BRETHREN OF CHRIST
John 20: 11-18
Romans 8: 29-30
Hebrews 2: 11-12
1 John 3: 13-14
JL Our subject of enquiry relates to spiritual relationships. In the first reading we considered the place we have through wondrous grace as amongst the children of God. The thought for this reading is to consider the precious relationship involving ourselves as the brethren of Christ. In the hymn that was just given out we were reminded that was something which was in the heart of the Lord Jesus:
Thy brethren, Lord …
Were in thy heart (Hymn 226)
What a place His brethren had, and still have, in the affections of the Lord Jesus. I trust we may get some fresh impressions and real joy from the consideration of the Lord’s own words in this first section, “go to my brethren”.
In Romans 8 we have somewhat the dignity of the company presented to us, those who have been predestinated in view of enjoying such a place of favour, and predestinated in such a way that we should be brought into conformity to the image of God’s own Son. While our place of privilege is very great and very dignified, I trust we might get help in seeing the supreme place that Christ necessarily must have in distinction amongst His own. He is the Firstborn among many brethren. In the section in Hebrews which we read we might get some impression of the joy of the Lord Jesus in the circle of affection amongst His own. We ourselves also rejoice in the blessedness of the relationship and place of intimacy with the heavenly Man, but He is joying in the company of His own and “is not ashamed to call them brethren”, in the midst of the assembly singing praises to the Father. Finally, in 1 John 3 my thought was that we might consider the wonderful sphere where love is enjoyed and is characteristic amongst the brethren. Hatred is perhaps experienced in the world around, but there is a circle of affection amongst the brethren of Christ, and love is experienced there which is the atmosphere where life is enjoyed. Hence, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren”. I trust we will get help in enquiring together.
John 20 is really the introduction of the heavenly character of the relationship. It was mentioned in the earlier reading that the Lord had referred to His brethren previously, as indicated in the gospels, but that was rather to bring out suited moral characteristics to be found amongst His brethren. Now we have the introduction of the heavenly relationship which necessarily awaited this glorious Person coming forth triumphantly out of death.
APD It seems to be unofficial. The disciples are not there, and this Mary of Magdala, having such a personal relationship with Jesus, is selected for this wonderful message. What do you say about that?
JL I am glad you refer to that. Is that to emphasise that it is particularly a matter involving affection? That was in the heart of the Lord Jesus; as we sang, they ‘were in thy heart’ and they remain so. But then, Mary represents responsively that affection and is therefore a suited vessel to convey this most marvellous message, rather than the thought of anything official.
APD John generally does not make much of what is official. It is what is real in a spiritual sense, is it not?
JL It is what is real and specially identified with love, is it not? He was the apostle who was given to particularly open up that character of the ministry. I think it is fine to take note of the triumphant exit of the Lord Jesus from the tomb. Two angels were sitting there as witnesses that Christ was no longer there. But the affections of Mary were not satisfied by taking account of the absence of the Lord from the tomb but wanted to know where He was.
DMW Was there formation with Mary, bringing out her longings not to be without the Lord?
JL Yes; it did seem as if nothing else could satisfy those affections in her heart - nothing else, not even a word from two angels; that is a very remarkable thing. She seemed to be intensely desirous of finding satisfaction through making contact again with this blessed Man now out of death. Was that what you were thinking?
DMW She had certainly known Him in such a way that she wanted to be with Him and not without Him. She did not know Him in this way yet. But it would be the same Person in her affections, would it not?
JL She is a very interesting personality in that respect. She was already the beneficiary of the Lord’s particular blessing, on account of the relief that she had come into, and in a sense we all are, are we not? Have we got affection like there was in Mary’s heart, which was satisfied when finding again the Object of her love? Therefore she was perhaps a particularly suited vessel to convey the message.
SWD Is it intensely personal? “They have taken away my Lord”.
JL Yes, “my Lord”. I am interested in your reference to that - the intensely personal viewpoint that Mary had - but, correspondingly, I am very interested in the personal touches that the Lord brings in, “my brethren”. I would love if there had been opportunity to explore many more of these peculiarly precious personal touches that the Lord brings in - “my brethren”, “my assembly”, “my Father”, “my glory”, “my kingdom”. Scripture is full of them, subjects of special interest that were in the affections of the Lord Jesus and directly identified with Himself. But here was Mary’s particular thought, “my Lord”. Can you tell us a little more about what that might convey?
SWD It is a test to every one of us if we can say that, “my Lord”.
APG She also says, ‘my Teacher’, does she not? “Rabboni” - there was a personal link there too; she was ready to be taught, was she?
JL Very good.
APG She was ready to be taught about these spiritual relationships you are speaking about here.
JL Those would be two important features for us then - affection for the Lord Jesus, and a readiness to hear His voice and be taught by Him. Perhaps you can enlarge a little on that? It seems a profitable thought for us.
APG The Lord is always ready to teach those who are interested, is He not? Those who have affection for Him and are subject too. Mary was subject to Christ as Lord and ready to take in these great thoughts, do you think?
JL Yes, there is rather an appeal conveyed that should affect us right to the end of the dispensation in that respect. “He that has an ear, let him hear”, Rev 2-3. I know that that is particularly connected for the moment there with what the Spirit says, but it would be the Spirit speaking to us of Christ. And the question arises whether we have hearts that would lead to attentive ears ready to listen.
DTH Do you think this brings out the importance of knowing in the morning meeting the Lord being risen? In that occasion God provides something fresh in relation to the glory of the Lord. When Thomas gets adjusted he brings out a glory that they really had not known of; he says, “My Lord and my God”, John 20: 28.
JL Yes, I have often pondered over that. He was absent from the first appearing, and was quite adamant that unless he had the opportunity to put his hand in the marks and so on, he would not believe. And yet, the grace of the Lord Jesus secured his heart and he became a witness at that point to the deity of the Lord Jesus. That is a very interesting thing, “My Lord and my God”.
DTH What he brought out might show the importance of recognising the Lord’s deity at the time of the Supper.
JL Yes, we do well to remember that and give Him due honour.
DTH There would be something fresh - it is not something that is being repeated. There should be some fresh sense of the glory of the Lord.
JL There is plenty to call forth a note of worship to Him. It was as Man He came forth triumphantly out of death, and here He is viewed as the victorious One, and the ascending One. He says, “I have not yet ascended to my Father”, but that was immediately in view. The greatness of His Person would surely be before us at the Lord’s supper as He is pleased to come in among us. But all the love of His heart is expressed too in this marvellous link, “go to my brethren”.
PWH Did the Lord perhaps have in mind the thought of “my brethren” when He spoke to the Father about His own in John 17? I fully appreciate that the Lord’s death and resurrection were required for that relationship to come into being. I wondered if part of what He had in His heart and had in mind was the disciples being His brethren.
JL Undoubtedly so. We are given to understand from the passage we may look at later in Romans 8 that it was a thought that went back ere time began. So it was clearly in the affections and mind of the Lord Jesus - it was not that the thought was introduced here; it was the heavenly character of the relationship that was introduced, but the thought was in His heart, was it not?
PWH I think it was. And I think it is good to see in relation to the thought of “my brethren” that the thoughts that the Lord had in His heart in John 17 in relation to His own, should mark them, “that they may be one, as we are one”, John 17: 22.
JL Yes, we have read scriptures from the New Testament but we might certainly feel free to draw from some of the types in the Old Testament. We have a type in relation to Joseph and his brethren that would enter into that - the dream conveying the place typically that Christ was to secure amongst His own, a circle of affection and honour there.
MJK Does this thought of “my brethren” give character to these persons?
JL Yes, it does. It is a very dignified expression in that regard. It was something that the Lord said, I have no doubt, with deep joy in His heart, and asked Mary to convey that message, and she identified those to whom it was suitable to convey it. It did not appear as if there was anything more specific said in relation to the names or particular identification of the persons other than “my brethren”. Mary seemed to discern those who were worthy to be connected with that wonderful word of the Lord Jesus. There would be particular dignity connected with them, would there not?
AML She spoke in Hebrew; would that bring out her discernment and feelings and affections for Christ?
JL I had not thought about that. I do not know what more I can say about that. You better open that up a little for us.
AML I think it has been said that speaking in the Hebrew tongue was to bring out divine feelings. I was just struck with the depth of love and affection seen in this sister, able to apprehend and take on this wonderful message that the Lord gives her. You wonder really why such a detail is mentioned in Scripture.
JL Yes, I think all that is very helpful. It is just another indication that the matter was particularly connected with affection and love that was flowing now from the heart of the Lord Jesus rather than anything official. It would bear on the point that was mentioned earlier, would it not? And what a message! “Go to my brethren and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your Father”.
SWD When she says, “Rabboni” that is really ‘my Teacher’.
JL Yes, you kindly drew our attention to her also speaking about “my Lord” and now this would be another personal touch of Mary’s love for the Lord and willingness to learn from Him.
What a wonderful relationship of love was now being disclosed. The brethren of Christ were to learn that He was ascending to His Father and their Father, “my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God”.
APD Would you explain for us the references to the brethren in the other three gospels and the brethren here?
JL Are you suggesting now that it is more than just the moral characteristics of the brethren, and is the introduction now of the heavenly relationship between themselves and the Father? We should note in that respect that the Lord does not use the expression ‘our Father’ but “my Father and your Father”. Can you help us about that?
APD He always has that distinction, does He not? In every relationship He always has that peculiar personal distinction.
JL I think it is very important that we keep that in our minds and, while our relationship as Christ’s brethren is a very blessed one to be brought into the enjoyment of, it does not mean we are altogether on common ground with Him, does it? And that particularly bears on the passage we read in Romans 8, “so that he should be the firstborn among many brethren”. The place of supreme honour must always be given to Christ.
APD What is the meaning of the firstborn? Why is it alluded to, Christ being the Firstborn?
JL Amongst other things it was the place of particular honour in the family.
DTH “The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father”, John 1: 18. It is in that glory He is presented to us.
JL Altogether so. Part of the joy of our hearts in that respect is to think that we have been taken “into favour in the Beloved” (Eph 1: 6), the particular object of the Father’s affections. This link “my Father and your Father” is an indescribably precious link.
DTH The title “Rabboni” involves the affections between those taught and the teacher. It is a relationship of affection. When Paul writes to disciples, we see the peculiar affection of these men coming out.
JL Yes, very good. Paul particularly served in that way too, not only as a teacher and expositor of the truth that had been given to him to convey to the saints, but he spoke and served as a father amongst them too; a good feature for us all to emulate.
I was enjoying thinking over this passage which is linked with predestination. Think of what was in the mind and heart of divine persons before time began. “Whom he has foreknown”, that is an allusion to the saints, is it not, “he has also predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son”? It is an immensely blessed place of favour for us according to the thoughts of God ere time began, but it is associated with Christ having the chief place - the Firstborn among many brethren.
SWD Is it not wonderful that there are many brethren? In Hebrews 2: 10 the expression comes in in another place too, “bringing many sons to glory”. It is many; but it is not a poor weak few - many.
JL “Many”, that is a fine thought to keep in our hearts and to have respect for those to whom it refers. I do think we need to be preserved in humility in our thoughts so that we do not think we are the exclusive objects of the interest of divine Persons. We must be careful in relation to the steps of the paths in which we move in fellowship, and we seek to guard and protect that, but it is good to get an impression of the vastness of divine interests in relation to the heavenly family and those who compose it. But amongst all, Christ has the first place.
TRC Would the reference in John that the Lord makes, “Except the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, it abides alone; but if it die, it bears much fruit” (chap 12: 24), bear on our enquiry?
JL Yes, just exactly. The “much fruit” would link with the thought of the brethren of Christ as taking character from Him, and ‘the much’ would be a clear link with the reference a moment ago to the many brethren. You were perhaps thinking of both, were you?
TRC I wondered that, and the necessity of the work of Christ. We had no part with Him in His manhood in flesh and blood, but as He has gone into death, the grain of wheat died but has brought much fruit. How blessed that is that we are part of that, the much fruit that has come out of the death of Christ.
JL He is out of death, but the saints as associated with Him are viewed as beyond death as well. We have a link and a place of association with the One who is out of death.
DMW And therefore does the thought of brethren bring to mind God’s prime thought of likeness?
JL Very good. These words that we have been considering, “much fruit” all springing from the one grain clearly involve that. In Genesis 1: 12 it is, “seed after its kind” - it is bearing the same likeness and that seems to be a very important thought. It would be confirmed here in to Romans 8: 30 in that those predestinated have been called and justified and glorified. They are in every way made suitable to be associated with Him.
DMW That is very helpful and I think here the “called” are the chosen as well. Would you go with that? In other words, it goes beyond simply the call of the gospel - it is the call of God, chosen. Therefore the likeness is recovered through the death of Christ and the seed bears fruit of itself.
JL I suppose the likeness is fully expressed in that there is not only likeness as to character because of our place as associated with Him, but even as to our bodies that will be so as well. The scripture that says there in v 29, “he has also predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son”, would include likeness even as to our bodies, would it not, in its full extent?
DMW It says, “into conformity to his body of glory” (Phil 3: 21), so that the idea is glory. We have the Spirit very much prominent in this chapter; “these also he has glorified”: that would bring in the present availability of the Spirit in the saints.
JL Yes, the availability of the Spirit, and in large measure the way in which the saints have been glorified through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Would all this then contribute to the peculiar joy of the Lord Jesus amongst His own?
APD In the reference to the oil of gladness, the Lord is anointed with the oil of gladness above his companions (Heb 1: 9) - is that a reference to the Holy Spirit?
JL I do not know. I suppose in some way it is connected with the place that the Holy Spirit would cause us to be brought into in the appreciation of the distinctive honour associated with the place that Christ has. Would the reference to “gladness above thy companions” be the place of particular honour He has? No doubt it is by the Holy Spirit that we are brought to understand and appreciate that, but can you help us as to your understanding of it?
APD I wondered if the oil of gladness would be the joy of the Holy Spirit in bringing out the beauty of Jesus as the anointing would suggest.
JL I think that is helpful. I can well understand that. The Holy Spirit has peculiar joy in seeing Christ honoured amongst His own, has He not?
AJL Can you help us as to the responsibility involved in this privilege? It speaks about a ‘calling’ and so on.
JL I think in that respect we have to remember that responsibilities flow from relationships, but it is not on the ground of responsibility that we have entered into the relationship here. It is according to all the foreknowledge and desire of God to bring us into this in the way of favour and association with the Lord Jesus. It is a good point to remember in relation to our considerations that responsibilities flow out of relationships and you cannot reverse that. So far as the prime thoughts of God are concerned it is not on the ground of responsibility we enter into them.
DMW We are brought into what has already been determined, and the Spirit helps us in support of faith as to what we really are. Do we not understand by that that God’s thought is our being conformed to the image of His Son, and that likeness has been recovered in view of divine purpose, so that we are chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, Eph 1: 4? From that, do you think that the life of responsibility or faith takes its form, not by legal mandates, but by our being what we are?
JL It is good to remember that the basis of our entrance into these things is not on the ground of responsibility but according to the purpose of God. But I do think, and often ponder over the fact, that two things normally flow out from relationships - one is responsibilities and the other is affection. We have been taught that in both respects these things cannot be reversed in their order.
PWH Did the Lord ask Mary to convey this message to His brethren in order that responsible persons would be given it? It would not do just to have Mary keep it to herself.
JL Yes, very good, responsible persons. At the same time, that would not conflict with what we have just said that responsibility is not the ground on which we enter into it. I think our brother’s point a moment ago is helpful in that respect for it serves to magnify the wonderful privilege granted to us according to the purpose of God, but creates a responsibility to move worthily in accordance with it.
TRC Some of the young people might wonder what we are speaking about in relation to responsibility flowing from the relationship first. Simply, if I am a father I have to take up that responsibility as a father, but if I am not a father I do not have that responsibility. So as we are brethren of Christ we enter into that relationship; so I have a responsibility to fulfil that relationship in responsibility.
JL That is exactly right. It applies to all the relationships that are taken up, even in relation to practical things, for example, a master and a servant: if I am a master I have a responsibility then to treat my employees correctly, but if I am an employee I have a responsibility to respect my master. Nobody is responsible to be a child but if a child is born, the child then has responsibilities to honour father and mother. Responsibilities flow out of relationships, and in normal circumstances, so do affections. And that is very important as well. We have been thinking of affection in Mary lying at the background of it, but the very consideration of the privilege and the enjoyment of it promotes affection on our part, and contributes to, the answer returning to the satisfaction of the Lord, and to the honour of God as Father, who has been revealed to such persons, do you not think?
TRC Reference was made to John 17. In verse 24 it says, “I desire that where I am they also may be with me”; that is an area of affection, is it not?
JL Very much so.
KDD A brother has taught us here locally that in these relationships it is love answering to love.
JL That is very true, especially these very dignified and extremely precious relationships that we refer to as prime ones according to God’s mind. I did make mention a moment or two ago about an employer and a servant - that is not a prime relationship at all. It is one that just belongs to the sphere of responsibility down here, but what we are speaking about in relation to the brethren of Christ is a prime thought of God’s that has gone back to His purpose and foreknowledge ere time began.
PWH So, in that way, it is good to see that being conformed to the image of His Son takes nothing away from Christ, but rather distinguishes Him, because it goes on to say, “to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he should be the firstborn among many brethren”.
JL That is a very important point. We have touched a little of that already, in saying that we do not take common ground with Christ. We are associated with Christ but He is supreme in the midst, and the Spirit of God, whom we have rightly been referring to, would always ensure that that is promoted in our own affections and interests. It has its reflection too in our response because we would normally give honour to the Lord Jesus as the Firstborn following the Supper in the early part of the service of praise.
Perhaps we should look at the passage in Hebrews 2, concerning the Sanctifier and the sanctified. Christ is “not ashamed to call them brethren”. It seems a very delightful presentation of this thought as to brethren here - Christ not ashamed of His own, but taking His place amongst them in liberty with His heart rising in joy and we brought into the responses.
AML Would it be right to link this with Psalm 133 - brethren dwelling in unity?
JL I am sure all that bears on it, the circle of united affections into which the Lord is pleased to come. We should remember that we cannot direct the movements of the Lord Jesus nor call Him into presence. We would seek to provide conditions whereby He would be free to come and find a place in the united affections of His own, where He would be free and have joy in His own heart as we would have in ours as in His company.
APD Why is sanctification linked, and brought in, in this verse?
JL In a little the verse explains the reason, does it not? Because it goes on to say, “for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren”. That gives an answer to the reason, does it not? It is to show how perfectly suited they are to be identified and called Christ’s brethren, and He free amongst them, a sanctified company, wholly suited to His place of joy among them.
APD And set apart, would you say?
JL Set apart in sanctification, not as a process but through the completeness of the work of the Sanctifier.
NJP I liked this thought of partakers. It gives the thought of being sustained in an area which is heavenly; “holy brethren” the writer says at the start of the next chapter, “partakers of the heavenly calling”, chap 3:1.
JL Very good, “holy brethren” - that would be a clear link with those sanctified, and set apart in holiness, suitable to be in the company of the Lord Jesus, would you think? There is something very delightful about this whole section. Christ is in the midst - that is the place He is worthy to have. We have been thinking of Christ as supreme and rising above all, but equally He has a place of affection in the midst, singing these praises.
DMW It is interesting that He that sanctifies says, “I will declare thy name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly will I sing thy praises. And again, I will trust in him”, v 13. It is very personalised, is it not? It is like His possession - all of one kind. You had that reference to Genesis.
JL These matters very much bear on what the Lord Himself has done. Our brother enquired earlier about the question of responsibility, but these things which flow out now, the sanctification and the name by which we have been called and so on, are all according to what the Lord has done Himself.
APD It is a very wonderful thing that He has the means in the assembly to express His feelings Godward.
JL How precious to His heart! There is an atmosphere of affection there where those forming it are identified as being His brethren but merged as one to form the assembly, which is a vessel capable of answering to the affections of the Lord Jesus, and under His influence too, participating in the response that is going up, would you say?
APD I understand that is the meaning of His singing in the assembly. The assembly becomes His means of expressing His feelings to God. Would that be right?
JL Yes, He as Head leading, but then the assembly becoming the vessel of response through which that is expressed.
PWH It goes beyond the thought of congregation in Psalm 22. It is an intelligent vessel.
JL I like that reference in the hymn which I referred to,
All merge in perfect oneness
Responding as Thy bride.
(Hymn 301)
That is not a large congregation in some way meeting together, but persons formed as one to constitute the assembly, in the midst of which Christ sings and we are drawn into love’s answering response. It is fine to think of the Lord taking His place then in a circle of affection in which He is in no way ashamed, but where His heart is rejoicing and finds opportunity to express this through assembly response.
RNH Do you think the note to “sanctified” helps? It says, ‘Simply the character of the persons, without reference to done or doing’. I was affected by what was said as to the Lord’s work. We should come unencumbered to the Supper, should we? We do not have to work up to it; the Lord Jesus has done what is required to bring us into a sanctified company, and we can be responsive without any encumbrances upon us, do you think?
JL That is the ground we are privileged to take. Just at that point, I think, it is equally true that we would learn from other scriptures that in other respects, sanctification is very definitely a process and is something that is to be worked out in us, but not so in the context of what is mentioned here. It is a complete thought fulfilled by the Sanctifier Himself.
DMW Is the name of the Father understood in v 12? Is it “I will declare thy name”?
JL I am sure it includes the thought of the Lord saying on that wonderful morning to Mary, “I ascend to my Father and your Father”. It is intelligent response then to an enjoyed relationship; is that what was in your mind?
DMW I think the link with John 20 is very helpful. “I ascend to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God”. It is “my brethren”, is it not? “I will declare thy name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly …” - that is the vessel where He can sing the praises of God.
JL I think we are given to understand that from John 17: 26 where the Lord in speaking there to His Father, He says, “I have made known to them thy name, and will make it known”. The “will make it known” was fulfilled on the resurrection morning, was it not?
Perhaps we should go on to 1 John 3. These two verses represent two completely different spheres. “Do not wonder, brethren, if the world hate you”. The world is not our home; it is the present place where the saints move in the testimony here, but the world is not our home: it is not intended to be. Christ indicated to His lovers that He was coming to take them to Himself and spoke to His own Father about that. His desire is that “where I am they also may be with me”. We are brought into a sphere where love is in circulation and where life is to be enjoyed.
TRC These relationships dignify us, do they not? To look at the brethren as the brethren of Christ - they belong to Him - we need to be very careful what we say about the brethren, and how we speak about the brethren.
JL Very much so. This is love working out horizontally because I have come to appreciate the significance of the brethren of Christ. “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren”: “we love the brethren”. John’s epistle greatly helps in showing that it is not possible to love God and hate my brother. There would be such an inconsistency there that it would expose something as being definitely wrong. If I truly love God I will love those that belong to the family. That is what we began with in the earlier reading. And now it would show how we would come to appreciate the brethren. And I think the point you mentioned is a very important one. I often reflect upon a word that a valuable old sister gave to one of our daughters following her marriage and setting up a home. She said, ‘Keep criticism of the brethren out of your home’. That is a very important thing. Do I spend time at home criticising the saints? That is not profitable, and it is displeasing in the eyes of the Lord Jesus; they are the objects of His affection; they were in His heart and they remain so. We must be careful how we speak of the brethren.
TRC So parents, father and mothers, particularly have a responsibility in that.
JL To protect what is in the home, do you mean?
TRC I wondered that, and if children are brought up in an environment of criticism of the brethren they will take that character on themselves. It has often been said that ‘we tell the Lord about the brethren and tell the brethren about the Lord’.
JL That is exactly it and is very helpful. If there is criticism it brings about a stifling of the enjoyment of life. But if the circulation of love is maintained then it is a fulfilment of what is said here, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren”. We have been taught, and Mr Raven’s ministry is helpful in this regard, that there is an atmosphere in which life is enjoyed and that atmosphere is love, see FER vol 7 p375.
MTH I would like your thoughts on v 16. It says, “we ought for the brethren to lay down our lives”: just how would that particularly work out in the light of our brother’s comment? I think, this would have a very practical bearing on that.
JL That would spring from loving God, and so loving the brethren that I am prepared to go as far as to lay down my life in service to them. If you were to ask me for a practical example of a servant doing that I would point you to Paul, one who was prepared to do that and even if he was the less loved while carrying it out. That would not hinder him from the fulfilment of the exercise because of the love that was in his heart for the brethren. Would that help or have you more to say about it?
MTH I was thinking of it in a slightly different way - the Lord sat opposite the treasury and saw that woman cast in “the whole of her living”, Mark 12: 44. The scripture refers to her substance; I am interested in that connection how that comes in. I certainly appreciate how the apostle ministered in that way as well; we see him really giving the whole of his living - it is not just monetary, it is well beyond that - the whole of his living.
JL That is very interesting. It is a word to be taken up by us all. We did not read that verse, but it is a very important verse. We have a lot of young people here today; I might ask for the interest of the young people: perhaps all would know what John 3: 16 is, but do we all know what 1 John 3: 16 is? That is just what we are referring to now. John 3: 16 brings out the marvellous love of God towards us in mercy that we should not perish but have life through believing in His Son. 1 John 3: 16 rather indicates I should be so affected by that love that I ought to be prepared to devote my life in love and service to the brethren. It is good to remember that - I John 3: 16.
MTH I remember being taught that when I was young, and being asked that quite often; so I appreciate that. I was thinking too earlier of Matthew 25, and we have referred to the gospels and the difference between that and John, but in Matthew 25 the king says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me”, v 40. If we see the brethren in that comparison, “ye have done it to me”, would that help us as to laying down our lives for the brethren?
JL Yes, very good. We have been speaking of some things that flow out from relationships but now we are entitled to think of what flows out from love. Love underlies service, does it not? If service is just taken up in some legal or formal way we may well get into difficulties, but love underlies service. I am sure a lot of love has come into evidence in the way that persons have laboured in relation to the provision for the saints here. It is a good thing for the younger brethren to seek opportunities to take up the privilege of serving the saints. Love in our hearts would promote that feature and help to develop it.
DMW That is an expression of the nature of God, is it not? In our relationships, the very nature of God is in expression. There is no real living without God’s nature being involved in what we do. Here it is sacrificial love for the brethren, is it not?
JL As we have said earlier it is an inconsistency for me to profess to love God if I do not love the brethren, and if I do love the brethren then I will be prepared to serve them: love underlying service.
AML Would you say that Paul sets it out in Acts 20? Paul descending, falling upon and enfolding the young man, laying down his life for him, v 10?
JL Acts 20 is a wonderful example too, is it not? The manifest affection that Paul had for those at Ephesus, and the way that was appreciated by them, was expressed by the tears that were shed, v 37.
KDD In John 11 it says, “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus”, v 5. John 12 starts off, “There therefore they made him a supper”, v 2.
JL Jesus moved out of the coldness of Jerusalem to the warmth and affection in the house of Bethany, where He was loved. He took His place at table where He had the first place in that circle of affection.
DNM We were speaking about likeness a little earlier. What we are speaking about now, is that not a demonstration of likeness coming out?
JL The likeness would thereby contribute to a proper representation of what God is in His own blessed nature. Our brother made mention in the previous reading to the thought of derivation and representation, and that likeness finds its expression then among the saints in the way that we love and serve in such a way as to represent God and answer to what delights His heart.
Reading at a three-day meeting in Calgary
5th July 2019
Key to initials:-
T R Campbell, Glasgow; A P Devenish, Edmonton; K D Drever, Calgary; S W Drever, Calgary; A P Grant, Dundee; R N Hesterman, Beachville; M T Holland, Calgary; D T Howie, Edmonton; P W Howie, Edmonton; M J Klassen, Aberdeen; A J Laurie, Brechin; J Laurie, Brechin; A M Lidbeck, Aberdeen; D N Morrow, Toronto; N J Plant, Toronto; D M Welch, Denton