The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 476

I. TH1: wnIT:rm'i; REOOnD. llfany of the works of Jesus were not written in this ehort t.rentisc; "bnt tbMlo," says John, "are written." 1. This is I\ record of/acts nnd not of "cunningly devised fables;" of events which actually took pl:ice, l\nd of words whloh were really spoken. Thie Gospel contains neither falsehoods nor ficlione • nor is it 11 dramatic or poetical composition wrought by the force and delicacy of imnginntion. 2. This is a record of facts in thcmsch-cs so impo,·tant as to be worthy of being held in memory. They are the events which occurred in no ordinary life, but in a life dietln- gnished from all other lives by its commencement., by its close, and by very many circumstances in its course. In this passage the writer speaks of some of the chief ev~nts ll·bich he records as "signs." This is a designation of miracles, and it is observable that John relates at length about ten miracles performed by the Lord Jesus. But the word especially refers to the signific.1.tion, the moral mee.ning, of Christ's mighty works; to the revelation they afford of bis charncter, his Divine. mi6slon, hie intentions of grace towards mankind. The reference is not only to our Lord's e.ppenr:i.nces after his resurrection, but to the whole manifestation of himself throughout his enrthly career. 3. This is a record of facts to which the writer bears his own personal witness. What is set down is not so set down upon" hearsay evidence." John himself saw Jesus do some of the works attributed to him; John himself heard Jesus deliver some of the discournes which none else has recorded. In other cases, where he was not present, John had every opportunity of knowing what J csus had said, from the very persons to whom he had spoken. There can be no doubt that John heard Jesus deliv:er the dis- course recorded in the fourteenth, fifteenth, and ei.x:teenth chapters, that he heard Jesus offer the prayer which occupies the seventeenth chapter., That those who first read and accepted this document, and who commended it .to the attention of Christian people generally, were convinced of its authenticity, apprars from the imprimatur which tht>y added, "This is the disciple which beareth witness of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his witness is true." . . II. THE READERS' FAITH. We read some books for the charm of their style, for the insight they afford into the author's mental pecnliarities. We read other books for their sparkling wit, their delightful hnmour. Others, again, we read that our ten_derer feelings may be awakened, or that we may be lifted out of the sordid cares and. anx.ietieij of life into a fresher, tr.ore inspiring atmosphere. There are works which are read for the sake of acquiring knowleage of a scientific, or technical, or historical, ch1micter. Now, this treatise wa..; written for one definite purpose, which is here exncily stated by the writer. If it fails <Jf this purpose, it so far fails to effect that for .which its author. wrote it. In a wm:d, John's aim was that his readers might believe aright about Jesus. L That they might believe him to be the Ohrist; i.e. the Messiah expected by the J ewe, because foretold in their prophetic books; One anointed, commissionc.d by the Eternal to do great things for Israel s.nd for mankind. In the course of his. ministry,, such inquiries were st.arted as," Is not this the Ch1ist? " "Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?" It is to enable all fair-minded men to come to a satisfactory conclusion upon this point that John wrote. He does not .conceal his own conviction; but, on the whole he keeps himself in the background; he sets his glorious subject in the full light of dJJ.y, and he leaves his readers to form their conclusion. 2. That they might believe him. to be tlie &n of God. If the Hebrew people were mos~ likely to shape t~eir inquiry as above, to the world at la.rge the problem was less special. Has the Sovereign Ruler of the universe any interest in this human race? _Is it possible that, to teach and guide and save mankind, he has sent his own Son into the world-a man, yet Divine in authority, in righteousness, in love ? Before any one decides for ~i.mself upon .this question, he must read the record of the son of Zebedee, aud acqlllre the means for forminu a satisfactory judgment. John's conviction was that the proper result of con- siderin~ his record iBfaitli. .And in this all Christians are agreed. Their's is a reason- able faith, based upon sufficient evidence-historical, moral, miraculous evidence- evidence which will bear all scrutiny, which has convinced the wisest and the best of men. .A.t the same time, it is r<-ligiom faith; for it is fixed upon a Divine Being, has respect to Dirine government, and issues in spiritual and eternal results. This explains the memorable words ol J esWI himself: "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." ill. THE BELIEVillll!' LIFE. Precious as it is, faith is but the means to an end. OJI. XX. 1-31.] THE GOSPEL ACCO,RDING TO ST. JOHN. 491