The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 467

CoNOLUl'IONR. 1. The u·onde1ftil power of language as the instrument of thought and sentimenf.s. The s11me words may convey different feelings. Murder and love may travel in the same vehicle. "Where is he?" 2. People in all ages make inquiries ronceniing JesHs <Jhrist from different motives and with different intentions. Their language may be almost the same-" ,Vhere is he?" but the motive e and intentions aro different end ,arious. 3. It is of paramount importance with what motives and inten- tiom we inquire fc,r <Jhrist. No motive nor intention is worthy of him but faith ancl the sR!vation of the soul. 4. Blessed are those who ask with living faith, " Wliere '8 he 1" Be will soon appear and satisfy all their wants.-B. T. Veni. 40---44.-.An important division.. We have here: 1. .A great feast. That of Tebernacles. 2. .A great day. The last day of the feast. 3. .A great preacher. The Christ, the Son of God. 4. .A great sermon. " He cried ; " and he had something worth crying-the living water for a thirsty world. 5. .A great division. "And there wae a di,·ision among the people," etc. Notice- I. SoME OF THE FEATURES OF THIS DIVISION. 1. Juus was the Subject of this division. "Because of him." The question was-Who was he? what was he? A good or a bad man, 11 true prophet or an impostor? 2. They were divided in their opinions. Some thought he was the Prophet; some thought he was the Christ; while others doubted, objected., and opposed. 3. The.I/ were divided whil,e it was important that they should agree. If he wa.s an impostor, it was important that they should agree to expose him and stem his intlnence; but if their Mesw.h, it was all-important that they should agree to accept a.nd obey him. 4. They were divided while they ought to be unanimous, Jesus had told them who he was, and his person, character, ministry, and his mighty works, all were in perfect harmony with his claims. With perfect unity and Divine force they pointed to him as the Son of God. 6. In this division error dissents from tni.th. Some said, "He is the Christ." Error doubted and objected. Truth is older and firmer than error, right than wrong. Error and wrong are negatives of truth and right. 6. Amidst this divi.sion Christ remained the same, and slione on. The different opinions of men make no change in Jesus himself. Christ changes men's opinions, but their opinions produce no change in him. lL THE UlIDEBL YING PRINCIPLES OF THIS DIVISIOl'i AND ITS CONSEQUENT VARIETY OF OPTh'ION&. L Some were ¥9°udi,e,ed against him. (1) Prejudice is unreasonable (ver. 41). It makes more of a place often than a person. The highest claims of a person are ignored through unreasonable objections to t-he place whence he hails. (2) Prejudice m.a.k& what is fYJOll,y for the troth to appear against it. (Ver. 42.) Christ was of the lineage of David, and a native of Bethlehem. They manifest here a culpable ignorance or a wilful suppression of knowledge. Prejudice is capable of both. 2. Some were jiJJ,e,d with hatred against him. (Ver. H.) Through this passion even the Son of God appeared as an impostor and a demon. A Being of infinite love could not be accepted nor even recognized through hatred. 3. Some were well disposed to him. (Ver. 40.) A favourable disposition will generally find the truth or an approximation to it. "The Prophet;" "the Christ." '.l'his was probably the verdict of the majority of that age. Their heads were right, their hearts were wrong. 4 . .All sumed sadly indifferent. The most earnest were his haters. Even those who rightly pronounced him to be the Christ seemed to lack earnestness of soul. The great " cry " of J csus on the last day of the feast did not find an adequate response from the heart of the multitudes. '!'here was a division, a stir, and that was apparently all. CoNCLUSIONS. 1. <Jhrist ha, o ~ great divisions in the w<n"ld. '.l'hie was not the first nor the last. A variety of opinions, of sentiments and feelings, with regard to him. He is the occasion, not the caUBe. He is the Prince of peace and unity, and yet divisions with re,,,O'&I'd to him have stirred humanity into the highest pitch of passion, and have resulted. in wars, persecutions, and martyrdoms. 2. The most important division of hwmanity is that on <Jhrist. Nations divide on important questions, but upon none so important as thiH. Upon this hangs the eternal destiny of the worl<l. 8. In this diviswn aU are divided into two parties, for or again,t him. There is no neutrality. 4. Tl,roogh division,, after aU, right views of Jesus are obtained. We mUBt obLain peace through wars, calm through storms, and unanimity through <livieious. Out of these stirring divisiollll Christ will come forth as the Son of God and the Saviour OH, VIL 1-63.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 339