The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 214

the Word:" so rnns the first verse in thA Gospel of John. Thie rceemblanco prompt9 us t-0 look for ot.her resem blancos. "God said, Let there bo light: and there was light:" so runs the third verse of the Book of Genesis. And then we perceive that John correspondingly, would lead his readers to think of tbo greatest of all lights which come from God. He speaks of the Word that ho may tell us of tho Life in it, and of the Life that he may tell us of the Light in it. The Word is a living and light~givino- one. Whnt are sun, moon, and stars, and all lamps compared with this light? Joh~ is speaking here for the eye of the heart. I. 'l'HE DARK?IESS Tms LIClIIT IS MEA~'T TO n.Ltm:mATE. De thankful for the lights forming part of the physical creation. There is sunli"ht even when there is not 0 sunshine. Be thankful for the higher lio-hts of civilization. Also the increasino- lio-ht coming v."i~h e_verr new discovery and in°vention. Each new generation fiuds th: wirld better to h~e m, m many respects. Magnify what light you have outside of Christ; then you will better understand how small it is compared with what he has to give. For a while we may not at all feel the need of Christ's light. But the world becomes gloomy and cheerless enough to many who once reckoned it constantly radiant with brightness. 'l'he world very soon puzzles and perplexes those who are thoroughly in earnest. Life is such a short and broken thing to many. The longest lifu is like a candle; it burns and burns till it burns down to the socket, but it burns none the less; and then what is there left to show? God has noticed whatever darkness there may be in your heart. "God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all;" and he wants us to be the same-wants to lead us into the light of constant peace, joy, and purity. If. THE llEASON THIS LIGHT IS SO POWERFUL TO TAKE TIIE DARKNESS AWAY. 'l'he light that God sends is a life. What power often dwells in a word-a true and fitting word, coming from the heart, giving just the information and encouragement needed I But then the kindest and wisest human speakers cannot be always preseut. And so God has a word for us in o. life that c:a,n ,1ever pass away. Think of the power in his life; of the things he did, and did in such a way as to show he could do a great deal more. Think of the goodness of his life-goodness whereby he did good, and goodness whereby he resisted temptation. Think of the joy abounding in his life, even in the midst of straits and sufferings. Think of the confidence he carried through everything, never doubting whence be had come or what he could do. Think especially of the Resurrection and life in heaven. It is from a world of life and light that this luminous life shines down upon us. III. How THIS LIGHT BECOMES AVAILABLE TO us. He who told his disciples to shine, does his very best to shine himself. But then we must open our eyes to see tbis light. Lamps ere nothing save as men are willing to use them. It is light we have to seek for; the darkness comes without seeking. Let Jesus shine in our hearts for spiritual blessings corresponding to those natural ones which come through ordinary lights. Let u.~ aim to look back from the safety and fulness of the perfect day, saying, "Christ has indeed been a Light to me."-Y. Vers. 10-12.-Receiving Ghrist, and the result of it. I. CHRIST IGNORED. "The world knew him not." This statement is humiliating to the world, not to Christ. The worl<l makes a grea.t parade of its insight and its power to give deciding verdicts; but here is its very Maker in its midst, yet it knows him not. Here Burely is tho crowning sin of the world, that it knows not him who is the Fountain of all its boasted powers. Were the world what it ought to be, it would welcome its Maker, rejoi-cing in the presence of him who gave its intellect and all the material on which that intellect is so busy. In the face of this statement of John, it should not trouble us tha.t so much of the world's intellect and grandeur ignores Christ, A man with the worldly spirit strong in him is contented with his own infallibility and certainty. Rather let us, when we see the world's complacent ignoring of Christ, contrast it with the Christian•s·substantial knowledge of him._ ~d seeing that t~e world, w\t~ all _its knowledge, knows not Christ, let us bear m mmd how many thmgs the Christian himself does not yet know. ll. CHBIBT IGNORED WBERE IIOST OF ALL HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DECEIVED. The reference is doubtless to Christ's coming into the land of Israel. He was not only the world's Maker, but Israel's Messiah, and Israel failed to recognize him in either on. 1. 1-51.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. ,JOHN. 7:j