The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 377

lost his spirit.ual lifo, the craving for it remained. Eternal life is felt by rnnn to be hi~ greatest. spiritual need. (2) This is man's highest good. It is his greatest spiritual need, and is_ ~lculate~ to develop all his spiritual capacities and satisfy all his spiritual wants._ This 1s the _cl~max of being. Nothing higher can be givon, nothing higher can be desired. (3) This 1s the most important obJect that can engage the attention of man, His greatrst need, his highest good, and any attention bestowed upon it and nny effort 1mt forth to secure it is praiseworthy. 2. II, is a sea7'ch .fo7' the proper obJect in the propc1· field. "The Scriptures." (1) Eternal life is a subject of revelation. '!'his is natural and ossentia.l; it must be so. It is evidently beyond human discovery. "Eye bath not seen," etc. Eternal life and the way to obtain it must come from the sourco of life. (2) Men in aU ages have lool.:edfor it in counection with some kind of rcvcla- tirm, either oral or written. The human rnce havo instinctively looked for it in the direction of the Divine; they se~rched for it in ernry voice and book purportina to be Divine oomnrnnications, as instanced in the oracles of the Greeks and Romnus,"the Shasters of the Hindoos, etc. (3) This search for it is made in tlie true revelation. "Ye search the Scriptures." All other revelations aro false and imaginary, but tho Scriptures arc the true revelation of God's will and gracious purposes-a revelation of eternal life. They a.re "they which testify of me." 3. The cltie/ obJect is sought in a praiseworthy manner. "Ye search,'' etc. The Scriptures, as the revelation of God's will, are worthy of the most di}igcnt search. No search can be too minute and no effort can be too thorough. Eternal life is a pearl to be found by search. These people searched the Scriptures, and in the time and efforts they bestowed on this, they were patterns to the present age. II. A SAD FAILURE. 1. They failed_to recognize Christ as the great Theme of tlui Scriptures. 2. They /ailed to learn the testimony of Scripture to Ohrist as the Life of the world. (1) As the Source of lffe. (2) As the .Author and Giver of life. (3) As the Support of life. ( 4) As the perfect Pattern of life, in its development, progress, stl"'.lggles, and final triumph. 'l'he very Scriptures which they searched emphatically and uuitedly bear witness to Christ as the Life of the world, and as the Author and Giver of spiritual life in the soul. This witness they failed to recognize, this testimony they failed to understand. 3. They /ailed to come to Christ to have life. Our Lord suggests the reasons for tl1is. (1) Want of inward religious integrity. "I know you, that ye have not the love of God in yon." "You have not the Word of God abiding in you;" and, having neither his love nor his Word in them, they failed to accept• his most precious gift. {2) Want of spiritual discernment. They could not see through the letter to the Spirit; could not see the Son of God in the Son of man, _nor the Divine Saviour in J.esns of N a.zareth. (3) Want of self-surrender. "Ye will not," etc. Surrender of their prejudices, of their carnal notions, and of t.heir wicked conduct. This -was the chief reason of their terrible failure in relation to Christ and eternal life. 4. Tliufailure u; very sa,d,. Because: (L) Their best energies were wasted.· There was much search, but all in vain. Their labour was spent for that which satisfieth not, and their money for that which is not bread. This is life wasted, energies misapplied. (2) 'l'l.:ie chief g<Y.Jd was lost. "Eternal life." How sad, after so much search I (3) Lost while .~o near to them. In the very Scriptures they so diligently searched. The Author and Giver of-eternal life was in their nature, in their midst, preaching in their streets, teaching in their synagogues, performing mighty deeds before their very eyes, and utter- iog the words of eternal life in their ears. Still they lost the highest good. They were in the field, but missed the pearl; they had the casket, but missed the jewel. 14) Lost while they ought to find it. They had the best advantages-the testimony of Scriptures, of John, of the Father, and of the mighty works of Christ himself. To loso an important thina through misfortune, or through something which could not be helped, is sad enough, but ~ lose eternal life while i~ could be easily attainod is sadder titill. This was the case with the Jews, as well as with all who have the gospel. LESSONS. 1. The chief good may be very near and yet missed. This was the case with regard to the majority of Christ's hearers, and this is the case still. It is so near, but how often missed! 2. Mu.eh comi1Mndable search of Scripture may be made ln win. Many students of the Bible are scripturally rich but spirHua.lly poor. "Ever learning," etc. 3. It i& not enough to search the Scriptures, but we must search tl1em with tl,e proper end in view-with open eyes aJJd open hearts. We s!.iou!d not stop OB. V, 1-47.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 243