The first thing Marash Girl saw on approaching the cabinless mountain were the two Bibles amongst the rubble of books, both with pages blowing in the wind. . . the only books, by the way, whose pages were blowing in the wind. She noticed them, but that was all. The massiveness of loss was so overwhelming, that when she saw the wet and damaged books, including the Bibles, she could not focus. When she told her daughter Lorig about the Bibles that evening, her daughter asked what page the Bibles were open to . . . joking, she asked if the outstanding chapter and verse stated, "Go and do thou likewise," referring to an old joke that many of you may know.
Yesterday, on approaching the rubble for the second time, Marash Girl took a moment to look at the two tornadoed Bibles and this is what she found.
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| One leather bound Bible lay open to the book of Exodus. |
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| This leather bound Bible used to be on the end table next to the bed in which Peter Bilezikian slept on those rare occasions when he would sleep over in Wilbraham. It lay open to the words of Jesus printed in red. John, Chapter 16, Verses 22 ff. "You now therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day you shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, He will give to you." [AND THE FOLLOWING WORDS MARKED BY MY FATHER PETER IN INK]: "Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full." |
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CHRIST'S DEPARTURE AND RETURN. (16:16-22)
ReplyDeleteIt is good to consider how near our seasons of grace are to an end, that we may be quickened to improve them. But the sorrows of the disciples would soon be turned into joy; as those of a mother, at the sight of her infant. The Holy Spirit would be their Comforter, and neither men nor devils, neither sufferings in life nor in death, would ever deprive them of their joy. Believers have joy or sorrow, according to their sight of Christ, and the tokens of his presence. Sorrow is coming on the ungodly, which nothing can lessen; the believer is an heir to joy which no one can take away. Where now is the joy of the murderers of our Lord, and the sorrow of his friends?.ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRAYER. (16:23-27)Asking of the Father shows a sense of spiritual wants, and a desire of spiritual blessings, with conviction that they are to be had from God only. Asking in Christ's name, is acknowledging our unworthiness to receive any favours from God, and shows full dependence upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness. Our Lord had hitherto spoken in short and weighty sentences, or in parables, the import of which the disciples did not fully understand, but after his resurrection he intended plainly to teach them such things as related to the Father and the way to him, through his intercession. And the frequency with which our Lord enforces offering up petitions in his name, shows that the great end of the mediation of Christ is to impress us with a deep sense of our sinfulness, and of the merit and power of his death, whereby we have access to God. And let us ever remember, that to address the Father in the name of Christ, or to address the Son as God dwelling in human nature, and reconciling the world to himself, are the same, as the Father and Son are one.16:28-33:Here is a plain declaration of Christ's coming from the Father, and his return to him. The Redeemer, in his entrance, was God manifest in the flesh, and in his departure was received up into glory. By this saying the disciples improved in knowledge. Also in faith; "Now are we sure." Alas! they knew not their own weakness. The Divine nature did not desert the human nature, but supported it, and put comfort and value into Christ's sufferings. And while we have God's favourable presence, we are happy, and ought to be easy, though all the world forsake us. Peace in Christ is the only true peace, in him alone believers have it. Through him we have peace with God, and so in him we have peace in our own minds. We ought to be encouraged, because Christ has overcome the world before us. But while we think we stand, let us take heed lest we fall. We know not how we should act if brought into temptation; let us watch and pray without ceasing, that we may not be left to ourselves.Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary.
Matthew 24:35 (NASB)-- "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away."
ReplyDeleteI think I saw the Bibles the one day I was at the cottage, but there was so much to look at that day that I think I did not focus on any one thing. My personal emotions blurred everything.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Liz Setian saw it and was most impressed. She and Harry went to see the Griswolds and then went to our place. Liz talked emotionally about the open Bible.