The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 369

The higher Christ's olaim, th1J ruder the resentment of his adver~arre!. It may lio questioned whether they really believed in God at all; had they done so, how con\,\ they have avoided the conclusion that God was "in Christ"? IV. THE OFFENOE WITII JEBUB LED TO THOFE PURPOSES AND PLOTS WHICH ISSUED IN BIB DEATII. 'fhe impression produced upon the Jewish leaders by our Lorr}'.'! ministry in Jerusalem was one of hostility; and this hostility was decpenerl by every gre11t act of Divine 11uthority he accomplished, 11nd by every bold and sublime utter- ance which either explicitly or implicitly rebuked their formality and unspirituality. Thus their" offence" deepened into malice and rage. They" stumbled• at the rnir,1clea by which the Lord asserted and explained his claims. Ilepcated "offence" issued in resolute plots against bis life. And Jesus thus came to the cross not because of his faults, for be had none; but because of his righteous claims 11.nd his peerless beneficence. His death was a witness against his foes as fully as it was a witness in his own favour.-T. Vers. 19, 20.-TJ,e Father and the Son. Most of our Lord's discourses concern man and his spiritual life, are moral and practical. But this passage is, in the true and proper sense of the term, theological, informing us of the relations between the persons of the Godhead, and revealing, so to speak, the inner springs of our Saviour's ministry, by giTing us a glimpse into the Divine nature and purposes. l. 'lHE FATHER 18 EVER OARRYING ON BENEFICENT OPERATIONS IN HUMA...'i SOCIETY. The whole discussion originated in the cure of the infirm man at Bethesda; this being WTought on the eabbath occasioned the murmurings of the Jews, and elicited the defence of Jesus. Now, an ordinary physician, had he effected such a cure, would have been lightly satisfied to fall back upon the fact that the man's sufferings were relieved, and that human strength and comfort are an abundant justification for any measures not morally wrong. But the Divine Physician fell back upon the working of God in the world and among men. What he says does not remove all mystery, for he tells us nothing to explain the existence of sin and of suffering. But he does give us to under- stand that God is ever working among men in the very way in which he-Jesus him- self-had been working, when be had healed the infirmities of the sick. II. THE FATHER, LOVING TBE SON, SHOWS HIM WHAT THINGS HE IS EVER DOING. This language is, of course, accommodated to our powers of comprehension. However the world, or the Jews in particular, might, hate Christ, he was the beloved of the Divine Father, and as such was admitted to the Father's intimate and affectionate confidence. What a qualification for him who came to this earth as Prophet, Priest, and King of humanity I How wise a provision was thus made for our salvation! A perfect sympathy exists between the Personal Power of beneficence in the universe aml the Teacher, Saviour, Lord of man. Ill. THE SON, SEEING THE FATHER'S WORKS, DOES THE SAME IN HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY AND IN THI!l EXERCISE OF HIS MEDIATORIAL SOVEREIGNTY. Here was the all-sufficient vindication of our Lord's miracles themselves, and also of their manner and circumstances. The Father is ever working for man's welfare, on the sabb.1th as on other days. Every day of the week his sun shines, his air passes gently over thl3 earth, his streams flow, hie flowers bloom, his birds sing, his creatures rejoice in bis bounty and kindness. He is all day long and every day promoting not only the bodily, but the intellectual and spiritual welfare of his dependent children. And what the Father does, that the Son does, moving amongst men, seen or unseen, a Presence of grace and comfort, of inspiration and of peace. Thus he ever works his Father's works, and forwards the cause which is dear to.the Father's heart. Where we see the triumphs of the Gospel in individual hearts, in human society, let us recognize the tokens of the Saviour's k.Jly and b_'\Ilevolent ministry, a.nd be assured that this is the work of God himself. J:V. '£HE PAST OPERATIONS OF DIVINE l\IEROY ARE A PLEDGE OF GREATER AND MORE MARVELLOUS WORKS IN TIIE FUTURE. Our Lord, unlike a human teacher or leader, always represented what be did as only the promise of greater and better things to come. 'l'his 11ssuranco of his foreknowledge was verified in the marvels of Pentecogt, and in the fruits which have been yielded throughout the Ieng centuries of the spiritual dispenaation.-'l', 234 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST, JOUN. [ell, V, 1-47,