The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 34

on the life of Christ's disciples, does this motive lose its foroe P Surely not, You havo learned from your Master the true worth and importance of life, and you have been taught to spend it under the eye of "the Father who, without respect or persons jndgeth according t.o every man's work." Whatever be your station or sphere this i; the case. Here and now, within the narrow limits of the p1-esent, you ha;e your opportunities of service allotted to you, your only sphere for "works of faith and labours of love." And these opportunities, if wasted or let slip, can never bs recalled, Why should they be lost? 'l'hese words contain a motive which no Christian can afford to lose. Does any one say, "It does not apply to me or to the multitudes who are already tasked to the uttermost by the nece~sary cares of life and the stern demands of business"? Ah! God is not like a hard master, reaping where ho has not :sown, and gathering where he has not strawed. If your necessary toil is performed in a Christian spirit, in the spirit of a faithful servant, it will be accepted as a free-will offering. Even to the slaves at Colosse the Apostle Paul says, "Whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord, and not to men. , , . Ye serve the Lord Christ.'' Yet su~ely in the busiest life there is room for deeds of kindness and words of sympathy, for givina the cup of cold water, for proffering the timely advice, for doing many things for Christ': sake which no man can require at your hands. But especially those whoso position in the world is independent, and who have much freedom of choice as to how they shall employ their time, should lay these words to heart. It is you who are most of all tempted to lead a desultory life. Society, as it is called, seems to expect it or you, People suppose that you must have time for every trifling engagement, and it is so much easier to let each day be passively surrendered in this way than to redeem the tiwe for any definite purpose, But how should this one thought, "the night cometh," help you resolutely to resist or break through such petty distractions! It is but a portion, after all, of this brief life that you can call your working day. Necessary cares, needful rest, and relaxation must have their share. Sickness may at any time swallow up yon know not how much of the remainder. Seo that you consecrate your yet unbroken daylight to the service of God and man, You have every motive to do so, and you may well be stimulated and encouraged by the example of many around you; but oh, how affecting the thought that your Master, when he dwelt on earth, said to his disciples, "I mwt work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work" !-G. B. Ver. 39.-Spontaneous /udgment and self-enacting verdict. "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see," etc. If the words of the wise are e.s goads, and as nails fastened in a sure place, we need not wonder that the words of Christ himself should sometimes be startling in their sharp- ness-should pierce like a two-edged sword. The text before us is an example of this, and though it contains a paradox which in substance occurs frequently in the Bible, it is expressed here with peculiar point and severity. L First of all, LOOK AT THESE WORDS IN THE LIGHT OF THE OOOASION WHIOH OALLED THEIi FORTH. They are the solemn verdict of our Lord on the opposite effects of the work of mercy which he had just wrought in Jerusalem. He had opened the eyes of a blind beggar by sending him to wash at the pool of Siloam. The miracle had excited attention., wonder, discussion, and ere long the thoughts of many hearts were revealed by it. On the man himself the immediate effect of the miracle was remarkable. It brought out the simplicity of his character, and his loyalty to his Benefactor and to truth. He already knew Jesllll by name, and in the joy and wonder of his heart he rightly concluded that the common report was true, and that Jesus was a Prophet. Bi.it a severe ordeal awaited him. 'l'he great religious guides of his nation summoned lii111 into their pre&ence, a.nd with all the skill of practised casuists they urged him •to disown his Benefactor or deny his Divine power. Still the man stood firm, and rather than prove false to his conviction that Jesus was a Prophet, he submitted to the terrible sentence of excommunication. Ere long our Lord heard of this good confession, sought out and found the man who made it, and revealed to him the mighty secret that he was the Son of God. .And at hie words the smoking flax of true faith burst into flame in the poor man's heart, and he fell down and worshipped the Messiah, Thus, in a spiritual a.s well a.s a natural sense, Jesus gave sight to the blind, But now what waij CIJ. IX. 1--11.j 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO S'l'. ,JOHN.