nbsolvecl. (o) The powers here given o.re similar to those given to Peter (Mo.tt. xvi. 18), which refer to absolution from Church censures. Vere. 24-29.-The second appearance to the discip~s. There was one member of the npostolio bo.nd still in doubt o.nd darkness. I. TIIE ADBENOE OF THOMAS FROM THE FIRST INTERVIEW WITH THE Lono. " But Thmno.s,one of the twelve, cnlled Didymus, was not with them when Jesus ea.me." I. The character of this disciple, as already made known, left him open to profound dis- couragement at the death of Ohrist. "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (eh. xi. 16). 2. His temperament would incline him to await in solitude the solution of the mystery of the Passion of Christ. 3. His absence from the first meeting might have cost him dear, even the loss of his faith, butf<lf Ohrisfs mercy. We know not what we loss by absenting ourselves from the fellowship of Christ's friends. II. THOMAs's ODSTINATE UNOELIEF. "When therefore the other disciples said to him, We have seen the Lord, he said unto them, Except I shall see in bis hand(tbe print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe." 1. Mark the deep interest of the disciples in their sceptical colleague. They were eager to impart to him the gladness of their own satisfied faith. 2. Thomas carries his faith at his fingers' ends, as if he could not believe in a fact amply established by the testimony of worthy brethren. The death of Christ in all its details had made an impres~ion upon his mind so deep that he could not entertain the possibility of life returning to bis Lord's body. III. Oun LonD's CONDESCENSION TO THOMA.S's UN13ELIEF. "Then saith he to 'l'homas, Reach hither thy fingers, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." 1. This interview occurred a week after. tk first. The disciples did not leave Jerusalem for Galilee till Thomas's scruples were overcome. They could not think of abandoning him to his unreasonable unbelief. 2. It was the urgency of the disciples which, no doubt, secured the presencs qf Thomas on this occasion. 3. Our Lord offered to Thomas all the evidence he has been demanding for eight days. (1) How wonderfully _Jesus bears with ou, weakr.ess ! (2) How ready he is to minister to our strength! IV. 'l'HE CONVICTION oF· THOMAS. "Thomas answered and said unto hi::n, My Lord and my God!" This exclamation implied : 1. The instant dispersion of all his doubts. 2. The rapture of a holy admiration. 3. An act of sincere adoration. Thomas saw iu Jesus supreme Deity. It cannot be maintained that it was a mere exclamation addressed to God rather than Christ. (1) Because it was spoken to Jesus. "He said to him." (2) The words,." my Lord," undoubtedly restrict the cry to Jesus. (3) Our Lore! does not censure or repress the exclamation, like the apocalyptic angel, who says to John, "Worship God." He answers, on the contrary," Thou hast believed." V. Oun Lono's PROCLAMATION OF THE illGIIEil BLESSEDNESS. "Jesus saith to him, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed," 1. It is natural for us to BUppose that it u:ould hai·e been an advantage to us to have seen Christ in the flesh. It was not so, however, to the Jews, who saw him in the circumstances of his earthly humiliation. 2. Even those believers who saw Mm in the flesh had to get beyond the evidence of the senses to see his Godhead and authority. It was not this evidence that convinced Thomas. Eyesight showed him only a wounded man, but something more was needed to enable him to see Christ as Lord and God, 3. Our Lord's rebuke of Thomas marks his consideration for the Church of all ages. He seems to say to him, "You think you were doing a right thing in remaining unconvinced till you could receive the fullest evidence of the senses ; but who.t is to become of future generations if the same evidence is to be demanded by them? .All future believers must accept the fact of my resurrection upon your testi- mony." 4. The higher blessedness is ours; for we can act in the terms of that faith which "is the substance of things hoped f~r, th: evidence of things not seen" (Heb. xi. 1). We are to " walk by faith, not by SJght' (2 Cor. v. 7). Vars. 30, 31.-The close of the evangelis~'s -:iar?Yftive•. It has~ abrupt te~mination. The Gospel bcg~n with an assertion of Christ s Deity; 1t ends with a confession of the 111me blessed doctrine. I. 'l'BE EVANGELIST'S METHOD OF WBITING we NARRATIVE. "And many other 484 THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST. JOHN. [cH. xx. 1- 81.
~ign& t.ruly <lid Jesus in the presence of hie disciples, which are not written in this hook." 1. These words imply the e:nstenoe of t"6 other- Gospels, with their fallel' nar-- rali1-e.s of miracle. He thus ratifies the contents of those Gospels. 2. The miracles ",ere ,urought in pre.~enoe (ff the di.,eiplea, because they were to be our Lord's witnesses t.o the world. Il. 'l'HE AIM OF TRK EVANGELIST. "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his Name." I. It iB a blll5Std security/or t"6faith of the Char-eh of all ages tlllll the g06pe.l toas written, and not left to the uncertainties q/ traditional 1·ecollection. 2. The <ibfed of Scripture iB to minister to faith. "Faith oometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." This faith has: (1) .As its immediate object the proposition that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God." (2) As its ultimate design salvation: .. That !-ielievi~g_ye_ might have l!fe th~ough his Name." (a) raith is a fundamental necessity m Chnst1an1ty. (b) It bnngs hfe to the soul. "The hfe I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God" (Gal. ii. 20). This life is II through his NamO:" He is our Life, a.nd he gives life.