PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. II
Dods, Marcus · 118,818 words · 159 reading sections
Contents.
Produced by Marcia Brooks, Colin Bell, Nigel Blower and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) [Transcriber's Note: This e-text is intended for users whose text readers cannot display t…
298 wordsSECTION 2_The Anointing Of Jesus._
"Jesus therefore six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead. So they made Him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with Him. Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very precious, and anointed the feet of …
680 wordsSECTION 3_The Anointing Of Jesus._
On His way to Jerusalem for the last time Jesus reached Bethany "six days before the Passover"--that is to say, in all probability[1] on the Friday evening previous to His death. It was natural that He should wish to spend His last Sabbath in the congenial and strengthening society of a family whose welcome and whose a…
738 wordsSECTION 4_The Anointing Of Jesus._
But we are probably more likely to misunderstand than to be misunderstood. We are so limited in our sympathies, so scantily furnished with knowledge, and have so slack a hold upon great principles, that for the most part we can understand only those who are like ourselves. When a woman comes in with her effusiveness, w…
883 wordsSECTION 5_The Anointing Of Jesus._
2. But our Lord's defence of Mary is of wider range. "Let her alone," He says, "against the day of my burying hath she kept this." It was not only occasional, exceptional tribute she had paid Him; it was solitary, never to be repeated. Against my burial she has kept this unguent; for me ye have not always. Would you bl…
723 wordsSECTION 6_The Anointing Of Jesus._
The encomium, therefore, was deserved and appropriate. In her love the Lord would ever live: so long as she existed the remembrance of Him could not die. No death could touch her heart with his chilly hand and freeze the warmth of her devotion. Christ was immortal in her, and she was therefore immortal in Him. Her love…
799 wordsSECTION 7_The Anointing Of Jesus._
But the connection between ourselves and Christ is not of the body that passes, but of the spirit which endures. It is spiritual, and such a connection may be seriously perverted by the interference of sense and of bodily sensations. To measure the love of Christ by His expression of face and by His tone of voice is le…
428 wordsSECTION 8_The Entry Into Jerusalem._
[1] It is uncertain whether the "six days" are inclusive or exclusive of the day of arrival and of the first day of the Feast. It is also uncertain on what day of the week the Crucifixion happened. [2] In _The Classical Review_ for July 1890 Mr. Bennett suggests that the difficult word =pistikes= should be written =pi…
765 wordsSECTION 9_The Entry Into Jerusalem._
Those who have entered the city from Bethany by this road tell us that there are two striking points in it. The first is when at a turn of the broad and well-defined mountain track the southern portion of the city comes for an instant into view. This part of the city was called "the city of David," and the suggestion i…
734 wordsSECTION 10_The Entry Into Jerusalem._
This then in the first place; it was His own deliberate act. He put Himself forward, knowing that He would receive the hosannas of the people, and intending that He should receive them. All His backwardness is gone; all shyness of becoming a public spectacle is gone. For this also is to be noted--that no place or occas…
776 wordsSECTION 11_The Entry Into Jerusalem._
This was the claim He made; and this claim was enthusiastically admitted by the popular instinct.[5] The populace was not merely humouring in holiday mood a whimsical person for their own diversion. Many of them knew Lazarus and knew Jesus, and taking the matter seriously gave the tone to the rest. The people indeed di…
787 wordsSECTION 12_The Corn Of Wheat._
[4] This is more distinctly brought out in the Synoptic Gospels than in St. John: cp. Mark xi. 1-10. [5] According to the reading of the scene by St. John, the people needed no prompting. "Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast: these therefore came to Philip, which was of Bet…
668 wordsSECTION 13_The Corn Of Wheat._
Evidently Philip considered that this request was critical. The Apostles had been charged not to enter into any Gentile city, and they might naturally suppose that Jesus would be reluctant to be interviewed by Greeks. But before dismissing the request, he lays it before Andrew his friend, who also bore a Greek name; an…
712 wordsSECTION 14_The Corn Of Wheat._
As with the grain, so is it with each human life. One of two things you can do with your life; both you cannot do, and no third thing is possible. You may consume your life for your own present gratification and profit, to satisfy your present cravings and tastes and to secure the largest amount of immediate enjoyment …
658 wordsSECTION 15_The Corn Of Wheat._
This, then, being the law of human life, Christ, being man, must not only enounce but observe it. He speaks of Himself even more directly than of us when He says, "He that loveth his life shall lose it." His disciples thought they had never seen such promise in His life as at this hour: seedtime seemed to them to be pa…
668 wordsSECTION 16_The Corn Of Wheat._
II. The second point suggested is, that the proper value of Christ's life consists in this--that it propagates similar lives. As seed produces grain of its own kind, so Christ produces men like Christ. He ceasing to do good in this world as a living man, a multitude of others by this very cessation are raised in His li…
743 wordsSECTION 17_The Corn Of Wheat._
Thus only can we enter into permanent happiness. Goodness and happiness are one--one in the long-run, if not one in every step of the way. We are not asked to live for others without any heart to do so. We are not asked to choose as our eternal life what will be a constant pain and can only be reluctantly done. The ver…
611 wordsSECTION 18_The Attractive Force Of The Cross._
"Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name. There came therefore a voice out of heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The multitude therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that…
699 wordsSECTION 19_The Attractive Force Of The Cross._
This world has commonly presented itself to thoughtful minds as a battle-field in which the powers of good and evil wage ceaseless war. In the words He now utters the Lord declares Himself to be standing at the very crisis of the battle, and with the deepest assurance He announces that the opposing power is broken and …
867 wordsSECTION 20_The Attractive Force Of The Cross._
Of the kingdom of Christ, though a full description cannot be given, one or two of the essential characteristics may be mentioned. 1. It is _a kingdom_, a community of men under one head. When Christ proposed to attract men to Himself, it was for the good of the race He did so. It could achieve its destiny only if He …
814 wordsSECTION 21_The Attractive Force Of The Cross._
3. Christ's kingdom being universal, it is also and necessarily _inward_. What is common to all men lies deepest in each. Christ was conscious that He held the key to human nature. He knew what was in man. With the penetrating insight of absolute purity He had gone about among men, freely mixing with rich and with poor…
1,004 wordsSECTION 22_The Attractive Force Of The Cross._
But Christ is no mere hero or teacher sealing his truth with his blood; nor is it enough to say that His death renders, in a conspicuous form, the perfect self-sacrifice with which He devoted Himself to our good. It is conceivable that in a long-past age some other man should have lived and died for his fellows, and ye…
819 wordsSECTION 23_The Attractive Force Of The Cross._
To complete the idea of the attractiveness of the Cross, it must further be kept in view that this particular form of the manifestation of the Divine love was adapted to the needs of those to whom it was made. To sinners the love of God manifested itself in providing a sacrifice for sin. The death on the cross was not …
467 wordsSECTION 24_Results Of Christ'S Manifestation._
"But though He had done so many signs before them, yet they believed not on Him: that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again, He hath …
745 wordsSECTION 25_Results Of Christ'S Manifestation._
By thus believing in the light they will themselves become "children of light." The "children of light" are those who live in it as their element,--as "the children of this world" are those who wholly belong to this world and find in it what is congenial; as "the son of perdition" is he who is identified with perdition…
719 wordsSECTION 26_Results Of Christ'S Manifestation._
Besides, might it not very well be that the blindness and callousness of the Jews in rejecting Jesus was the inevitable issue of a long process of hardening? If, in former periods of their history, they had proved themselves unworthy of God's training and irresponsive to it, what else could be expected than that they s…
732 wordsSECTION 27_The Foot-Washing._
And if it be asked, as among the Jews it certainly must have been asked, why, if Jesus is the Messiah, does He not punish men for rejecting Him? the answer is, "I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." Judgment, indeed, necessarily results from His coming. Men are divided by His coming. "The words that I …
705 wordsSECTION 28_The Foot-Washing._
In order to account for what follows, the precise time is defined in the words "supper being served"[7] or "supper-time having arrived"; not, as in the Authorised Version, "supper being ended," which plainly was not the case;[8] nor, as in the Revised Version, "during supper." The difficulty about washing the feet coul…
861 wordsSECTION 29_The Foot-Washing._
But not only is the time noted, in order that we may perceive the relevancy of the foot-washing, but the Evangelist steps aside from his usual custom and describes the mood of Jesus that we may more deeply penetrate into the significance of the action. Around this scene in the supper-chamber St. John sets lights which …
741 wordsSECTION 30_The Foot-Washing._
Still another circumstance which seemed to John to accentuate the grace of the foot-washing was this--that Judas was among the guests, and that "the devil had now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him." The idea had at last formed itself in Judas' mind that the best use he could make of Jesus…
804 wordsSECTION 31_The Foot-Washing._
Superficially, these words might have been understood as intimating to Peter that, if he wished to partake of the feast prepared, he must allow Jesus to wash his feet. Unless he was prepared to leave the room and reckon himself an outcast from that company, he must submit to the feet-washing which his friends and fello…
856 wordsSECTION 32_The Foot-Washing._
Jesus, then, does not mistake present defilement for habitual impurity, nor partial stain for total uncleanness. He knows whom He has chosen. He understands the difference between deep-seated alienation of spirit and the passing mood which for the hour disturbs friendship. He discriminates between Judas and Peter: betw…
866 wordsSECTION 33_Judas._
[7] Compare Mark vi. 2, =genomenou sabbatou=; and the Latin "posita mensa." [8] See ver. 2. [9] =hypolyete, paides, kai aponizete=. [10] The "tusht" and "ibriek" of modern Palestine. [11] For the formal Foot-washing by the Lord High Almoner, the Pope, or other officials, see Augustine's _Letters_ LV.; Herzog art. _…
963 wordsSECTION 34_Judas._
The second step in the process is recorded in the 26th chapter of Matthew, where we read that, when the disciples asked "Lord, is it I?" Jesus answered, "He that dippeth his hand with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me." It was a large company, and there were necessarily several dishes on the table, so that proba…
844 wordsSECTION 35_Judas._
When we endeavour to set before our minds a clear idea of the character of Judas, and to understand how such a character could be developed, we have to acknowledge that we could desire a few more facts in order to certify us of what we can now only conjecture. Obviously we must start from the idea that with extraordina…
871 wordsSECTION 36_Judas._
And Judas did not scruple to use this power that only the love of Jesus could have given him, to betray Him to men whom he knew to be unscrupulous and resolved to destroy Him. The garden where the Lord prayed for His enemies was not sacred to Judas; the cheek that a seraph would blush to kiss, and to salute which was t…
712 wordsSECTION 37_Judas._
We must then abide by the more commonplace view of this crime. The only mitigating circumstance that can be admitted is, that possibly among the many perplexed thoughts entertained by Judas he may have supposed that Jesus would be acquitted, or would at least not be punished with death. Still, this being admitted, the …
921 wordsSECTION 38_Judas._
Disappointment in Christ is not an unknown thing among ourselves. Men still profess to be Christians who are so only in the degree in which Judas was. They expect _some_ good from Christ, but not all. They attach themselves to Christ in a loose, conventional way, expecting that, though they are Christians, they need no…
725 wordsSECTION 39_Jesus Announces His Departure._
[12] More exactly, L3 10 8, the legal value of a slave. "When therefore he was gone out, Jesus saith, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; and God shall glorify Him in Himself, and straightway shall He glorify Him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek Me: and as …
702 wordsSECTION 40_Jesus Announces His Departure._
This glorification was not the far-off result of the impending sacrifice. It was to date from the present hour and to begin in the sacrifice. God will glorify Him "straightway." "Yet _a little while_" was He to be with His disciples. Therefore does He tenderly address them, recognising their incompetence, their inabili…
673 wordsSECTION 41_Jesus Announces His Departure._
Peter thus rebuked falls into unwonted silence, and takes no further part in the conversation. The rest, knowing that Peter has more courage than any of them, fear that if he is thus to fall it cannot be hopeful for themselves. They feel that if they are left without Jesus they have no strength to make head against the…
803 wordsSECTION 42_Jesus Announces His Departure._
This is a new kind of assertion to be made by human lips: "I am going into the other world to effect a a purpose." Often the sense of duty has been so strong in men that they have left this world without a murmur. But no one has felt so clear about what lies beyond, or has been so confident of his own power to effect a…
742 wordsSECTION 43_Jesus Announces His Departure._
This of itself is enough to give us hopeful thoughts of the future state. Christ is busied in preparing for us what will give us satisfaction and joy. When we expect a guest we love and have written for, we take pleasure in preparing for his reception,--we hang in his room the picture he likes; if he is infirm, we whee…
700 wordsSECTION 44_The Way, The Truth, And The Life._
[13] "That ye love _one another_" is the twice-expressed commandment. [14] "Any Church that professes to be _the_ Church of Christ cannot be that Church. The true Church refuses to be circumscribed or parted by any denominational wall. It knows that Christ is repudiated when His people are repudiated. Not even a Bibli…
728 wordsSECTION 45_The Way, The Truth, And The Life._
But in His endeavours to gain the confidence of men there is discernible no anger at their incredulity. Again and again He brings forward reasons why His word should be believed. He appeals to their knowledge of His candour: "If it were not so, I would have told you." It was the _truth_ He came into the world to bear w…
736 wordsSECTION 46_The Way, The Truth, And The Life._
This revelation of God in man implies that there is an affinity and likeness between God and man--that man is made in God's image. Were it not so, we should see in Christ, not God at all, but only man. If God is manifest in Christ, it is because there is that in God which can find suitable expression in a human life an…
884 wordsSECTION 47_The Way, The Truth, And The Life._
It is Jesus Christ who brings us into connection with this source of life eternal--He bears it in His own person. In Him we receive a new spirit; in Him our motive to live for righteousness is continually renewed; we are conscious that in Him we touch what is undying and never fails to renew spiritual life in us. Whate…
776 wordsSECTION 48_The Way, The Truth, And The Life._
Further, the way to which we commit ourselves when we seek to come to the Father through Christ is a _Person_. "I am the Way." It is not a cold, dead road we have to make the most of for ourselves, pursuing it often in darkness, in weakness, in fear. It is a living way--a way that renews our strength as we walk in it, …
376 wordsSECTION 49_The Father Seen In Christ._
[15] Or, "And whither I go ye know the way." "Philip saith unto Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so longtime with you, and dost thou not know Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am …
827 wordsSECTION 50_The Father Seen In Christ._
To Philip's eager request Jesus replies: "Have I been so long time with you, and hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father?" And it is thus our Lord addresses all whose unsatisfied craving finds voice in Philip's request. To all who crave some more im…
750 wordsSECTION 51_The Father Seen In Christ._
But all this experience would serve to convince them that the Father was in Him. He had, He says, lived among them as the representative of the Father, uttering His will, doing His works. These works might have convinced them even if they were not spiritual enough to perceive that His words were Divine utterances. But …
722 wordsSECTION 52_The Father Seen In Christ._
At present men are swinging from an excessive exaltation of miracles to an excessive depreciation of them. They sometimes speak as if no one could work a miracle, and sometimes as if any one could work a miracle. Having discovered that miracles do not convince every one, they leap to the conclusion that they convince n…
801 wordsSECTION 53_The Father Seen In Christ._
But was this the object of Christ's coming? Did He come to do a little less than several of the great medical discoverers have done? Assuredly not. These works of healing which He wrought on the bodies of men were, as John regularly calls them, "signs"; they were not acts terminating in themselves, and finding their fu…
740 wordsSECTION 54_The Father Seen In Christ._
But when Christ gives as a reason for the greater works of His disciples that He Himself went to the Father, He also means that, being with the Father, He would be in the place of power, able to respond to the prayers of His people. "I go unto the Father, and whatsoever ye shall ask in My name that will I do." No man i…
884 wordsSECTION 55_The Father Seen In Christ._
Consciousness, then, of Christ's present life and of His close relation to ourselves is to be won only by loving Him and living in Him and for Him. Lower grades of faith there are on which most of us stand, and by which, let us hope, we are slowly ascending to this assured and ineradicable consciousness. Drawn to Chris…
784 wordsSECTION 56_The Father Seen In Christ._
This form of unbelief assails almost every man. Very often it results from the slow-growing conviction that the Christian religion is not working in ourselves the definite results we expected. When we read the New Testament, we see the reasonableness of faith, we cannot but subscribe to the _theory_ of Christianity; bu…
854 wordsSECTION 57_The Bequest Of Peace._
"Judas (not Iscariot) saith unto Him, Lord, what is come to pass that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My word: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth Me not keepe…
725 wordsSECTION 58_The Bequest Of Peace._
It is, then, to those who serve Him that Christ manifests Himself, and manifests Himself in an abiding, spiritual, influential manner. That those who do not serve Him do not believe in His presence and power is to be expected. But were those who have served Him asked if they had become more convinced of His spiritual a…
735 wordsSECTION 59_The Bequest Of Peace._
But He does give them that which all other bequests aim at producing: "Peace I leave with you." Men may differ as to the best means of attaining peace, or even as to the kind of peace that is desirable, but all agree in seeking an untroubled state. We seek a condition in which we shall have no unsatisfied desires gnawi…
679 wordsSECTION 60_The Bequest Of Peace._
By calling it specifically "My peace" our Lord distinguishes it from the peace which men ordinarily pursue. Some seek it by accommodating themselves to the world, by fixing for themselves a low standard and disbelieving in the possibility of living up to any high standard in this world. Some seek peace by giving the fu…
855 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.