The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 69

cross, conld come down from it, could live on it,, and in spite of it and its aaonies. "Ho bc,wed his head, gl\ve up the ghost," etc. 4. Hi,s death was purely vicar~us. Every man most die for himself. It is the debt of nature. nut Christ had no debt of his own to pay. He came under the law of death to pay the debts of others, and redeem ihem from the curse, ill. RIB DEATH OALLTID FORTH TRE SPEOIAT, COMMENDATION 01" TIIl!l FATIIEB, "Therefore doth," etc. For this: 1. .As it was for the noblest purposes. "'l'hat I might take it again." These purposes were: (1) The perfection of his own life. Ria tnediatorial life was made perfect through sufferings. He attained a perfect life through :ieath. (2) The perfection of the lives of all believers in him, The lives of all believers are JJ?tentially perfect in his perfected and ~lorified life; f~r he died and triumphed, not for himself, but for others. "Decause I hve, ye shall hve also." His life was more valuable when taken again than when laid down. (3) These purposes were worthy of tl~ l!(UJ'f'?,fice. There is adequate compensation. Even the precious life of Jesus was thus put out on good interest; there was no loss nor waste, but infinite gain. '!'he gain of salvation to the world, the gain of unspeakable glory to the Divine throne. 'fhe purposes were well worthy of the Son and the Father. 2. .As it was the fulfilment of Divine lo116. (1) The salvation of the human race is a Divine idea, impulse, and plan. (2) An infinite s=r-ifice was essential to carry this out. It was essential to satisfy the claims of Divine justice, law, and holiness, and also to satisfy human wants, and to remove sin and guilt and enmity. "Without the shedding or blood," etc., is a Divine sentiment, and it was ever echoed by the human conscience. (3) The death of Chi·ist fully met thi,s req-uirement. In the sacrifice of Jesus, Divine love is satisfied and fol;. filled. It finds a platform upon which to act, a channel through which to flow, and a suitable instrument by which to effect its grand purposes of mercy and salvation. 3. As it wa.s a spe,ci,al. ad of obedience to the Divine will. (1) His death was in obedience to a special expresswn ef He Divine will. "This commandment have I," etc. This command was not arbitrary, but the eternal law of love. The principle of obedience in Christ is as old as the law of love in the Divine nature. But this self-sacrificing act was a special expression of it. And Jesus obeyed. (2) It was in loving obedience to the Divine will. It was the obedience of love. There is no coercion in the command, there is no servility in the obedience. The command is the natural suggestion of love; the obedience is the natural response of love, the expression of loving sympathy-sym- pathy of nature and purpose. '!'he command was the expression of the Divine heart, and the law of obedience was in the heart of Jesus. It was the obedience of pure love. (3) It was a practical and public manifestation of obedience to the Divine will. The Father needed no proof of the Son's loving obedience. But the world, and perhaps the whole universe, needed this, and to them it was most important and beneficial. Christ gave a special proof and manifestation of this in his self-sacrificing death, which called forth a special expression of the Father's commendation. 4. Jesus throughout was ever conscious of hi,s Father's approbation. This was felt: (1) In his conscious power to lay down his life. (2) In his consciaus power to take it again. There is an inseparable connection between the two. He could not take it again without laying it down, and could not lay it down uut in the certainty of taking it again. All have the power of laying down their lives, but not to take them again. Jesus had both the power o_f death and life, and the la.tter was the reward of his self-sacrificing and loving obedience. (3) In his r.onsci.ous know1,ed,ge that the Father accepted and was pleased with hia sacri- fice. What can give us such pleasure and strength as to know that what we do is most gratifying to the chief object of our affection? Jesus felt that his sacrifice was accepted by his Father with infinite delight and gratitude. This was like a Divine sunbeam on his soul throughout the intense !,(loom of his humiliation and suffering. LESSONS. We have here : 1. The Mghest example of pastoral fidelity and devotion. 2. The highest example of a noble and self-sacrifidng life. 3. The highest example of filial o'/Jeil;i,en,a. 4. The rOfjal, road to Go<Cs special approbation. Follow the footsteps of Christ, in his self-sacrificing life, in his loving obedience; and this will result in our Father's special commendation and love.-B. T, • Ven. 27-30.-The Bhepherd and the sheep. Notice- !. BELIEVERS DT BEL\TION TO CHRIST. 1. They are his property. (1) By a double CIT. X. 1-42.] 'rllE GOSPEL ACCORDING 'l'O ST. ·,JOHN'. 71