It is no question here of every man, but of such as believe. It is not simply the new birth such as a saint might, and always must, have had, in order to vital relations with God at any time. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. Just as distinct and beyond comparison is His testimony who, coming from heaven and above all, testifies what He saw and heard, however it might be rejected. Jesus explains: "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Web1 John 4:16 (KJV) - Forerunner Commentary. John 3:14-15; John 3:14-15) It is not a question simply of the Son of God, nor is He spoken of here as the Word made flesh. 1 John 4:19, KJV: We love him, because he first loved us. Expressly had He told the man to take up his couch and walk, as well as to rise. He has given us the spirit of adoption by which we call Him, Abba, father! My wifes dad was a chiropractor and when she got to be old enough, he gave her an opportunity to be a receptionist at his clinic. It is not denunciation, but the most solemn sentence in the calmest manner. He had no need that any should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. saith unto her, fie, call thy husband, and come hither. 1 John 4:16-19. So bright was His glory, so concerned was the Father in maintaining it, so immense the blessing if received, so tremendous the stake involved in its loss, that God vouchsafed the amplest and clearest witnesses. John 19 Jesus Is Crucified A. Jesus is condemned to crucifixion. 1. (1-4) Pilate hopes to satisfy the mob by having Jesus whipped and mocked. So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. No doubt there are intervening applications; but such is the ultimate result of His work as the Lamb of God. Salem Media Group. How can such have relationship with God? And so, in fact, it was and is. The woman saith, Sir, I perceive thou art a prophet To find a person who was a perfect stranger, and who, on account of the national animosity, could not be suspected of John 1:26-27; John 1:26-27) For himself he was not the Christ, but for Jesus he says no more. The Lord and the disciples are next seen in the country district, not far, it would seem, from John, who was baptizing as they were. How, indeed, could it be stayed within narrow limits? (Verse John 7:39), Nothing can be simpler than this. And he saith, I am not. 2. : an apostle who according to various Christian traditions wrote the fourth Gospel, the three Johannine Epistles, and the Book of None the less did the result of His death proclaim His Deity. Do they receive Him not? "The law was given by Moses." Henrys plan (1173) to assign to John, his favourite son (whom he had nicknamed Lackland), extensive lands upon his marriage with the daughter of Humbert III, count of Maurienne (Savoy), was defeated by the rebellion the proposal provoked among Johns elder brothers. (ver. John, therefore, who had been the honoured witness before of God's call, "the voice," etc., does now by the outpouring of his heart's delight, as well as testimony, turn over, so to say, his disciples to Jesus. What sayest thou of thyself? The hour was one for faith, or unbelief. and the more manifest from His lips to one who was a real impersonation of sin, misery, blindness, degradation. Neither does the Spirit say exactly as the English Bible says "sons," but children. This language is said of both, but most strongly of the latter. 17 This is how love is made complete But the Spirit would not confine His operations to such bounds, but go out freely like the wind. But there was this difference from the former occasion, that, at the marriage in Cana (John 2:1-25), the change of the water into wine was clearly millennial in its typical aspect. They would fall a prey to Antichrist, and meanwhile are accused of Moses, in whom they trusted, without believing him; else they would have believed Christ, of whom he wrote. (SeePsalms 2:1-12; Psalms 2:1-12) But the Lord tells him of greater things he, should see, and says to him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, henceforth (not "hereafter," but henceforth) ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of man. Then (ver. This leads Philip to Nathanael, in whose case, when he comes to Jesus, we see not divine power alone in sounding the souls of men, but over creation. Web1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Thus in one way or the other all must honour the Son. Jesus declared of God the Father, God is Spirit, (John 4:24) meaning that God the Father has no tangible body which may be seen. John 1:29; John 1:29John 1:34; John 1:34) of John Baptist's testimony here named; the first day (ver. So in the baptism with the Holy Ghost, who would pretend to such a power? WebThe Witness of John. It passes over all question of dispensations, until it accomplishes, in all its extent, that purpose for which He thus died. Both of them were in relation to man on the earth; the one while He was here, the other from above. Without sign, prodigy, or miracle, in this village of Samaria Jesus was heard, known, confessed as truly the Saviour of the world ("the Christ" being absent in the best authorities, ver. It is thus strikingly an anticipation of the result in glory. (Verses John 1:44-51). It was not intended for other beings it was God's free gift to man, to the believer, of course. His exaltation there is not without notice in the gospel, but exceptionally. As this chapter sets forth the Lord Jesus with singular fulness of glory, on the side both of His Godhead and of His manhood, so it closes with the most varied and remarkable testimonies God has given to us, that there may be no excuse. But the chapter does not close without a further contrast. Thus it is not only the person of our Lord viewed as divine, and coming down into the world. How blessed the contrast with the people's state depicted in this chapter, tossed about by every wind of doctrine, looking to "letters," rulers, and Pharisees, perplexed about the Christ, but without righteous judgment, assurance, or enjoyment! Two resurrections, one of life, and another of judgment, would be the manifestation of faith and unbelief, or rather, of those who believe, and of those who reject the Son. Governmental healing even from Him might only end in "some worse thing" coming. The refusal of His precious blood will, on the contrary, make their case incomparably worse than that of the heathen who never heard the good news. In vain did any come to the Baptist to report the widening circle around Christ. His death on the cross included much more, clearly answering to the first; His baptizing with the Holy Ghost followed His going to heaven. 17 And as we live (VersesJohn 5:8-12; John 5:8-12), But were the Jews mistaken after all in thinking that the seal of the first covenant was virtually broken in that deliberate word and warranty of Jesus? Expand. The disciples of John dispute with a Jew about purification; but John himself renders a bright witness to the glory of the Lord Jesus. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[ a] it. The Son had not come to execute the judgments of the law they knew, nor even to promulgate a new and higher law. "He that believeth on him is not judged: but he that believeth not is judged already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." The healing of the courtier's son, sick and ready to die, is witness of what the Lord was actually doing among the despised of Israel. WebPulpit Commentary Verse 19. Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 44:3, Isaiah 59:21, Ezekiel 36:25-27 ought to have made the Lord's meaning plain to an intelligent Jew. But when the Lord speaks of His cross, and not God's judicial requirements only, but the gift of Himself in His true personal glory as the occasion for the grace of God to display itself to the utmost, then, and not till then, do we hear of eternal life, and this connected with both these points of view. Christ here, it will be noticed, is not so much the quickening agent as Son of God (John 5:1-47), but the object of faith as Son of man first incarnate, to be eaten; then dying and giving His flesh to be eaten, and His blood to be drank. Here there is no John proclaiming Jesus as the One who was about to introduce the kingdom of heaven. If believers genuinely love God they will also obey his commandments. (John 12:48). It was meet that so it should be; for, as a question of right, none could claim; and grace surpasses all expectation or thought of man, most of all of men accustomed to a round of religious ceremonial. (sometimes initial capital letter) a fellow; guy. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. John 5:19-29), It is evident, then, that the Lord presents life in Himself as the true want of man, who was not merely infirm but dead. They knew what they worshipped, but not the Father, nor were they "true." Pharisaic jealousy had wrought; and Jesus, wearied, sat thus at the fountain of Jacob's well in Sychar. It was not the time now to demonstrate in public power these coming, yea, then present truths. It is not a question of the law, but of hearing Christ's word, and believing Him who sent Christ: he that does so has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death unto life. (Ver. 18 The fact Bear in mind that one of the points of instruction in this first part of our gospel is the action of the Son of God before His regular Galilean ministry. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group. No doubt He must become a man, in order, amongst other reasons, to be a sufferer, and to die. Nothing less than everlasting life in Christ can deliver: otherwise there remains judgment. through "sin." The results for the believer or unbeliever are eternal in good or in evil. The result immediately follows. The chapters we have had before us (John 1:1-51; John 2:1-25; John 3:1-36) are thus evidently an introduction: God revealed not in the Word alone, but in the Word made flesh, in the Son who declared the Father; His work, as God's Lamb, for the world, and His power by the Holy Ghost in man; then viewed as the centre of gathering, as the path to follow, and as the object even for the attendance of God's angels, the heaven being opened, and Jesus not the Son of God and King of Israel only, but the Son of man object of God's counsels. It is His person as incarnate first, then in redemption giving His flesh to be eaten and His blood to be drank. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. The Father did not judge, but committed all judgment into the hands of the Son, because He is the Son of man. Author. It is not John's business here to call attention to His Messiahship, not even when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask, Who art thou? Thus a despised Christ is not merely a crucified Son of man, and given Son of God, as in John 3:1-36, but Himself a divine giver in communion with the Father, and in the power of the Holy Ghost who is given to the believer, the source of worship, as their God and Father is its object for the worshippers in spirit and truth (though surely not to the exclusion of the Son, Hebrews 1:1-14). For evidently it is the theme of worship in its Christian fulness, the fruit of the manifestation of God, and of the Father known in grace. How withering the words! But here it was not God's purpose to record it. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. Judgment is the alternative for man: for God it is the resource to make good the glory of the Son, and in that nature, in and for which man blind to his own highest dignity dares to despise Him. 1 John 4:19, NLT: We love each other because he loved us first. 9 The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world. John 3:1-36 follows this up. He exhorts the saints not to believe every man that came with a doctrine to them, but to try them, since there were many false teachers in the world; and gives a rule by which they may be tried and judged, as that whatever teacher owns Christ to be come in the flesh is of God, but he that does not is not of God, but is the spirit of antichrist that should come, and was in the world, 1Jo 4:1,2, but, for the comfort of those to whom he writes, he observes, that they were of God, and had overcome these false teachers, through the mighty power of the divine Spirit in them, who is greater than Satan, and all his emissaries, 1Jo 4:4. Nor was it from any indistinctness in the record, or in him who gave it. No such sounds, no such realities were ever heard or known in Israel. 1 John 4:19. Grace begins, glory descends; "Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink." He acts as such. He tells Philip to follow Him. All this clearly goes down to millennial days. The author is the apostle John, "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (13:23 [see note there]; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20,24). John 7:25-31) He is going where they cannot come, and never guessed (for unbelief thinks of the dispersed among the Greeks of anything rather than of God). (VerseJohn 4:1; John 4:1) It was strange to her that a Jew should thus humble himself: what would it have been, had she seen in Him Jesus the Son of God? God loves us as a father loves his own son. The heart-searching issuing in perception of the prophetic rank of Jesus. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. As the Lamb of God (of the Father it is not said), He has to do with the world. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. All this, however, was abstract, whether as to the nature of the Word or as to the place of the Christian. 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: Observe, that blessed as the light is, being God's moral nature, truth is more than this, and is introduced by grace. John 4:16-19 16 He told her, Go, call your husband and come back. 17 I have no husband, she replied. Under all changes, outwardly, He abode as from eternity the only-begotten Son in the bosom of the Father. God the Father forms a new family in, by, and for Christ. A. Was this false and blasphemous in their eyes? John 1:29-34) How rich it is, and how marvellously in keeping with our gospel! Notably He is now applying it to the reconciliation of a people, who are also baptized by the Holy Ghost into one body. His joy was that of a friend of the Bridegroom (to whom, not to him, the bride belonged), and now fulfilled as he heard the Bridegroom's voice. John gives us this point of contact with them, though in an incident peculiar to himself. The Word, in order to accomplish these infinite things, "was made. It would not suit God, if it would suit man, that He, seeing all, should just pronounce on man's corruption, and then forthwith let him off with a bare pardon. As a present fact, the Lord justifies the judicial act before their eyes by His relationship with God as His Father, and gives the Jews a sign in the temple of His body, as the witness of His resurrection power. The account of Jesus calling the first disciples matches almost word for word the parallel account in Mark 1.1620. This we have had fully before. This gives occasion to Jesus to teach us the lesson that conscience must be reached, and sense of sin produced, before grace is understood and brings forth fruit. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. It is not only the nature, but the model and fulness of the blessing in the Son, who declared the Father. He entered this world, became flesh, as born of woman; but there was no diminution of His own glory, when He, born of the virgin, walked on earth, or when rejected of man, cut off as Messiah, He was forsaken of God for sin our sin on the cross. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? (1-4) The reason for Jesus warning: certain persecution. Granted He was the Son of man; but as such, He had all judgment given Him, and would judge. We have seen already that thus light was shed on men. He saw him under the fig tree. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 1:20-25) John does not even speak of Him as one who, on His rejection as Messiah, would step into a larger glory. Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, but withal, as he had said, the eternal One, yet in view of His manifestation to Israel (and, therefore, John was come baptizing with water a reason here given, but not to the Pharisees in verses 25-27). Here we see Him accepting, not as fellow-servant, but as Lord, those souls who had been under the training of the predicted messenger of Jehovah that was to prepare His way before, His face. This is the heart of the message of the Bible. Do any believe on His name? For them, Israel, or the world, all is over. Nevertheless the Son had taken the place of being the sent One, the place of subordination in the earth, in which He would say, "My Father is greater than I." Of course they are just as truly inspired as John's; but for that very reason they were not inspired to give the same testimony. Nor would the rejected Christ, the Son of man; for if lifted up on the cross, instead of having the throne of David, the result would be not merely earthly blessing for His people according to prophecy, but eternal life for the believer, whoever. : a Jewish prophet who according to Gospel accounts foretold Jesus' messianic ministry and baptized him. If believers genuinely love God they will also obey his commandments. Nevertheless, Christ did come to His own things, His proper, peculiar possession; for there were special relationships. He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. (Verses John 1:41-44), On the morrow Jesus begins, directly and indirectly, to call others to follow Himself.