John 5:30-39

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 5:30-39

1. Let us observe the honor Christ puts on His faithful servants.
2. Let us observe the honor Christ puts upon miracles as an evidence of His being the Messiah.
3. Let us observe the honor that Christ puts upon the Scriptures.

"Forgotten and despised by the world, perhaps, they are never forgotten by their Saviour. He knows where they dwell and what their trials are."

"Let the friends of the Bible not be moved by objections against miracles until that one miracle has been fairly disposed of. If that is proved unassailable they need not care much for quibbling arguments against other miracles. If Christ really did rise from the dead by His own power, there is none of His mighty works which people need hesitate to believe."

"Simple, regular reading of the Bible is the great secret of establishment in the faith. Ignorance of the Scriptures is the root of all error."

Questions:

1. Ryle takes notice that these words about John the Baptist are likely spoken after his death, and that we are meant to see Jesus’ care for His people. John the Baptist, though dead, will never be forgotten by Jesus, and the same goes for all of God’s people. Do we believe this to be true? Do we live, in faith, that all we do in Jesus’ name, He will never forget?

2. Ryle helpfully points out that many today, which is for a good portion of church history, who have not seen the miracles Jesus did but only read of them, can treat them with silent incredulity. He challenges us not to forget that when they happened, there was no denying them, even if you wanted to! Do we look at the miracles as the evidence of Jesus’ divinity and praise Him for them? Or do we tend to dismiss them as unimportant or even embarrassing to admit?

3. Ryle points out the great truth that Jesus declares, namely that all of Scripture points us to Christ, and that simple regular reading of the Bible is the great secret of establishment in the faith; consequently, ignorance of the Scriptures is the root of all error. What is our practice in Scripture reading? Are we becoming acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ? Do we tend to avoid the OT because of it’s difficulties? If we do read the OT, are we seeking Christ as we read? There are a number of great resources for reading the OT in this way in the show notes for those interested. May the grace of Christ be with you!

Resources in Reading the OT:

• Hope for All the Earth by Mitchell Chase (this is a brief overview)
• The Promised One by Nancy Guthrie (this is the first of a whole series and is a Bible study to walk through)
• How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament by Jason DeRouchie (in-depth and for preachers)