The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 31

requires knowlodge, and no sooner ie it born th1m it begins to ask qnestione respecting He object, and the first ie, "Who ie he?" He is worth inquiring after. The choice of the object of faith ie most import1mt; this man very properly prays for li~ht to choose. 8. The prayer is made in the proper spirit. The spirit of reverence, importunity, and readiness to believe and accept. "Who is be, that I might believe?" Not that I might consider and think over it; but let me know the Son of God, and I will believe in him. He prayed for knowledge for a practical and for the highest purpose-to believe. IV. FAITH'S PRAYER ANSWERED, 1. It was answered at once. The man was fortunate enough to ask the question respecting the Son of God, " Who is be?" to the Son of God himself, and who could answer it so well and so readily. There is no delay in the transmission of the prayer, nor in the return of the reply. The prayer was eager, and the answer quick. 2. The answer was very modest. "Thou hast both se"n him, and it is be that," etc. Modesty is ever characteristic of true greatness, and was charac- teristic of Jesus. Often he preferred the third person to the first in speaking of himself. In heavenly and Divine society he thought it not robbery to be equal with God, hut in the form of a servant he naturally felt and manifested the modesty of a servant, especially in revealing to the soul his real glory and position as the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. Genuine faith feels modest in the presence of its genuine ohject, and its genuine object feels modest in the presence of genuine faith. The mutual recognition produces the natural and modest blush of virgin love. 3. The answer revealed tJ.e Son of God as nearer to the man than he perhaps expected. We say "perhaps," for there was but a thin veil between him and the full recognition of Jesus. Doubtless he believed him alrea.dy to be the greatest prophet that ever lived, but had not as yet known him as the Son of God and the promised Messiah, and scarcely expected to find him so near. Faith often finds its object nearer than expected. When faith is intense and eager, the Son of God, the Saviour, is present then, and reveals himself. V. FAITH'S CONFESSION, 1. It is very prompt. If Christ's revelation of himself surprised the man at all, the surprise was most agreeable and sweet. The revelation did not damage the interest of Jesus nor retard the movements of faith, but rather improved the one and hastened the other. There was not a moment's hesitation, but straight and swift as an arrow's course faith flew to embrace and confess Jesus as the Son of God and her sovereign Lord. "Lord, I believe." 2. It is very short. .All the questions and answers which passed between our Lord and the man were characteris- tically brief. It was business and not talk. Intense faith, being the concentrated sentiments and a decoction of the truest feelings of the heart, occupies but little time and language in expression. Some of the most important transactions between faith and her fondest object are very brief. Intense earnestness wastes not itself in words. 3. It is very decisive and full. "Lord, I believe." In an ocean of language you may not find a drop of thought, while in a few drops of language you may find an ocean of meaning and reality. This man's confession of faith is as short as it can well be, but is quite as comprebensive1 and hearty. This short confession contains a long and a :full faith. It is full of heart and soul, full of submissive and willing obedience, and, better than all, it is full of Christ. VI. FAITH WORSTUPPING. "And he worshipped him." 1. An act of overwhelming gratitude. 2. An act of the profoundest reverence. 3. An act involving the highest ea;ercise of faith. The man could speak no more, his heart was too full for speech. The attitude of prayer alone suited his condition and shall aloue express his feelings ; and, overburdened with the splendour and love of the Son of God and the delight of finding him, he falls before him and worships. We gladly leave him there, and disturb him not. Gladly do we leave faith at the feet of her Lord in the glow of devotion, in the glory of worship, and in the ecstasies of Divine fellowship. What passed between the soul and her Saviour was too sacred to be recorded in our Gospels, but was faithfully recorded in the gospel of eternal life. LESSONS. 1. Comparatively trivial occurrences are oftBn the occasions of the greatest results. The ejection of this man who was born blind and cured by Jesus was the occasion of the founding of the Christian Church. To this outcast Jesus first revealed himsclf as the universal Object of faith, and faith in him as the test of adherenc,e and  32 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [ OII, IX, 1----41. -- --- --------------------------- fellowship. In this sense the outcast was the first member of the ChrisUl\n society, The Jewish Church failed to fulfil its mission nnd embrace its own Messiah l\nd the Saviour of the world, hence the establishment of the Christian society, and the ultiml\te 11Ccession of Christ and his followers from the Jewish for ever. 2. What was considered at the tirM a painful loss may 'Ultimately prove to be the greate.1t gain. The practical ejection of this man from the religious privileges of Judaism was to him doubtless a great trial and.a serious disadvantage, but when he found Christ he fouud infinitely more than he had lost. Cast out from the ship of Judaism into an angry sea to take his chance, but the surging waves threw him on the "Rock of aa-es "--a most happy exchange, from a sinking sbip to a high and solid rock. 3. When °Jesw is on the look out for faitl,, and faith for him, a quick bargain is struck when they meet. Such WI\S the case here. 4. Faith often gets m'/1,Ch more than its highest expectation. This man defended Jesus of Nazareth, but found in him the Son of God. There are sweet surprises in the experience of faith, and happy fortuues in spiritual merchandise. In a short time this poor man found an eternal fortune.-B. T.