Benjamin Ramsbottom
Benjamin Ramsbottom (1929-2023) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. In 1967, he was appointed pastor of the church meeting at Bethel Strict Baptist Church, Luton, Bedfordshire, a position he held for fifty-five years.
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What Think Ye of Christ?
This is a chapter full of questions. Probably more questions come in this chapter than in any other part of the gospels. First of all, the Pharisees try the Lord with their questions. Next, their enemies the Sadducees try with their questions, and afterwards the Pharisees come back again – they did not give up – with more questions. It is very, very clear that they did not ask the questions to learn the answer. They were trying to entangle our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
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All Our Times Appointed
None of us chose the time when we were born and none of us will choose the time when we shall die. These times are divinely appointed and nothing can ever alter them. Neither did we choose the circumstances in which we were born; neither can we choose the circumstances in which we shall die. All these things are divinely appointed. The wise man says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die.”
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Seedtime And Harvest
God’s ancient people were an agricultural people. They lived close to the land. That is why you have so many references, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, to farming, and one thing that continually comes in: the sowing and the reaping, and the harvest time, and often there is that emphasis that as we sow, so also we shall reap.
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The Need Today for Men Like Jonathan
There are two ancient promises in God’s Word. One is this: "How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight?" It is an amazing word, but it was literally fulfilled in what I read to you this morning (1 Samuel 13. 16-23; 14. 1-23). The other ancient promise is this: "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." And that was literally fulfilled here. What an exploit it was! Beloved friends, it is a strange thing that Jonathan did here. It seems in a way more wonderful than what David did with Goliath. Everybody knows the story of David and Goliath, but very few know the story of Jonathan and how singlehandedly he overthrew the Philistines.
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The Blood of Jesus Christ
Beloved friends, here we are on holy ground, at Calvary, at the foot of the cross, we trust by faith. And may we tread with reverence this hallowed ground, and like Moses at the burning bush know what it is spiritually to take our shoes from off our feet. I do feel inadequate to speak on this beautiful word. I do not think I have ever ventured before, though I have looked at it for over fifty years and I hope felt it for more than fifty years. We have to say,
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The Lord’s Gracious Visits
I think this is a most beautiful chapter, the Lord’s appearance to Zacharias, to Elisabeth, to Mary, the wonderful things that were spoken. Everything seems to be a loving foreshadowing of the blessed truths of the Saviour’s birth that immediately follows in the next chapter. There are quite a few fear nots appear, and that is what the Lord’s people need: “Fear not.”
