The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 284

others ore sml\11, and almost fade into nothingneeR? Ite enormity will 11ppe11r if we conei<ler: 1. it ia the greateBt inBult to the greatest and best Being. Who is dis be! ieverl anrl rejected? The eternnl Son and the eternal Father-the supreme Being whom they profosseu to acknowlodgo nnd worship. For the rejection of the Son involves tho rejection of the Father. "He that hateth me," etc. No one can so ineul~ and grieve tho Father 8R by insulting his Son; and the greatest insult to the Son is the rejection of his Person, Word, and redemptive grace. 'l'hus the Divine Lruth an<l honour arc irnpu'.!ncd. "He that belioveth not Go<l hnth made him a liar; becnuse he believcth not," etc. 2. it is the greatest insult to the supreme Being while in the nearest eontiguity to them. Tl,o Father was in tho Son; and the Son was in the flesh, in their very nature; thereforn God was in their nature, speaking and acting among them. He was never so ne,1.r before. They never hod such a vision of him. He was face to face with them. He could not come physically nearer, neither could they have a clearer physical vision of him. So clear it was thnt our Lord could with propriety say, "They have seen me and my Father." In him the Father was seen, and yet they rejected him. Thus the insult was most direct and daring. They insulted him to hie very face. 3. It is the greatest insult to the supreme Being, under circumstances which were calculated in the highest degree to produce different effects. The circumstances we have already indicated, and they are quite unique. Even in the wonderful history of the Jewish nation, and in the history of the nations of the world, they were such as they alone enjoyed, and involved such Divine light and evidence as were calculated in the highest degree to produce the readiest faith in and the warmest reception of the Son of God. It was the natural conclusion of the Divine Father: "They will honour my Son." Although they have maltreated my prophets, yet they will honour my Son. In his life and actions they saw the Father, yet rejected him, and sinned against the greatest light. 4. It is the greatest insult against the supreme Being in the very attempt of con/erring upon them the greatest benefit. .And this involved the exercise of the greatest condescension and love. 'l'he object in view and the love manifested are set forth in the familiar but matchless words," God so loved the world, that he gave," etc. Can imagination con- ceive of a greater sin e.nd insult than the rejection of the manifestation of such Divine love, whose object is to save from the most inevitable and terrible ruin, and the bestowment of the greatest and most undeserving gift? Sin against the truth, justice, and holiness of the supreme Being, separately considered, is nothing to the sin agai □ st Divine and self-sacrificing love. Jesus was the incarnation of Divine love, manitested to bless and to save; but while in the very act of salvation he was most insulti □ gly rejected. 5. It is the greatest insult to the supreme Being, assuming the most malig- nant form. "And hated both me and my Father." While this indicates the cause of their rejection, the enmity of the carnal mind against God, it also reveals its extreme malignity. It is not merely negative and defensive, but most malignantly a.ggressi,e and decided. And hatred is the most virulent form of rejection, the most daring form of unbelief, the most insulting resistance to the supreme Being, and the most fatal defiance to Divine love, which in this case resulted in the cruel crucifixjon of the Son of God, 6. The greatest insult to the supreme Being, which resulted in the most fatal consequences. lly their malignant rejection they made the greatest general blessing the greatest personal curse, turned the greatest boon into the greatest bane ; so that it would be infinitely better for them if the Son of God had not come to them at all-their sin would be less, and their fate less disastrous. They attempted to stem and poison the river of life in its flow to fallen humanity, and succeeded as far as they were concerned. They set an unparalleled example of unbelief and moral obduracy to all succeeding ages, the result of which was social and spiritual ruin. II. As A BIN OF THE GREATEST ENORMITY WITH THE LEAST EXCUSE. What excuses are supposable in this case? 1. If he had not come to them at all. This would be a. complete excuse. But he came, appee.red to them, and dwelt among them. 2. If he had no right to come. They would have a perfect right to reject an intruder and an impostor, who ha.d no right to their faith and acceptance. But Jesus was not such. He had an absolute right to come. He came in accordance with the Divine will, as well known to him, a.nd well known to them as revealed in their Scriptures. He ea.me in the way and at the very time and for the purpose indicated. And his coming ,ms absolutely right and essential in order to fulfil the Divine plan and satisfy human nee,!.  294 THE GOSPEL AOCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [on. xv. 1-27,