APRIL 1

" The world cannot hate you but Me it hates, because I testify of it, that its works are evil."  John 7:7.

Christ defends Himself here. He tells His brothers that it is easy for them to talk, since they are not incurring anyone's anger as He is. These hypocrites testify that the works of the Pharisees etc are right and good, and acceptable to them. They protect and defend them in their ungodly ways. Hence it is not surprising that they are loved by them. But because Christ testifies against them, that their works are evil, it is not surprising that they hate Him. They accused Him of being afraid to go up to the feast. He is resolved to go, not in their time, but at the time when His obedience to His Father impels Him to go. He would not go at the time they set for Him ( vs.8)   ( Martin Luther )

APRIL 2

" The world cannot hate you, but Me it hates."  John 7:7.

The great idol of humanity is self ; everyone worships it in one form or another. Christ came into the world to claim all allegiance to Himself. This claim is resented and this rejection Christ characterises as ' evil.' Men say they are indifferent, but really they hate His claim. It is the fact of this antagonism which makes many shrink from following Him. They dread running counter to public opinion. They know that the dislike of Him is extended to His disciples. He goes further than to call it dislike, He calls it hatred. They would dearly love to get rid of Him, and the memory of Him. His claims disturb them, and His true followers remind them of His claims. Christ will give His people the strength they need to follow Him and to overcome the fear of the hatred of the world. ( G.Calthrop )

APRIL 3

" Where is He ? " John 7:11.

This question has been asked in different ways. Some hated Him and wanted to know where He was in order to slay Him. Others wanted to confront Him and His disciples with the lack of progress in His cause. Some asked this question because they were afraid, and lamented His absence ; they needed Him to return. Some sought Him in order to confess their sin, show their trust in Him and show their gratitude. Some, out of love, pined for communion and wanted to serve Him at His bidding. Some may also use this expression as they desire and seek His second Coming.

Where is He ? He is on the Throne of grace, at the mercy-seat when we cry in secret, He is in our assemblies, at the breaking of bread. He is with us to sanctify our trials and carry us through them. He is on the throne of government and at the centre of glory. ( C.H.Spurgeon )

APRIL 4

" And Jesus answered them and said, My doctrine is not mine but His that sent Me."   John 7:16.

There are three sources possible for Christ's teaching. It could have come from others, ie.He acquired it by education.But they knew He had not gone to the College for Rabbis ( vs.15). He might have acquired it by thinking long and hard about religion ; but Christ denies this. Or, He spoke from God and for God His Father. His communication from His Father was unique, different from His communications to the prophets in the Old Testament or to the Apostles in the New Testament ( although this was genuine Inspired communication ). His communication of truth was self-verifying - it came from " God who cannot lie." This Speaker, unlike any other, was sinless and utterly reliable. As the Son of God he was eminently and eternally worthy of their trust. There was no fault in Him, the fault was in the hearers ( as He showed in the parable of the Sower ). To believe and obey Him will bring spiritual insight (vs.17), but high intellectual endowments are dangerous ( to the owner ) if used against Christ.  ( T.Whitelaw )

APRIL 5

" If any man wills to do His Will, he shall know of the doctrine.." John 7:17.

The truth is known by experiencing it. You may know the evidences of the truth of Christianity, but knowledge and understanding is not spiritual faith, the knowledge and grasp of the Unseen ( Heb.11:1). For assurance of the truth which warms your soul, ' run in the way of God's commandments ' ( Ps.119) and you shall feel the sun shine upon you again. Modern rationalists do not accept this testimony of experience. They judge of Christianity by reason alone. But the truth is beyond the grasp of reason alone ( Ps. 82:5 ). If a man is in the right state of mind he will know and believe the truth as it comes from Christ.  ( R.Roberts " Whether the doctrine is from God or not." Now this is the Will of the Father, that we be intent on listening to His Word, and not to dispute it. The Holy Spirit is needed to prepare hearts for this. There are those who do not hear the Word as its students but set themselves up as headteachers. But in that way you will never discover the meaning of Christ's Word or of His heavenly father's Will. " This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased - Hear ye Him. " (Mt.17:5) ( Martin Luther )

APRIL 6

" If any man thirst, let him come to Me and drink." John 7:37.

This announcement greatly pleased all distressed hearts. But it was not a message acclaimed by the people in general. Christ chose words that addressed themselves to the heart and to those who felt the need of them. These are comforting, friendly and charming words ; they refresh, console and strengthen the thirsty. His Word, unless it is preached to the thirsty, is more despised than accepted. This is apparent also in our day ; they are so full of their own holiness that they feel no thirst. What kind of thirst is this ? Once this question is answered, we will understand the nature of the drink and how the thirst is quenched. It is not a physical thirst but spiritual. It is a heartfelt desire which longs to know its standing with God. Such sin-felt anxiety marks the proper thirst. ( Martin Luther )

APRIL 7

" Let him come to Me and drink." John 7:37.

There are still legalists who say,' We know, of course, that God forgives sin, but one also must perform good works and conduct oneself properly before God will forgive sin.' Thus they insist that we ourselves must contribute towards our forgiveness. This is a devilish doctrine ! It is like saying,' Be holy and I will forgive your sin.' They direct the sinner to himself. But this will never quench his thirst. No, they should have said, ' Believe in Christ and He will forgive your sins.' If a man is never directed away from himself and toward Christ, he will never be sure of forgiveness.As the wretched conscience encounters God, it longs to hear the words spoken by Christ, " Your sins are forgiven you." ( Mark 2:5) The Lord here proclaims a doctrine that will make you live. ( Martin Luther ) All human desires can be expressed in the one word - thirst ! " He that believes.." You must take Christ by faith, at His Word. He is the Divine Fountain for all your needs. Do not go to the Physician for advice and come away without the remedy !     ( C.H.Spurgeon )

APRIL 8

" So there was a division among the people because of Him."  John 7:43.

Therefore we may not expect to please everybody, however true our preaching or however peaceful our spirit. The parties which formed are as those in our own day. Some accepted some of His claims only, some accepted none of them. Some agreed with all of them but were unwilling to follow out the consequences of them. Some were, however, sincere hearers and followed Him as they were able. Though they blunder now, they may yet come right. Let us also pray for those who yet deny His claims and resist His kingdom. Let us aid those who come a little way towards the truth. There was a clear division between believers and non-believers ; it was more to be seen in what they do or fail to do than simply by their words spoken. Many have a talk without a walk. Let us divide if there be a division and let us unite if there be a real union in Christ, in His Truth. ( C.H.Spurgeon )

APRIL 9

" Never man spoke like this man. "  John 7:46.

They were sent to arrest Him, but they lacked the power to put their thoughts into action. For as they listen to Christ their devilish thoughts depart and they receive new and humble hearts. They become disciples and pupils of this Master and Preacher whom they had planned to capture and kill. Now they would rather die than sin against God.The authorities opposed Him but they confessed Him cheerfully and freely. ( Martin Luther )

Christ is the standard for preaching. " The Spirit of the Lord was upon Him " and, in some measure, upon His preachers. When He appeared He drew attention, not by novelty or strangeness ; His doctrine was as old as the Old Testament. He spoke plainly, His illustrations were from everyday life, and He also used figurative language, stirring the imagination of his hearers to seek the reality seen behind His words. ( N.Emmons)

APRIL 10

" Does our law judge judge any man before it hears him, and knows what he does ? "  John 7:51.

In chapter 3 we see Nicodemus as a timid but honest inquirer after truth. In this chapter we see him as a decided advocate for justice. In chapter 19 we see him as a heroic confessor of the Lord. It took 3 years for him to reach this point. This teaches us to have patience with those who began as he did ; but at least he began ! With these words Nicodemus answers the boasts of the Pharisees that none of the rulers believed in Jesus ( which is usually the case ) and that they were zealous for the law as a means of salvation. Such men deserve our pity. Such a trust and such a path can only lead to destruction. Nicodemus advises them to make an honest unprejudiced inquiry into Jesus' claims, but to no avail.( J.P.Lange ) Grace cannot remain hidden.Love, as fire, cannot be long hidden. Nicodemus was a slow scholar but He had the best Teacher. When Judas betrayed Christ in the night, Nicodemus confessed Him in the day. ( John Trapp )

APRIL 11

" And the Scribes and the Pharisees brought to him a woman taken in  adultery.  John 8:3.

This story is related to show the clear distinction between the Law and the Gospel, between the kingdom of Christ and that of the world. Christ preached that His was a kingdom of grace and forgiveness, but the Jews held on to Moses' Law, which held nothing but anger and the punishment of God for those who transgressed His commands. The rogues now desire to ensnare and entrap Christ. He accepts the challenge and makes them ashamed. He shows that mercy triumphs over law, but does not abolish the law. He shows them that they, and not only this woman, have also broken the Law of Moses. Therefore if she is to be punished without mercy, so must they be. No one is righteous in the sight of God ; but all are sold to sin, guilty of death and eternally lost. All are already sentenced, all must ask Christ for forgiveness. As Christ addresses them, their own sins become so great that they are alarmed. They imagine that the very stones are staring at them ! They sneak away, but only the woman waits behind to receive the free forgiveness of the Gospel. ( Martin Luther )

APRIL 12 

" He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her...being convicted by their own conscience, they went out

one by one."  John 8:7,9.

The judges are judged ! Their accusations echoed within them and they have to get away from the Judge ( cf. Ps.32:3,4). This was the natural reaction of conscience when accusations against another rebound with greater force ; it was not in this case the conviction of sin by the Spirit. Remorse is not repentance, sorrow is not always godly. There was a guilty fear of punishment, not the faith to bring their own sin to Christ for forgiveness. Nor did their conviction extend to all their sins but only some, and this conviction did not extinguish their love of sin.They were only fearful of the consequences, and wanted to escape to a more peaceful environment, away from contact with Christ. Natural convictions are temporary and may consist with the love of sin. The legally convicted is as much an enemy of holiness as ever, but the spiritually convicted have always an abhorrence of sin. They have more than the Law of Moses, they have the Gospel of Christ. ( B. Beddome )

APRIL 13

" And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. " John 8:9.

Misery and mercy meet together. She does not attempt to escape from Christ as did the others. The others gave her no hope, but His words did, and she waited to hear more. The Law does not have the last word for the sinner who faces Christ as her only Hope ( 1 Tim.1:1). Sinners need not dread an interview with the ' Friend of sinners .' He does not repel, He invites. ' Jesus alone ' is the sinner's court of appeal from all accusations. These men never dreamed that they were now illustrating the Gospel truth. Christ alone is the Judge in the supreme court, not the government nor the church. Our sinfulness is indisputable, but our appeal is lodged in the gospel court not in the court of the law. Christ is a ' just God and a Saviour.' He alone satisfies the demands of the law and mercy goes forth, freely and fully, without legal objections. When the sinner leaves her case with Christ, with a silent plea for mercy, the issue is not in doubt. " Neither do I condemn you, Go in peace." The woman's heart confessed her sin, her need, her trust. 

( A.A.Ramsay )

APRIL 14

" I am the Light of the world."  John 8:12.

The assumed truth which lies underneath this verse is the Fall of Man. The world is in a state of spiritual and moral darkness. No one knows anything in a right manner, they need to be enlightened. No Prophet or Apostle ever said this, but only One who knew He was God. Like the Sun He shines, the whole world needs His Light. He gives a promise to those who follow Him, they shall be given the light they need so as not to fall in the darkness. To follow our Leader through the darkness of this world requires trust. We must hear and take heed to His Voice, thus shall He lead us safely to heaven. We can do nothing for ourselves spiritually, and the best thing we can do is to trust ourselves to Him ; and not with a half-commitment either. The believer has the light and sense to know that he possesses something he did not have before. God ' shines in his heart and gives light.' He has been ' called out of darkness into His marvellous light..' ( 2 Corinth. 4:4-6. 1 Peter 2:9.)    ( J.C.Ryle )

APRIL 15

" No man laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come." John 8:20

God exerts a restraining Providence upon wicked men ( Ps.76:10), jewish rage was almost at its height but a mysterious invisible power was holding them back, for a while, until His hour did come. Such wicked men are not usually conscious of it ; they did not intend to hold back, but circumstances were against them. They could not fulfil their plans, but kept trying to. The Lord who reigns over all keeps their anger within bounds and holds down the malicious passions of the depraved soul. Christ knew there was a timetable for all He had to do ( John 2:4 ). Soon He would say, " Father, the hour has come." ( John 17:1 ), but not yet. All the scenes of life are appointed ; ' Man proposes but God disposes.' " To every thing there is a season," Solomon reminds us. Men may desire but they do not have the power to fulfil those desires. " There is a Divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them how we will. " ( Shakespeare, Hamlet.) Looking at all the mental moving, arranging and actions in the world we may be tempted to think that God does not control all things, but it is what it is - only a temptation. ( D.Thomas )

APRIL 16

" Whither I go, you cannot come." John 8:21.

They will try to follow Him, but they cannot, for the door is locked. All their achievements are rejected and their self-chosen works shall count for nothing.They may live as moral a life as they please, it will avail them nothing at all. This is a terrifying and fearful speech, but the world has hardened itself against it. They will strive to reach heaven but they cannot get there. The Papacy and others cannot bear to hear it said that it is impossible to attain eternal life and heaven with good works. In opposing this, Christ says that it is not just difficult but impossible ! It must seem shocking to hear that all our toil and efforts should be futile, our donations of no value. Yet that is how things stand. All this is in vain and we are doomed unless in the end God comes to our rescue and we die with faith in Christ. Many are drawn away from Christ by looking to their works. ( Martin Luther )

APRIL 17

" For if you believe not that I am He, you shall die in your sins." John 8:24.

They did not understand ( vs.27), they thought He sounded arrogant. They wanted to know who He was, and He replied that He was God, and all revolved around Him. He warned them that if they did not believe Him, they had nothing. They may run to and fro in quest of God, but there would be no life except with Christ. If therefore they did not believe in Him they would remain dead ; none of them would live forever with Him.

These were words which annoyed them intensely ; He told them that He was sent to them from God, in whose presence He stood. He is the highest ambassador. These exalted words call for faith, and they did not have it. He implies that the world's wisdom and the Jews' wisdom are nothing, nothing without Him. This is indeed a sweeping condemnation. They resented Christ's exaltation He asserted that all depends on Him, and that man can find no other help except through faith in Him. For the sinner to die in his sin is to die with all his guilt and condemnation cleaving to him. ( Martin Luther )

APRIL 18

" I do always those things which please Him." John 8:29.

This should be the Christian's motto also. Christ the Mediator pleased the Father in every way. It pleased the Father that He came ( Ps.40). He was the ' holy Child .' He signified that He was ' well pleased ' with Him at His baptism in the Jordan. His perfect obedience pleased Him, His victorious conflict with temptations and trials. It also ' pleased the Father to bruise Him ' vicariously ( Is.53) and to give Him ' gifts for men ' ( Ps.68) at His Ascension. The benefits which Christ confers on the saints please the Father, " for it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell." ( Coloss.1:19) and it pleases Him when we receive from His fulness ( John 1:16).God is also pleased that He shall come again, and manifest His triumph over all opposition. " The good pleasure [purpose] of the Lord shall prosper in His hand " ( Is. 53). Those who have faith and follow Christ please God ( Heb.11:6). Despite being imperfectly sanctified, they are justified by faith, and forgiven daily. This is a wonderful wisdom, ' the doing of the Lord and marvellous in our eyes.'

Is this too high a model ? Would you prefer an example which would condone your sin ? It must be " always ", not sometimes. Have you failed ?- then grieve over it, and try again. ( C.H.Spurgeon )

APRIL 19

" If you continue in My Word,then are you my disciples indeed. "  John 8:31.

A soldier's confidence in his Commander is evidenced by his obedience to his Commander's orders. A patient's trust in his Physician is shown by the patient following his directions. A disciple's profession of faith in his Master is proved by the disciple's walking in his Master's teaching. It is not that there is any merit in the obedience itself. But it is a fact that there is no evidence of sincerity in a profession of faith when there is no obedience, neither in desire nor inpractice. Moreover, it is not a selective obedience, nor is it a justified disobedience. Many do not obey and justify it by saying that ' such teaching of Christ is now out of date ' or ' We don't have to do that now - that was just for those living 2000 years ago.' Has Christ or His teaching changed ? No, the church has, and is justifying its low standard of obedience to His Word. But this cannot be justified before God.

 ( H.C.Trumbull )

APRIL 20

" The truth shall make you free."  John 8:32.

Yes, if ' you know the truth.' Christ saw that they would not be faithful to Him, and He begins to speak of true and false disciples of His Word. Many hear the gospel and continue with it for utilitarian reasons ; they see some gain in it.They reap money, goods and honour from it. But it is all about continuing when these are lost for the sake of the gospel. Many will give up the gospel in order to recover these things, when the battle grows hot. There are few who remain faithful to the Words of Christ when faced with persecution. Where can faithful disciples be found ? They are found where they follow His Word.Christ's Word demands more than just an initial acceptance and early praise. It is easy to follow in the beginning ( Luke 8:6). True disciples say,' Let come whatever God sends me. ! If I am not to be well, I am content to be sick. If I am not to be rich, then I shall be content to remain poor. Whether I live or die,I shall remain with Christ. " ( Martin Luther )

APRIL 21 

" We are Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man."  John 8:33.

When his pride is offended, a sinner will assert some strange things to deflect the threat of truth. This was of course a blatant lie. They were bondslaves to the Egyptians, to the Babylonians and at present had been conquered by the Roman empire. They were not free to govern themselves, - they were not ' masters of their fate, captains of their souls ', as a famous atheist poet asserted. They were blinded by their own sin and unconscious of having lost their freedom. They interrupted Christ's sermon and shouted, ' Why talk to us of freedom ? We are free men ! ' They boasted of a liberty they did not have, and the truth of God offended their self image. But it was not the sin of their conquerors, of other people, that brought them under the dominion of sin ; it was their own sin which enslaved them ( vs.34 and 2 Peter 2:19). Their resistance to God's truth proved their slavery to sin and falsehood. Habit is a cord strengthened by every additional sin, until the cord becomes a strong rope ! (D.Thomas )

We cannot deliver ourselves and therefore must not seek to be our own Saviour. The Son alone can set us free, and we can do nothing to help Him. " Thou must save and Thou alone ! " ( A.M.Toplady)

APRIL 22

" If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed [truly]. " John 8:36.

Men are born slaves. The chosen people of God are such by nature ; they are born in sin and are the servants of it ( Ps.51:5). Christ the Son makes them free, brings them into the true freedom ( Galat.5:1). He frees us from the bondage of sin, so that we are no longer servants to it. He frees us from its power, guilt and liability to punishment. He procures pardon by His blood and righteousness by His obedience unto death. He delivers them also from the captivity of Satan, the ' strong man armed ', and brings them into His kingdom of grace. He does not free them from temptation but preserves them through it. The Law can no longer condemn them. ( John Gill ) Beware of a false liberty. Every good thing is imitated by Satan, eg. Antinomian liberty, where God's law is cast away as no longer relevant in how we live. The liberty of self righteousness also claims to live above the law, because of a feeling of being ' blameless.' ( Philipp.3:6). Christ made us free by being bound for us, and gives this freedom freely to sinners. When Christ sets free no chains can bind again. We no longer work as slaves for the ' wages of sin ' but serve God as sons, as Christ did.  ( C.H.Spurgeon)

APRIL 23

" My word has no place in you. " John 8:37.

Where the word of Jesus ought at once to be received, it is often rejected. These Jews were Abraham's natural seed but they did not have Abraham's faith. Jesus knows where His word is received and where it has no place. He declared that everything else avails nothing if His word is not received in faith. The practical result of their unbelief followed - they wanted rid of Him, even to kill Him. The word comes from Jesus, the appointed Messenger of God.It ought to be hidden in the heart ( Ps. 119:11) and rule there. It should be prized above our daily food ( Job 23:12)and defended with our lives

( Jude 9 ). But many are too busy to give it entrance. Others are too fond of sin or of wealth to give it an important place in their lives. rejection of the word involves you in sin. You may become so hardened that you do not even wish to hear it, and stop attending public worship.You may publicly oppose it like these Jews. However, it will then condemn you at the last day ( John 12:48). To receive Christ's word in faith is to receive all that you need.

( C.H.Spurgeon )

APRIL 24

" If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham." John 8:39.

Christ now differentiates more clearly between the degenerate and the legitimate children of Abraham.He takes away the name from all who are unlike Abraham. Christ is not discussing natural descent here but affirming that those who do not by faith follow Him are not to be reckoned among those who are Abraham's children adopted by God. For, since the Lord promised to the seed of Abraham that He would be their God, all unbelievers abdicate fromAbraham's family by rejecting the promise in Christ. Christ denies that they have the privileges of grace ; a holy nation, a peculiar people, a royal priesthood ( Exodus 19:6 and 1 Peter 2:5, 9). For those who are the children of the promise ( Galat.4) must be born again by the Spirit, they must be new creatures.Fleshly descent from Abraham was not indeed useless and unimportant so long as the truth was added to it. ( John Calvin)

APRIL 25

" If God were your Father you would love Me. " John 8:42.

The order of salvation is first to believe in Christ. By this we become the sons of God ( John 1:10-12), and the proof of our adoption is to love what He loves. Love to Christ is thus the great test of our state. The absence of this love is the greatest loss, and a sign of great degradation ; it shows that human nature is disordered. If the understanding were right, it would give Christ the pre-eminence in all things. If the heart were what it should be, it would love the good, the true, the beautiful - and nothing is more so than Jesus.If this love is not there, it is a sign that we have no part in His salvation, as the effect of salvation is to love Christ ( 1 John 4:10,19). This love is the mainspring of spiritual life, it ' constrains us.' It is the grand power which keeps us back from evil and impels us toward holiness. Without this love we incur the heaviest condemnation ( 1 Corinth.16:22). Our Lord plainly declares that God is not the Father of those who do not love Him. ( C.H.Spurgeon )

APRIL 26

" You are of your father the devil...a murderer. " John 8:44.

They could neither claim Abraham or God as their father, their likeness was rather to the devil ; they had the same malice as the devil towards Jesus. They could not hate the Son of God so much were it not that their father was the perpetual enemy of God. Moreover, He calls them children of the Devil not only because they imitate him, but because they are led by his prompting to fight against Christ. On the other hand, the children of God are governed by His Spirit and Christ lives in them, conforming them to the image of their Father. Whereas the Devil acts powerfully and exercises his tyranny over his own children ( 2 Corinth.4:4. Ephes.2:2.). ( John Calvin) The Devil was 'a murderer from the beginning of the world', not only leading Adam and Eve into death, but also inciting Cain to kill his brother Abel ( 1 John 3:8,10,12). The Devil ' stood not in the truth ' ; he left by choice his first state of perfection ( Jude vs.6) and persuaded Adam to do the same. The devil and his angels shall not be spared, but God's children shall always find mercy.

APRIL 27

" Which of you convinces Me of sin ? " John 8:46.

Christ here asserts His own sinlessness, even the thought of sinning. Being the Son of God, it is impossible for Him to sin. He can be tempted, as we are, but not by indwelling sin, as we are. There is nothing but truth in Him. He personifies the description in Philippians 4:8,9) He ' does always the things that please His Father.' We are not so constant and consistent, but after death we have the promise that we shall be like Him ( 1 John 3:1,2) ; then we shall be sinless also.  By these words Christ challenges the world, and not just the critical Jews He spoke with. He had no sin in His consciousness, but He knew they had. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, but He knew they were not. Sadly, like the unconverted Paul, they thought they were " blameless ", thought they were keeping the Law, whereas they broke it every day. He taught His disciples to pray daily, " Forgive us our debts," but this was not His prayer ; the Lord's Prayer is the one He taught us, not the one He used Himself. there was never a confession of sin in His daily prayers to His Father. Christ presented Himself to the world as the absolutely sinless One, and demands to be recognised by all as such. ( R.C.Trench )

APRIL 28

" He that is of God hears God's words ; you therefore hear them not because you are not of God."  John 8:47

Hearing God's words requires attention in a world of distractions, intention to carry them out and not just remain ' hearers only ', and retention in the memory ( 1 Corinth.15:2) ie. perseverance therein. Some do not hear God's words by avoiding them, disregarding them, or gradually letting them become less important in their lives. If we love God, if we are ' of God ', we will love His words also. The Lord has taught us that we cannot live by bread alone, we need the word of God to live - and He has given it to us. But what have we done with it ? The Pharisees heard the words, but they did not understand them. They heard only the Law and thought that life came by keeping it. They resented the Gospel as it took that hope away from them, and presented Christ as the only hope. They used the name of God but they were not ' of God.' Many religious people today share the anger of the Pharisees when they hear ( all )the Gospel, and not just the Law. They grew up with the Law, their conscience approved it, but they were not taught by the Spirit and therefore the heart was not opened by the Lord to hear His words in a saving manner. They did not experience that change which Lydia did ( Acts 16:14).

APRIL 29

" Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day ; and he saw it and was glad. "  John 8:56.

How, even with the eyes of faith,did Abraham see the revelation of Christ ? Faith has its degrees of seeing Christ. The ancient prophets saw Christ afar off, as He had been promised to them, but were not yet permitted to see Him incarnate, when He made Himself intimately and completely visible, ' manifest in the flesh.' ( 1 Tim.3:16 ). Abraham's rejoicing testifies that he looked upon the knowledge of Christ's kingdom as an incomparable treasure. All the godly receive from their faith the fruit that they are satisfied with Christ alone and in Him are fully and completely blessed and happy, their consciences calm and cheerful. No one rightly knows Christ unless he honours Him by resting upon Him entirely. ( John Calvin )Christ gave him this desire, and when He gives it to a sinner He fulfils it ; faith rejoices at the promise. This joy enlarges our hearts in duty and strengthens us in the way of God ( Nehem. 8:10. Ps.119:14 ). It helps us to endure suffering ( Heb. 6:17-19 ) and draws us off from empty temporary delights ( Ps.4:7. 43:4). ( T. Manton)

APRIL 30



" Before Abraham was [ came into being ], I am." John 8:58.

If Christ saw Abraham's faith, then Abraham must have seen Christ. They replied that He was not yet fifty, not yet an old man, and therefore this could not be true. But Christ replies " I am ", the name for God, as they knew. Abraham ' became ', Christ always is ( Ps.90:2. Heb.13:8). Christ here reveals His consciousness of His divinity and pre-existence. The believer acknowledges this as part of his faith. They were comparing Him to Abraham, but the difference was greater than they were prepared to imagine or accept. He was already existing to be the object of Abraham's faith. They were only expecting a human Messiah, one greater than David who would restore the earthly glory of David's kingdom. Christ spoke of things further back than Abraham, not only to the beginning of history ( at Creation ), but back to what is described in John 1:1-3. ( F. Godet )

Unbelievers judge Christ only by the appearance of the flesh. but His true Person is hidden from the senses of the flesh, and seen only by the eyes of faith. Abraham saw what his descendants did not. ( John Calvin )