"And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not." - John 1:5
There is a great danger today of concentrating attention on questions of dark things and making them the subject of conversation. We invite darkness by discussing it, seeking to deal with it, or even thinking about it. The Christian must learn in this to set aside everything that is negative and be occupied with the positive.
Darkness cannot be driven out of the world, but light can swallow it up. The reverse is never true. There is no such thing as darkness swallowing up light. Light is light wherever it is, even under a bushel. Let me repeat: here even in this dark world, light is light. All the world's darkness cannot extinguish it, but must itself retreat before even the glow of a tiny candle. When you meet darkness, it is absurd to dispel it. Just bring in the light.
The Joyful Heart (by Watchman Nee)
Read the Scriptures: John 1:1-5
Showing posts with label John 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John 1. Show all posts
Monday, April 02, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Behold the Lamb of God
"He looked upon Jesus as He walked, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God!" - John 1:36
When John first announced Christ as the Lamb of God, he added: "which taketh away the sin of the world" (verse 29), thus emphasizing His redeeming work. The second time he did so, however, he simply said: "Behold the Lamb of God!"
Here the accent was not so much on the work as on the Person. Real appreciation means that people are precious to us for their own sakes. We come to love them more for what they are than for what they have done. So it should be with our appreciation of Christ. We thank the Lord for His gifts, but we praise Him for His worth. Christ on the Cross calls forth from us our amazed thanskgiving; Christ on the throne our praise. We behold what He has done and we are profoundly grateful; we behold who He is and we adore.
A Table In The Wilderness (by Watchman Nee)
Read the Scriptures: John 1:29-37
When John first announced Christ as the Lamb of God, he added: "which taketh away the sin of the world" (verse 29), thus emphasizing His redeeming work. The second time he did so, however, he simply said: "Behold the Lamb of God!"
Here the accent was not so much on the work as on the Person. Real appreciation means that people are precious to us for their own sakes. We come to love them more for what they are than for what they have done. So it should be with our appreciation of Christ. We thank the Lord for His gifts, but we praise Him for His worth. Christ on the Cross calls forth from us our amazed thanskgiving; Christ on the throne our praise. We behold what He has done and we are profoundly grateful; we behold who He is and we adore.
A Table In The Wilderness (by Watchman Nee)
Read the Scriptures: John 1:29-37
Monday, March 12, 2007
Grace and Truth
"Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." - John 1:17
This statement is the key to all that follows in John's Gospel. Right through it you find the same double emphasis, upon truth on the one hand and upon grace on the other. Truth will always make demands, and grace will always be there to meet them.
In the incident recorded in Chapter 8 of the woman taken in adultery, truth shines forth. The Lord did not say to her "It is all right; you have not sinned." He did not suggest to the Jews that what she had done was nothing serious, and that He was not deeply concerned about it. No, His words were: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." The truth was there: she had indeed sinned, and according to the law she should be stoned; but so also was the grace, for when all had departed He turned to her with "Neither do I condemn thee".
Throughout the Gospel of John you will find truth is always matched by grace in this way.
A Table In The Wilderness (by Watchman Nee)
Read the Scriptures: John 1:14-18; John 8:1-11
This statement is the key to all that follows in John's Gospel. Right through it you find the same double emphasis, upon truth on the one hand and upon grace on the other. Truth will always make demands, and grace will always be there to meet them.
In the incident recorded in Chapter 8 of the woman taken in adultery, truth shines forth. The Lord did not say to her "It is all right; you have not sinned." He did not suggest to the Jews that what she had done was nothing serious, and that He was not deeply concerned about it. No, His words were: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." The truth was there: she had indeed sinned, and according to the law she should be stoned; but so also was the grace, for when all had departed He turned to her with "Neither do I condemn thee".
Throughout the Gospel of John you will find truth is always matched by grace in this way.
A Table In The Wilderness (by Watchman Nee)
Read the Scriptures: John 1:14-18; John 8:1-11
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