Works of John Bunyan: LIGHT FOR THEM THAT SIT IN DARKNESS. 394

 

I now proceed to the second observation—THAT WHEN JESUS WAS COME.
INTO THE WORLD, THEN WAS GOD'S PROMISE FULFILLED—namely, THAT HE WOULD ONE DAY SEND US A SAVIOUR.

Take three texts to confirm this point: 1. 'This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world' (John 6:14). These words were spoken of them that were present at that miracle of Jesus when he fed five thousand with five barley loaves, which a lad had about him in the company; for these men when they had seen the marvel, being amazed at it, made confession of him to be the Saviour. 2. 'Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world' (John 11:27). 3. 'This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners' (1 Tim 1:15).

To explain this observation, I will briefly address three questions: How will this Jesus be distinguished from others of that name? Second, what was it for this Jesus to come into the world? Third, what was it for him to come to be a Saviour?

QUEST. FIRST. For the first, the Jesus in the text is distinguished from all others of that name.

First, by the manner of his birth, he was born of a virgin, a virgin espoused to a man named Joseph, but he 'knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son, and he called his name JESUS' (Matt 1:25).

Second. He is distinguished from others of that name by the place of his birth—to wit, Bethlehem, the city of David; there he must be born, where he was born (John 7:42; Matt 2:4-6).

Third. He is distinguished by his lineage—he came 'of the house and lineage of David' (Luke 2:4-6).

Fourth. He is distinguished by the time of his birth—to wit, the time of the prophets prefixed (Gal 4:4).

Fifth. But his common distinction is Jesus of Nazareth; by this name, he is distinguished one and twenty times in the New Testament—1. His enemies called him 'Jesus of Nazareth' (Matt 26:71; Mark 14:67; John 18:5). 2. His disciples called him 'Jesus of Nazareth' (Matt 21:11; Luke 24:19; John 1:45; Acts 2:22). 3. The angels called him 'Jesus of Nazareth' (Mark 16:6). 4. He called himself 'Jesus of Nazareth' (Acts 22:8). 5. Yeah, and he goes also by the name of 'Jesus of Nazareth' among the devils (Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34).

He was called 'Jesus of Nazareth' because he dwelt there with his mother, Mary, and her husband. Nazareth was his city, where he had been brought up, whither for shelter Joseph carried him when he came out of Egypt with him; in Nazareth was his typical abode until the time that John was cast into prison; wherefore he might well say, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth' (Luke 4:16; Matt 2:23, 4:12,13). Yea, though he was now in heaven, for heaven shall not make us forget what countrymen we were when we lived in the world. Jesus, you see here, though glorified in heaven, yet forgets not what countryman he was when he dwelt in the world. 'I am Jesus of Nazareth,' saith he; I am the Jesus that thou persecutes; and that thou mayest know I am he, I tell thee I dwelt once in the city of Nazareth in Galilee; Joseph and my mother Mary brought me up there, and there I dwelt with them many years. 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest' (Acts 22:8).