The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 24

ciples?" It is m,t tho first time this question has been put to the hearers of tho gospd; it is urged once ag11.in. It is not too e11.rly for any to begin discipleship. And it is not too late for any who may h11.ve delayed hitherto, now to respond to the summons. 2. .A qu{!Stion to propose to others. 'l'his is the invitA.tion which the Church is bound to address to the world. If one who had been a poor blind beggar could urge it upon bis superiors; if be could speak for Jesus, though persecuted for his boldness • why should any Christian be deterred from witnessing and appealing to his fellow-men: either by the sense of bis own unworthiness and insufficiency, or by the seeming unsuit. ablencss and insensibility of those to whom the appeal is made?-T. Ver. 33.-77,e attestation of (Jlwisfs works to his Divinity. The natural good sense of the m11.n born blind was sharpened by the experience through which he passed, and by the controversy in which be was in'l'olved. Hence it was that several of his sayings anticipate the mature arguments of the most thoughtful defenders of the Christian faith. The manner in which he here argues from the character of our Lord's works to his Divine commission and authority, is deserving of all admiration. This is an argu- ment as valid as, and perhaps more effective now than, when it was first spontaneously propounded. I. THE SPIRITUAL CHARACTER OF CHRIST'S WORK PROVES ms DIVINE ORIGIN AND POWER. God is II Spirit; the realm of spirit is that which is to him of deepest interest. It is e,ident that if the Son of God has visited earth, it must have been in order to introduce principles of vitality and blessing into the spiritual existence of men. This is exactly ~hat Christ bas undeniably been doing. 'ro him men owe the enlighten- ment of the mind by spiritual truth; the new law of moral life; the new motive of Divine love; the great distinctive social principle of self-denying benevolence; the cffecti,e consolation for human sorrow; the true encouragement for those tempted to depression and hopelessness; the glorious ptospect of the spiritual renewal of mankind; the mighty inspiration owing to the revelation of an immortal life. !L THE INCOMPARABLE EFFICIENCY WITH WHICH THIS WORK WAS DONE IS PROOF OF CHRIST'S Drv1sE ORIGIN ..U.'D AUTHORITY. To appreciate this, we should compare the work of Christ with that of others, e.g. with that of the most renowned of earth-con- querors and kings, sages and religious leaders. How meagre their sway I how transitory their dominion! How rapidly have they become merely a memory, a name! On the other hand, what moral significance has characterized the work of the Lord Jesus I During his ministry, what transformations of character he wrought, what extreme and desperate cases of sin and wretchedness he successfully dealt with I And, after his ascension," greater works" than these-which were yet equally his works-accompanied the preaching of his gospel Well might J ulia.n the apostate exclaim, Vicisti, Galilaie I Well might Napoleon acknowledge that the empire of Christ transcended all earthly monarchies in true and lasting solidity and glory. If this Man were not of God, conld such results have attended and followed his earthly mission-fulfilled, as it was, upon a scene so limited, in a period so brief, and in circumstances so lowly? III. THE WIDE EXTENT OF OUR LoBD 1B WORK IS EVIDENCE OF HIB DIVINITY. Even during his three years of labour, Jesus brought blessing, not to Israelites alone, but to Sa.maritans, Phcenicians, Greeks, and Romans. And when Pentecost inaugurated the mission of the Church, then the descent of the Spirit and the utterances in many tongues were a prediction of a universal religion. The middle wa.ll of part~tion wa.s broken down. One new humanity wa.s fashioned from diverse and seemingly discordant materials-from Jews and from Gentiles. And Christia.nity has from tha.t time onward been proving its adaptation to man as man-to the barbarian and the civilized, to the East and the West, to persons of all ages, ranks, and characters. The Son of man is proving himself to be the Saviour of man. IV. THE DIVINE .AUTHORITY OF CHRIST IS SUPPORTED BY THE PEIIPETUITY AND BY '1'llE EVER-GROWING PREVALENCE OF HIS WOilKB. Other systems are for a period, for a generation, or for a century; "they have their day, and cease to be." But. C~rist's mighty works go forward as in an unbroken and ever-swelling procession, testifymg to their Author. His power to save and bless is as yet undiminished, and it is reasonable to believe it to be inexhaustible. "This Man" has done, and is doing, all this I Who can he be but the Son of the Eternal ?-'l'. on, u. 1-41.) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 25