John 4:43-54

Until John, we have been using older manuscripts of Ryle's Expository Thoughts. Just recently, though, EP Publishing has put out a lightly updated version of Ryle's work, which I am now working from. If you are interested in a physical copy of the Expository Thoughts, you can find it HERE.

John 4:43-54

1. We learn that the rich have afflictions as well as the poor.
2. We learn that sickness and death come to the young as well as to the old.
3. We learn what benefits affliction can bring on the soul.
4. We learn that Christ’s word is as good as Christ’s presence.

"Gold and silver can lift no one beyond the reach of trouble. They may shut out debt and rags but they cannot shut out care, disease and death."

"The only true wisdom is to be always prepared to meet God, to put nothing off which concerns eternity, and to live like those who are ready to depart at any moment."

"Affliction is one of God’s medicines. By it He often teaches lessons which would be learned in no other way. By it He often draws souls away from sin and the world which would otherwise have perished eternally. Health is a great blessing but sanctified disease is greater."

"In the things of this world we say that seeing is believing. But in the things of the gospel, believing is as good as seeing. Christ’s word is as good as a person’s deed."

Questions:

1. We learn that riches, while they can keep out dept and rags, do not shut out care, disease, and death. We do not tend to think of ourselves as rich, as we usually say that of those who have more than we do. Yet, the principle here is helpful to us: we should not envy the rich as they have increasing cares and it is harder for them to enter the kingdom of heaven. Do we pray for the rich? Also, if we are those who are rich, can we look down on others who are not?

2. Ryle exhorts us in the fact that, in this story, a father is concerned about his son, while the normal order should be reversed. The young tend to think they will live forever, yet this is folly. Are we living today as those who are ready to depart at any moment?

3. Ryle points out that this man and his household believed upon Christ, but it was only so because of the sickness of his son. We learn that health is a blessing, but sanctified suffering that leads us to Christ is far better. How do we see our suffering, as needless or as God’s discipline to bring us to Him and make us more like Jesus?

4. We learn the incredible truth that while in this world we say, “seeing is believing”, the reality of the gospel is that believing is as good as seeing. We can sometimes think that if only I could see my name in the book of life, I would have peace, but we need to see here that to trust in Christ would make us no safer even if we could! Are we taking God at His Word?