
	"In Christ" quote for today
		Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come -- II Corinthians 5:17.

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The God of Detail

by F.E. Marsh

When we ponder God's works, we see that He is a God of Detail. We read, "He telleth the number of the stars but of His understanding there is no number" (Psalm 147: 45, margin). He can number, but He cannot be numbered. A cob of maize will demonstrate there is never an odd row: there are rows of 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 24. A slave was once promised his liberty if he could find a cob with an odd row. His ingenious mind solved the problem by cutting a row out of a young cob, and thus gained his liberty. The same law of regularity is found in the stem of a plant. Some branches are placed alternately, some opposite, and some are arranged spirally. In each tree there is perfect order. The same law and order may be found in God's Word. Nothing is left to man's caprice and ingenuity. Everything reveals artistic design. The importance of observing the following seven rules is obvious.

I. Where a Scripture is Found

The Gospel of John ends with the twentieth chapter. The twenty-first chapter is an appendix, and reveals the Divine intent by way of emphasis. What is emphasised? The Lordship of Christ in contrast to the self-action of man. That self-action is specially brought out in connection with Peter and the disciples.

Self-will is seen when Peter says "I go a-fishing."
Self-labour is evidenced when the disciples toiled all night and caught nothing.
Self-sight is revealed when the disciples "knew not" the Lord on the shore.
Self-resource is manifest when the Lord asked them if they had caught anything, and they had to say, "No."
Self-boasting is made known when Christ asked Peter if he loved Him more than "these," for he had boasted, "Though all should be offended because of Thee, I will never be offended" (Matthew 26:33).
Self-sin is hinted at in Christ's calling Peter by his old name of "Simon," and the reference to him being the "Son of Jonas" (a silly dove).
Self-grief is evident when Peter was "grieved" by the searching and personal questions which Christ put to him; and
Self-questioning is asserted when Peter seems more concerned as to what John should "do," instead of following his Lord.

Eight times Christ is called "Lord" (Kurios) in the chapter.

John was the first to recognise the Lord on the shore, hence, he said, "It is the Lord."
Peter reverenced the Lord when he "saw it was the Lord," and covered up his nakedness.
The disciples, "knowing that it was the Lord," did not need to put the enquiry, "Who art Thou ?"
Peter responded twice to the Lord when he said, "Yea, Lord," and further remarked to Him, "Lord, Thou knowest all things."
Reference is made to the question of John when he asked the Lord at the table, "Lord, who is he that betrayeth Thee?"
And, lastly, Peter's enquiry as to what John was to do, is recorded in his, "Lord, and what shall this man do ?"

Three thoughts are wrapped up in the Lordship of Christ.

Ownership -- "Ye serve" (as slaves) "the Lord" (Colossians 3:23).
Authority, hence the Lord's Supper is to be kept (I Corinthians 11:20).
Power, therefore we read, "The hand of the Lord" was with the disciples (Acts 11: 21).

All these thoughts are brought out in John 21. Ownership is claimed when Christ speaks of "My sheep." Authority is heard in Christ's commands to "cast," to "come," and to "follow"; and His power is evidenced when He caused 153 great fishes to be caught in the net.
Peter learned his lesson to recognise Christ as Lord, for in his first epistle (3:15, RV.), he urged those to whom he wrote to "sanctify Christ as Lord" in their hearts.

II. What a Scripture Contains

The contents of John 3:16 have been called "the Bible in miniature." Like the gates of the New Jerusalem, there are twelve entrances to this temple of Truth.

The greatest possible need is in the conjunction "For." It takes us back to the previous verses which speak of the necessity of Christ's death because of man's sin.
The greatest possible Being is made known in the second word of the verse -- "God." The One Who is Love, Light and Spirit, and Who in His being is Holiness, Justice, Goodness, Righteousness, Mercy, Truth, and Wisdom.
The greatest possible word is found in the "So." "So loved." This is the shortest word in the Bible with the greatest meaning. There is no sounding to the depth of this ocean, and no possible attainment to its height.
The greatest possible love is reached in this "God so loved." Love is revealed in its highest form, in its greatest giving, in its broadest width, in its deepest depths, and in its unscaleable heights.
The greatest possible place -- "The world." The world with its sins and sorrows, the world sanctified by the feet of Christ, Who walked upon it for our advantage, and where He shed His precious blood for its benefit.
The greatest possible gift -- "He gave." We cannot estimate what it cost when He gave His Best. That giving pierced into the heart of His being, and into the pleasure of His purpose. This gift is the treasure trove in which all His gifts are found.
The greatest possible One -- "His only begotten Son." The Object of His soul's delight, the Express Image of His Deity, the Eternal Son of His partnership, the Visibility of His personality, and the One of His holy equality.
The greatest possible offer -- "Whosoever." There is no stint in His offers, no limitation in His love, no barriers in the way of His invitations, and no favouritism in His willingness to bless the unloving and unlovely.
The greatest possible power -- "Believeth." Faith is an act of the will putting us into touch with the Infinite. The electric power of God's energy flows into the grasp of faith's receiving.
The greatest possible union -- "In" (into) "Him." The preposition "Eis," not only brings to the Lord, but into Him, and makes one with Him, even as the bud engrafted into the tree makes it one with it.
The greatest possible doom -- "perish." Hell is in this word. The hell of a lost soul, an outer darkness of despair, the marring of the whole being, and the impossible helplessness by being held in the grasp of the sins, in which the individual died.
The greatest possible blessing -- "Eternal Life." This is more than eternal existence. It is eternal felicity with Him Who is eternal in His love and holiness. Forever in the circle of His being, in Whom is all well-being.

The roots of all truth are found in this root of God's planting, for this verse reveals God in His giving love, Christ in His atoning sacrifice, the Spirit in His quickening life, the Grace of God in its saving work, the wisdom of God's eternal purpose, the energy of faith in its assimilating process, the eternalness of heaven's glory, and the throb of love's forming ministry.

III. What a Scripture Suggests

There are several sentences of auxiliary comment in John's Gospel. "It was winter" (10:22), the Spirit says when Christ was receiving a cold reception from the Jews. "It was night" (13:30), we read in association with the dark purpose in Judas Iscariot's deed of betrayal. "It was cold" (18:18), it is said as Peter warmed himself at the fire. He was cold in his soul, and that is the reason it was winter in his body. "Judas, not Iscariot" (14:22), called Jesus "Lord," but Iscariot did not do so. How we address the Lord reveals the dress in which our inner life is clothed.
How suggestive is the "I Am" which occurs in John's Gospel. At least twenty times we find "I Am" occurring. Sometimes we read, "I am He," the "He" is in italics, and should therefore be omitted. Sometimes the "I am" is coupled with additional words, such as "I am the Way." The "I am" takes us back to what Jehovah said to Moses, "I AM that I AM" (Exodus 3:14). Pondering these suggestive I am's we can see how much they suggest and contain.

The Unparalleled Speaker -- "I that speak unto thee Am" (4:26).
The Unique Food -- "I Am the Bread of Life " (6:35).
The Heavenly Manna -- "I Am the Bread from heaven" (6: 41).
The Bread of Life -- "I Am that Bread of Life" (6:48).
The Living Bread -- "I Am the Living Bread" (6:51).
The Wonderful Illuminator -- "I Am the Light of the world" (8:12).
The Revealing One -- "I Am from above " (8:23).
The Independent Lord -- "If ye believe not, I Am" (8:24).
The Dependent Son -- "Ye shall know I Am, and that I do nothing of Myself" (8:28).
The Eternal Lord -- "Before Abraham was, I Am" (8:58).
The Darkness Dispeller -- "As long as I Am in the world, I AM the Light " (9:5).
The Sheeps' Protector -- "I Am the Door of the sheep" (10:7).
The Saving Mediator -- "I Am the Door... Saved" (10:9).
The Good Shepherd -- "I Am the Good Shepherd" (10:11,14).
The Pledging Resurrection -- "I Am the Resurrection" (11:25).
The Glorifying Life -- "I Am the Life" (11:25).
The Master and Lord -- "Ye call Me Master and Lord... I Am" (13:13).
The Self-Existing Jehovah -- "When it is come to pass... I Am" (13:19).
"The Way, The Truth, and The Life" -- "I Am" to each (14:6).
The True Vine -- "I Am the True Vine" (15:1).
The I AM -- "I Am" (18:5,8).

If we meditate upon the setting of these sentences, muse upon their meaning, and think on their application, we shall have to say:

Without the Word, there is no Speaking.
Without the Bread, there is no Feeding.
Without the Light, there is no Shining.
Without the Door, there is no Keeping.
Without the Death, there is no Saving.
Without the Grave, there is no Rising.
Without the Life, there is no Living.
Without the Way, there is no Going.
Without the Truth, there is no Knowing.
Without the Vine, there is no Growing.
Without the Lord, there is no Serving.
With the I AM, Eternal Glowing.

This page Copyright © 1998 Peter Wade. The Bible text in this publication, except where otherwise indicated, is from the King James Version. This article appears on the site: http://www.peterwade.com/.

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