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JOHN

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 18, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 42.

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JOHN.

By F. D. Starr

By F. D. Starr.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
THIS verse gives the key-note of the entire book to the study of which we are now brought. We have to confess ourselves entirely incompetent to express in words any adequate appreciation of the contents of this book. As we pass from one volume of Sacred Writ to another, transported as it were from glory to glory or from grace to grace, we feel like exclaiming, especially in this case, Will wonders never cease?
"I stand all bewildered with wonder, And gaze on the ocean of bliss."
The manifestation of the love of God is most vividly described by him who was himself styled the "beloved disciple." How can a mortal doubt this love after reading this inspired record? The writer takes us back to Creation in the first statements he makes, showing that He who became flesh for our sakes, was the Being through whom the world was created. Creation and redemption are thus brought together and their relation to each other plainly set forth. The memorial of the one is the memorial of the other.
The writer informs us that only a part of the life-work of Jesus is written in this book, but what is here contained is sufficient to give a consistent understanding and belief of His work. We have surely found a precious mine of truth here. Let us glance at the contents of each chapter.
In the first we have the relation of the work of John the Baptist to that of Christ. This wonderful forerunner of the Messiah, claimed to be merely the materialization of the voice of the prophet that had predicted the Saviour's birth so many centuries before.
In the second chapter we have the description of the social scene at the marriage where Christ began His miracle-working career.
In chapter three is contained the interesting account of the learned rabbi, Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night to inquire concerning the truth, and was taught the impressive lessons regarding the new birth.
In chapter four is recorded the conversation of our Lord with the woman of Samaria and the beautiful illustration of the water of life.
Chapter five contains the motto we have had before us from week to week in this series of articles, "Search the Scriptures."
The sixth chapter gives us instruction concerning the bread of life; the seventh tells us further concerning the water of life that shall flow from every believer.
In the eighth we are told what shall bring to us true Gospel liberty—"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Chapter nine gives the account of the blind man who was healed and was cast out of the synagog for his belief in Christ.
The loving Good Shepherd is brought to view in the tenth chapter.
The eleventh gives the soul-thrilling account of the resurrection of Lazarus.
The twelfth chapter contains the Saviour's remarkable declaration: "If any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."
The thirteenth chapter gives the instructive account of Jesus washing the disciples' feet.
The fourteenth tells of the many mansions in the Father's house.
The fifteenth sets before us the parable of the true Vine.
Chapter sixteen predicts a time when it would be thought to be an act acceptable to God to put the saints to death.
The noted prayer of the Saviour just before His sufferings is found in chapter seventeen.
In chapter eighteen is the account of the trial of Jesus, and His crucifixion is recorded in the nineteenth.
Chapter twenty tells of our Saviour's resurrection, and twenty-one records the meeting with the disciples after their fishing experience, and Jesus' commission to Peter, "Feed My lambs; . . . feed My sheep."
These are merely hints of the many wonderfully-interesting things to be found in this book, but surely these are enough to excite an earnest desire to become intimately acquainted with all that is contained in it. It is a very profitable practise to fix in the mind some item or items to be found in each chapter of a book, and thus aid the mind in retaining a general idea of what is to be found in the entire book.
John wrote his gospel over sixty years after the Crucifixion, near the close of his life, when he was nearly a centenarian.
When our school here on earth is finished, we may learn more of the wonderful life divine that was manifested in the flesh.