And worship is viewed both in moral nature and in the joy of communion doubly. As mentioned in verse 10, the unbeliever is calling God a liar, in that he or she refuses to believe in God's testimony, namely, that which "God has given about His Son" (vs.10). 42). Here there is no John proclaiming Jesus as the One who was about to introduce the kingdom of heaven. But "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must ( ) the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." On the third day is the marriage in Cana of Galilee, where was His mother, Jesus also, and His disciples. John 6:15 Context. Nothing in the slightest degree detracted from His own personal glory, and from the infinitely near relationship which He had had with the Father from all eternity. He is a divine person; His manhood brought no attainder to His rights as God. It is now eternal reality, and the name of Jesus Christ is that which puts all things to a final test. The effect is thus final, even as His person, witness, and glory are divine. It is the final setting aside of Judaism then, whose characteristic hope was the display of power and rest in the world. I will answer this question on why I am a Historic Premillennialist in 5 Parts: 1. Christ was the true sanctuary, not that on which man had laboured so long in Jerusalem. Therefore, it seems to me, He adds verse 24. Nathanael's call is just as clearly typical of Israel in the latter day. As mentioned in the Introduction Section, premillennialism was the prevailing view of the Early Church for about the first three centuries, Surely He was there, a weary man outside Judaism; but God, the God of all grace, who humbled Himself to ask a drink of water of her, that He might give the richest and most enduring gift, even water which, once drank, leaves no thirst for ever and ever yea, is in him who drinks a fountain of water springing up unto everlasting life. When the crowd complains of hunger, the disciples who are mentioned each react in unique ways. The first four chapters of John precede in point of time the notices of His ministry in the other gospels. On this basisJohn 7:1-53; John 7:1-53 proceeds. But let them beware how they perverted it. Here the Lord was really owned by the multitudes as the great Prophet that should come; and this in consequence of His works, especially that one which Scripture itself had connected with the Son of David. John was not yet cast into prison. How little they conceived of what was then said and done! Nor could any question be more momentous. The Son gives life, as the Father does; and not merely to whom the Father will, but to whom He will. He could have healed the man without the smallest outward act to shock their zeal for the law. Could they, then, reject the Son, and merely miss this infinite blessing of life in Him? And he answered, No. 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. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? It is our evangelist's way of indicating His Galilean sojourn; and this miracle is the particular subject that John was led by the Holy Ghost to take up. No mere man, nor angel, not the highest, the archangel, but the Son. (John 2:1-25) The change of water into wine manifested His glory as the beginning of signs; and He gave another in this early purging of the temple of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, for Christian worship, the hour was coming and in principle come, because He was there; and He who vindicated salvation as of the Jews, proves that it is now for Samaritans, or any who believed on account of His word. The Light, on coming into the world, lightens every man with the fulness of evidence which was in Him, and at once discovers the true state as truly as it will be revealed in the last day when He judges all, as we find it intimated in the gospel afterwards. From the very first, man, being a sinner, was wholly lost. A greater work was in hand; and this, as the rest of the chapter shows us, not a Messiah lifted up, but the true bread given He who comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world; a dying, not a reigning, Son of man. And herein is that true saying, One soweth, and another reapeth. He could be declared only by One who was a divine person in the intimacy of the Godhead, yea, was the only-begotten Son in the bosom of the Father. Thus the Holy Ghost, given by the Son in humiliation (according to God, not acting on law, but according to the gift of grace in the gospel), was fully set forth; but the woman, though interested, and asking, only apprehended a boon for this life to save herself trouble here below. Thus we all not only receive of His fulness, (and what fulness illimitable was there not in Him!) There are three kinds of fundamentals: 1) Doctrinal fundamentals (e.g., the Trinity, Deity of Christ, Sacrificial Atonement, and Resurrection). His was an errand incomparably deeper, more worthy of God, and suitable to One "full of grace and truth." This brings all to a point; for the woman says, "I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things." And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. Now it is that the great question is decided; now it is that a man receives or refuses Christ. His glorious person would have none now in relation to God but members of the family. Governmental healing even from Him might only end in "some worse thing" coming. Thus, as in the former case the Lord's dealing in Galilee was a type of the future, this appears to be significant of His then present path of grace in that despised quarter of the land. Pharisaic jealousy had wrought; and Jesus, wearied, sat thus at the fountain of Jacob's well in Sychar. 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. seize him in order that they might make him King. And He did accept that place thoroughly, and in all its consequences. One must be born again for God's kingdom a Jew for what was promised him, like another. (Ver. We have had his name introduced into each part of the preface of our evangelist. "The law was given by Moses." This scene throws light on the use of in Matthew 11:12. 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. There is no changing or bettering the old man; and, thanks be to God, the new does not degenerate or pass away. This movement was not an unnatural one. Blessed servant he of an infinitely blessed and blessing Master! John 1:29; John 1:29John 1:34; John 1:34) of John Baptist's testimony here named; the first day (ver. The answer given by modern premillennial apologists usually suggests that premillennialism was overcome for illegitimate reasons. John 6:15 in all English translations. Rev 20:7, 14 states death is thrown into into the lake of fire after the thousand year period. (Verse John 3:10). Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment." conjunction with the Lord's Second Coming) (Hebert 2006c:5-6). This is all perfectly true, of course; and we have it elsewhere. Premillennialism turns Jesus into a liar. of This only secures His honour in those that believe God's testimony to Him, the Son of God; and to these He gives life, everlasting life now, and exemption from judgment, in this acting in communion with the Father. he might be; and this, too, as the expression of the true and full grace of God in His only-begotten Son given. For if the Son (cast out, we may say, in principle from Judaism) visited Samaria, and deigned to talk with one of the most worthless of that worthless race, it could not be a mere rehearsal of what others did. The disciples of John dispute with a Jew about purification; but John himself renders a bright witness to the glory of the Lord Jesus. (VersesJohn 3:20-21; John 3:20-21). Not only man under law has no health, but he has no strength to avail himself of the blessing that God holds out. He acts as such. (VersesJohn 6:1-21; John 6:1-21). Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Predetermined performance - no will involved. So we see in the attractive power, afterwards dealing with individual souls. In Him was life for this scene of death; and it is of faith that it might be by grace. The sacrificial death of Him who is God goes far beyond the thought of Israel. God never left Himself without witness; He did not even among the Gentiles, surely yet less in Israel. So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone. In these two points of view, more particularly, John gives testimony to Christ; He is the lamb as the taker away of the world's sin; the same is He who baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. John 6:16. Of this we learn nothing, here. Their purpose was to make Him king. (Ver. 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 truth is, the design of manifesting His glory governs all; place or people was a matter of no consequence. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment; but is passed from death unto life. One must be born again. Grace begins, glory descends; "Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink." And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. This is indispensable; for God is a Spirit, and so it cannot but be. They cite the rise of an unbiblical and dangerous allegorical hermeneutic (by such as Clement of Alexandria and Origen) which took a sad toll on sound biblical exegesis. The man could not tell the Jews the name of his benefactor. They should have understood more about Him those that were specially favoured. So in the baptism with the Holy Ghost, who would pretend to such a power? For nothing can be more observable than the way in which He becomes the centre round whom those that belong to God are gathered. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." If he receives Him, it is everlasting life, and Christ is thus honoured by him; if not, judgment remains which will compel the honour of Christ, but to his own ruin for ever. But Jesus finds him in the temple, and said, "Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." John 7. Such was Jesus in person, contrasted with all who belong to the earth. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Truth and grace were not sought nor found in man, but began to subsist here below by Jesus Christ. And they asked him, What then? to deliver the nation from the Roman yoke, and set up a temporal They were not to wonder then at what He says and does now; for an hour was coming in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those that have done good to resurrection of life, and those that have done evil to resurrection of judgment. It was worldliness in its worst shape, even to the point of turning the glory of Christ to a present account. Such shall live. So on the last day, that great day of the feast (the eighth day, which witnessed of a resurrection glory outside this creation, now to be made good in the power of the Spirit before anything appears to sight), the Lord stands and cries, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." [whose?] to let them know, that those who sought only for a temporal (Verses John 5:17-18). It was not that they were better than their neighbours. In John He is One who could be described as Son of man who is in heaven; but He belonged to heaven, because He was divine. "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." As being the omniscient God, who knew their hearts, and the But He, being God, was manifesting and, on the contrary, maintaining the divine glory here below. "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came ( ) by Jesus Christ." Do they receive Him not? There was sentence of death pronounced on their system, and they felt accordingly. This is grace and truth. (Verses John 3:11-13) He (and He was not alone here) knew God, and the things of God, consciously in Himself, as surely as He knew all men, and what was in man objectively. (Verses John 7:3-5) The Lord intimates the impossibility of anticipating the time of God; but then He does it as connected with His own personal glory. The close of the chapter shows us the Lord in Galilee. 29) on which, as it were, Jesus speaks and acts in His grace as here shown on the earth. The addition of "unto him" detracts, to my mind, from the exceeding preciousness of what seems to be, at least, left open. What is there in God more truly divine than grace and truth? "And this is the judgment, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. It finds, of course, a present application, and links itself with that activity of grace in which God is now sending out the gospel to any sinner and every sinner. This would make all manifest. of these men, and particularly the disciples; that they might be The issue of all is, that the will of man is the real cause and spring of enmity. 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. 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). None but a divine being could thus deal with the world. 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