 
Illustration. Christ Teaching The Multitude. "Never man spake like this man." John 7:46. 1. What report did the officers bring who were sent out by the chief priests and Pharisees to take Jesus? “Never man spake like this man.” John 7:46. 2. How did Christ teach the people? “He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matt. 7:29. Note.—“The teaching of the scribes and elders was cold and formal, like a lesson learned by rote. To them the Word of God possessed no vital power. Their own ideas and traditions were substituted for its teaching. In the accustomed round of service they professed to explain the law, but no inspiration from God stirred their own hearts or the hearts of their hearers.” 3. Why was Christ's preaching so impressive? “For His word was with power.” Luke 4:32. 4. With what was He filled? “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” Verse 1. 5. How freely was the Holy Spirit bestowed upon Him? “For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.” John 3:34. 6. How had Christ's teaching by parables been foretold? [pg 152]“I will open My mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old.” Ps. 78:2. 7. How was this fulfilled? “Without a parable spake He not unto them.” Matt. 13:34. 8. What question did Christ's wonderful teaching call forth? “And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” Verse 54. 9. What did Isaiah say Christ would do with the law? “He will magnify the law, and make it honorable.” Isa. 42:21. 10. Because some thought He had come to destroy the law, what did Christ say? “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:17-20. 11. What testimony did Nicodemus bear concerning Him? “Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.” John 3:2. 12. What did Christ's words at Jacob's well lead the woman of Samaria to ask? “The woman then left her water-pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” John 4:28, 29. 13. How were the two on the way to Emmaus affected by Christ's conversation with them? “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32. [pg 153]14. In His teaching, to what did Christ direct attention? “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” “And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.” Verses 27, 44, 45. 15. How did He encourage His disciples to look for the fulfilment of prophecy? “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains.” Matt. 24:15, 16. Note.—Christ was a faithful student, a consistent user, and a perfect expounder, of the Scriptures. He met temptation with the Scriptures; He proved His Messiahship by the Scriptures; He taught from the Scriptures; and He told His disciples to look to the Scriptures as their counselor and guide for the future. Blest they who seek While in their youth, With spirit meek, The way of truth. To them the Sacred Scriptures now display Christ as the only true and living way; His precious blood on Calvary was given To make them heirs of bliss in heaven. And e'en on earth the child of God can trace The blessings of his Saviour's grace. For them He bore His Father's frown; For them He wore The thorny crown; Nailed to the cross, Endured its pain, That His life's loss Might be their gain. Then haste to choose That better part, Nor e'en refuse The Lord thy heart, Lest He declare, “I know you not,” And deep despair Should be your lot. Now look to Jesus, who on Calvary died, And trust on Him who there was crucified. |
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