The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 264

workl me.y not be oonvioted; i.e. lest hie flees from the man of God, he diedo.ine the works shoul<l be revealed---shown to him and revealing Word, he rejects the blessed Christ, to others in thoir true light. The night-time, he loves the darkness, this ia his condemna- during whioh so runny evil things, base tion. On the other hl\nd, the sincere man, thin~s, uncll'nn things, o.re practised, wo.s who ia honest ,vith himself, is supremely dnrkening down over JeruSlllem when our noxious for the true light to bcn.r down upon Lord was spenking, and would give fateful his "works." He is willing that they should emphnsis to these solemn words. Thi8 love be manifo~tcd_ If he is deceiving himself of darkness proceeded from a ho.tred of the with f1\lsc hopes, he yearns that these should revcnling power of the light. This rejection disappear before the shining of tho tme light. of the only begotten Son of God proceeded If his works will bear eimminntion, then let from a long habit of sin, showing more him know the verdict whioh is lmoonsciously empho.tically than before the need of radical being given by the revelation of the light. spiritual rcg-encmtion-a birth of water and It is e. nice question to determine the mca.n-, of the Spirit. The rejection of the Christ's ing of the /in. The current ,interpretation clo.im to cleanse the temple-:,. fa.et of which is for, or because, they are wrought in God; Kicodemns, o.s Sanhedrist, must ho.ve been i.e. tho sincere ma.n desires this self-mani- fully aware-wa.s a striking illustration of fostntioa, comes to the light because his his great argument. The "dread of the works have been inwrought by Divine grace. light is both moral pride and moral effemi- He loves the light, he does the truth because nacy" (Meyer). (See po.mile} in Eph. v. God ho.a wronght within him to will and to 11, 12.) do. In other words, the work of grace is in Ver. 21.-But he tha.t doeth the truth- every case the adequate exple.nation of such who is "of the truth" and" heareth his ,oice" e. ooutrost to the common condition of human (eh. =iii 37), he' who is "morally true," nature. Godet suggests tho.t 8-n here hae. inwardly sincere, who would ne,er shrink t.he meaning-of "that," e.ud urges that the from a genuine self-revelation-cometh to Greekusagein eh: iv. 85 and other passages the light. This rema.rknble expression o.llies will justify the translation. he cometh . . . itself with many other words of Christ, and manifest, that they are wrought in God, as suggests tho.t in the heart of Judo.ism and though this Divine revelation were the real of mnnkind generally, amid and notwith- end of his coming to tho light. This appears standing tl.Je darkness which prevailed, there to me to be incompo.tible with the fa.et. The were found elect souls, taught of the Spirit, man who doeth the truth may yet need very longing for more light, yearning to know much instruction before he accepts the the truth abont themselrn11, however humili- Divine Origioe.l of his own conduct,or.deeires ating it might prove to be. This is confirmed the mo.nifestation . to others of the• Divine by St. Paul's argument (Rom. i and ii.), where Source of his humblo search-. The more some Gentiles w.b.o havo not t.h.e Law are current translation," because," is in· harmony admitted to do by nature the tl,ings contained with tho facts of Christian Bnd religious in the Law, nnd even to become e. law unto experience, nnd is in keeping with the biblice.l themselves; end where, in contradistinction assurance, thnt all- good, all holiness, sin- to the hopelessly rebellious, Paul assumes cerity, o.nd upright striving, just such as that there a.re some who "by patient con- Nicodemus was then displaying, is God's tinuance in well-doing, seek for glory,hononr, own work, and is the result of his grace. nncl immortality-'' These " do the truth, and have no plco.sure in nnrighteoumess." '.r!Jey Nicodemus comes, •asks questions, re- nrc " taught of God," they have "seen and ceives weighty answers, and retires. We heard from t.h.e Father" sowe of the gre.at do not know the immediate result of these things of the Law. The Holy Spirit has most wonderful words upon him; but we do opened their eyes to see great things in the Law, and they come to the light. They find him taking the part of Jesus before the a.re not afraid of the revelation it will make_ Sanhedrin (eh. vii. 50, 51); and from oh. They may be humbled and pained by the xix- 89 we learn that, though e. secret disclosure, but there is a Divine luxury in disciple, he did not disdain to come out 11uch pain.. The purpose of the coming to the light on the part of one who doclh the of his hiding-place to honour the corpse of troth, is in order that bis works may be mado the Crucified. The death of Jeans, whioh manife&t. '.rhill is the precise contrary of ho.d blasted tile hopes of the apostles, ho.cl the conduct of the man whose eye is scaled fired those of Nicodemus. Every word of e.nd whose heart is made fat by sin. Such e. this discourse is compatible with the position oue dreads oonmcti.on, the outward affirmation of the great Prophet at this early period of or utrere.nce of the inwardly known Kpl,m; and therefore shrinks from conviction or his ministry, is suited to the Pharisaic mind, 1wy conduct v,hich will pL'omoto it. lie and o.ilaptc,l to meet its clifflculties o.nd OH, ill, l-36.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 127