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Daily Devotionals
Mornings and Evenings with Jesus
Devotional: April 12th

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Morning Devotional

After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once. - 1 Corinthians 15:6.

WE here find the Saviour in the very mysterious passage of his life which elapsed between his resurrection and his ascension. Where he was during these intervening weeks, and how he was employed, it is impossible for us to conjecture. All that we know is, that he maintained an occasional intercourse with his disciples, “to whom he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” To one of these interviews we are here led. “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him; but some doubted.”

Who were these doubters? As all the apostles had seen him before, and as Thomas, most incredulous of them all, expressed himself perfectly satisfied, it could not be any of the eleven. But there were others now present; and this is the season to which the apostle refers when he says, “After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once.” The case was this. Though he had repeatedly appeared to his apostles separately and collectively, all these appearances were unexpected; whereas this interview was appointed. Jesus ordered his disciples to go away to a particular mountain in Galilee, and promised there to be seen of-them. Now, knowing this, and not willing to share their privilege alone, they called upon their neighbours and friends to accompany them on this occasion. This series to account for the largeness of the assembly, and for the hesitation of some who, not so accurately remembering his features, could not instantly identify him, (an instance of the impartiality and fearlessness of the sacred historians in recording all that happened, whether it could be deemed favourable or unfavourable to their cause) And we read that Jesus “came and spake unto them.” “Came”? Was he not there with them before? Dr. Campbell therefore renders it, “And Jesus drew near”-that is, he approached the eleven in the presence of the five hundred-“and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Evening Devotional

Ask, and ye shall receive. - John 16:24.

WITH regard to the asking and receiving blessings from our heavenly Father observe four things. First, That God has prescribed this course, and made prayer the channel of his influence and communication. For all these things, says he, “I will he inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them.”

Secondly, He has a right to determine the way in which he should be gracious; for grace must be free, or it is no more grace. He is a great King above all gods, and we have no claim upon him. Yea, we were unworthy of the least of all his mercies; we lay entirely under his displeasure, and as children of disobedience we deserved that his wrath should come upon us.

Thirdly, The way he has chosen is best, whether we consider his glory or our own welfare. Prayer humbles man, while it exalts God: it expresses our dependence upon him, and gives him the glory that is due to his holy name: thus honouring his wisdom, his power, and his goodness. And as to ourselves, if we obtained these blessings without ever claiming or seeking after them, the attainment would afford us no satisfaction. We should not then value them, nor call upon our souls, and all that is within us, to bless and praise God for them.

Fourthly, As he has appointed and enjoined this way, He will always pay regard to it. He always has done so from the beginning of the world. He hath not said to the seed of Jacob, “Seek ye me in vain;” and he never will, and he never can. For though we could not bind him, he has bound himself by promise; and the Scripture cannot be broken. Let us therefore confide in his faithfulness, and pray for the blessings we need; for, says he, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth: and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” And, blessed be his name, there are no meritorious qualifications required-no hard conditions imposed.

“Though in ourselves we have no stock,

The Lord is nigh to save;

The door flies open when we knock:

It is but ask and have.”

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