and began our life in a spiritual realm. 357 00:14:14,810 --> 00:14:17,590 As we were born from above brought into 358 00:14:17,590 --> 00:14:20,990 the relationship and knowledge of Christ by a 359 00:14:20,990 --> 00:14:23,310 work of divine power that was accomplished by 360 00:14:23,310 --> 00:14:24,130 the Holy Spirit. 361 00:14:25,010 --> 00:14:27,290 In the fourth place we remember that this 362 00:14:27,290 --> 00:14:28,830 is a work that was linked with heavenly 363 00:14:28,830 --> 00:14:29,410 things. 364 00:14:30,210 --> 00:14:32,430 You can remind Nicodemus that if I have 365 00:14:32,430 --> 00:14:34,210 told you of earthly things and you believe 366 00:14:34,210 --> 00:14:36,110 not how shall I tell you of heavenly 367 00:14:36,110 --> 00:14:36,350 things? 368 00:14:37,370 --> 00:14:39,730 Because he had no capacity to understand them. 369 00:14:40,650 --> 00:14:42,850 And God could speak of delivering the Israel 370 00:14:42,850 --> 00:14:45,090 coming down from above and reaching into that 371 00:14:45,090 --> 00:14:46,410 dark furnace of affliction. 372 00:14:46,410 --> 00:14:50,050 And bring them out by his own power 373 00:14:50,050 --> 00:14:51,250 working on their behalf. 374 00:14:51,750 --> 00:14:54,650 A heavenly deliverance that was accomplished for them. 375 00:14:55,510 --> 00:14:57,810 One more thing about this relationship and that 376 00:14:57,810 --> 00:14:58,830 is in verse 14. 377 00:14:59,530 --> 00:15:01,490 When he takes him to the serpent of 378 00:15:01,490 --> 00:15:04,230 the wilderness he reminds him that even as 379 00:15:04,230 --> 00:15:06,330 that serpent was lifted up into wilderness to 380 00:15:06,330 --> 00:15:09,230 provide life in the midst of death for 381 00:15:09,230 --> 00:15:09,710 the people. 382 00:15:10,410 --> 00:15:13,850 It required the individual to look and to 383 00:15:13,850 --> 00:15:16,010 look to that serpent that they might receive 384 00:15:16,010 --> 00:15:18,890 healing from the bite of the serpent. 385 00:15:19,910 --> 00:15:22,210 That reminds us of course that the application 386 00:15:22,210 --> 00:15:24,450 of the blood on the night of the 387 00:15:24,450 --> 00:15:27,650 Passover was the responsibility of the individual. 388 00:15:28,550 --> 00:15:29,830 They had to apply the blood. 389 00:15:29,990 --> 00:15:30,990 They had to take the lamb. 390 00:15:31,090 --> 00:15:32,790 They had to catch the blood in the 391 00:15:32,790 --> 00:15:33,090 basin. 392 00:15:33,930 --> 00:15:35,330 They had to apply the blood of the 393 00:15:35,330 --> 00:15:36,930 doorpost and over the lintel. 394 00:15:37,690 --> 00:15:40,490 So we have the responsibility of taking what 395 00:15:40,490 --> 00:15:42,850 God has provided and personally entering into the 396 00:15:42,850 --> 00:15:43,430 good of it. 397 00:15:44,110 --> 00:15:46,630 And experiencing the blessing of deliverance that had 398 00:15:46,630 --> 00:15:49,110 been brought in our case by way of 399 00:15:49,110 --> 00:15:49,850 the new birth. 400 00:15:50,490 --> 00:15:52,410 Brethren and sisters you and I have life 401 00:15:52,410 --> 00:15:55,330 because of a divine work in our souls. 402 00:15:55,890 --> 00:15:58,110 We have a relationship and a knowledge of 403 00:15:58,110 --> 00:15:59,050 fellowship with God. 404 00:15:59,050 --> 00:16:01,230 We have something we could never have possessed 405 00:16:01,230 --> 00:16:01,810 otherwise. 406 00:16:02,750 --> 00:16:04,730 It has been brought to us by the 407 00:16:04,730 --> 00:16:07,070 infinite expression of the grace of God. 408 00:16:07,790 --> 00:16:09,250 And that began our life. 409 00:16:09,910 --> 00:16:13,110 That began our experience of knowing what it 410 00:16:13,110 --> 00:16:15,310 is to walk in communion and fellowship with 411 00:16:15,310 --> 00:16:15,710 the Lord. 412 00:16:16,010 --> 00:16:17,790 I trust we know something about that. 413 00:16:18,850 --> 00:16:21,530 Perhaps there are those here this morning among 414 00:16:21,530 --> 00:16:23,270 those that are saved and you don't know 415 00:16:23,270 --> 00:16:23,710 the Savior. 416 00:16:24,590 --> 00:16:25,790 And you never had a time in your 417 00:16:25,790 --> 00:16:27,350 life when you trusted Christ. 418 00:16:27,350 --> 00:16:29,610 You never had a time when you're born 419 00:16:29,610 --> 00:16:29,910 again. 420 00:16:30,090 --> 00:16:31,830 That's God's desire for you, friend. 421 00:16:31,910 --> 00:16:34,390 Without the new birth you'll never see the 422 00:16:34,390 --> 00:16:35,270 kingdom of God. 423 00:16:35,930 --> 00:16:37,110 Never be in God's heaven. 424 00:16:37,950 --> 00:16:40,710 Never know Christ as your Savior. 425 00:16:41,390 --> 00:16:42,750 Never know God as your Father. 426 00:16:43,670 --> 00:16:45,270 Never know some of the things you have 427 00:16:45,270 --> 00:16:46,410 already been hearing about. 428 00:16:47,090 --> 00:16:49,010 And the consoling strength that you had of 429 00:16:49,010 --> 00:16:49,910 God in your life. 430 00:16:50,810 --> 00:16:53,590 Wonderful thing if even today there are those 431 00:16:53,590 --> 00:16:55,830 who are born again from above. 432 00:16:56,250 --> 00:16:58,250 And taking the work of Christ for your 433 00:16:58,250 --> 00:16:59,030 own personally. 434 00:16:59,730 --> 00:17:01,810 But coming over to chapter 6 we have 435 00:17:01,810 --> 00:17:02,630 another Passover. 436 00:17:04,130 --> 00:17:07,010 And this Passover was the second or the 437 00:17:07,010 --> 00:17:08,470 third one in the life of Christ. 438 00:17:09,230 --> 00:17:11,369 We find it interesting that you look at 439 00:17:11,369 --> 00:17:13,550 the background and you look at chapter 5 440 00:17:13,550 --> 00:17:17,250 when he's speaking about those evidences and the 441 00:17:17,250 --> 00:17:19,170 witnesses that God had given to them and 442 00:17:19,170 --> 00:17:24,490 yet sadly despite five clear sufficient witnesses to 443 00:17:24,490 --> 00:17:27,930 the truth they failed to believe what God 444 00:17:27,930 --> 00:17:28,450 had given them. 445 00:17:28,470 --> 00:17:29,510 The Father was a witness. 446 00:17:30,090 --> 00:17:31,430 John the Baptist was a witness. 447 00:17:32,250 --> 00:17:33,790 The word that he had spoken was a 448 00:17:33,790 --> 00:17:33,970 witness. 449 00:17:34,110 --> 00:17:35,590 The works that he had done were witnesses. 450 00:17:36,670 --> 00:17:39,190 And of course even Moses himself was a 451 00:17:39,190 --> 00:17:39,450 witness. 452 00:17:40,330 --> 00:17:42,470 And all those witnesses had spoken to them 453 00:17:42,470 --> 00:17:44,270 the truth that would cause them to turn 454 00:17:44,270 --> 00:17:46,770 to him and receive the truth from him 455 00:17:46,770 --> 00:17:48,290 entirely and explicitly. 456 00:17:48,290 --> 00:17:49,770 But they refused. 457 00:17:50,170 --> 00:17:51,410 He said, you search the scriptures. 458 00:17:52,450 --> 00:17:54,390 That's what their activity was. 459 00:17:54,530 --> 00:17:56,830 But he says they failed to perceive the 460 00:17:56,830 --> 00:17:58,070 fact that they spoke of him. 461 00:17:58,850 --> 00:18:00,610 Sad thing when a person reads the word 462 00:18:00,610 --> 00:18:03,190 of God and they don't recognize that Christ 463 00:18:03,190 --> 00:18:04,510 is the purpose of it all. 464 00:18:05,230 --> 00:18:06,610 He is the one that God wants to 465 00:18:06,610 --> 00:18:08,970 draw the attention to and direct the individual 466 00:18:08,970 --> 00:18:12,150 so they receive of him and feed of 467 00:18:12,150 --> 00:18:14,610 him and enjoy the blessing that he has 468 00:18:14,610 --> 00:18:15,430 provided for them. 469 00:18:15,430 --> 00:18:19,150 But notice that this Passover is followed by 470 00:18:19,150 --> 00:18:21,850 teaching that has to do with the elements 471 00:18:21,850 --> 00:18:24,170 that are essential for the sustaining of life 472 00:18:24,170 --> 00:18:26,230 that we receive by way of the new 473 00:18:26,230 --> 00:18:26,550 birth. 474 00:18:27,570 --> 00:18:29,210 That life has to be maintained. 475 00:18:30,930 --> 00:18:32,930 I hope and I believe we're all assured 476 00:18:32,930 --> 00:18:34,970 of this that you'll never maintain it by 477 00:18:34,970 --> 00:18:37,890 reading the material the world has to offer 478 00:18:37,890 --> 00:18:38,130 you. 479 00:18:38,890 --> 00:18:41,590 You'll never grow spiritually by watching what the 480 00:18:41,590 --> 00:18:44,270 world wants you to be occupied with. 481 00:18:44,270 --> 00:18:48,630 You'll never grow in this spiritual life by 482 00:18:48,630 --> 00:18:51,110 taking up your time into things that are 483 00:18:51,110 --> 00:18:53,870 absolutely worthless so far as eternity is concerned. 484 00:18:55,010 --> 00:18:56,650 And many things could be enumerated. 485 00:18:57,610 --> 00:19:00,090 Sadly, more and more, perhaps we are being 486 00:19:00,090 --> 00:19:03,850 occupied and inundated with these influences that are 487 00:19:03,850 --> 00:19:06,370 contrary to the development of the life that 488 00:19:06,370 --> 00:19:08,350 we have had and received in Christ. 489 00:19:09,110 --> 00:19:11,130 But you notice that, first of all, he 490 00:19:11,130 --> 00:19:13,410 brings before them, actually there are events in 491 00:19:13,410 --> 00:19:16,050 chapter 6 that relate to the early experience 492 00:19:16,050 --> 00:19:17,530 of the children of Israel in that we 493 00:19:17,530 --> 00:19:20,210 find the Lord passing over the Sea of 494 00:19:20,210 --> 00:19:20,690 Galilee. 495 00:19:21,690 --> 00:19:23,690 The children of Israel passed through the sea 496 00:19:23,690 --> 00:19:25,330 when God delivered them. 497 00:19:25,390 --> 00:19:26,950 But he's come over to the other side. 498 00:19:27,710 --> 00:19:29,030 And here on the other side, they're in 499 00:19:29,030 --> 00:19:29,410 the wilderness. 500 00:19:30,350 --> 00:19:31,990 And there's nothing in the wilderness that would 501 00:19:31,990 --> 00:19:32,790 sustain them. 502 00:19:33,330 --> 00:19:35,590 But he was sufficient for them even in 503 00:19:35,590 --> 00:19:36,950 the wilderness circumstance. 504 00:19:37,390 --> 00:19:39,430 And even as he provided for them in 505 00:19:39,430 --> 00:19:41,450 the Old Testament by means of the manna, 506 00:19:42,150 --> 00:19:43,870 so we could say that in that wilderness 507 00:19:43,870 --> 00:19:46,010 scene, I am the bread of life. 508 00:19:46,150 --> 00:19:47,710 I am the bread that came down from 509 00:19:47,710 --> 00:19:48,030 heaven. 510 00:19:48,450 --> 00:19:50,210 If a man eat of me, he shall 511 00:19:50,210 --> 00:19:51,010 live forever. 512 00:19:51,830 --> 00:19:53,990 And so as the children of Israel passed 513 00:19:53,990 --> 00:19:56,710 over that sea, and, of course, in this 514 00:19:56,710 --> 00:19:58,650 chapter as well, we see the power of 515 00:19:58,650 --> 00:19:59,950 Christ over the sea. 516 00:20:00,530 --> 00:20:02,450 Even as he divided the sea to bring 517 00:20:02,450 --> 00:20:05,210 the children of Israel through, we find that 518 00:20:05,210 --> 00:20:06,990 in the wilderness scene in which you and 519 00:20:06,990 --> 00:20:09,890 I are found like Israel of old, there's 520 00:20:09,890 --> 00:20:11,850 more than enough in the person of Christ 521 00:20:11,850 --> 00:20:14,670 to sustain us and enable us to go 522 00:20:14,670 --> 00:20:16,530 on in a pilgrim pathway. 523 00:20:18,310 --> 00:20:19,830 I think that when you look at the 524 00:20:19,830 --> 00:20:22,250 Lord looking upon the multitude in verse 5, 525 00:20:22,350 --> 00:20:24,110 we saw the multitude coming to him. 526 00:20:24,810 --> 00:20:26,870 A multitude that was in a wilderness and 527 00:20:26,870 --> 00:20:27,890 they had nothing to eat. 528 00:20:27,950 --> 00:20:30,790 And the Lord knew that need before it 529 00:20:30,790 --> 00:20:32,170 was ever expressed to him. 530 00:20:32,170 --> 00:20:35,010 There are other times when the disciples came 531 00:20:35,010 --> 00:20:36,450 to the Lord and said, what should we 532 00:20:36,450 --> 00:20:36,670 do? 533 00:20:37,130 --> 00:20:39,510 We can't send the people away hungry because 534 00:20:39,510 --> 00:20:41,990 they're famished and they need something to eat. 535 00:20:43,090 --> 00:20:44,950 But here the Lord saw the people coming 536 00:20:44,950 --> 00:20:45,490 to him. 537 00:20:46,370 --> 00:20:49,090 Before they ever expressed the need, he discerned 538 00:20:49,090 --> 00:20:49,350 it. 539 00:20:50,470 --> 00:20:52,630 And he tested the disciples to ask them, 540 00:20:53,030 --> 00:20:55,230 how shall we satisfy the hunger of the 541 00:20:55,230 --> 00:20:55,550 people? 542 00:20:56,390 --> 00:20:58,230 When shall we buy bread that these may 543 00:20:58,230 --> 00:20:58,610 eat? 544 00:20:59,270 --> 00:21:02,290 Of course, oftentimes they were doing the only 545 00:21:02,290 --> 00:21:04,350 thought upon a natural, physical level. 546 00:21:05,190 --> 00:21:06,590 But the Lord wanted to bring them into 547 00:21:06,590 --> 00:21:07,950 something far deeper. 548 00:21:09,610 --> 00:21:11,050 I think about the fact that the Lord 549 00:21:11,050 --> 00:21:15,310 here in this wilderness scene, he has an 550 00:21:15,310 --> 00:21:17,290 ability to provide for the needs. 551 00:21:17,410 --> 00:21:18,950 He knew the need and he provided it 552 00:21:18,950 --> 00:21:20,190 by a miraculous way. 553 00:21:21,470 --> 00:21:24,110 Notice we see that he said as he 554 00:21:24,110 --> 00:21:26,890 took what they had available to them, not 555 00:21:26,890 --> 00:21:29,430 200 penny worth of bread in verse 7, 556 00:21:29,550 --> 00:21:32,450 but just a lad with five barley loaves 557 00:21:32,450 --> 00:21:33,630 and two small fishes. 558 00:21:33,850 --> 00:21:35,090 What are they among so many? 559 00:21:35,570 --> 00:21:37,230 They were more than enough in the hands 560 00:21:37,230 --> 00:21:38,010 of the Lord Jesus. 561 00:21:38,990 --> 00:21:40,930 Five barley loaves would be the food of 562 00:21:40,930 --> 00:21:44,130 the poor, the lowly ones, the ones that 563 00:21:44,130 --> 00:21:46,630 were the simple ones in Christ that would 564 00:21:46,630 --> 00:21:47,650 feed upon the barley. 565 00:21:48,450 --> 00:21:50,510 Of course, that is enough for any person 566 00:21:50,510 --> 00:21:52,350 if it's in the hands of Christ. 567 00:21:52,350 --> 00:21:54,490 The two small fishes taken out of the 568 00:21:54,490 --> 00:21:55,290 depth of the sea. 569 00:21:56,050 --> 00:21:58,930 There they are brought out to be the 570 00:21:58,930 --> 00:22:00,670 source of nourishment for the people. 571 00:22:01,470 --> 00:22:03,290 Notice the Lord just simply took them. 572 00:22:03,830 --> 00:22:06,770 Had the people sit down in ranks and 573 00:22:06,770 --> 00:22:07,230 in order. 574 00:22:08,090 --> 00:22:09,990 And then he provided in the hands of 575 00:22:09,990 --> 00:22:14,090 the disciples, that which they distributed unto the 576 00:22:14,090 --> 00:22:14,930 people to eat. 577 00:22:15,530 --> 00:22:17,170 I love to think about the fact that 578 00:22:17,170 --> 00:22:20,710 the Lord could take even so little, such 579 00:22:20,710 --> 00:22:22,630 a little bit to feed such a great 580 00:22:22,630 --> 00:22:23,630 multitude of people. 581 00:22:24,670 --> 00:22:26,430 And he ministered to the needs of the 582 00:22:26,430 --> 00:22:28,250 people through the hands of the disciples. 583 00:22:29,250 --> 00:22:32,510 They had a responsibility in participating in the 584 00:22:32,510 --> 00:22:33,270 work of God. 585 00:22:33,930 --> 00:22:36,070 And all that we can give to others 586 00:22:36,070 --> 00:22:37,770 to feed their souls, and all that we 587 00:22:37,770 --> 00:22:40,050 can give for nourishment to the saints of 588 00:22:40,050 --> 00:22:41,850 God is what we receive from him. 589 00:22:42,490 --> 00:22:44,650 If it's not from him, of course, it 590 00:22:44,650 --> 00:22:46,050 will have no value whatsoever. 591 00:22:46,050 --> 00:22:48,550 May God help us to always seek to 592 00:22:48,550 --> 00:22:49,990 be in the presence of God to get 593 00:22:49,990 --> 00:22:50,510 something. 594 00:22:51,070 --> 00:22:53,770 Some little portion from the word of God 595 00:22:53,770 --> 00:22:55,750 to feed the people of God with. 596 00:22:56,170 --> 00:22:58,050 And to nourish them in a way that 597 00:22:58,050 --> 00:22:59,750 will strengthen them and enable them to go 598 00:22:59,750 --> 00:23:00,550 on for God. 599 00:23:01,070 --> 00:23:03,430 Many words can be spoken. 600 00:23:04,810 --> 00:23:07,010 Sometimes when you boil them all down, maybe 601 00:23:07,010 --> 00:23:08,950 there's only a thimble of thoughts. 602 00:23:09,590 --> 00:23:11,250 But God help us to have something of 603 00:23:11,250 --> 00:23:13,570 material that would be a blessing in hell. 604 00:23:14,790 --> 00:23:16,790 And so we find that this is a 605 00:23:16,790 --> 00:23:20,030 supply that more than met their need, and 606 00:23:20,030 --> 00:23:21,370 I'm sure that you and I have found 607 00:23:21,370 --> 00:23:22,450 the same thing as well. 608 00:23:24,030 --> 00:23:26,290 Not only did the disciples have a responsibility 609 00:23:26,290 --> 00:23:28,110 to take what the Lord gave to them, 610 00:23:29,310 --> 00:23:31,270 but it's wonderful to realize that there's not 611 00:23:31,270 --> 00:23:33,410 one of these people that was feeding of 612 00:23:33,410 --> 00:23:35,210 what the Lord provided them that ever had 613 00:23:35,210 --> 00:23:38,630 to go away saying, I just wish I 614 00:23:38,630 --> 00:23:40,270 would have had one more piece of bread. 615 00:23:40,990 --> 00:23:42,190 There was more than enough. 616 00:23:42,190 --> 00:23:45,710 And God's supply is so infinite, brethren. 617 00:23:46,350 --> 00:23:49,290 We hardly appreciate the greatness of what he 618 00:23:49,290 --> 00:23:50,490 has provided for us. 619 00:23:50,870 --> 00:23:52,030 We limit ourselves. 620 00:23:52,450 --> 00:23:53,910 It's not he that limits us. 621 00:23:54,430 --> 00:23:57,190 He wants to pour out upon us infinite 622 00:23:57,190 --> 00:24:02,270 unveiling of the truth that concerns the Lord 623 00:24:02,270 --> 00:24:02,610 Jesus. 624 00:24:03,830 --> 00:24:05,830 I hope we know something of just getting 625 00:24:05,830 --> 00:24:06,850 along with God. 626 00:24:07,590 --> 00:24:09,690 And feasting upon the person of Christ. 627 00:24:10,550 --> 00:24:13,030 Receiving something that he wants to minister to 628 00:24:13,030 --> 00:24:13,410 us. 629 00:24:13,830 --> 00:24:16,730 Maybe not in a public way, but perhaps 630 00:24:16,730 --> 00:24:18,990 it's more precious of what lasts the longest. 631 00:24:19,290 --> 00:24:21,610 It's what we've gotten, as we've already heard, 632 00:24:21,890 --> 00:24:23,830 a word from the Lord directly for our 633 00:24:23,830 --> 00:24:24,190 needs. 634 00:24:24,930 --> 00:24:27,010 And so we find that here he's going 635 00:24:27,010 --> 00:24:28,110 to move from that. 636 00:24:30,330 --> 00:24:32,130 Sufficiently meeting the needs of the people, and 637 00:24:32,130 --> 00:24:34,510 he's going to move from that to remind 638 00:24:34,510 --> 00:24:35,990 them that there was a bread that they 639 00:24:35,990 --> 00:24:37,710 received from heaven in the Old Testament. 640 00:24:38,330 --> 00:24:40,450 And yet that bread that came down from 641 00:24:40,450 --> 00:24:43,050 heaven was only a picture of himself. 642 00:24:43,690 --> 00:24:44,610 Remember the manna? 643 00:24:45,610 --> 00:24:47,950 They passed through the sea in chapter 14. 644 00:24:48,610 --> 00:24:50,930 They praised God in chapter 15, and then 645 00:24:50,930 --> 00:24:51,490 they murmured. 646 00:24:52,510 --> 00:24:55,390 But in the wilderness, after they murmured and 647 00:24:55,390 --> 00:24:58,650 cried unto God for the hunger that they 648 00:24:58,650 --> 00:25:01,490 had, we find the Lord provided the manna. 649 00:25:02,490 --> 00:25:03,390 What was the manna? 650 00:25:03,930 --> 00:25:05,550 What was the food from God? 651 00:25:05,610 --> 00:25:07,270 It was the food that God provided them. 652 00:25:07,690 --> 00:25:09,350 The psalmist calls it angel's food. 653 00:25:10,470 --> 00:25:12,170 And we know that it was round. 654 00:25:13,170 --> 00:25:14,230 It was white. 655 00:25:15,010 --> 00:25:16,410 It was precious. 656 00:25:17,430 --> 00:25:18,850 It was like bdellium stone. 657 00:25:19,610 --> 00:25:22,050 It was fragile because it melted when the 658 00:25:22,050 --> 00:25:22,590 sun arose. 659 00:25:23,590 --> 00:25:25,730 It was that which was pure. 660 00:25:26,870 --> 00:25:28,770 And every aspect of it points to the 661 00:25:28,770 --> 00:25:29,910 person of our Lord Jesus. 662 00:25:30,790 --> 00:25:33,290 We consider him who came down in humility. 663 00:25:34,010 --> 00:25:35,950 Came down in relation to the work of 664 00:25:35,950 --> 00:25:37,290 the Spirit of God, the dew. 665 00:25:38,510 --> 00:25:40,870 Came down in the expression of his purity 666 00:25:40,870 --> 00:25:41,570 and his holiness. 667 00:25:42,850 --> 00:25:45,170 Came down in the preciousness of that manhood. 668 00:25:46,270 --> 00:25:48,210 And that one who came in humility and 669 00:25:48,210 --> 00:25:51,150 lowliness, brethren and sisters, came that it might 670 00:25:51,150 --> 00:25:52,570 be the food of his people in the 671 00:25:52,570 --> 00:25:52,830 wilderness. 672 00:25:53,950 --> 00:25:55,570 And it reminds us as well of the 673 00:25:55,570 --> 00:25:57,930 purity and the sufficiency of the word of 674 00:25:57,930 --> 00:25:58,330 God. 675 00:25:59,210 --> 00:26:02,450 You know, brethren and sisters, only as we're 676 00:26:02,450 --> 00:26:05,230 feeding upon God's word will we be sustained 677 00:26:05,230 --> 00:26:06,770 and help to go on for God. 678 00:26:07,330 --> 00:26:09,110 A portion for the word of God, perhaps 679 00:26:09,110 --> 00:26:10,350 even a small portion. 680 00:26:11,070 --> 00:26:13,010 A little bit every morning will feed our 681 00:26:13,010 --> 00:26:15,130 souls and sometimes it will meet a need 682 00:26:15,130 --> 00:26:17,750 that we do not even perceive and are 683 00:26:17,750 --> 00:26:19,850 not even aware of prior to the moment 684 00:26:19,850 --> 00:26:21,110 at which we encounter it. 685 00:26:22,070 --> 00:26:24,290 They had to go out and they had 686 00:26:24,290 --> 00:26:25,810 to gather the manna every morning. 687 00:26:25,810 --> 00:26:28,110 But he could say that your fathers ate 688 00:26:28,110 --> 00:26:30,570 manna in the wilderness and they're dead. 689 00:26:31,350 --> 00:26:33,490 That was not a food that could give 690 00:26:33,490 --> 00:26:35,690 life, but it could only sustain a physical 691 00:26:35,690 --> 00:26:36,190 life. 692 00:26:36,970 --> 00:26:38,910 But he uses it to point forward to 693 00:26:38,910 --> 00:26:39,810 something far greater. 694 00:26:40,850 --> 00:26:42,470 And ultimately he brings them to this hard 695 00:26:42,470 --> 00:26:46,270 statement, he says, that one had to eat 696 00:26:46,270 --> 00:26:49,930 the flesh, verse 53, of the Son of 697 00:26:49,930 --> 00:26:51,810 Man and drink his blood, he hath no 698 00:26:51,810 --> 00:26:52,550 life in you. 699 00:26:52,550 --> 00:26:55,890 Verse 54, whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh 700 00:26:55,890 --> 00:26:57,930 my blood hath eternal life. 701 00:26:58,910 --> 00:27:00,970 Interesting to notice the difference in the words 702 00:27:00,970 --> 00:27:02,170 the Lord Jesus uses. 703 00:27:03,050 --> 00:27:04,930 In verse 53, it's a word that has 704 00:27:04,930 --> 00:27:06,770 to do with the initial act of eating. 705 00:27:08,090 --> 00:27:09,750 And that is, of course, what took place 706 00:27:09,750 --> 00:27:11,350 when we first tasted of Him. 707 00:27:11,610 --> 00:27:13,830 We'll taste and see that the Lord is 708 00:27:13,830 --> 00:27:14,230 good. 709 00:27:14,870 --> 00:27:15,650 Very precious. 710 00:27:16,590 --> 00:27:18,370 We began to feed upon Him the moment 711 00:27:18,370 --> 00:27:19,470 we trusted Christ. 712 00:27:20,050 --> 00:27:22,010 But he uses another word when he comes 713 00:27:22,010 --> 00:27:23,690 to verse 54, and it has to do 714 00:27:23,690 --> 00:27:27,790 with a continual aspect of feeding, assimilating, of 715 00:27:27,790 --> 00:27:31,190 taking into ourselves that which pertains to all 716 00:27:31,190 --> 00:27:34,090 that the flesh and the blood speak of. 717 00:27:34,310 --> 00:27:36,730 It's not the Lord's supper, necessarily. 718 00:27:36,950 --> 00:27:37,930 It's not that at all. 719 00:27:38,550 --> 00:27:40,890 It's a personal partaking of all that He 720 00:27:40,890 --> 00:27:43,550 is representing, and all that we receive through 721 00:27:43,550 --> 00:27:46,450 Him in relation to the perfection of His 722 00:27:46,450 --> 00:27:49,810 life, His humanity, His sacrifice, His sufficiency. 723 00:27:50,670 --> 00:27:52,770 Whatever we eat, you know, becomes a part 724 00:27:52,770 --> 00:27:53,270 of us. 725 00:27:54,310 --> 00:27:56,270 And God's desire is that we might feed 726 00:27:56,270 --> 00:27:57,250 upon Christ. 727 00:27:58,350 --> 00:28:00,030 You know, brethren, you'll never find a more 728 00:28:00,030 --> 00:28:02,490 precious food than Christ Himself to meet your 729 00:28:02,490 --> 00:28:05,290 need, to sustain your soul and to give 730 00:28:05,290 --> 00:28:07,810 you strength in a wilderness world in which 731 00:28:07,810 --> 00:28:08,410 we live. 732 00:28:09,190 --> 00:28:10,990 And the more we feed upon Him, the 733 00:28:10,990 --> 00:28:12,410 more we become like Him. 734 00:28:13,110 --> 00:28:16,990 You know, we become at least shaped by 735 00:28:16,990 --> 00:28:17,750 what we eat. 736 00:28:18,510 --> 00:28:23,030 What we're feeding upon, spiritually speaking, sometimes can 737 00:28:23,030 --> 00:28:26,390 dwarf our spiritual life, can ruin our appetite 738 00:28:26,390 --> 00:28:27,610 for the things of God. 739 00:28:28,510 --> 00:28:29,730 You know, I feel it's sorry. 740 00:28:29,910 --> 00:28:30,910 It's very sad, rather. 741 00:28:31,670 --> 00:28:32,990 When you think of the course of the 742 00:28:32,990 --> 00:28:34,970 history of the children of Israel, they began 743 00:28:34,970 --> 00:28:37,450 and they could say it was so sweet. 744 00:28:37,530 --> 00:28:38,290 It was like honey. 745 00:28:38,930 --> 00:28:40,890 It was sweet to their taste and they 746 00:28:40,890 --> 00:28:41,970 appreciated it. 747 00:28:42,710 --> 00:28:45,570 Later on, it became something very distasteful. 748 00:28:46,310 --> 00:28:48,990 Something about it because the manner had never 749 00:28:48,990 --> 00:28:49,650 changed. 750 00:28:50,530 --> 00:28:53,270 They had changed and they lost their appetite. 751 00:28:54,490 --> 00:28:56,250 And, brethren and sisters, we need to guard 752 00:28:56,250 --> 00:28:58,530 ourselves that we do not lose our appetite 753 00:28:59,270 --> 00:29:03,010 for the Word of God itself and for 754 00:29:03,010 --> 00:29:05,810 the person of Christ that is so beautifully 755 00:29:05,810 --> 00:29:06,890 portrayed in it. 756 00:29:06,890 --> 00:29:09,190 I wonder if Christ means the same to 757 00:29:09,190 --> 00:29:10,950 us today as He did at one time. 758 00:29:12,610 --> 00:29:14,730 We've become like those in Ephesus that have 759 00:29:14,730 --> 00:29:15,950 lost our first love. 760 00:29:16,890 --> 00:29:20,150 Somehow, we've gotten our eyes off on something 761 00:29:20,150 --> 00:29:23,530 else and other things have filled our souls 762 00:29:23,530 --> 00:29:26,450 in a way that crowds out that sincere, 763 00:29:26,750 --> 00:29:27,890 deep affection for Him. 764 00:29:28,190 --> 00:29:31,150 May God stimulate us during these two days 765 00:29:31,150 --> 00:29:33,930 of conference here in Waukesha where we might 766 00:29:33,930 --> 00:29:36,250 get a fresh look at Christ and get 767 00:29:36,250 --> 00:29:37,490 occupied with Him again. 768 00:29:38,390 --> 00:29:40,630 But quickly, looking at chapter 11 and 12, 769 00:29:41,170 --> 00:29:42,490 I just want you to notice that the 770 00:29:42,490 --> 00:29:45,210 result of that in this last Passover recorded, 771 00:29:45,690 --> 00:29:47,690 which, of course, leads on to the suffering 772 00:29:47,690 --> 00:29:50,050 and the passion and the death of the 773 00:29:50,050 --> 00:29:53,030 Lord Jesus, we have, first of all, following 774 00:29:53,030 --> 00:29:57,110 in chapter 12, the genuine worship of a 775 00:29:57,110 --> 00:29:57,430 believer. 776 00:29:57,990 --> 00:30:00,830 I like to think that Mary's activity along 777 00:30:00,830 --> 00:30:04,550 with that of Martha and Lazarus would depict 778 00:30:04,550 --> 00:30:06,990 the experience of God's people in this present 779 00:30:06,990 --> 00:30:07,310 day. 780 00:30:08,150 --> 00:30:10,330 That house of Bethany was a very precious 781 00:30:10,330 --> 00:30:10,890 place. 782 00:30:11,350 --> 00:30:12,730 It was a place of fellowship. 783 00:30:13,570 --> 00:30:14,930 It was a place where the Lord was 784 00:30:14,930 --> 00:30:15,410 at home. 785 00:30:16,190 --> 00:30:18,090 It was a place where you find Martha 786 00:30:18,090 --> 00:30:20,790 in this time serving without any complaint. 787 00:30:21,580 --> 00:30:24,430 And so we find service for Christ linked 788 00:30:24,430 --> 00:30:27,610 with Lazarus in His communion with the Lord. 789 00:30:28,470 --> 00:30:29,950 Service linked with communion. 790 00:30:30,670 --> 00:30:31,930 Service linked with fellowship. 791 00:30:32,590 --> 00:30:35,570 Coming out from the relationship with Christ and 792 00:30:35,570 --> 00:30:39,190 enjoying fellowship with Him with glad service that 793 00:30:39,190 --> 00:30:40,310 would honor His name. 794 00:30:41,390 --> 00:30:44,030 Well, that service and that fellowship was in 795 00:30:44,030 --> 00:30:45,210 the atmosphere of worship. 796 00:30:46,030 --> 00:30:48,070 We look at Mary and we find her 797 00:30:48,070 --> 00:30:50,770 here again as she always was at the 798 00:30:50,770 --> 00:30:51,670 feet of the Lord Jesus. 799 00:30:52,510 --> 00:30:54,090 She was at the feet of Christ to 800 00:30:54,090 --> 00:30:54,530 learn. 801 00:30:55,330 --> 00:30:56,770 She was at the feet of Christ, of 802 00:30:56,770 --> 00:30:58,930 course, as she was worshiping. 803 00:30:59,530 --> 00:31:00,950 And she was there at the feet of 804 00:31:00,950 --> 00:31:03,790 Christ, there in other places as well. 805 00:31:03,850 --> 00:31:05,970 So we find her as a worshiper. 806 00:31:06,870 --> 00:31:08,670 And I would take it that that's the 807 00:31:08,670 --> 00:31:10,910 purpose of why you and I have received 808 00:31:10,910 --> 00:31:13,730 a new birth, why we've been born again 809 00:31:13,730 --> 00:31:14,550 by the Spirit. 810 00:31:15,310 --> 00:31:17,370 The Father seeketh worshipers. 811 00:31:18,030 --> 00:31:19,810 And God's desire for you and me is 812 00:31:19,810 --> 00:31:21,930 that we might be genuine worshipers. 813 00:31:22,570 --> 00:31:24,870 You notice that that worship of Mary Coster 814 00:31:24,870 --> 00:31:27,150 was a very costly thing. 815 00:31:28,030 --> 00:31:30,350 You notice that Judas knew how to evaluate 816 00:31:30,350 --> 00:31:33,410 the monetary value of an object. 817 00:31:34,110 --> 00:31:36,650 He knew very little of how to evaluate 818 00:31:36,650 --> 00:31:39,390 properly the Lord Jesus when He sold Him 819 00:31:39,390 --> 00:31:40,650 for 30 pieces of silver. 820 00:31:41,310 --> 00:31:43,410 It's sad to say there were so few 821 00:31:43,410 --> 00:31:45,610 in that environment that knew what it was 822 00:31:45,610 --> 00:31:47,030 to worship as Mary did. 823 00:31:47,850 --> 00:31:49,810 And being at His feet, pouring out that 824 00:31:49,810 --> 00:31:52,930 flask of ointment that was very, very precious, 825 00:31:53,790 --> 00:31:57,410 costing so much, we find that she was 826 00:31:57,410 --> 00:31:59,370 one who had greater discernment as to the 827 00:31:59,370 --> 00:32:01,770 purpose of His death and what was going 828 00:32:01,770 --> 00:32:03,010 to be the result of it. 829 00:32:03,790 --> 00:32:06,710 I would take it from these three incidences 830 00:32:06,710 --> 00:32:10,250 of the Passover in John's Gospel that God 831 00:32:10,250 --> 00:32:12,610 has saved us so that we might feed 832 00:32:12,610 --> 00:32:13,510 upon Christ. 833 00:32:14,170 --> 00:32:16,170 And in feeding upon Christ, we might be 834 00:32:16,170 --> 00:32:17,430 genuine worshipers. 835 00:32:18,570 --> 00:32:20,610 You know, worship really is a daily activity. 836 00:32:22,790 --> 00:32:24,930 And if we don't worship every day, we 837 00:32:24,930 --> 00:32:27,650 have a hard time worshiping on the Lord's 838 00:32:27,650 --> 00:32:27,850 Day. 839 00:32:28,750 --> 00:32:30,870 If we're not worshiping every day in our 840 00:32:30,870 --> 00:32:33,030 privacy of our homes and our hearts, we're 841 00:32:33,030 --> 00:32:35,590 not perhaps able to do more than express 842 00:32:35,590 --> 00:32:38,050 words on the Lord's Day. 843 00:32:39,470 --> 00:32:42,730 Worship is that which pervades the entire atmosphere 844 00:32:42,730 --> 00:32:44,590 of believer's life. 845 00:32:44,790 --> 00:32:45,830 We serve out of worship. 846 00:32:46,890 --> 00:32:48,950 We seek to learn more of Christ because 847 00:32:48,950 --> 00:32:49,950 of our worship of Him. 848 00:32:50,990 --> 00:32:53,550 We do have a desire to manifest the 849 00:32:53,550 --> 00:32:56,370 honor of His name and to speak to 850 00:32:56,370 --> 00:32:58,330 God of the worth of His beloved Son. 851 00:32:59,210 --> 00:33:01,570 Mary, above all others, was a worshiper. 852 00:33:04,630 --> 00:33:06,930 I think that more than anyone else, perhaps 853 00:33:06,930 --> 00:33:09,090 I've wondered if there are any of the 854 00:33:09,090 --> 00:33:11,210 disciples during the lifetime of the Lord Jesus, 855 00:33:11,390 --> 00:33:12,790 and I could be corrected on this. 856 00:33:13,270 --> 00:33:14,230 I'd be glad to be so. 857 00:33:15,150 --> 00:33:16,630 I wonder if any of them really knew 858 00:33:16,630 --> 00:33:17,930 what it was to worship Him. 859 00:33:19,030 --> 00:33:20,550 They knew what it was to hear Him. 860 00:33:20,870 --> 00:33:21,610 They followed Him. 861 00:33:22,250 --> 00:33:23,150 They obeyed Him. 862 00:33:24,170 --> 00:33:26,630 But I don't find any of them acting 863 00:33:26,630 --> 00:33:27,670 like Mary did. 864 00:33:28,810 --> 00:33:31,650 Perhaps when you come to the resurrection scene 865 00:33:31,650 --> 00:33:36,210 after His resurrection, Thomas, seeing the wounds in 866 00:33:36,210 --> 00:33:39,070 his hands and his feet, to decide, my 867 00:33:39,070 --> 00:33:42,010 Lord and my God, is one who came 868 00:33:42,010 --> 00:33:42,590 very near. 869 00:33:42,910 --> 00:33:46,390 So we should seek to be worshipers, genuine 870 00:33:46,390 --> 00:33:49,110 worship as a result of feeding upon Him 871 00:33:49,110 --> 00:33:52,150 and seeking to give honor to His blessed 872 00:33:52,150 --> 00:33:52,570 name. 873 00:33:53,350 --> 00:33:55,270 But notice as well that following that in 874 00:33:55,270 --> 00:33:58,150 verses 12 through 19, we have the adoration 875 00:33:58,150 --> 00:33:58,790 of the multitude. 876 00:33:59,950 --> 00:34:02,210 And we think that perhaps that would point 877 00:34:02,210 --> 00:34:04,710 forward to the coming day when He will 878 00:34:04,710 --> 00:34:06,290 be received by the nation. 879 00:34:07,050 --> 00:34:08,909 And what we've been hearing about already will 880 00:34:08,909 --> 00:34:10,190 be brought to pass. 881 00:34:10,969 --> 00:34:12,909 And the Lord will return in triumph into 882 00:34:12,909 --> 00:34:13,389 the city. 883 00:34:14,050 --> 00:34:15,770 And they'll see Him, the one whom they 884 00:34:15,770 --> 00:34:16,469 pierced. 885 00:34:16,469 --> 00:34:18,889 For I shall mourn for Him as one 886 00:34:18,889 --> 00:34:20,650 mourneth for an only son. 887 00:34:21,750 --> 00:34:24,469 And that's when Psalm 24 will be fulfilled. 888 00:34:24,650 --> 00:34:28,570 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and 889 00:34:28,570 --> 00:34:29,310 be ye lifted up. 890 00:34:30,110 --> 00:34:32,330 And the King of glory shall come in. 891 00:34:33,030 --> 00:34:34,670 He's going to come back in His power 892 00:34:34,670 --> 00:34:35,130 and glory. 893 00:34:36,030 --> 00:34:37,790 And they will adore Him then and that 894 00:34:37,790 --> 00:34:38,110 day. 895 00:34:38,790 --> 00:34:40,449 Sad to say, in this case, of course, 896 00:34:40,489 --> 00:34:41,630 it was a temporary thing. 897 00:34:41,630 --> 00:34:44,510 It was possibly the same ones that were 898 00:34:44,510 --> 00:34:48,429 expressing hosanna to God of the highest as 899 00:34:48,429 --> 00:34:51,110 He came into Jerusalem were the ones that 900 00:34:51,110 --> 00:34:54,590 later were saying, crucify Him, crucify Him. 901 00:34:55,570 --> 00:34:57,570 But notice as well in chapter 12 and 902 00:34:57,570 --> 00:35:00,030 verse 20 that there we have a universal 903 00:35:00,030 --> 00:35:03,090 seeking, the Gentiles coming to seek Him. 904 00:35:03,910 --> 00:35:06,370 So first of all, we have the worship 905 00:35:06,370 --> 00:35:08,050 of believers in this present day. 906 00:35:08,590 --> 00:35:11,050 We have the adoration of Israel in the 907 00:35:11,050 --> 00:35:11,610 coming day. 908 00:35:12,450 --> 00:35:14,310 And along with that, of course, we have 909 00:35:14,310 --> 00:35:18,350 the universal acknowledgment as the Greeks sought Him 910 00:35:18,350 --> 00:35:18,890 in that day. 911 00:35:18,990 --> 00:35:20,230 We look forward to that day. 912 00:35:21,230 --> 00:35:23,050 But we thank God that until then we 913 00:35:23,050 --> 00:35:25,050 have nourishment for a wilderness scene. 914 00:35:26,130 --> 00:35:28,050 May God nourish our hearts and our souls 915 00:35:28,050 --> 00:35:30,870 not only today at this conference, but may 916 00:35:30,870 --> 00:35:33,510 He also nourish us day by day in 917 00:35:33,510 --> 00:35:35,610 our experience as we feed upon Christ. 918 00:35:36,330 --> 00:35:38,630 I remember a brother once saying to me 919 00:35:38,630 --> 00:35:41,130 that whenever he opened his Bible to read 920 00:35:41,130 --> 00:35:45,410 it as a daily activity, he sort of 921 00:35:45,410 --> 00:35:47,650 just simply lifted his heart to prayer, Oh 922 00:35:47,650 --> 00:35:49,670 God, show me Thy glory. 923 00:35:50,370 --> 00:35:51,950 Show me something to thyself. 924 00:35:52,810 --> 00:35:54,390 And I believe that if we read God's 925 00:35:54,390 --> 00:35:56,170 word and come to it in that attitude, 926 00:35:56,910 --> 00:35:59,930 we'll feed upon Christ and we'll get something 927 00:35:59,930 --> 00:36:02,090 that will cause worship to rise in our 928 00:36:02,090 --> 00:36:02,490 hearts. 929 00:36:02,730 --> 00:36:03,370 May it be so.