Having Been With Jesus

From the Pastor:  Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.



“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) 

Religious folk can really be quite arrogant in their self-esteem.  I can just hear their pompous condescending snarls cracking the silence saying: “Who do they think they are?  They did not go to one of our schools; and we did not authorize them to touch spiritual matters.”  Ignorant presumptions plague the minds of self-appointed guardians of God’s Word and works. 

Rodney “Gipsy” Smith said: "I didn't go through your colleges and seminaries. They wouldn't have me...but I have been to the feet of Jesus where the only true scholarship is learned."  So must it be with every true student of the Holy Writ.  Colleges and seminaries are only as good as the plain path they lay out to the cross of Calvary and to the blessed feet of Lord Jesus.  Cloning is not an option.  We must have the knowledge God and Jesus nothing else will suffice. 

Two of the disciples met the Lord on the road to Emmaus “and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. … And they said on to another, Did not our heart burn within us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Lk. 24:27, 32)  Having been with Jesus, they were taught precious truths of the Scriptures and their hearts were set on fire by the very presence of those truths.  Prophet Jeremiah confessed: “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name.  But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” (Jer. 20:9)  Art thou a “doubting Thomas” still?  Have you not felt the burning of His words in your bosom?  Where the Spirit is there is fire, but where self-deception reigns there is the dark coldness of death and ignorance.  Jesus is the light and the life. 

O, I would to God that the world would find it ever so evident that we have been with Jesus!  We have neglected the sweet words which flow from the lips of our Good Shepherd much too long.  May we set our hearts to flee at once to the blessed Savior’s feet and feast upon His words and soak up the glory of His presence.