Required reading
The Works (Vol 4) of John Newton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon XVII (Messiah despised, and rejected of men).
My summary
This week Newton preaches on 'He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief' (Isa 53:3)
Firstly Newton considers what is meant by 'despised and rejected by men'. We learn that they:
(i) despised him for what they accounted the meanness of his appearance;
(ii) heightened their contempt when this poor man demanded their attention and homage;
(iii) objected to his low state and former characters of his followers;
(iv) were exasperated against him by the authority and severity with which he taught;
(v) misrepresented him.
Secondly Newton teaches that 'a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief' refers to Jesus':
(i) outward course of life;
(ii) pefect knowledge and foresight of those sufferings which we emphatically call his passion;
(iii) frame of spirit.
What grabbed me
I liked this point: 'They were further exasperated against him, by the 'authority' and severity with which he taught. It is true, he was gentle and meek to all who felt their need of his help, or sincerely desired his instruction. He received them without exception, and treated them with the greatest tenderness. But he vindicated the honour of the law of God, from the corrupt doctrine and traditions of their professed teachers. He exposed and unmasked the hypocrisy of their most admired characters ; and compared the men who were in the highest reputation for wisdom and sanctity, to whitened sepulchres, warning the people against them as blind guides and deceivers.'
Exposing hypocrisy rarely wins you friends.
Next week's reading
Read Sermon XVIII (Voluntary suffering).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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