tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh: I judge no man.”

They were so worldly-minded that they could not form a right judgment, either of Jesus or his doctrines. They had just seen in the case of the woman on whom He had refused to pass sentence, that He would not now judge any one.

Verses 16-19. "And yet, (said He,) if I judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.* I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said the Jews unto Him, where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also."

Their proud and prejudiced minds could not see in Jesus the long promised Messiah. Had they desired to know the truth, they would have been able to perceive that God was indeed bearing witness to his Son: but they were as blind men; it was vain to talk to them of the light; they did not, and could not understand it.

Verse 20. "These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as He taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on Him; for His hour was not yet come."

By the treasury, doubtless, is meant the place where the money was kept which was collected for the service of the temple, this was in thirteen large chests, which stood in the court of the women in the very place where the great candlesticks were situated, from which, as we have seen, Jesus took occasion to represent himself as the true light of the world.†

He taught thus publicly in the temple, yet no one could lay † Olshausen, vol. III. 495.

Deut. xvii. 6.

hands on him. Enraged against him though the leaders of the people were, their fury was powerless, for the hand of God protected his beloved Son, till the hour of the great sacrifice was come, when they should be suffered to do their worst, and in so doing, fulfil the very end for which He came into the world. Thus, even "the wrath of man shall (be made to) praise him."

Verse 21. "Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come."

The time was fast drawing to a close. Soon He would be gone. They would not listen to him now while He showed them the way to escape from the wrath that was hastening on; and when fear and trouble fell upon them, they would vainly seek for the Messiah, whom they knew not, while He stood among them. He foresaw the hour as if it were already come, in which the Romans should destroy Jerusalem, and those very men, who now thirsted for his blood, should perish miserably by their hands. He was now about to return to his heavenly home, and there it was impossible that such as they could follow him.

Scornfully and malignantly speaking to one another,

Verse 22." Then said the Jews, will He kill Himself? Because He saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come ?"

This was a bitter speech, and showed their entire ignorance of Jesus and themselves. They asked one another if He meant to kill himself, as He said they could not go where He was going, for they believed that each man who committed suicide, went direct to hell. Alas! it was not to hell but to heaven they could not follow him. Patiently and clearly Jesus showed them their error, and the cause of it, which lay entirely in the worldliness

Olshausen.

of their minds. No man, whose soul is bound up in the things of this world, can have anything in common with Christ. To all such among ourselves, as well as to those Jews, Jesus saith

Verses 23, 24. "Ye are from beneath: I am from above; Ye are of this world: I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He,* ye shall die in your sins."

The worldliness of their minds kept them from seeing that Jesus was indeed their Messiah: and it was for that reason He said unto them, "Ye shall die in your sins," for there is no other Redeemer. If they could not and would not believe in him, who was their only salvation, then, indeed, they must die in their sins.

Verse 25. "Then they said unto Him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning."

What

He had never changed in his account of himself. He told them now, He told them at the beginning of his ministry. More than a year had passed since, in the temple where He now stood, He had said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that knoweth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

He had then declared to them, that the Father who sent him, bore witness of him; and now He solemnly assures them, that "He is the light of the world, and that whosoever followeth him shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

The light of life! How much there is in these few words. And it shall be given to each of us if we follow Christ. It is promised to us also, that we "shall not walk in darkness."

* Ex. iii. 14.

Therefore, if we are perplexed or distressed, if among the difficulties of life we scarcely know our way, let us turn to those parts of Scripture, from which the character of Christ shines out, and strive to follow them, then shall light, the light of life be given us. The way-faring man on the hills round about Jerusalem, though it was dark night, could not mistake the way, when he saw the temple lighted up; and we, if we steadily and simply follow the light that shines from Jesus, as set forth in Scripture, shall not mistake the way to his kingdom, but shall be able to follow him, whither He is gone to prepare a place for us.*

XXXIII.

JOHN VIII.

JOHN viii. 26, 27. "I have many things (said Jesus to the Jews) to say and to judge of you but he that sent me is true: and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father."

Had the Jews desired to understand the message Jesus brought to them, they would have been able to do so; but blinded by prejudice, they hardened their hearts against him; therefore, they walked in darkness and had no light.

Verses 28-30. "Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me; the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words many believed on him."

* John xiv.

Even then, though many hardened themselves against the truth, many believed. The words of Jesus were carried by the Spirit of God into the hearts of those who were willing to be taught. So is it now. Whoso hardeneth himself against reproof, is by it made the worse and not the better. It is in vain that men are told of Christ the Saviour from sin so long as they love their sins, and deny their need of a Saviour.

Jesus here tells the men who surrounded him that it would shortly be proved that He was indeed the Messiah, sent of God. "When ye have lifted up the Son of man, than shall ye know that I am He." When Jesus should be crucified, then should be seen the meaning of that first promise made to man, that the seed of the woman should bruize the head of Satan the Serpent; but that the Serpent should first have power to bruize his heel.

The lifting up, that is, the crucifixion of Christ's human body, was to be the destruction of Satan's power; for, "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 everlasting life."* Many who railed on him now, many even of those who would soon join in the fearful cry of "Crucify him, crucify him," when they had crucified Him, would by that sight be smitten to the heart, and turn to him to be their Saviour.

Moses, the lawgiver, by types and symbols, led them to Christ. The Reality was come. He who from the beginning, had been shown to them dimly, as through a mist, would soon be lifted up among them. He was the true sacrifice and atonement, that had been so long foreshown by bleeding lambs, and by all the types of the Old Testament. Would they now look upon him and live?

They would find that all He had said and done was in exact agreement with the Father's will; for all He did was but carry

* John iii. 14, 15.