Flacius suggests that our Lord here and in the preceding verse reminds the Jews how willing they were at first to receive John's ministry, and almost seemed to think he was the Messiah. Yet all this time "John did no miracle." — But when the true Messiah appeared, doing mighty " works," the Jews did not show him even as much attention as they had shown to John.
l^Tlie worTcs... Father hath given, etc.] This is a distinct appeal to miracles, as an important proof of our Lord's Messiahship and Divinity. Four times in this Gospel we find the same appeal. (John iii. 2; x. 25 ; xv. 24.) The evidence of miracles should never be hghtly esteemed. We are apt to underrate their value because they were wrought so long ago. But in the days when they were wrought they were great facts, which demanded the attention of all who saw them, and could not be evaded. Unless the Jews could explain them away, they were bound, as honest and reasonable men, to believe our Lord's Divine mission. That they really were wrought the Jews never appear to have denied. In fact they dared not attempt to deny them. What they did do wjis to ascribe them to Satanic agency. All who attempt to deny the reality of our Lord's miracles in the present d y, would do well to remember that those who had the best opportunity of judging, namely, the men who saw these miracles, and lived within hearing of them, never disputed the fact that they were wrought. If the enemies of our Lord could have proved that His miracles were only tricks, legerdemain, and impostures, it stands to reason they would have been only too glad to show it to the world, and to silence Him for ever.
Five things should always be noted about our Lord's miracles. (1.) Their number : they were not a few only, but very many indeed. (2.) Their greatness : they were not little, but mighty interferences with the ordinary course of nature. (3.) Their puhlicity : they were generally not done in a corner, but in open day, and before many witnesses, and often before enemies. (4.) Their character : they were almost always works of love, mercy, and compassion, helpful and beneficial to man, and not mere barren exhibitions of power. (5.) Their direct appeal to mens senses : they were visible, and would bear any examination. The difference between them and the boasted miracles of the Church of Rome, on all these points, is striking and instructive.
The iiianner in which our Lord speaks of His miracles is very remarkable. He calls them, — " The worlds that the Father hath given me that I should finish." He carefully avoids the appear- ance of want of unity between the Father and Himself, even in the working of miracles. They are not works which He did of His own independent will, but " works which the Father hath given me," works which it had been arranged in the eternal