The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 160

healed all manner of sickness and disease among the people;" as he pronounced to the oon~rite and believing sinner the gracious words, "Be of good cheer; thy sine be forgiven theel"-mcn felt, ns they had never felt before, that God was visiting and redeeming his people. Hnmsn sorrow awakened the response of Divine sympathy, and human sin the response of Divine clemency and forgiveness. It was not the timely but casual interposition of a human friend; it was the one typical eternal intervention of a God. 'l'he ministry of our Redeemer in J udaia and in Galilee was the outward nnd visible sign of the unchanging pity of our Father's heart. It was "the acceptable yenr of the Lord," but it was a year that has no end. In Christ, the God of all grace is for evor addressing mankind in the language of an unfailing gospel, and is saying, " Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." "Herein is love, not that we loved God, "but that God loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." IV. CHRIST'S SALVATION IS THE SALVATION 011' GoD. This is the meaning of Immanuel's death and sacrifice. What it is wished especially to draw from this passage, as elucidating redemption and salvation, is this-that in the cross of Christ we do not so much behold Christ reconciling us unto God, as God in Christ reconciling us unto himself. The gospel is the setting forth and publication in time of the great truth and reality of eternity-that God is a just God and a Saviour. To believe in Christ is to believe in God's purposes of mercy; God's method of mercy ; God's promise of mercy. What follows from the truths now stated? How do they practically affect us? V. THE ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION 011' OBRIST 18 THE ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF Gon. These words were uttered at the close of oui Lord's public ministry in Jerusalem, probably on the Wednesday of the Passion week. On the whole, Christ's teaching had met with unbelief and hostility. Pharisees and Sadducees had been rather silenced than convinced. Many of the chief rulers, indeed, believed ou Jesus, yet they had not the courage and honesty to confess him. In this very chapter, whilst we read that "many believed" on Jesus, we are informed of others that "they believed not on him." It is clear that there was general interest in Christ's teaching and claims; but that those who acknowledged the Prophet of Nazareth as the Messiah were few and timid. whilst his opponents were bold and bitter and determined. It was the very crisis of our Lord's ministry. His "hour was come." The cycle of his public teaching and beneficence was complete. He had now only to lay down his life, and thus to carry out his fore-announced intentions, and to finish the work his Father had giv-en him to do. A.nd these words and those which follow are Christ's final testimony to the Jews. He snms up in a brief compass the truth concerning himself, and then the practical bearing of that truth upon his hearers. He has come from God. He has come, with Divine authority, as the world's Light, and as the world's Saviour. He hag come with everlasting life in his hands, as Heaven's choicest gift. Yet he sees around him, not only those who hear, believe, and receive him, but those also who reject him. It is notfor him to judge; for he has come to save. But jud,,,"ID.ent awaits the unbeliever. .And what is the witness which the compassionate Saviour bears as his last solemn message to mankind? How cioes he bring home to their souls the awful responsibility of association with him, of enjoying a day of Divine visitation? He does this in this sublime statement, in which he identifies himself with the Father from whom he came. No one can disbelieve and reject him, can close the eye to his glory, without in so doing rejecting God, turning away from the sight of God, and stopping the ear against the voice of God. This was, and is, a truth at which men may well tremble. Here we are brought face to face with the great probation, the great alternative, of human life and destiny. Only those who are thoughtless or hardened can think of this truth without the deepest seriousness and solemnity. It may justly be said to men, "You have been so framed by the Divwe Maker of all that you must either accept or reject him. In either case it must be your act, and you mUBt be answerable for it. A.nd there is no third course open to you; for not to acknowledge, honour, and trust the Christ of God, to be indifferent to him and to his salvation,-this is to spurn tht1 most sacred privilege, to neglect the most precious opportunity with which God himself can favour you. It is to shut the eyes to the light of heaven ; it is to dis- believe and to reject the eternal God himself."-T.  166 THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST, JOHN. [on. xn. 1-60.