Foreword
It is now upwards of twelve years since the writer
first read Mr. Andrew Jukes’ book on the Gospels, wherein he so ably
outlined the various characters, in which the four Evangelists,
severally, present the Lord Jesus Christ. Since then we have continued,
with ever increasing delight, to trace out for ourself, the various
features which are peculiar to each Gospel.
It has been our privilege to give a series of Bible
readings on the design and scope of the Gospels, to various companies,
both in England and in this country; and many have been the requests
for us to publish them in book form. We have hesitated to do this,
because Mr. Jukes, fifty years ago, had already dealt with this subject
with better success than we could hope to achieve. Since his day, a
number of others have written upon the same theme, though not with the
same perspicuity and helpfulness. Really, Mr. Jukes covered the ground
so thoroughly (at least in its broad outlines) that for any later
writer who would present anything approaching a bird’s-eye view of the
four Gospels, is was well-nigh impossible to avoid going over much of
the ground covered by the original pioneer, and repeating much of what
he first, under God, set forth to such good effect. It is only because
Mr. Jukes’ work is unknown to many whom we hope to reach, that we now
present these studies to the Christian public. We have worked
diligently on the subject for ourself, and have sought to thoroughly
assimilate that which we received first from the writing of the above
mentioned, while adding, also, our own findings.
In sending forth this little book, much of which
has been gathered up from the labors of another, we are reminded of the
words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy, his son in the faith: “And the
things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the
same commit thou to faithful men” (2
Tim. 2:2). And again: “But continue thou in the things which
thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou
hast learned them” (2 Tim. 3:14).
We are fully assured that there is very much in the
four Gospels which manifest the Divine perfections and distinctive
beauties of each one, which has not yet been brought forth by those who
have sought to explore their inexhaustible depths; that there is here a
wide field for diligent research, and that those who will pursue this
study, prayerfully, for themselves, will be richly rewarded for their
pains. May it please God to stir up an increasing number of His people
to “search” this portion of His holy Word which reveal, as
nowhere else, the excellencies of His blessed Son, which were so
signally displayed by Him during the years that He tabernacled among
men.
Arthur
W. Pink,
Swengel, Pa.
1921
Introduction
Why four Gospels? It seems strange that such a
question needs to be asked at this late date. The New Testament has now
been in the hands of the Lord’s people for almost two thousand years,
and yet, comparatively few seem to grasp the character and scope of its
first four books. No part of the Scriptures has been studied more
widely than have the four Gospels: innumerable sermons have been
preached from them, and every two or three years sections from one of
the Gospels is assigned as the course for study in our Sunday Schools.
Yet, the fact remains, that the peculiar design and character of
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, is rarely perceived even by those most
familiar with their contents.
Why four Gospels? It does not seem to have occurred to
the minds of many to ask such a question. That we have four Gospels
which treat of the earthly ministry of Christ is universally accepted,
but as to why we have them, as to what they are
severally designed to teach, as to their peculiar characteristics, as
to their distinctive beauties—these are little discerned and even less
appreciated. It is true that each of the four Gospels has much in
common to all: each of them deals with the same period of history, each
sets forth the teaching and miracles of the Saviour, each describes His
death and resurrection. But while the four Evangelists have much in
common, each has much that is peculiar to himself, and it is in noting their
variations that we are brought to see their true meaning and scope
and to appreciate their perfections. Just as a course in architecture
enables the student to discern the subtle distinctions between the
Ionic, the Gothic, and the Corinthian styles—distinctions which are lost
upon the uninstructed; or, just as a musical training fits one to
appreciate the grandeur of a master-production, the loftiness of its
theme, the beauty of its chords, the variety of its parts, or its
rendition—all lost upon un-initiated; so the exquisite perfections of
the four Gospels are unnoticed and unknown by those who see in them
nothing more than four biographies of Christ.
In carefully reading through the four Gospels it soon
becomes apparent to any reflecting mind that in none of them, nor in
the four together, do we have anything approaching a complete
biography of our Saviour’s earthly ministry. There are great gaps
in His life which none of the Evangelists profess to fill in. After the
record of His infancy, nothing whatever is told us about Him till He
had reached the age of twelve, and after the brief record which Luke
gives of Christ as a boy in the Temple at Jerusalem, followed by the
statement that His parents went to Nazareth and that there He was
“subject unto them” (Luke 2),
nothing further is told us about Him until He had reached the age of
thirty. Even when we come to the accounts of His public ministry it is
clear that the records are but fragmentary; the Evangelists select only
portions of His teachings and describe in detail but a few of His
miracles. Concerning the full scope of all that was crowded into His
wonderful life, John gives us some idea when he says, “And there are also
many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written
every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the
books that should be written” (John
21:25).
If then the Gospels are not complete biographies of
Christ, what are they? The first answer must be, Four books inspired,
fully inspired, of God; four books written by men moved by the Holy
Spirit; books that are true, flawless, perfect. The second answer is
that, the four Gospels are so many books, each complete in itself, each
of which is written with a distinctive design, and that which
is included in its pages, and all that is left out, is strictly subordinated
to that design, according to a principle of selection. In other words,
nothing whatever is brought into any one of the Gospels save that which
was strictly relevant and pertinent to its peculiar theme and subject,
and all that was irrelevant and failed to illustrate and exemplify its
theme was excluded. The same plan of selection is noticeable in
every section of the Holy Scriptures.
Take Genesis as an example. Why is it that the first
two thousand years of history are briefly outlined in its first eleven
chapters, and that the next three hundred years is spread out over
thirty-nine chapters? Why is it that so very little is said about the
men who lived before the Flood, whereas the lives of Abraham
and Isaac, Jacob and Joseph are described in such fulness of detail?
Why is it that the Holy Spirit has seen well to depict at greater
length the experiences of Joseph in Egypt than He devoted to the
Account of Creation? Take, again, the later historical books. A great
deal is given us concerning the varied experiences of Abraham’s
descendants, but little notice is taken of the mighty Nations which
were contemporaneous with them. Why is it that Israel’s history
is described at such length, and that of the Egyptians, the Hittites,
the Babylonians, the Persians, and the Greeks, is almost entirely
ignored? The answer to all of these questions is that, the Holy Spirit selected
only that which served the purpose before Him. The purpose of
Genesis is to explain to us the origin of that Nation which
occupies so prominent a place in the Old Testament Scriptures, hence,
the Holy Spirit hurries over, as it were, the centuries before Abraham
was born, and then proceeds to describe in detail the lives of the
fathers from which the Chosen Nation sprang. The same principle obtains
in the other books of the Old Testament. Because the Holy Spirit is
there setting forth the dealings of God with Israel, the other
great nations of antiquity are largely ignored, and only come into view
at all as they directly concerned the Twelve-Tribed people. So
it is in the four Gospels: each of the Evangelists was guided by the
Spirit to record only that which served to set forth Christ in the
particular character in which He was there to be viewed, and that which
was not in keeping with that particular character was left out.
Our meaning will become clearer as the reader proceeds.
Why four Gospels? Because one or two was not
sufficient to give a perfect presentation of the varied glories
of our blessed Lord. Just as no one of the Old Testament typical
personages (such as Isaac or Joseph, Moses or David) give an exhaustive
foreshadowment of our Lord, so, no one of the four Gospels presents a complete
portrayal of Christ’s manifold excellencies. Just as no one or two of
the five great offerings appointed by God for Israel (see Lev. 1–6) could, by itself, represent
the many-sided sacrifice of Christ, so no one, or two, of the Gospels
could, by itself, display fully the varied relationships which the Lord
Jesus sustained when He was here upon earth. In a word, the four
Gospels set Christ before us as filling four distinct offices. We
might illustrate it thus. Suppose I was to visit a strange town in
which there was an imposing city-hall, and that I was anxious to convey
to my friends at home the best possible idea of it. What would I do? I
would use my camera to take four different pictures of it, one from
each side, and thus my friends would be able to obtain a complete
conception of its structure and beauty. Now that is exactly what we
have in the four Gospels. Speaking reverently, we may say that the Holy
Spirit has photographed the Lord Jesus from four different angles,
viewing Him in four different relationships, displaying Him as
perfectly discharging the responsibilities of four different offices.
And it is impossible to read the Gospels intelligently, to understand
their variations, to appreciate their details, to get out of them what
we ought, until the reader learns exactly from which angle each
separate Gospel is viewing Christ, which particular relationship
Matthew or Mark shows Him to be discharging, which office Luke or John
shows Him to be filling.
The four Gospels alike present to us the person and
work of our blessed Saviour, but each one views Him in a distinct
relationship, and only that which served to illustrate the separate
design which each Evangelist had before him found a place in his
Gospel; everything else which was not strictly germane to his immediate
purpose was omitted. To make this still more simple we will use another
illustration. Suppose that today four men should undertake to write a
“life” of ex-president Roosevelt, and that each one designed to present
him in a different character. Suppose that the first should
treat of his private and domestic life, the second deal with
him as a sportsman and hunter of big game, the third depict his
military prowess and the fourth traced his political and
presidential career. Now it will be seen at once that these four
biographers while writing of the life of the same man would,
nevertheless, view him in four entirely different
relationships. Moreover, it will be evident that these biographers
would be governed in the selection of their material by the particular
purpose each one had before him: each would include only that which
was germane to his own specific viewpoint, and for the same reason each
would omit that which was irrelevant. For instance: suppose it was
known that Mr. Roosevelt, as a boy, had excelled in gymnastics and
athletics which of his biographers would mention this fact?
Clearly, the second one, who was depicting him as a sportsman.
Suppose that as a boy Mr. Roosevelt had frequently engaged in fistic
encounters, which one would make mention of it? Evidently, the one who
was depicting his military career, for it would serve to
illustrate his fighting qualities. Again, suppose that when a
college-student Mr. R. had displayed an aptitude for debating, which
biographer would refer to it? The fourth, who was treating of his political
and presidential life. Finally, suppose that from youth upwards,
Mr. R. had manifested a marked fondness for children, which of his
biographers would refer to it? The first, for he is treating of the
ex-president’s private and domestic life.
The above example may serve to illustrate what we have
in the four Gospels. In Matthew, Christ is presented as the Son of
David, the King of the Jews, and everything in his narrative centers
around this truth. This explains why the first Gospel opens with a
setting forth of Christ’s royal genealogy, and why in the
second chapter mention is made of the journey of the wise men from the
East, who came to Jerusalem inquiring “Where is He that is born King
of the Jews?”, and why in chapters five to seven we have what is known
as “The Sermon on the Mount” but which, in reality, is the Manifesto of
the King, containing an enunciation of the Laws of His Kingdom.
In Mark, Christ is depicted as the Servant of Jehovah,
as the One who through equal with God made Himself of no reputation and
“took upon Him the form of a servant.” Everything in this second Gospel
contributes to this central theme, and everything foreign to it is
rigidly excluded. This explains why there is no genealogy
recorded in Mark, why Christ is introduced at the beginning of His
public ministry (nothing whatever being told us here of His earlier
life), and why there are more miracles (deeds of service) detailed here
than in any of the other Gospels.
In Luke, Christ is set forth as the Son of Man, as
connected with but contrasted from the sons of men, and everything in
the narrative serves to bring this out. This explains why the third
Gospel traces His genealogy back to Adam, the first man, (instead of to
Abraham only, as in Matthew), why as the perfect Man He is seen here so
frequently in prayer, and why the angels are seen ministering to Him,
instead of commanded by Him as they are in Matthew.
In John, Christ is revealed as the Son of God, and
everything in this fourth Gospel is made to illustrate and demonstrate
this Divine relationship. This explains why in the opening verse we are
carried back to a point before time began, and we are shown Christ as
the Word “in the beginning,” with God, and Himself expressly declared
to be God; why we get here so many of His Divine titles, as “The only
begotten of the Father,” the “Lamb of God,” the “Light of the world”
etc.; why we are told here that prayer should be made in His Name, and
why the Holy Spirit is here said to be sent from the Son as well as
from the Father.
It is a remarkable fact that this fourfold
presentation of Christ in the Gospels was specifically indicated
through the Old Testament seers. Conspicuous among the many prophecies
of the Old Testament are those which spoke of the coming Messiah under
the title of “the Branch.” From these we may select four which
correspond exactly with the manner in which the Lord Jesus is looked
at, respectively, in each of the four Gospels:—
In Jer. 23:5
we read, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto
DAVID a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper,
and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” These words fit
the first Gospel as glove fits hand.
In Zech. 3:8
we read, “Behold, I will bring forth My Servant the Branch.”
These words might well be taken as a title for the second Gospel.
In Zech. 6:12
we read, “Behold the Man whose name is the Branch.” How
accurately this corresponds with Luke’s delineation of Christ needs not
to be pointed out.
In Isaiah 4:2 we
read, “In that day shall the Branch of the Lord be beautiful
and glorious.” Thus, this last quoted of these Messianic predictions,
which spoke of the Coming One under the figure of “the Branch,” tallies
exactly with the fourth Gospel, which portrays our Saviour as the Son
of God.
But, not only did Old Testament prophecy anticipate
the four chief relationships which Christ sustained on earth, the Old
Testament types also foreshadowed this fourfold division. In Gen. 2:10 we read “And a river
went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted,
and became into four heads.” Note carefully the words “from
thence.” In Eden itself “the river” was one, but “from thence” it “was parted”and
became into four heads. There must be some deeply hidden meaning to
this, for why tell us how many “heads” this river had? The mere
historical fact is without interest or value for us, and that the Holy
Spirit has condescended to record this detail prepares us to look
beneath the surface and seek for some mystical meaning. And surely that
is not far to seek. “Eden” suggests to us the Paradise above: the
“river” which “watered” it, tells of Christ who is the Light
and Joy of Heaven. Interpreting this mystic figure, then, we learn that
in Heaven Christ was seen in one character only—“The Lord of Glory”—but
just as when the “river” left Eden it was parted and became “four
heads” and as such thus watered the earth, so, too, the earthly
ministry of the Lord Jesus has been, by the Holy Spirit, “parted
into four heads” in the Four Gospels.
Another Old Testament type which anticipated the
fourfold division of Christ’s ministry as recorded in the four Gospels
may be seen in Ex. 26:31,
32, “And thou shalt make a vail
of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning
work: with cherubim shall it be made. And thou shalt hang it upon four
pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of
gold, upon the four sockets of silver.” From Heb. 10:19, 20 we learn that the “veil”
foreshadowed the Incarnation, God manifest in flesh—“through the veil,
that is to say, His flesh.” It is surely significant that this
“veil” was hung upon “four pillars of shittim wood overlaid
with gold:” the wood, again, speaking of His humanity, and the gold of
His Deity. Just as these “four pillars” served to display the
beautiful veil, so in the four Gospels we have made manifest the
perfections of the only-begotten of the Father tabernacling among men.
In connection with the Scripture last quoted, we may
observe one other feature—“with cherubim shall it be made.” The veil
was ornamented, apparently, with the “cherubim” embroidered upon it in
colors of blue, purple, and scarlet. In Ezek.
10:15, 17,
etc. the cherubim are termed “the living creature:” this enables us to
identify the “four beasts” of Rev. 4:6
for rendered literally the Greek reads “four living creatures.” These
“living creatures” or “cherubim” are also four in number, and
from the description which is furnished of them in Rev. 4:7 it will be found that they
correspond, most remarkably with the various characters in which the
Lord Jesus Christ is set forth in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
“And the first living creature was like a lion, and
the second living creature like a calf, and the third living creature
had a face as a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying
eagle” (Rev. 4:7).
The first cherubim, then, was like “a lion” which reminds us at once of
the titles which are used of Christ in Rev. 5:5—“The
Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David.” The lion, which is
the king among the beasts is an apt symbol for portraying Christ as He
is presented in Matthew’s Gospel. Note also that the Lion of the Tribe
of Judah is here termed “the Root of David.” Thus the description given
in Rev. 4:7 of the first “cherubim”
corresponds exactly with the character in which Christ is set forth in
the first Gospel, viz., as “the Son of David,” the “King of the Jews.”
The second cherubim was “like a calf” or “young ox.” The young ox aptly
symbolizes Christ as He is presented in Mark’s Gospel, for just as the
ox was the chief animal of service in Israel, so in the second Gospel
we have Christ presented in lowliness as the perfect “Servant of
Jehovah.” The third cherubim “had a face as a man,” which corresponds
with the third Gospel where our Lord’s Humanity is in view. The fourth
cherubim was “like a flying eagle:” how significant! The first
three—the lion, young ox, and man,—all belong to the earth, just as
each of the first three Gospels each set forth Christ in an earthly
relationship; but this fourth cherubim lifts us up above the earth, and
brings the heavens into view! The eagle is the bird that soars the
highest and symbolizes the character in which Christ is seen in John’s
Gospel, viz., as the Son of God. Incidentally we may observe how this
description of the four cherubim in Rev. 4:7
authenticates the arrangement of the four Gospels as we have
them in our Bibles, evidencing the fact that their present order is of
Divine arrangement as Rev. 4:7 confirms!
We would call attention to one other feature ere
closing this Introduction and turning to the Gospels themselves. Behold
the wisdom of God displayed in the selection of the four men whom He
employed to write the Gospels. In each one we may discern a peculiar
suitability and fitness for his task.
The instrumental selection by God to write this first
Gospel was singularly fitted for the task before him. Matthew is the
only one of the four Evangelists who presents Christ in an official
relationship, namely, as the Messiah and King of Israel, and Matthew
himself was the only one of the four who filled an official position;
for, unlike Luke, who was by profession a physician, or John who was a
fisherman, Matthew was a tax-gatherer in the employ of the Romans.
Again; Matthew presents Christ in Kingdom connections, as the One who
possessed the title to reign over Israel; how fitting, then, that
Matthew, who was an officer of and accustomed to look out over a vast
empire, should be the one selected for this task. Again; Matthew was a
publican. The Romans appointed officials whose duty it was to collect
the Jewish taxes. The tax-gatherers were hated by the Jews more
bitterly than the Romans themselves. Such a man was Matthew. How
feelingly, then, could he write of the One who was “hated without a
cause”! and set forth the Messiah-Saviour, as “despised and rejected”
by His own nation. Finally, in God appointing this man, who by calling
was connected with the Romans, we have a striking anticipation of the
grace of God reaching out to the despised Gentiles.
Mark’s Gospel sets before us the Servant of Jehovah,
God’s perfect Workman. And the instrument chosen to write this second
Gospel seems to have held an unique position which well fitted him for
his task. He was not himself one of the apostles, but was rather a
servant of an apostle. In 2 Tim. 4:11
we have a scripture which brings this out in a striking manner—“Take
Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the
ministry.” Thus the one who wrote of our Lord as the Servant of God,
was himself one who ministered to others!
Luke’s Gospel deals with our Lord’s Humanity, and
presents Him as the Son of Man related to but contrasted from the sons
of men. Luke’s Gospel is the one which gives us the fullest account of
the virgin-birth. Luke’s Gospel also reveals more fully than any of the
others the fallen and depraved state of human nature. Again; Luke’s
Gospel is far more international in its scope than the other three, and
is more Gentilish than Jewish—evidences of this will be presented when
we come to examine his Gospel in detail. Now observe the
appropriateness of the selection of Luke to write this Gospel. Who was
he? He was neither a fisherman nor a tax-gatherer, but a “physician”
(see Col. 4:14),
and as such, a student of human nature and a diagnostician of the human
frame. Moreover, there is good reason to believe that Luke himself was
not a Jew but a Gentile, and hence it was peculiarly fitting that he
should present Christ not as “the Son of David” but as “The Son of Man.”
John’s Gospel presents Christ in the loftiest
character of all, setting Him forth in Divine relationship, showing
that He was the Son of God. This was a task that called for a man of
high spirituality, one who was intimate with our Lord in a special
manner, one who was gifted with unusual spiritual discernment. And
surely John, who was nearer to the Saviour than any of the twelve,
surely John “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” was well chosen. How
fitting that the one who leaned on the Master’s bosom should be the
instrument to portray Christ as “The only-begotten Son, which is in the
bosom of the Father”! Thus may we discern and admire the manifold
wisdom of God in equipping the four “Evangelists” for their honorous
work.
Ere closing this Introduction we would return once
more to our opening query—Why four Gospels? This time we shall give the
question a different emphasis. Thus far, we have considered, “Why four
Gospels? And we have seen that the answer is, In order to present the
person of Christ in four different characters. But we would now ask,
Why four Gospels? Why not have reduced them to two or three? Or, why
not have added a fifth? Why four? God has a wise reason for everything,
and we may be assured there is a Divine fitness in the number of the
Gospels.
In seeking to answer the question, Why four Gospels,
we are not left to the uncertainties of speculation or imagination.
Scripture is its own interpreter. A study of God’s Word reveals the
fact (as pointed out by others before us), that in it the numerals are
used with definite precision and meaning. “Four” is the number of the
earth. It is, therefore, also, the world number. We subjoin a few
illustrations of this. There are four points to earth’s compass—nor
the, east, south, and west. There are four seasons to earth’s
year—spring, summer, autumn, and winter. There are four elements
connected with our world—earth, air, fire, and water. There have been
four, and only four, great world-empires—the Babylonian, the
Medo-Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman. Scripture divides earth’s
inhabitants into four classes—“kindred, and tongue, and people, and
nation” (Rev. 5:9
etc.). In the Parable of the Sower, our Lord divided the field into
four kinds of soil, and later He said, “the field is the world.” The
fourth commandment has to do with rest from all earth’s labors. The
fourth clause in what is known as the Lord’s prayer is, “Thy will be
done on earth.” And so we might go on. Four is thus the earth number.
How fitting, then, that the Holy Spirit should have given us four
Gospels in which to set forth the earthly ministry of the Heavenly One.
The Gospel of Matthew
Matthew’s Gospel breaks the long silence that followed
the ministry of Malachi the last of the Old Testament prophets. This
silence extended for four hundred years, and during that time God was
hid from Israel’s view. Throughout this period there were no angelic
manifestations, no prophet spake for Jehovah, and, though the Chosen
People were sorely pressed, yet were there no Divine interpositions on
their behalf. For four centuries God shut His people up to His written
Word. Again and again had God promised to send the Messiah, and from
Malachi’s time and onwards the saints of the Lord anxiously awaited the
appearing of the predicted One. It is at this point Matthew’s Gospel is
to present Christ as the Fulfiller of the promises made to Israel and
the prophecies which related to their Messiah. This is why the word
“fulfilled” occurs in Matthew fifteen times, and why there are more
quotations from the Old Testament in this first Gospel than in the
remaining three put together.
The position which Matthew’s Gospel occupies in the
Sacred Canon indicates its scope: it follows immediately after the Old
Testament, and stands at the beginning of the New. It is therefore a
connecting link between them. Hence it is transitionary in its
character, and more Jewish than any other book in the New Testament.
Matthew reveals God appealing to and dealing with His Old Testament
people; presents the Lord Jesus as occupying a distinctively Jewish
relationship; and, is the only one of the four Evangelists that records
Messiah’s express declaration, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep
of the House of Israel” (15:24).
The numerical position given to Matthew’s Gospel in the Divine library
confirms what has been said, for, being the fortieth book it shows us
Israel in the place of probation, tested by the presence of Messiah in
their midst.
Matthew presents the Lord Jesus as Israel’s Messiah and
King, as well as the One who shall save His people from their sins. The
opening sentence gives the key to the book—“The book of the generation
of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.” Seven times the
Lord Jesus is addressed as “Son of David” in the Gospel, and ten times,
altogether, is this title found there. “Son of David” connects the
Saviour with Israel’s throne, “Son of Abraham” linking Him with
Israel’s land—Abraham being the one to whom Jehovah first gave the
land. But nowhere after the opening verse is this title “Son of
Abraham” applied to Christ, for the restoration of the land to Israel
is consequent upon their acceptance of Him as their Saviour—King, and
that which is made prominent in this first Gospel is the presentation
of Christ as King—twelve times over is this title here applied to
Christ.
Matthew is essentially the dispensational Gospel
and it is impossible to over-estimate its importance and value. Matthew
shows us Christ offered to the Jews, and the consequencesof
their rejection of Him, namely, the setting aside of Israel,
and God turning in grace to the Gentiles. Rom. 15:8,
9 summarizes the scope of
Matthew’s Gospel—“Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for
the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers; And
that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.” Christ was not only
born of the Jews, but He was born, first, to the Jews, so that in the
language of their prophet they could exclaim, “Unto us a Child is born,
unto us a Son is given” (Isa. 9:6).
Matthew’s Gospel explains why Israel, in their later books of the New
Testament, is seen temporally cast off by God, and why He is now taking
out from the Gentiles a people for His name; in other words, it makes
known why, in the present dispensation, the Church has superseded the
Jewish theocracy. It supplies the key to God’s dealings with the earth
in this Age: without a workable knowledge of this first Gospel it is
well-nigh impossible to understand the remaining portions of the New
Testament. We turn now to consider some of the outstanding features and
peculiar characteristics of Matthew’s Gospel.
The first thing which arrests our attention is the
opening verse. God, in His tender grace, has hung the key right over
the entrance. The opening verse is that which unlocks the contents of
this Gospel—“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ the Son of
David, the Son of Abraham.” The first five English words here are but
two in the Greek—“Biblos geneseos.” These two words indicate the
peculiarly Jewish character of the earlier portions of this
Gospel, for it is an Old Testament expression. It is noteworthy that
this expression which commences the New Testament is found almost at
the beginning of the first book in the Old Testament, for in Gen. 5:1 we read, “This is the book
of the generations of Adam.” We need hardly say that this word
“generation” signifies the history of.” These two “books”—the
book of the generation of Adam, and the book of the generation of Jesus
Christ—might well be termed the Book of Death and the Book of Life. Not
only does the whole Bible center around these two books, but the sum of
human destiny also. How strikingly this expression, found at the
beginning of Genesis and the beginning of Matthew, brings out the Unity
of the two Testaments!
In the book of Genesis we have eleven different
“generations” or histories enumerated, beginning with the “generations
of the heavens and the earth,” and closing with the “generations of
Jacob”—see 2:4; 5:1; 6:9;
11:10; 11:27; 25:12; 25:19; 36:1; 36:9;
37:2—thus dividing the first book
of the Bible into twelve sections, twelve being the number of Divine
government, which is what is before us in Genesis—God in sovereign
government. From Exodus to Daniel we find government entrusted,
instrumentally, to Israel, and from Daniel onwards it is in the hands
of the Gentiles; but in Genesis we antedate the Jewish theocracy, and
there government is found directly in the hands of God, hence its
twelvefold division. Twice more, namely, in Num. 3:1 and Ruth 4:18, do we get this
expression “the generation of,” making in the Old Testament thirteen in
all, which is the number of apostasy, for that is all the Law
revealed! But, as we have seen, this expression occurs once more (and
there for the last time in Holy Writ) in the opening verse of the New
Testament, thus making fourteen in all, and the fourteenth is “the book
of the generation of Jesus Christ.” How profoundly significant
and suggestive this is! Fourteen is 2 x 7, and two signifies (among its
other meanings) contrast or difference, and seven is the number of
perfection and completeness—and what a complete difference the Coming
of Jesus Christ made!
“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son
of David, the Son of Abraham” (Matt. 1:1).
These titles of our Saviour have, at least, a threefold significance.
In the first place, both of them connect Him with Israel: “Son of
David” linking Him with Israel’s Throne, and “Son of Abraham” with
Israel’s Land. In the second place, “Son of David” limits Him to
Israel, whereas “Son of Abraham” is wider in its scope, reaching forth
to the Gentiles, for God’s original promise was that in Abraham “shall
all the families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3).
In the third place, as Dr. W.L. Tucker has pointed out, these titles
correspond exactly with the twofold (structural) division of Matthew’s
Gospel.
Up to 4:16 all is Introductory, and 4:17 opens the first division of
the book, reading, “From that timeJesus began to preach, and to
say, Repent: for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This section treats
of the Official ministry of Christ and presents Him as “the Son of
David.” The second section commences at 16:21
and reads, “From that time forth Jesus began to show unto His
disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things
of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be
raised again the third day.” This section treats, primarily, of the
Sacrificial work of Christ, and views Him as “the Son of Abraham,”
typified, of old, by Isaac—laid on the altar.
Having dwelt at some length on the opening verse of our
Gospel, we may next notice that the remainder of the chapter down to
the end of verse 17 is
occupied with the Genealogy of Jesus Christ. The prime significance of
this is worthy of our closest attention, for it fixes with certainty
the character and dominant theme of this Gospel. The very first book of
the New Testament opens a long list of names! What a proof that no
un-inspired man composed it! But God’s thoughts and ways are ever
different from ours, and ever perfect too. The reason for this
Genealogy is not far to seek. As we have seen, the opening sentence of
Matthew contains the key to the book, intimating plainly that Christ is
here viewed, first, in a Jewish relationship, fully entitled to sit on
David’s Throne. How then is His title established? By showing that,
according to the flesh, He belonged to the royal tribe: by setting
forth His Kingly line of descent. A King’s title to occupy the throne
depends not on the public ballot, but lies in his blood rights.
Therefore, the first thing which the Holy Spirit does in this Gospel is
to give us the Royal Genealogy of the Messiah, showing that as a lineal
descendant of David He was fully entitled to Israel’s Throne.
The Genealogy recorded in Matt. 1
gives us not merely the human ancestry of Christ, but, particularly,
His royal line of descent, this being one of the essential features
which differentiates it from the Genealogy recorded in Luke 3. The fundamental design of Matt. 1:1–17 is to prove
Christ’s right to reign as King of the Jews. This is why the genealogy
is traced no further back than Abraham, he being the father of the
Hebrew people. This is why, in the opening verse, the order is “Jesus
Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham,” instead of “the Son of
Abraham, the Son of David” as might be expected from the order which
immediately follows, for there we start with Abraham and work up to
David. Why, then, is this order reversed in the opening verse? The
answer must be that David comes first because it is the Kingly line
which is here being emphasised! This also explains why, in verse 2 we read “Abraham begat Isaac;
and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren.” Why
should Judah alone be here singled out for mention from the twelve sons
of Jacob? Why not have said “Jacob begat Reuben and his brethren”? for
he was Jacob’s firstborn.” If it be objected that the birthright was
transferred from Reuben to Joseph, then we ask, why not have said
“Jacob begat Joseph”? especially as Joseph was his favorite son. The
answer is, Because Judah was the royal tribe, and it is the Kingly
line which is here before us. Again: in verse 6 we read, “And Jesse begat David the
King: and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the
wife of Uriah.” Of all those who reigned over Israel whose names are
here recorded in Matthew 1,
David is the only one that is denominated “King,” and he, twice over in
the same verse! Why is this, except to bring David into special
prominence, and thus show us the significance of the title given to our
Lord in the opening verse—“the Son of David.”
There are many interesting features of this Genealogy
which we must now pass over, but its numerical arrangement calls for a
few brief comments. The Genealogy is divided into three parts: the
first section, running from Abraham to David, may be termed the period
of Preparation; the second section running from Solomon to the
Babylonian captivity, may be called the period of Degeneration; while
the third period, running from the Babylonian captivity till the Birth
of Christ, may be named the period of Expectation. The numeral three
signifies, in Scripture, manifestation, and how appropriate this
arrangement was here, for not until Christ appears is God’s purpose
concerning Abraham and his seed fully manifested. Each of these three
sections in the Royal Genealogy contains fourteen generations, which is
2 x 7, two signifying (among its slightly varied meanings) testimony or
competent witness, and seven standing for perfection. Again we may
admire the consonancy of these numerals in this genealogy of Christ,
for only in Him do we get perfect testimony—the “Faithful and True
Witness.” Finally, be it observed, that 14 x 3 gives us 42 generations
in all from Abraham to Christ, or 7 x 6, seven signifying perfection,
and six being the number of man, so that Christ—the forty-second from
Abraham—brings us to the Perfect Man!! How microscopically perfect is
the Word of God!
“And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom
was born Jesus, who is called Christ” (Matt.
1:16). Matthew does not connect Joseph and Jesus as father
and son, but departs from the usual phraseology of the genealogy so as
to indicate the peculiarity, the uniqueness, of the Saviour’s birth.
Abraham might begat Isaac, and Isaac begat Jacob, but Joseph the
husband of Mary did not begat Jesus, instead, we read, “Now the birth
of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when as His mother Mary was espoused
to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child
of the Holy Spirit” (1:18). As
Isaiah had foretold (7:14) seven
hundred years before, Messiah was to be born of “the virgin.” But a
virgin had no right to Israel’s throne, but Joseph had this right,
being a direct descendant of David, and so through Joseph, His legal
father (for be it remembered that betrothal was as binding with the
Jews as marriage is with us) the Lord Jesus secured His rights,
according to the flesh, to be King of the Jews.
Coming now to Matt. 2 we
may observe that we have in this chapter an incident recorded which is
entirely passed over by the other Evangelists, but which is peculiarly
appropriate in this first Gospel. This incident is the visit of the
wise men who came from the East to honor and worship the Christ Child.
The details which the Holy Spirit gives us of this visit strikingly
illustrate the distinctive character and scope of Matthew’s Gospel.
This chapter opens as follows, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold, there came wise men from
the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is He that is born King of the
Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship
Him.” Notice, these wise men came not inquiring, “Where is He that is
born the Saviour of the world?”, nor, “Where is the Word now
incarnate?”, but instead, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews?”
The fact that Mark, Luke and John are entirely silent about this, and
the fact that Matthew’s Gospel does record it, is surely proof positive
that this First Gospel presents Christ in a distinctively Jewish
relationship. The evidence for this is cumulative: there is first the
peculiar expression with which Matthew opens—“the book of the
generation of,” which is an Old Testament expression, and met with
nowhere else in the New Testament; there is the first title which is
given to Christ in this Gospel—“Son of David;” there is the Royal
Genealogy which immediately follows; and now there is the record of the
visit of the wise men, saying, “Where is He that is born King of the
Jews?” Thus has the Spirit of God made so plain and prominent the
peculiarly Jewish character of the opening chapters of Matthew’s Gospel
that none save those who are blinded by prejudice can fail to see its
true dispensational place. Thus, too, has He rendered excuseless the
foolish agitation which is now, in certain quarters, being raised, and
which tends only to confuse and confound.
But there is far more in Matt. 2
than the recognition of Christ as the rightful King of the Jews. The
incident therein narrated contains a foreshadowment of the reception
which Christ was to meet with here in the world, anticipating the end
from the beginning. What we find here in Matt. 2
is really a prophetic outline of the whole course of Matthew’s Gospel.
First, we have the affirmation that the Lord Jesus was born “King of
the Jews;” then we have the fact that Christ is found not in Jerusalem,
the royal city, but outside of it; then we have the blindness and
indifference of the Jews to the presence of David’s Son in their
midst—seen in the fact that, first, His own people were unaware that
the Messiah was now there among them, and second, in their failure to
accompany the wise men as they left Jerusalem seeking the young Child;
then we are shown strangers from a far-distant land with a heart for
the Saviour, seeking Him out and worshipping Him; finally, we learn of
the civil ruler filled with hatred and seeking His life. Thus, the
incident as a whole marvellously foreshadowed Christ’s rejection by the
Jews and His acceptance by the Gentiles. Thus do we find epitomized
here the whole burden of Matthew’s Gospel, the special purpose of which
is to show Christ presenting Himself to Israel, Israel’s rejection of
Him, with the consequent result of God setting Israel aside for a
season, and reaching out in grace to the despised Gentiles.
Next we read, “And when they were departed, behold the
angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and
take the young Child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou
there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young Child to
destroy Him” (2:13).
Observe that it is Joseph and not Mary that figures so prominently in
the first two chapters of Matthew, for it was not through His mother,
but through His legal father that the Lord Jesus acquired His title to
David’s throne—compare Matt. 1:20,
where Joseph is termed “son of David”! It should also be pointed out
that Matthew is, again, the only one of the four Evangelists to record
this journey into Egypt, and the subsequent return to Palestine. This
is profoundly suggestive, and strikingly in accord with the special
design of this First Gospel, for it shows how Israel’s Messiah took the
very same place as where Israel’s history as a Nation began!
“But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord
appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the
young Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they
are dead which sought the young Child’s life. And he arose, and took
the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel” (2:19–21). Once more we
discover another line which brings out the peculiarly Jewish character
of Matthew’s delineation of Christ. This is the only place in the New
Testament where Palestine is termed “the land of Israel,” and it is
significantly proclaimed as such here in connection with Israel’s King,
for it is not until He shall set up His Throne in Jerusalem that
Palestine shall become in fact, as it has so long been in promise, “the
Land of Israel.” Yet how tragically suggestive is the statement that
immediately follows here, and which closes Matt. 2.
No sooner do we read of “the land of Israel” than we find “But” as the
very next word, and in Scripture, “but” almost always points a
contrast. Here we read, “But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in
Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither:
notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into
the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth:
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall
be called a Nazarene” (2:21–23).
Nazareth was the most despised place in that despised province of
Galilee, and thus we see how early the Messiah took the place of the
despised One, again foreshadowing His rejection by the Jews—but mention
of “Nazareth” follows, be it observed, mention of “the land of Israel.”
Matthew 3
opens by bringing before us a most striking character: “In those
days”—that is, while the Lord Jesus still dwelt in despised Nazareth of
Galilee—“came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea.”
He was the predicted forerunner of Israel’s Messiah. He was the one of
whom Isaiah had said should prepare the way for the Lord, and this by
preparing a people to receive Him by such time as He should appear to
the public view. He came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), to do a work similar
in character to that of the yet future mission of the Tisbite (Matt. 4:5, 6).
John addressed himself to the Covenant people, and
restricted himself to the land of Judea. He preached not in Jerusalem
but in the wilderness. The reason for this is obvious: God would not
own the degenerate system of Judaism, but stationed His messenger
outside all the religious circles of that day. The “wilderness” but
symbolized the barrenness and desolation of Israel’s spiritual
condition.
The message of John was simple and to the point—“Repent
ye.” It was a call for Israel to judge themselves. It was a word which
demanded that the Jews take their proper place before God, confessing
their sins. Only thus could a people be made ready for the Lord, the
Messiah. The Call to Repentance was enforced by a timely
warning—“Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Observe,
“Repent ye” not because “the Saviour is at hand,” not because “God
incarnate is now in your midst,” and not because “A new Dispensation
has dawned;” but because “the Kingdom of Heaven” was “at hand.” What
would John’s hearers understand by this expression? What meaning could
those Jews attach to his words? Surely the Baptist did not employ
language which, in the nature of the case, it was impossible for them
to grasp. And yet we are asked to believe that John was here
introducing Christianity! A wilder and more ridiculous theory it would
be hard to imagine. If by the “Kingdom of Heaven” John signified the
Christian dispension, then he addressed those Jewish hearers in an
unknown tongue. We say it with calm deliberation, that if John bade his
auditors repent because the Christian dispensation was then being
inaugurated, he mocked them, by employing a term which not only must
have been entirely un-intelligible to them, but utterly mis-leading. To
charge God’s messenger with doing that is perilously near committing a
sin which we shrink from naming.
What then, we ask again, would John’s hearers
understand him to mean when he said, “Repent ye, for the Kingdom of
Heaven is at hand”? Addressing, as he was, a people who were familiar
with the Old Testament Scriptures, they could place but one meaning
upon his words, namely, that he was referring to the Kingdom spoken of
again and again by their prophets—the Messianic Kingdom. That which
should distinguish Messiah’s Kingdom from all the kingdoms that have
preceded it, is this: all the kingdoms of this world have been ruled
over by Satan and his hosts, whereas, when Messiah’s Kingdom is
established, it shall be a rule of the Heavens over the earth.
The question has been raised as to why Israel refused
the Kingdom on which their hearts were set. Did not the establishing of
Messiah’s Kingdom mean an end of the Roman dominion? and was not that
the one thing they desired above all others? In reply to such questions
several things must be insisted upon. In the first place, it is a
mistake to say that Israel “refused” the Kingdom, for, in strict
accuracy of language, the Kingdom was never “offered” to them—rather
was the Kingdom heralded or proclaimed. The Kingdom was “at hand”
because the Heir to David’s throne was about to present Himself to
them. In the second place, before the Kingdom could be set up, Israel
must first “Repent,” but this, as is well known, is just what they, as
a nation, steadily refused to do. As we are expressly told in Luke 7:29, 30. “And all the people that
heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the
baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of
God against themselves, being not baptized of him.” In the third place,
the reader will, perhaps, see our meaning clearer if we illustrate by
an analogy: the world today is eagerly longing for the Golden Age. A
millennium of peace and rest is the great desideratum among diplomats
and politicians. But they want it on their own terms. They desire to
bring it about by their own efforts. They have no desire for a
Millennium brought about by the personal return to earth of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Exactly so was it with Israel in the days of John the
Baptist. True, they desired to be delivered from the Roman dominion.
True, they wished to be freed for ever from the Gentile yoke. True,
they longed for a millennium of undisturbed prosperity in a restored
Palestine, but they did not want it in GOD’s terms.
The ministry of John the Baptist is referred to at
greater or shorter length in each of the four Gospels, but Matthew is
the only one who records this utterance “Repent ye, for the Kingdom of
heaven is at hand.” To ignore this fact is to fail in “rightly dividing
the Word of truth.” It is to lose sight of the characteristic
distinctions which the Holy Spirit has been pleased to make in the four
Gospels. It is to reduce those four independent delineations of
Christ’s person and ministry to a meaningless jumble. It is to lay bare
the incompetency of a would-be-teacher of Scripture as one who is not a
“scribe who is instructed unto the Kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 13:52).
John’s baptism confirmed his preaching. He baptized
“unto repentance,” and in Jordan, the river of death. Those who were
baptized “confessed their sins” (Mark 1:5),
of which death was the just due, the “wages” earned. But Christian
baptism is entirely different from this: there, we take not the place
of those who deserve death, but of those who show forth the fact that
they have, already, died with Christ.
It is beyond our present purpose to attempt a detailed
exposition of this entire Gospel, rather shall we single out those
features which are characteristic of and peculiar to this first Gospel.
Accordingly, we may notice an expression found in 3:11, and which occurs nowhere
else in the New Testament outside of the four Gospels, and this is the
more remarkable because a portion of this very verse is quoted in the
Acts. Speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees who had “come to his
baptism,” but whom the Lord’s forerunner quickly discerned were not in
any condition to be baptized; who had been warned to flee from the
wrath to come, and therefore were in urgent need of bringing forth
“fruit meet for repentance” (in their case, humbling themselves before
God, abandoning their lofty pretensions and self righteousness, and
taking their place as genuine self-confessed sinners), and to whom John
had said, “Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our
father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise
up children unto (not God, be it noted, but) Abraham” (v. 9); to them John announced: but he
that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to
bear: He shall baptize you with the Spirit and fire.”
In Acts 1, where
we behold the risen Lord in the midst of His disciples, we read, “And,
being assembled together with them, commended them that they should not
depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which,
saith He, ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water: but
ye shall e baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence” (vv. 4, 5).
His forerunner had declared that Christ should baptize Israel with “the
Holy Spirit and fire,” yet, here, the Lord speaks only of the disciples
being baptized with the Holy Spirit. Why is this? Why did the Lord
Jesus omit the words “and fire”? The simple answer is that in Scripture
“fire” is, invariably, connected with Divine judgment. Thus, the reason
is obvious why the Lord omits “and fire” from His utterance recorded in
Acts 1. He was about to deal, not in
judgment but, in grace! It is equally evident why the words “and fire”
are recorded by Matthew, for his Gospel, deals, essentially with
Dispensational relationships, and makes known much concerning End-time
conditions. God is yet to “baptize” recreant Israel “with fire,” the
reference being to the tribulation judgments, during the time of
“Jacob’s Trouble.” Then will the winnowing fan be held by the hand of
the rejected Messiah, and then “He will thoroughly purge His floor, and
gather His wheat into the darner: but He will burn up the chaff with
unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:12).
How manifestly do the words last quoted define for us the baptism of
“fire”!
The silence of the risen Lord as to the “fire” when
speaking to the disciples about “the baptism of the Spirit,” has added
force and significance when we find that Mark’s Gospel gives the
substance of what Matthew records of the Baptist’s utterance, while
omitting the words “and fire”—“There cometh One mightier than I after
me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and
unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize
you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:7, 8). Why is this? Because, as we
have pointed out, “fire” is the well-known symbol of God’s judgment
(often displayed in literal fire), and Mark, who is presenting
Christ as the Servant of Jehovah, was most obviously led of the Spirit
to leave out the words “and fire,” for as Servant He does not
execute judgment. The words “and with fire” are found, though, in Luke,
and this, again, is most significant. For, Luke is presenting Christ as
“The Son of Man,” and in John 5 we
read, “And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also because
He is the Son of Man” (v. 27).
How strikingly, then, does the inclusion of the words “and fire” in
Matthew and Luke, and their omission in Mark, bring out the verbal
inspiration of Scripture over the instruments He employed in the
writing of God’s Word!
The closing verses of Matt. 3
show us the Lord Jesus, in marvellous grace, taking His place with the
believing remnant of Israel: “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan
unto John, to be baptized of him” (3:13).
John was so startled that, at first, he refused to baptize Him—so
little do the best of men enter into the meaning of the things of
God—“But John forbad Him, saying, I have need to be baptized by Thee,
and comest Thou to me?” (3:14).
Observe once more, that Matthew is the only one of the Evangelists
which mentions this shrinking of the Baptist from baptizing the Lord
Jesus. Appropriately does it find a place here, for it brings out the
royal dignity and majesty of Israel’s Messiah. As to the meaning and
significance of the Saviour’s baptism we do not now enter at length,
suffice it here to say that it revealed Christ as the One who had come
down from heaven to act as the Substitute of His people, to die in
their stead, and thus at the beginning of His public ministry He
identifies Himself with those whom He represented, taking His place
alongside of them in that which spoke of death. The descent of the Holy
Spirit upon Him attested Him, indeed, as the true Messiah, the Anointed
One (see Acts 10:38),
and the audible testimony of the Father witnessed to His perfections,
and fitness for the Work He was to do.
The first half of Matt. 4
records our Lord’s Temptation, into which we do not now enter. The next
thing we are told is, “Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into
prison, He departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, He came and
dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of
Zebulon and Naphtali” (4:12, 13), and this in order that a
prophecy of Isaiah’s might be fulfilled. And then we read, “From that
time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the Kingdom of
heaven is at hand” (4:17). It
would seem that the words “from that time” refer to the casting of the
Baptist into prison. John’s message had been, “Repent ye, for the
Kingdom of heaven is at hand” (3:2), and
now that His forerunner had been incarcerated, the Messiah Himself
takes up identically the same message—the proclamation of the Kingdom.
In keeping with this, we read, “And Jesus went about all Galilee
teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel (not, be it
noted, the “Gospel of the Grace of God”—Acts
20:24; nor “the Gospel of Peace”—Eph.
6:15; but “the Gospel”) of the Kingdom, and healing
all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (4:23).
Our Lord’s miracles of healing were not simply
exhibitions of power, or manifestations of mercy, they were also a
supplement of His preaching and teaching, and their prime value was
evidential. These miracles, which are frequently termed “signs,” formed
an essential part of Messiahs credentials. This is established,
unequivocally, by what we read in Matt. 11.
When John the Baptist was cast into prison, his faith as to the
Messiahship of Jesus wavered, and so he sent two of His disciples unto
Him, asking, “Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?”
(11:2). Notice, carefully, the
Lord’s reply, “Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and
see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have
the Gospel preached to them” (11:4, 5). Appeal was made to two
things: His teaching and His miracles of healing. The two are linked
together, again, in 9:35—“And
Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing
every sickness, and every disease among the people.” And, again,
when the Lord sent forth, the Twelve, “But go rather to the lost sheep
of the House of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of
heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out
demons; freely ye have received, freely give” (10:6–8). Miracles of
healing, then, were inseparately connected with the Kingdom testimony.
They were among the most important of “The Signs of the times”
concerning which the Messiah reproached the Pharisees and Sadducees for
their failure to discern (see Matt. 16:1–3). Similar
miracles of healing shall be repeated when the Messiah returns to the
earth, for we read in Is. 35:4–6,
“Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold,
your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; He will
come and save you (i.e., the godly Jewish remnant of the tribulation
period). Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the
ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a
hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.” It should be diligently
observed that Matthew, once more, is the only one of the four
Evangelists that makes mention of the Lord Jesus going forth and
preaching “The Gospel of the Kingdom,” as he is the only one that
informs us of the Twelve being sent out with the message to the lost
sheep of the House of Israel, “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” How
significant this is! and how it indicates, again, the peculiarly Jewish
character of these opening chapters of the New Testament!
As the result of these miracles of healing Messiah’s
fame went abroad throughout the length and breadth of the Land, and
great multitudes followed Him. It is at this stage, we read, “And
seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set,
His disciples came unto Him: and He opened His mouth, and taught them” (5:1, 2).
We are tempted to pause here, and enter into a detailed examination of
this important, but much misunderstood portion of Scripture—the “Sermon
on the Mount.” But we must not depart from the central design of this
book, hence a few words by way of summary is all we shall now attempt.
The first thing to be remarked is that “the Sermon on
the Mount” recorded in Matt. 5 to 7 is peculiar to this first Gospel,
no mention of it being made in the other three. This, together with the
fact that in Matthew the “Sermon on the Mount” is found in the first
section of the book, is sufficient to indicate its dispensational
bearings. Secondly, the place from whence this “Sermon” was delivered
affords another key to its scope. It was delivered from a “mountain.”
When the Saviour ascended the mount He was elevated above the common
level, and did, in symbolic action, take His place upon the Throne.
With Matt. 5:1 should be compared 17:1—it was upon a mountain that
the Messiah was “transfigured,” and in that wonderous scene we behold a
miniature and spectacular setting forth of “the Son of Man coming in
His Kingdom” (see 16:28).
Again, in 24:3, we
find that it was upon a mountain that Christ gave that wondrous
prophecy (recorded in 24 and 25) which describes the conditions
which are to prevail just before the Kingdom of Christ is set up, and
which goes on to tell of what shall transpire when He sits upon the
Throne of His glory. With these passages should be compared two others
in the Old Testament which clinch what we have just said. In Zech. 14:4 we read, “And His feet
shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives,” the
reference being to the return of Christ to the earth to set up His
Kingdom. Again, in Psalm 2 we read
that God shall yet say, in reply to the concerted attempt of earth’s
rulers to prevent it, “Yet have I set My King upon My holy Hill
of Zion.”
The “Sermon on the Mount” sets forth the Manifesto
of the King. It contains the “Constitution” of His Kingdom. It
defines the character of those who shall enter into it. It tells of the
experiences through which they pass while being fitted for that
Kingdom. It enunciates the laws which are to govern their conduct. Theauthority
of the King is evidences by His “I say unto you,” repeated no less than
fourteen times in this “Sermon.” The effect this had upon those who
heard Him is apparent from the closing verses, “And it came to pass,
when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His
doctrine: for He taught them as One having authority, and not
as the scribes” (7:28, 29).
Another line of evidence which brings out Christ’s authority
(ever the most prominent characteristic in connection with a King),
which is very pronounced in this Gospel, is seen in His command over
the angels. One thing found in connection with kings is the many
servants they have to wait upon them and do their bidding. So we find
here in connection with “the Son of David.” In Matt. 13:41 we read, “The Son of
man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His
Kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.” Observe
that here these celestial servants are termed not “the angels,” but,
specifically, “His angels,” that is, Messiah’s angels, and that they
are sent forth in connection with “His Kingdom.” Again, in 24:30, 31 we read, “And they shall see
the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great
glory (this, at His return to earth to establish His Kingdom). And He
shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall
gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven
to the other.” And, again in 26:53,
“Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to (better, “ask”) My Father, and
He shall presently (immediately) give Me more than twelve legions of
angels?” Matthew, be it particularly noted, is the only one that brings
out this feature.
Still another line of evidence of the Kingly majesty of
Christ should be pointed out. As it is well known, kings are honored by
the homage paid them by their subjects. We need not be surprised, then,
to find in this Gospel, which depicts the Saviour as “the Son of
David,” that Christ is frequently seen as the One before whom men
prostrated themselves. Only once each in Mark, Luke, and John, do we
read of Him receiving worship, but here in Matthew no less than ten
times! See 2:2, 8, 11;
8:2; 9:18;
14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9, 17.
Coming now to Matt. 10
(in 8 and 9
we have the Authentication of the King by the special miracles which He
wrought), in the opening verses we have an incident which is recorded
in each of the first three Gospels, namely, the selection and sending
forth of the Twelve. But in Matthew’s account there are several
characteristic lines found nowhere else. For instance, only here do we
learn that when the Lord sent them forth, He commanded them, saying,
“Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the
Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the House
of Israel” (10:5, 6). Perfectly appropriate is this
here, but it would have been altogether out of place in any of the
others. Notice, also, that the Lord added, “And as ye go, preach,
saying, The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” How the connection in which
this expression is found defines for us its dispensational scope! It
was only to “the lost sheep of the House of Israel” they were to say
“The Kingdom of heaven is at hand”!
In Matt. 12 we
have recorded the most remarkable miracle the Messiah performed before
His break with Israel. It was the healing of a man possessed of a
demon, and who, in addition, was both dumb and blind. Luke, also,
records the same miracle, but in describing the effects this wonder had
upon the people who witnessed it, Matthew mentions something which Luke
omits, something which strikingly illustrates the special design of his
Gospel. In the parallel passage in Luke
11:14 we read, “And He was casting out a demon, and it was
dumb. And it came to pass, when the demon was gone out, the dumb spake;
and the people wondered,” and there the beloved physician stops. But
Matthew says, “And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not
this the Son of David?” (12:23).
Thus we see, again, how that the bringing out of the Kingship of Christ
is the particular object which Matthew, under the Holy Spirit, had
before him.
In Matt. 13 we
find the seven parables of the Kingdom (in its “mystery” form), the
first of which is the well known parable of the Sower, the Seed, and
the Soils. Both Mark and Luke also record it, but with characteristic
differences of detail. We call attention to one point in Christ’s
interpretation of it. Mark reads, “The Sower soweth the Word” (4:14). Luke says, “Now the
parable is this: the Seed is the Word of God” (8:11). But Matthew, in harmony
with his theme says, “Hear ye therefore the parable of the Sower. When
anyone heareth the Word of the Kingdom” etc. (13:18, 19). This is but a minor point,
but how it brings out the perfections of the Holy Writ, down to the
minutest detail! How evident it is that no mere man, or number of men,
composed this Book of books! Well many we sing, “How firm a foundation,
ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word.”
In Matt. 15 we
have the well known incident of the Cananitish woman coming to Christ
on the behalf of her demon-distressed daughter. Mark also mentions the
same, but omits several of the distinguishing features noted by
Matthew. We quote first Mark’s account, and then Matthew’s, placing in
italics the expressions which show forth the special design of his
Gospel. “A certain woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit,
heard of Him, and came and fell at His feet. The woman was a Greek, a
Syrophenician by nation; and she besought Him that He would cast forth
the demon out of her daughter. But Jesus said unto her, Let the
children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s
bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto
Him, Yes, Lord; yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s
crumbs. And He said unto her, For this saying go thy way: the demon is
gone out of thy daughter” (Mk.
7:25–29). “Behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same
coasts, and cried unto Him saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou
Son of David: my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon. But
He answered her not a word (for, as a Gentile, she had no claim
upon Him as the “Son of David”). And His disciples came and besought
Him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But He answered
and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the House of
Israel. Then came she and worshipped Him, saying Lord, help me. But
He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and
to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the
crumbs, which fall from their master’s table. Then Jesus answered and
said unto her, O woman great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou
wilt” (Matt.
15:22–28).
In the opening verse of Matt. 16
we read of how the Pharisees and Sadducees came to Christ tempting Him,
and desiring that He would show them a sign from heaven. Mark and Luke
both refer to this, but neither of them record that part of our Lord’s
reply which is found here in verse 2
and 3—“He answered and said unto
them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky
is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky
is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the
sky; but can ye not discern the Signs of the Times?” The “signs
of the times” were the fulfillment of the Old Testament predictions
concerning the Messiah. Every proof had been given to Israel that He
was, indeed, the promised One. He had been born of a “virgin,” in
Bethlehem, the appointed place; a forerunner had prepared His way,
exactly as Isaiah had foretold; and, in addition, there had been His
mighty works, just as prophecy had fore-announced. But the Jews were
blinded by their pride and self-righteousness. That Matthew alone makes
mention of the Messiah’s reference to these “Signs of the Times” is
still another evidence of the distinctively Jewish character of his
Gospel.
In Matt. 16:18
and 18:17
the “church” is twice referred to, and Matthew is the only one of the
four Evangelists which makes any direct mention of it. This has puzzled
many, but the explanation is quite simple. As previously pointed out,
the great purpose of this first Gospel is to show how Christ presented
Himself to the Jews, how they rejected Him as their Messiah, and what
were the consequences of this, namely, the setting aside of Israel by
God for a season, and His visiting the Gentiles in sovereign grace to
take out of them a people for His name. Thus, are we here shown how
that, and why, the Church has, in this dispensation, superseded the
Jewish theocracy.
In Matt. 20 we
have recorded the parable of the Householder, who went out and hired
laborers for His vineyard, agreeing to pay them one penny for the day.
Matthew is the only of the Evangelists that refers to this parable, and
the pertinency of its place in his Gospel is clear on the surface. It
brings out a characteristic of the Kingdom of Christ. The parable tells
of how, at the end of the day, when the workers came to receive their
wages, there was complaining among them, because those hired at the
eleventh hour received the same as those who had toiled all through the
day—verily, there is nothing new under the sun, the dis-satisfaction of
Labor being seen here in the first century! The Owner of the vineyard
vindicated Himself by reminding the dis-contented workers that He paid
to each what they had agreed to accept, and then inquired, “Is it not
lawful for Me to do what I will with Mine own?” Thus did He, as
Sovereign, insist on His rights to pay what He pleased, no one being
wronged thereby.
In Matt. 22 we
have the parable of the wedding feast of the King’s Son. A parable that
is very similar to this one is found in Luke’s Gospel, and while there
are many points of resemblance between them, yet are there some
striking variations. In Luke 14:16
we read, “Then said He unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and
bade many.” Whereas, in Matt. 22:2
we are told, “The Kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain King, which
made a marriage for His Son.” At the close of this parable in Matthew
there is something which finds no parallel whatever in Luke. Here we
read, “And when the King came in to see the guests, He saw there a
guest which had not on a wedding garment: And He saith unto him,
Friend, how comest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he
was speechless. Then said the King to His servants, Bind him hand and
foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness: there shall
be weeping, and gnashing of teeth” (22:11–13). How this
brings out the authority of the King needs scarcely to be pointed out.
The whole of Matt. 25 is
peculiar to this first Gospel. We cannot now dwell upon the contents of
this interesting chapter, but would call attention to what is recorded
in verses 31 to 46. That the contents of these
verses is found nowhere else in the four Gospels, and its presence here
is another proof of the design and scope of Matthew’s. These verses
portray the Son of man seated upon the throne of His glory, and before
Him are gathered all nations, these being divided into two classes, and
stationed on His right and left hand, respectively. In addressing each
class we read, “Then shall the King say” etc. (see verses 34 and 40).
There are a number of items concerning the Passion of
the Lord Jesus recorded only by Matthew. In 26:59, 60 we read, “Now the chief
priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witnesses
against Jesus, to put Him to death. But found none. At the last came
two false witnesses”—two, because that was the minimum number required
by the law, in order that the truth might be established. It is
interesting to note how frequently the two witnesses are found in
Matthew. In 8:28 we
read, “And when He was come to the other side into the country of the
Gergesenes, there met Him two possessed with demons”—compare Mark 5:1, 2, where only one of these men is
referred to. Again in 9:27 we
read, “And when Jesus departed thence two blind men followed Him”
etc.—compare Mark 10:46.
In 11:2 we are told, “When John had
heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples.”
Finally, in 27:24
we find Pilate’s testimony to the fact that Christ was a “just man,”
but in 27:19
we also read, “His wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do
with that just man.” And this, as well as the others cited above, is
found only in Matthew. Again, in 26:63,
64 we find a characteristic word
omitted and said unto Him, I adjure thee by the living God, that Thou
tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus said unto
him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye
see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in
the clouds of heaven.” Here only are we told that the guilty Jews
cried, “His blood be on us, and on our children” (27:25). And again, Matthew is
the only one that informs us of the enmity of Israel pursuing their
Messiah even after His death—see 27:62–64.
The closing chapter of this Gospel is equally striking.
No mention is made by Matthew of the Ascension of Christ. This, too, is
in perfect accord with the theme and scope of this Gospel. The curtain
falls here with the Messiah still on earth, for it is on earth, and not
in heaven, that the Son of David shall yet reign in glory. Here only is
recorded the Lord’s word, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in
earth” (28:18)—for
“power” is the outstanding mark of a king. Finally, the closing verses
form a fitting conclusion, for they view Christ, on a “mountain,”commanding
and commissioning His servants to go forth and disciple the
nations, ending with the comforting assurance, “Lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the Age.”
The Gospel of Mark
Mark’s Gospel differs widely from Matthew’s, both in
character and scope. The contrasts between them are marked and many.
Matthew has twenty-eight chapters, Mark but sixteen. Matthew abounds in
parables, Mark records but few. Matthew portrays Christ as the Son of
David, Mark delineates Him as the humble but perfect Servant of
Jehovah. Matthew is designed particularly (not exclusively) for the
Jew, whereas Mark is specially appropriate for Christian workers.
Matthew sets forth the Kingly dignity and authority of Christ, Mark
views Him in His lowliness and meekness. Matthew depicts Him as testing
Israel, Marks shows Him ministering to the Chosen People. This is one
reason why, no doubt, that Mark’s Gospel is the second book in the New
Testament—like Matthew’s, it views Him in connection with the Old
Testament people of God. Luke’s Gospel, has a wider scope, looking at
Christ in relation to the human race. While in John, He is shown to be
the Son of God, spiritually related to the household of faith. In
turning now to look at the contents of this second Gospel in some
detail, we would notice,
I.
Things Omitted from Mark’s Gospel.
1. Just as the skill of a master artist is discovered
in the objects which he leaves out of his picture (the amateur crowding
in everything on to the canvass for which he can find room), so the
discerning eye at once detects the handiwork of the Holy Spirit in the
various things which are included and omitted from different parts of
the Word. Notably is this the case with Mark’s Gospel. Here we find no
Genealogy at the commencement, as in Matthew; the miraculous Conception
is omitted, and there is no mention made of His birth. Fancy a whole
Gospel written and yet no reference to the Saviour’s birth in it! At
first glance this is puzzling, but a little reflection assures one of
the Divine wisdom which directed Mark to say nothing about it. Once we
see what is the special design of each separate Gospel, we are the
better enabled to appreciate their individual perfections. The birth of
Christ did not fall within the compass of this second Gospel, nor did
the record of His genealogy. Mark is presenting Christ as the Servant
of Jehovah, and in connection with a servant a genealogy or particulars
of birth are scarcely points of interest or importance. But how this
demonstrates the Divine Authorship of the books of the Bible! Suppose
the Genealogy had been omitted by Matthew, and inserted by Mark, then,
the unity of each Gospel would have been destroyed. But just as the
Creator placed each organ of the body in the wisest possible place, so
the Holy Spirit guided in the placing of each book in the Bible (each
member in this Living Organism), and each detail of each book. For the
same reason as the Genealogy is omitted, nothing is said by Mark of the
visit of the wise men, for a “servant” is not one that receives homage!
Mark also passes over what Luke tells us of Christ as a boy of twelve
in the temple of Jerusalem, and His subsequent return to Nazareth,
where He continued in subjection to His parents, for, while these are
points of interest in connection with His humanity, they were
irrelevant to a setting forth of His Servanthood.
2. In Mark’s Gospel we find no Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew devotes three whole chapters to it, but Mark records it not,
though some of its teachings are found in other connections in this
second Gospel. Why, then, we may ask, is this important utterance of
Christ omitted by Mark? The answer must be sought in the character and
design of the “Sermon.” As we have pointed out, the Sermon on the Mount
contains the King’s Manifesto. It sets forth the laws of His Kingdom,
and describes the character of those who are to be its subjects. But
Mark is presenting Christ as the perfect Workman of God, and a servant
has no “Kingdom,” and frames no “laws.” Hence the appropriateness of
the “Sermon” in Matthew, and the Divine wisdom in its exclusion from
Mark.
3. Mark records fewer Parables than Matthew. In Mark
there are but four all told, whereas in Matthew there are at least
fourteen. Mark says nothing about the Householder hiring laborers for
His vineyard, claiming the right to do as He wills with that which is
His own; for, as God’s Servant, He is seen in the place of the Laborer,
instead of in the position where He hires others. Mark omits all
reference to the parable of the Marriage of the King’s Son, at the
close of which He is seen giving orders for the man without the
wedding-garment to be bound and cast into the outer darkness—such is
not the prerogative of a Servant. All reference to the parable of the
Talents is omitted by Mark, for as God’s Servant He neither gives
talents nor rewards for the use of them. Each of these parables, and
many others all found in Matthew, are excluded by Mark, and their
omission only serves to bring out the minute perfections of each Gospel.
4. In Mark nothing whatever is said of Christ’s
command over angels, and His right to send them forth to do His
bidding; instead we find here “the angels ministered unto Him” (1:13).
5. Here there is no arraignment of Israel, and no
sentence is passed upon Jerusalem as in the other Gospels. Again, in Matt. 23 the “Son of David” utters
a most solemn sevenfold “Woe”—“Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites,” “Woe unto you, ye blind guides” etc., He says there; but
not a word of this is found in Mark. The reason for this is obvious. It
is not the part of the Servant to pass judgment on others, but “to be
gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient” (2
Tim. 2:24). We have another striking illustration of this
same characteristic in connection with our Lord cleansing the Temple.
In Matt. 21:12
we read, “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them
that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the
money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves,” and immediately
following this we are told, “And He left them, and went out of the city
into Bethany; and He lodged there” (21:17).
But in Mark it is simply said, “And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and
into the temple: and when He had looked round about upon all things,
and now the eventide was come, He went out unto Bethany with the
twelve” (11:11).
Mark is clearly writing of the same incident. He refers to the Lord
entering the temple, but says nothing about Him casting out those who
bought and sold there, nor of Him overthrowing the tables. How striking
is this omission. As the Messiah and King it was fitting that He should
cleanse the defiled Temple, but in His character of Servant it would
have been incongruous!
6. The omission of so many of the Divine titles from
this second Gospel is most significant. In Mark, He is never owned as
“King” save in derision. In Mark, we do not read, as in Matthew, “They
shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us,”
and only once is He here termed “the Son of David.” It is very striking
to observe how the Holy Spirit has avoided this in the second Gospel.
In connection with the “Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem,” when
recording the acclamations of the people, Matthew says, “And the
multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna
to the Son of David: Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest” (21:9).
But in Mark’s account we read, “And they that went before, and they
that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna: Blessed is He that cometh in the
name of the Lord: Blessed be the Kingdom of our father David, that
cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest” (11:9, 10). Thus it will be seen that
the Servant of God was not hailed here as “the Son of David.” Side by
side with this, should be placed the words used by our Lord when
announcing, a week beforehand, His “transfiguration.” In Matthew’s
account, we read that He told His disciples, “Verily I say unto you,
There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they
see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.” But, here in Mark, we are
told that He said to the disciples, “Verily I say unto you, That there
be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till
they have seen the Kingdom of God come with power” (9:1). How significant this is!
Here it is simply the “Kingdom of God” that is spoken of, instead of
Christ’s own Kingdom!
But that which is most noteworthy here in connection
with the titles of Christ, is the fact that He is so frequently
addressed as “Master,” when, in the parallel passages in the other
Gospels, He is owned as “Lord.” For example: in Matt. 8:25 we read, “And His
disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying Lord, save us; we
perish;” but in Mark, “And they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master,
carest Thou not that we perish?” (4:38).
Following the announcement of His coming death, Matthew tells us, “Then
Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from Thee,
Lord: this shall not be unto Thee” (16:22).
But in Mark it reads, “And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him” (8:32), and there it stops. On the
Mount of Transfiguration, Peter said, “Lord, it is good for us
to be here” (17:4);
but Mark says, “And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master,
it is good for us to be here” (9:5).
When the Saviour announced that one of the Twelve would betray Him,
Matthew tells us, “And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every
one of them to say unto Him, Lord, is it I?” (26:22); but Mark tells us, “And
they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto Him, one by one, “Is is I?”
(14:19). These are but a few of
the examples which might be adduced, but sufficient have been given to
bring out this striking and most appropriate feature of Mark’s Gospel.
7. It is deeply interesting and instructive to note
the various circumstances and events connected with our Lord’s
sufferings which are omitted from Mark. Here, as He entered the awful
darkness of Gethsemane, He says to the three disciples, “Tarry ye here,
and watch” (14:34),
not “watch with Me,” as in Matthew, for as the Servant He turns only to
God for comfort; and here, nothing is said at the close, of an angel
from Heaven appearing and “strengthening” Him, for as Servant He draws
strength from God alone. No mention is made by Mark of Pilate’s “I find
no fault in Him,” nor are we told of Pilate’s wife counselling her
husband to have nothing to do with “this Just Man,” nor do we read here
of Judas returning to the priests, and saying, “I have betrayed
innocent blood;” all of these are omitted by Mark, for the Servant must
look to God alone for vindication. Nothing is said in Mark of the women
following Christ as He was led to the place of execution, “bewailing
and lamenting Him” (Luke 23:27),
for sometimes the suffering Servant of God is denied the sympathy of
others. The words of the dying thief, “Lord, remember me when Thou
comest into Thy Kingdom” are here omitted, for in this Gospel, Christ
is neither presented as “Lord” nor as One having a “Kingdom.” The
Saviour’s triumphant cry from the Cross, “It is finished” is also
omitted. At first sight this seems strange, but a little reflection
will discover the Divine wisdom for its exclusion. It is not for the
Servant to say when his work is finished—that is for God to decide! We
pass on now to notice
II.
Things Which are Characteristic of Mark.
1. Mark’s Gospel opens in a manner quite different
from the others. In Matthew, Luke and John, there is what may be termed
a lengthy Introduction, but in Mark it is quite otherwise. Matthew
records Christ’s genealogy, His birth, the visit and homage of the wise
men, the flight into Egypt, and subsequent return and sojourn in
Nazareth; describes at length both His baptism and temptation, and not
till we reach the end of the fourth chapter do we arrive at His public
ministry. Luke opens with some interesting details concerning the
parentage of John the Baptist, describes at length the interview
between the angel and the Saviour’s mother previous to His birth,
records her beautiful Song, tells of the angelic visitation to the
Bethlehem shepherds at Christ’s birth, pictures the presentation of the
Child in the temple, and refers to many other things; and not until we
reach the fourth chapter do we come to the public ministry of the
Redeemer. So, too, in John. There is first a lengthy Prologue, in which
is set forth the Divine glories of the One who became flesh; then
follows the testimony of His forerunner to the Divine dignity of the
One he had come to herald; then we have described a visit to John of a
delegation sent from Jerusalem to inquire as to who he was; finally,
there is the witness of the Baptist to Christ as the Lamb of God: and
all this before we here read of Him calling His first disciples. But
how entirely different is the opening of the second Gospel. Here there
is but a brief notice of the Baptist and his testimony, a few words
concerning Christ’s baptism and His temptation, and then, in the
fourteenth verse of the first chapter we read, “Now after that John was
put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the
Kingdom of God.” The first thirty years of His life here on earth are
passed over in silence, and Mark at once introduces Christ at the
beginning of His public ministry. Mark presents Christ actually
serving.
2. The opening verse of Mark is very striking: “The
beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Observe, it
is not here “the Gospel of the Kingdom” (as in Matthew), but “the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.” How significant that it is added “the Gospel
of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Thus has the Holy Spirit guarded His
Divine glory in the very place where His lowliness as the “Servant” is
set forth. It is also to be remarked that this word “Gospel” is found
much more frequently in Mark than in any of the other Gospels. The term
“Gospel” occurs twelve times in all in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
and no less than eight of these are found in Mark, so that the word
“Gospel” is found twice as often in Mark as in the other three added
together! The reason for this is obvious: as the Servant of Jehovah,
the Lord Jesus was the Bearer of good news, the Herald of glad tidings!
What a lesson to be taken to heart by all of the servants of God to-day!
3. Another characteristic term which occurs with even
greater frequency in this second Gospel is the Greek word “Eutheos,”
which is variously translated “forthwith, straightway, immediately”
etc. Notice a few of the occurrences of this word in the first chapter
alone: “And straightway coming up out of the water, He saw the
heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him” (v. 10). “And immediately the
Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness” (v. 12).
“And when He had gone a little further thence, He saw James the son of
Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their
nets, And straightway He called them” (vv. 19, 20).
“And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath
day He entered into the synagogue, and taught” (v. 21). “And forthwith when
they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of
Simon” (v. 29). “And
He came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up, and immediately
the fever left her” (v. 31). “And
He straightly charged him, and forthwith sent him away” (v. 43). In all, this word is found
no less than forty times in Mark’s Gospel. It is a most suggestive and
expressive term, bringing out the perfections of God’s Servant by
showing us how He served. There was no tardiness about Christ’s
service, but “straightway” He was ever about His “Father’s business.”
There was no delay, but “forthwith” He performed the work given Him to
do. This word tells of the promptitude of His service and the urgency
of His mission. There was no holding back, no reluctance, no slackness,
but a blessed “immediateness” about all His work. Well may we learn
from this perfect example which He has left us.
4. The way in which so many of the chapters open in
this second Gospel is worthy of our close attention. Turn to the first
verse of chapter 2, “And again
He entered into Capernaum after some days.” Again, the first verse of
chapter 3, “And He
entered again into the synagogue.” So in 4:1,
“And He began again to teach by the seaside.” So in 5:1, “And they came over unto the
other side of the sea.” This is seemingly a trivial point, and yet, how
unique! It is now more than ten years since the writer first observed
this feature of Mark’s Gospel, and since then, many hundreds of books,
of various sorts, have been read by him, but never once has he seen a
single book of human authorship which had in it one chapter that
commenced with the word “And.” Test this, reader, by your own library.
Yet here in Mark’s Gospel no less than twelve of its chapters begun
with “And”!
“And,” as we know, is a conjunction joining together
two other parts of speech; it is that which links two or more things
together. The service of Christ, then, was characterized by that which
“And” signifies. In other words, His service was one complete and
perfect whole, with no breaks in it. Ah, how unlike ours! Yours
and mine is so disjointed. We serve God for a time, and then there
comes a slackening up, a pause, a break, which is followed by a period
of inactivity, before we begin again. But not so with Christ. His
service was a series of perfect acts, fitly joined together, without a
break or blemish. “And,” then as characterizing the service of Christ,
tells of ceaseless activity. It speaks of the continuity of His labors.
It shows us how He was “instant in season and out of season.” It
reveals how He never grew weary of well doing. May God’s grace cause
the “And” to have a more prominent place in our service for Him.
5. In the former section we have pointed out how that
Mark records fewer parables than Matthew, and we may add, fewer than
Luke too. But, on the other hand, Mark describes more miracles. This,
also, is in keeping with the design and scope of this second Gospel.
Parables contained our Lord’s teachings, whereas the miracles were a
part of His active ministry. Service consists more of deeds than
teaching, doing rather than speaking. How often our service is more
with our lips than our hands. We are big talkers and little doers!
Mark records just four parables, and it is a most
significant thing that each of them has to do, directly, with service.
The first is the parable of the Sower, and this views the Saviour as
going forth with the Word (4:3–20). The second
parable is that of the Seed cast into the ground, which sprang up and
grew, and brought forth first the blade, then the ear, after that the
full corn in the ear, and finally was harvested (4:26–29). The third
parable is that of the Mustard-seed (4:30–32). The fourth is
that of the Wicked Husbandmen who mistreated the Owner’s servants, and
ended by killing His well-beloved Son (12:1–9). Thus it will
be seen, that each has to do with ministry or service: the first three
with sowing Seed, and the last with the Servant going forth “that He
might receive of the husbandman of the fruit of the vineyard.”
6. In Mark’s Gospel, the hand of Christ is frequently
mentioned, and this is peculiarly appropriate in the Gospel which
treats of His service. It might well be termed, the Ministry of the
Hand. How prominent this feature is here may be seen by consulting
the following passages. “And He came and took her by the hand,
and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her” (1:31). “And Jesus, moved with
compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto
him, I will; be thou clean” (1:41.
“And He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi: which
is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise” (5:41). “And they bring unto Him
one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they
beseech Him to put His hand upon him” (7:32). How beautiful is this.
Divinely enlightened, these people had learned of the tenderness and
virtue of His hand. Again we read, “And He cometh to Bethsaida; and
they bring a blind man unto Him, and besought Him to touch him”(8:22). They, too, had discovered
the blessedness and power of His touch. “And He took the blind man
by the hand, and led him out of the town. After that He put His
hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was
restored, and saw every man clearly” (8:23,
25). Once more we read, “But
Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose” (9:27). How blessed for every
believer to know that he is safely held in that same blessed Hand (John 10:28).
7. The Holy Spirit has also called special attention
in this Gospel to the eyes of the perfect Servant. “And when He
had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for
the hardness of their hearts” (3:5).
How those Holy eyes must have flashed upon those who would condemn Him
for healing on the Sabbath day the man with the withered hand! “And He looked
round about on them which sat about Him, and said, Behold My mother and
My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My
brother, and My sister, and My mother” (3:34,
35). This time the Saviour’s eyes
turned upon His disciples, and what love must have appeared in them as
He turned and beheld those who had forsaken all to follow Him! “But
when He had turned about and looked on His disciples, He
rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind Me, Satan” (8:33). What a touch in the
picture is this—before He rebuked Peter, He, first, turned, and
“looked” on His disciples! Concerning the rich young ruler who came to
Him, we read here (and here only),” Then Jesus beholding him,
loved him” (10:21).
What Divine pity and compassion must have shone in His eyes at that
moment! So again in 11:11
we read, “And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple, and
when He had looked round upon all things, and now the eventide
was come, He went out into Bethany with the twelve.” How those eyes
must have blazed with righteous indignation, as He beheld the
desecration of the Father’s house! These passages which mention the
Saviour “looking” and “beholding”, tell us of His thoughtfulness, His
attention to detail, His thoroughness. Next we will notice,
III.
The Manner in which Christ Served.
In order to discover the manner in which Christ
served, we must examine closely the details of what the Holy Spirit has
recorded here for our learning and profit, and for the benefit of our
readers we shall classify those under suitable headings.
1. Christ served with marked Unostentation.
“And Simon and they that were with him followed
after Him. And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, All men
seek for Thee. And He said unto them,Let us go into the next
towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth” (Mark 1:36–38). This
incident occurred near the beginning of our Lord’s public ministry. He
had wrought some mighty works, many of the sick had been healed, and
His fame had gone abroad. In consequence, great throngs of people
sought for Him. He was, for a brief season, the popular Idol of the
hour. But what was His response? Instead of remaining where He was to
receive the plaudits of a fickle crowd, He moves away to preach in
other towns. How unlike many of us today! When we are well received,
when we become the center of an admiring crowd, our desire is to remain
there. Such a reception is pleasing to the flesh; it panders to our
pride. We like to boast of the crowds that attend our ministry. But the
perfect Servant of God never courted popularity, He shunned it!
And when His disciples came and told Him—no doubt with pleasurable
pride—“All men seek for Thee,” His immediate response was, “Let us go”!
At the close of Mark 1
we read of a leper being cleansed by the great Physician, and,
dismissing him, He said, “See thou say nothing to any man: but
go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing
those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.” How
utterly unlike many of His servants to day, who spare no pains or
expense to advertise themselves! How entirely different we are
from the One who said, “I receive not honor from men” (John 5:41)! No; He ever wrought
with an eye single to God’s glory. Notice, farther, how this
comes out again in the sequel to the above miracle. The healed leper
heeded not the admonition of his Benefactor, instead, we read, “But he
went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the
matter.” How gratifying this would have been to most of us! But not so
with Him who sought only the Father’s glory. Instead of following the
man who had been healed, to become the Object of the admiring gaze and
flattering remarks of the leper’s friends and neighbors, we read, that
“Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in
desert places”! Are we not to learn from this, that when people
begin to “blaze abroad” what God has wrought through us, it is time for
us to move on, lest we receive the honor and glory which is due Him
alone!
In full harmony with what has just been before us in
the closing verses of Mark 1, we
read in the first verses of the next chapter, “And again He entered
into Capernaum, after some days, and it was noised that He was in
the house,” for, evidently, the healed leper belonged to that
highly favored town. Hence it was that we here find Him seeking the
privacy and quietude of the “house.” So again in 3:19 we read, “And they (Christ
and the apostles) went into an house.” His reason for doing
this, here, was to escape from the crowd, as is evident from the words
which immediately follow, “And the multitude cometh together again.”
Again in 7:17 we
are told, “And when He was entered into the house from the
people.” His life was not lived before the footlights, but quietly and
unobtrusively He went about doing the Father’s will. What a word is
this—“And when He was entered into the house from the people”!
And how different from some of His servants today, whose one great aim
seems to be the seeking of the patronage of “the people,” and the
soliciting of their favors! So, again in 9:28
we read, “And when He was come into the house, His disciples
asked Him privately, Why could not we cast him out?” (9:28). And once more in 9:33, we read “And He came to
Capernaum: and being in the house He asked them, What was it
that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?” Mark, we may add, is the
only one of the four Evangelists that makes this repeated reference to
“the house.” It is just one of the smaller lines in the picture that
serves to bring out the Unostentation of the perfect Servant.
In the closing verses of Mark 7
we have recorded the miracle of Christ restoring one that was deaf and
had an impediment in his speech. And in chapter eight is recorded the
healing of the blind man, who, at the first touch of the Lord’s hands
saw men as trees walking, but who, at the second touch, “saw every man
clearly.” Mark is the only one that records either of these miracles.
One reason for their inclusion here, is seen in a feature that is
common to them both. In 7:36 we
are told, “And He charged them that they should tell no man:
but the more He charged them, so much the more a great deal they
published it.” Concerning the latter we read, “And He sent him away to
his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in
the town” (8:26).
What a lesson for all of us: perfect service is rendered to God alone,
and often is unseen, unappreciated, unthanked by man. The Servant of
Jehovah threw a veil over His gracious acts.
2. Christ served with great Tenderness.
This comes out so often in this second Gospel. We
single out four examples, and the better to appreciate them, we quote
first the parallel references in the other Gospels, before noticing
Mark’s account. “And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great
fever; and they besought Him for her. And He stood over her, and
rebuked the fever; and it left her; and immediately she arose and
ministered unto them” (Luke 4:38,
39). “But Simon’s wife’s mother
lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell Him of her. And He came and
took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever
left her, and she ministered unto them” (Mark
1:30, 31). What
a beautiful line in the picture is this! How it shows us that Christ’s
service was no mere perfunctory one, performed with mechanical
indifference, but that He came near to those to whom He ministered and
entered, sympathetically, into their condition.
In Luke 9 we
read of the father who sought out the Lord Jesus on behalf of his
demon-possessed son, and in healing him we read, “And Jesus rebuked the
unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his
father” (9:42).
But Mark brings into his picture a characteristic line which Luke
omitted, “But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up,
and he arose” (9:27).
There was no aloofness about the perfect Servant. How this rebukes the
assumed self-superiority of those who think it beneath their dignity to
shake hands with those to whom they have ministered the Word! To take
some people “by the hand” is to get nearer their hearts. Let us seek to
serve as Christ did.
In Matt. 18:2
we read, “And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the
midst of them; and when He had taken him in His arms, He said
unto them” (9:36).
Again, in Matt.
19:13–15 we are told, “Then were there brought unto Him
little children, that He should put His hands on them, and pray: and
the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and
forbid them not, to come unto Me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
And He laid His hands on them, and departed thence.” But once more we
may observe how that Mark adds a line all his own, “And they brought
young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples
rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much
displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto
Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I
say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a
little child, he shall not enter therein. And He took them up in
His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them” (10:13–16). What tenderness
do these acts display! And what an example He has left us!
3. Christ served encountering great Opposition.
Here we shall take a rapid review of Mark’s
reference to this feature of his theme, instead of commenting on each
passage, though a remark here and there will, perhaps, not be out of
place.
“But there were certain of the scribes sitting
there, and reasoning in their hearts (there are usually a few
such in most congregations), Why does this man thus speak
blasphemies?” (2:6, 7). “And when the scribes and
Pharisees saw Him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto His
disciples, How is it that He eateth and drinketh with publicans and
sinners?” (2:16).
“And the Pharisees said unto Him, behold why do they on the sabbath day
that which is not lawful?” (2:24).
The servant of God must expect to be misunderstood and encounter
criticism and opposition. “And they watched Him whether He would heal
him on the sabbath day” (3:2). And
the servant of God is still watched by unfriendly eyes! “And the
Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians
against Him, how they might destroy Him” (3:6).
Every faction of the peoples was “against” Him. “And the scribes which
came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of
the demons casteth He out demons” (3:22).
The servant may expect to be called hard names. “And they began to pray
Him to depart out of their coasts” (5:17).
Christ was not wanted. His testimony condemned His hearers. So will it
be now with every servant of God that is faithful. “And they laughed
Him to scorn” (5:40). To
be sneered and jeered at, then, is nothing new: sufficient for the
disciple to suffer what his Master did before him. “And they were
offended at Him” (6:3). The
Christ of God did not suit everybody; far from it. But let us see to it
that we give none other occasion for “offense” than He did! “And He
could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few
sick folk, and healed them” (6:5).
The servant of God will come to some places which are unfavorable for
effective ministry, and where the unbelief of the profest people of the
Lord will hinder the Spirit of God.” Then came together unto Him the
Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And
when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to
say, with unwashen hands, they found fault” (7:1,
2). Nevertheless, the Lord Jesus
declined to respect their “traditions,” refusing to allow His disciples
to be brought into bondage thus. Well for God’s servants now if they
disregard the “touch not, taste not, handle not” of men, yet must they
be prepared to be “found fault” with as the result. “And the Pharisees
came forth, and began to question with Him, seeking of Him a sign from
heaven, tempting Him” (8:11).
So, too, will the emissaries of the Enemy seek now to entangle and
ensnare the servants of God. Compare Mark
10:2. “And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and
sought how they might destroy Him: for they feared Him, because all the
people was astonished at His doctrine” (11:18).
They were jealous of His influence. And human nature has not changed
since then! “And they come again to Jerusalem: and as He was walking in
the temple, there came to Him the chief priests and the scribes, and
the elders. And say unto Him, By what authority doest Thou these
things? and who gave Thee this authority?” (11:27,
28).
How history repeats itself! From what College have you graduated? and
in which Seminary were you trained? are the modern form of this query.
“And they sent unto Him certain of the Pharisees, and of the Herodians,
to catch Him in His words” (12:13).
And some of their descendants still survive, and woe be to the man who
fails to pronounce their shiboleths! What a list this is! and we have
by no means exhausted it; see
further 12:18; 12:28; 14:1, etc. All the way through,
the perfect Servant of God was dogged by His enemies; at every step He
encountered opposition and persecution in some form. And these things
are all recorded for our instruction. The Enemy is not dead. God’s
servants today are called to tread a similar path.
4. Christ Served with much Self-Sacrifice.
“And the multitude cometh together again, so that
they could not so much as eat bread” (3:20).
So thoroughly was He at the disposal of others. How completely did He
know what it was to spend and be spent!
“And the same day, when the even was come, He saith
unto them, Let us pass over into the other side. And when they had sent
away the multitude, they took Him, even as He was into the ship” (4:35, 36).
How touching is this! A study of the context, with the parallel
passages in the other Gospel, shows this evening here was the close of
a busy and crowded day. From early morn till sunset, the Master had
been ministering to others, and now He is so weary and worn from His
labors He had to be “taken”—led and lifted—into the ship! “Even as He
was”—how much do these words cover? Ah, Christian worker, next time you
come to the close of a full day of service for God, and your mind is
tired and your nerves are quivering, remember that thy Lord, before
thee, knew what it was to lay down (see 4:38)
so tired that even the storm awoke Him not!
“And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart
into a desert place and rest a while: for there were many coming and
going, and they had NO leisure so much as to eat” (6:31). That is how the perfect
Workman of God served. Ever attent in being about His Father’s
business: no rest, no leisure, at times so thronged that He went
without His meals.
Christ’s service cost Him something. Note
how this comes out in the next quotations. “And when He had looked
round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness
of their hearts” (3:5). He
was no frigid Stoic. “And looking up to heaven He sighed, and
saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened” (7:34). Christ’s service was not
rendered formally and perfunctarily; but He entered, sympathetically,
into the condition of the sufferer. “And He sighed deeply in
His spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign?” (8:12). Thus did He take to heart
the sad unbelief of those to whom He ministered. He suffered inwardly
as well as outwardly.
“And the multitude cometh together again, so that
they could not so much as eat bread. And when His friends heard of
it, they went out to lay hold on Him: for they said, He is
beside Himself” (3:20, 21). So incapable were they of
entering into the thoughts of God. They sought to check Him in the
accomplishing of God’s will. Their purpose was well meant, no doubt,
but it was a zeal “without knowledge.” What a warning is this for all
of God’s servants. Watch out for well intentioned “friends” who,
lacking in discernment, may seek to hinder the one who is completely
yielded to God, and who, like the apostle Paul, “counts not his life
dear unto himself” (Acts 20:24).
5. Christ Served in an Orderly manner.
This comes out, in an incidental way, in several
statements which are found only in Mark. We single out but two. In 6:7 we read, “And He called unto
Him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two.”
Again; when about to feed the hungering multitude, we are told, “And He
commanded them to make them all sit down by companies upon the green
grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties”
(6:39, 40).
What attention to details was this! And how it rebukes much of our
slipshod work! If Scripture enjoins, “Whatsoever thine hand findeth to
do, do it with thy might,” then, surely our service for God calls for
our most careful and prayerful attention! God is never the author of
“confusion,” as Christ’s example here plainly shows.
6. Christ’s Service was prompted by Love.
“And Jesus, moved with compassion, put
forth His hand, and touched him. (the leper), and said unto him, I
will; be thou clean” (1:41).
“And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with
compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a
shepherd; and He began to teach them many things” (6:34). “I have compassion on
the multitude, because they have now been with Me three days, and
have nothing to eat” (8:1). Mark
is the only one of the Evangelists that brings this lovely and touching
line into the picture. And O how it rebukes the writer for his hardness
of heart, and cold indifference to the perishing all around! How little
real “compassion” one finds today! “Then Jesus beholding him (the rich
young man) loved him” (Mark
10:21). Mark is the only one who tells us this, as though to
show that without “love” service is barren.
7. Christ’s Service was preceeded by Prayer.
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before
day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed”
(1:35). Mark is the only one that
records this. And how significant that this statement is placed in his
first chapter, as though to let us into the secret of the uniqueness
and perfectness of Christ’s service!
There is much more that is peculiar to this second
Gospel which we now pass over. In closing here we would call attention
to the manner in which Mark concludes:—“And they (the apostles) went
forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and
confirming the Word with signs following. Amen” (16:20). How significant and
appropriate! The last view we have here of God’s perfect Servant, He is
still “working,” now, not alone, but “with them” His servants.
Our study of this lovely view of Christ will have
been in vain, unless it has brought home to our hearts with new power
the admonition of God through His apostle, “Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work
of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in
the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).
The Gospel of Luke
The numerical position which Luke occupies in the Sacred
Canon, supplies a sure key to its interpretation. It is the third book
in the New Testament, and the forty-second in the Bible as a whole.
Each of these numbers are profoundly significant and suggestive in this
connection. Three is the number of manifestation, and
particularly, the manifestation of God and His activities. It is in the
Three Persons of the Blessed Trinity that the one true and living God
is fully revealed. Hence, also, three is the number of resurrection,
for resurrection is when life is fully manifested. Appropriately, then,
is Luke’s Gospel the third book of the New Testament, for here it is we
are shown, as nowhere else so fully, God manifest in flesh. But
Luke’s Gospel is also the forty-second book in the Bible as a whole,
and this is, if possible, even more significant, for 42 is 7 x 6, and
seven stands for perfection while six is the number of man: putting the
two together we get the Perfect Man! And this is precisely what
the Holy Spirit brings before us in this forty-second book of the
Bible. What an evidence this is, not only of the Divine inspiration of
Scripture but, that God has unmistakably superintended the placing of
the different books in the Sacred Canon just as we now have them!
Luke’s Gospel is concerned with the Humanity of our
Lord. In Matthew, Christ is seen testing Israel, and that is why his
Gospel has the first place in the New Testament, as being the necessary
link with the Old. In Mark, Christ appears as serving Israel, and that
is why his Gospel is given the second place. But in Luke, the writer’s
scope is enlarged: here Christ is seen in racial connections as the Son
of Man, contrasted from the sons of men. In John, Christ’s highest
glory is revealed, for there He is viewed as the Son of God, and, as
connected not with Israel, not with men as men, but with believers.
Thus we may admire the Divine wisdom in the arrangement of the four
Gospels, and see the beautiful gradation in their order. Matthew is
designed specially for the Jews; Mark is peculiarly suited to God’s
servants; Luke is adapted to men as men—all men; while John’s is the
one wherein the Church has found its chief delight.
Luke’s Gospel, then, is the Gospel of Christ’s Manhood.
It shows us God manifest in flesh. It presents Christ as “The Son of
Man.” It views the Lord of glory as having come down to our level,
entering into our conditions (sin excepted), subject to our
circumstances, and living His life on the same plane as ours is lived.
Yet, while He is here seen mingling with men, at every point He appears
in sharp contrast from them. There was as great a difference between
Christ as the Son of Man, and any one of us as a son of man, as there
is now between Him as the Son of God, and any believer as a son of God.
That difference was not merely relative, but absolute; not simply
incidental, but essential; not one of degree, but of kind. “The Son of
Man” predicts the uniqueness of His humanity. The humanity of our Lord
was miraculously begotten, it was intrinsically holy in its nature, and
therefore, saw not corruption in death. As The Son of Man, He was born
as none other ever was, He lived as none other did, and He died as none
other ever could.
The humanity of Christ, like everything else connected
with His peerless person, needs to be discussed with profound reverence
and care. Speculation concerning it is profane. Rash conjectures about
it must not be allowed for a moment. All that we can know about it is
what has been revealed in the Scriptures. Had some of our theologians
adhered more rigidly to what the Holy Spirit has said on the subject,
had they exercised more care in “holding fast the form of sound words,”
much that has been so dishonoring to our Lord had never been written.
The person of the God-Man is not presented to our view for intellectual
analysis, but for the worship of our hearts. It is not without good
reason that we have been expressly warned, “great is the Mystery
of Godliness. God was manifest in flesh” (1 Tim.
3:16).
As we prayerfully examine the written word it will be
found that Divine care has been taken to guard the perfections of our
Lord’s humanity, and to bring out its holy character. This appears not
only in connection with the more direct references to His person, but
also in the types and prophecies of the Old Testament. The “lamb,”
which portrayed Him as the appointed Sacrifice for sin, must be
“without spot and blemish,” and the very houses wherein the lamb was
eaten, must have all leven (emblem of evil) carefully excluded from
them. The “manna,” which spoke of Christ as the Food for God’s people,
is described as being “white” in color (Ex.
16:31). The Meal offering, which directly pointed to the
Humanity of Christ, was to be only of “fine flour” (Lev. 2:1), that is, flour without
any grit or unevenness; moreover, it was to be presented to the Lord
accompanied with “oil” and “frankincense,” which were emblems of the
Holy Spirit, and the fragrance of Christ’s person. Joseph, the most
striking of all the personal types of the Lord Jesus, was, we are told,
“A goodly person, and well favored” (Gen. 39:6).
This same feature is noticeable in the prophecies which
referred to the humanity of the Coming One. It was a “virgin” in whose
womb He should be conceived (Is. 7:14).
As the Incarnate One, God spake of Him thus: “Behold My Servant, whom I
uphold; Mine Elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit
upon Him” (Is. 42:1).
Touching the personal excellencies of the Son of Man, the Spirit of
prophecy exclaimed, “Thou art farier than the children of men: grace is
poured into Thy lips: therefore God hath blessed Thee for ever” (Ps. 45:2). Concerning the
Sinlessness of Him who was cut off out of the land of the living, it
was affirmed, “He hath done no violence, neither was any deceit found
in His mouth” (Is. 53:9).
Looking forward to the time when His humanity should pass through death
without corruption, it was said, “His leaf also shall not wither” (or,
“fade,” margin), Ps. 1:3—contrast
with this, “We all do fade as a leaf” (Is. 64:6).
Coming now to the New Testament, we may observe how
carefully God has distinguished the Man Christ Jesus from all other
men. In 1 Tim. 3:16
we read, “Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the
flesh.” It is remarkable that in the Greek there is no definite article
here: what the Holy Spirit really says is, “God was manifest in flesh.”
Manifest in “flesh” He was, but not in the flesh, for that would point
to fallen human nature, shared by all the depraved descendants of Adam.
Not in the flesh, but in flesh, sinless and holy flesh, was God
“manifest.” O the marvellous minute accuracy of Scripture! In like
manner we read again concerning the humanity of Christ, “What the law
could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own
Son in the likeness of sin’s flesh (Greek): Rom. 8:3.
The spotless and perfect humanity of the Saviour was not sinful like
ours, but only after its “likeness” or outward form. As Heb. 7:26 declares He was “holy,
harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.” Separate from
sinners He was, both in the perfect life He lived here. He “knew no
sin” (2 Cor. 5:21); He “did not sin” (1 Pet. 2:22); He was “without
sin” (Heb. 4:15); therefore could He
say, “The prince of this world (Satan) cometh and hath nothing in Me” (John 14:30).
In keeping with the theme of Luke’s Gospel, it is here
we have the fullest particulars concerning the miraculous birth of the
Lord Jesus. Here we read, “In the sixth month (how significant is this
number here, for six is the number of man) the angel Gabriel was sent
from God unto a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused
to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s
name was Mary” (Luke 1:26,
27). Twice over is it here
recorded that Mary was a “virgin.” Continuing, we read, “And the angel
came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou art highly favored, the Lord is
with thee: blessed art thou among women.” This troubled Mary, for she
wondered at this strange salutation. The angel continued, “Fear not,
Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt
conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name
Jesus.” In reply, Mary asked, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a
man?” And the angel answered, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that
holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).
The coming of the Holy Spirit “upon” a person is always,
in Scripture, to effect a supernatural, a Divine work. The promise of
the angel to Mary that the power of the Highest should “overshadow”
her, suggests a double thought: she should be protected by God Himself,
and how this promise was fulfilled Matt.
1:19, 20
informs us; while it is also a warning that the modus operandi of this
miracle is hidden from us. The words of the angel to Mary “that holy
thing which shall be born of thee,” have been a sore puzzle to the
commentators. Yet the meaning of this expression is very simple. It
refers not, concretely, to our Lord’s person, but instead, abstractly,
to His humanity. It calls attention to the uniqueness of His humanity.
It is in pointed contrast from ours. Put these words of Luke 1:35 over against another
expression in Is. 64:6
and their meaning will be clear—We are all as an unclean thing.” Our
human nature, looked at abstractly, (that is, apart from its personnel
acts) is, essentially, “unclean,” whereas that which the Son of God
took unto Himself, when He became incarnate, was incapable of sinning
(which is merely a negative affirmation), but it was inherently and
positively “holy.” Therein the humanity of Christ differed from that of
Adam. Adam, in his unfallen state, was merely innocent (a negative
quality again), but Christ was holy. Perhaps it may be well for us to
offer a few remarks at this point concerning the Saviour’s “temptation.”
We are frequently hearing of preachers making the
statement that our Lord could have yielded to the solicitations of
Satan, and that to affirm He could not is to rob the account of His
conflict with the Devil of all meaning. But this is not only a mistake,
it is a serious error. It dishonors the person of our blessed Lord. It
denies His impeccability. It impeaches His own declaration that Satan
had “nothing” in Him—nothing to which he could appeal. If there had
been a possibility of the Saviour yielding to the Devil that season in
the wilderness, then for forty days the salvation of all God’s elect
(to say nothing of the outworking of God’s eternal purpose) was in
jeopardy; and surely that is unthinkable. But, it is asked, If there
was no possibility of Christ yielding, wherein lay the force of the
Temptation? If He could not sin, was it not a meaningless performance
to allow Satan to tempt Christ at all? Such questions only betray the
deplorable ignorance of those who ask them.
It ought to be well understood that the word “tempt”
has a double significance, a primary and secondary meaning, and it is
the application of the secondary meaning of the term as it is used in Matthew 4 and the parallel passages,
which had led so many into error on this point. The word “tempt”
literally means “to stretch out” so as to try the strength of anything.
It comes from the Latin word “tendo”—to stretch. Our English word
attempt, meaning to try, brings out its significance. “Tempt,” then,
primarily signifies “to try, test, put to the proof.” It is only in its
secondary meaning that it has come to signify “to solicit to evil.” In Gen. 22:1 we read, “And it came to
pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham.” But God did not
solicit Abraham to evil, for, “God cannot be tempted with evil, neither
tempteth He (in this sense) any man” (Jas.
1:13). So, too, we read, “Then was Jesus led up of the
Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil” (Matt. 4:1). The purpose of this
Temptation was not to discover whether or not the Saviour would yield
to Satan, but to demonstrate that He could not. Its design was to
display His impeccability, to show forth the fact that there was
“nothing” in Him to which Satan could appeal. It was in order that
Christ might be tried and proven: just as the more you crush a rose,
the more its fragrance is evidenced, so the assaults of the Devil upon
the God-Man only served the more to bring out His perfections, and thus
reveal Him as fully qualified to be the Saviour of sinners.
That the Saviour could not sin, does not rob the
Temptation of its meaning, it only helps us discern its true meaning.
It is because He was the Holy One of God that He felt the force of
Satan’s fiery darts as no sinful man ever could. It is impossible to
find an analogy in the human realm for the Lord Jesus was absolutely
unique. But let us attempt to illustrate the principle which is here
involved. Is it true that in proportion as a man is weak morally that
he feels the force of a temptation? Surely not. It is the man who is
strong morally that feels the force of it. A man who is weakened in his
moral fiber by sin, is weakened in his sensitiveness in the presence of
temptation. Why does the young believer ask, “How is it that since I
became a Christian I am tempted to do wrong a hundred times more than I
was formerly?” The correct answer is, he is not; but the life of Christ
within him has made him keener, quicker, more sensitive to the force of
temptation. The illustration fails, we know; but seek to elevate the
principle to an infinite height, and apply it to Christ, and then
instead of saying that because He had no sin and could not sin His
temptation, therefore, was meaningless, you will perhaps discover a far
deeper meaning in it, and appreciate as never before the force of the
words, “He Himself hath suffered, being tempted” (Heb. 2:18). Should it be asked
further: But does not this rob the Saviour of the capacity to
sympathize with me when I am tempted? The answer is, A thousand times
No! But it is to be feared that this last question is really an
evasion. Does not the questioner, deep down in his heart, really mean,
Can Christ sympathize with me when I yield to temptation? The question
has only to be stated thus to answer it. Being holy, Christ never
sympathizes with sin or sinning. Here then is the vital difference:
when Christ was tempted He “suffered,” but when we are drawn away by
temptation we enjoy it. If, however, we seek grace to sustain us while
we are under temptation, and are not drawn away by it, then shall we
suffer too, but then we also have a merciful and faithful High Priest
who is able, not only to sympathize with us but to, “succor them that
are tempted” (Heb. 2:18).
Our digression has been rather a lengthy one, but necessary, perhaps,
in a consideration of the Humanity of Christ, one postulate of which is
His impeccability.
As previously stated, Luke’s Gospel is wider in its
range than either of the two which precede it, in both of which Christ
is viewed in connection with Israel. But here there are no national
limitations. The “Son of David” of the first Gospel, widens out into
the “Son of Man” in the third Gospel. As “Son of Man” He is the
Catholic Man. He is linked with, though separated from, the whole human
race. Luke’s Gospel, therefore, is in a special sense the Gentile
Gospel, as Matthew’s is the Jewish Gospel. It is not surprising to
find, then, that the writer of it was himself, in all probability, a
Gentile—the only one in all the Bible. It is generally conceded by
scholars that Luke is an abbreviation of the Latin “Lucanus” or
“Lucius.” His name is twice found in the Pauline Epistles in a list of
Gentile names, see 2 Tim.
4:10–12 and Philemon 24.
It is also noteworthy that this third Gospel is addressed, not to a
Jew, but to a Gentile, by name “Theophilus,” which means “Beloved of
God.” It is in this Gentile Gospel, and nowhere else, that Christ is
presented as the good “Samaritan.” Obviously, this would have been
quite out of place in Matthew’s Gospel, but how thoroughly accordant is
it here! So, too, it is only here that we are told that “Jerusalem
shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles
be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).
And again, it is in this Gospel that, in describing End-time
conditions, we learn that Christ spake to His disciples this parable:
“Behold the fig tree, and all the trees” (21:29).
Matthew mentions the former (24:32),
as the ‘fig tree’ is the well known symbol of Israel, but Luke, alone,
adds “and all the trees,” thus bringing out the international scope of
his Gospel. Other illustrations of this same feature will be discovered
by the careful student.
Returning to the central theme of this Gospel, we may
observe that “the Son of Man” links Christ with the earth. It is the
title by which Christ most frequently referred to Himself. Not once did
any one else ever address Him by this name. The first occurrence of
this title is found in the Old Testament, in the 8th Psalm, where we
read, “What is man that Thou art mindful of Him? and the Son of Man
that Thou visitest him? For Thou hast made him a little lower than the
angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to
have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things
under his feet” (vv. 4–6).
The immediate reference is to Adam, in his unfallen condition, and
refers to his Headship over all the lower orders of creation. It speaks
of earthly dominion, for “Have dominion over the fish of the sea, and
over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon
the earth” (Gen. 1:28),
is what God said to our first parent in the day that he was created.
But from this position of “dominion” Adam fell, and it was (among other
things, to recover the dominion that Adam had lost, that our Lord
became incarnate. Thus the eighth Psalm, as is evident from its
quotation in Hebrews 2,
finds its ultimate fulfillment in “the Second Man.” But, before this
Second Man could be “crowned with glory and honor,” He must first
humble Himself and pass through the portals of death. Thus the “Son of
Man” title speaks first of humiliation, and ultimately of dominion and
glory.
“The Son of Man” occurs 88 times in the New Testament
(which is a very significant number, for 8 signifies a new beginning,
and it is by the Second Man the beginning of the new “Dominion” will be
established), and it is deeply interesting and instructive to trace out
the connections in which it occurs. It is found for the first time in
the New Testament in Matt. 8:20,
where the Saviour says, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air
have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.”
Here attention is called to the depths of humiliation into which the
Beloved of the Father had entered: the One who shall yet have complete
dominion over all the earth, when here before, was but a homeless
Stranger. The second occurrence of this title helps to define its
scope—“The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins” (Matt. 9:6). The last time it is
found in Matthew’s Gospel is in 26:64—“Hereafter
shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and
coming in the clouds of heaven.” Here we are carried forward to the
time when the Lord Jesus shall return to these scenes, not in weakness
and humiliation, but in power and glory. In John
3:13 there is a statement made which proves that the Son of
Man was God as well, “And no man hath ascended up to Heaven, but He
that came down from Heaven, even the Son of Man which is in Heaven.”
Nowhere in the Epistles (save in Heb. 2
where Ps. 8 is quoted) is this title found,
for the Church has a heavenly calling and destiny, and is linked to the
Son of God in Heaven, and not to the Son of Man as He is related to the
earth. The last time this title occurs in Scripture is in Rev. 14:14, where we read, “And I
looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto
the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown.” What a contrast is
this from the first mention of this title in the New Testament where we
read of Him not having where to lay “His head”!
It is now high time for us to turn from these
generalizings and consider some features of Luke’s Gospel in more
detail. To begin with, we may observe, as others have noticed, how
distinctive and characteristic is the Preface to this third Gospel:
“For as much as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a
declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were
eyewitnesses, and ministers of the Word: It seemed good to me also,
having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to
write unto thee, in order, most excellent Theophilus, that thou
mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been
instructed” (1:1–4).
What a contrast is this from what we have at the
commencement of the other Gospels. Here more pronouncedly than
elsewhere, we see the human element in the communication of God’s
revelation to us. The human instrument is brought plainly before us.
Luke speaks of his personal knowledge of that of which he is about to
treat. He refers to what others had done before him in this direction,
but feels the need of a more orderly and full setting forth of those
things which were most surely believed. But apparently he was quite
unconscious of the fact, as he sat down to write to his friend
Theophilus, that he was being “moved” (better, “borne along”) by the
Holy Spirit, or that he was about to communicate that which should be
of lasting value to the whole Church of God. Instead, the Divine
Inspirer is hidden here, and only the human penman is seen. Strikingly
appropriate is this in the Gospel which treats not of the official
glories of Christ, nor of His Deity, but of His Manhood. There is a
marvellous analogy between the written Word of God and the Incarnate
Word, the details of which are capable of being extended indefinitely.
Just as Christ was the God-Man, Divine yet human, so the Holy
Scriptures though given “by inspiration of God” were, nevertheless,
communicated through human channels; but, just as Christ in becoming
Man did so without being contaminated by sin, so God’s revelation has
come to us through human medium without being defiled by any of their
imperfections. Moreover, just as it is here in Luke’s Gospel that our
Lord’s humanity is brought so prominently before us, so it is here that
the human element in the giving of the Holy Scriptures is most plainly
to be seen.
There are many other things of interest and importance
to be found in this first chapter of Luke which we cannot now consider
in detail, but we would point out, in passing, how the human element
prevails throughout. We may notice, for instance, how that here God is
seen on more intimate terms with those whom He addresses than in Matt. 1. There, when communicating
with Joseph, He did so in “dreams,” but here, when sending a message to
Zacharias, it is by an angel, who speaks to the father of the Baptist
face to face. Still more intimate is God’s communication to Mary, for
here the angel speaks not to the mother of our Lord in the temple, but
more familiarly, in the home—an intimation of how near God was about to
come to men in His marvellous grace. Again; far more is told us of Mary
here than elsewhere, and Luke is the only one who records her song of
joy which followed the great Annunciation, as he alone records the
prophecy of Zacharias, uttered on the occasion of the naming of his
illustrious son. Thus, the emotions of the human heart are here
manifested as they were expressed in song and praise.
The opening verses of Luke 2
are equally characteristic and distinctive. Here we are told, “And it
came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first
made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed,
every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out
of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David: to
be taxed with Mary his espoused wife” (Luke
2:1–5). We shall look in vain for anything like this in the
other Gospels. Here the Lord of glory is contemplated not as the One
who had come to reign, but instead, as One who had descended to the
level of other men, as One whose mother and legal father were subject
to the common taxation. This would have been altogether out of keeping
with the theme and scope of Matthew’s Gospel, and a point of no
interest in Mark, but how thoroughly in accord with the character of
Luke’s Gospel!
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped
Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was
no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).
Luke is the only one of the four evangelists who tells us of this—a
point of touching interest concerning His humanity, and one that is
worthy of our reverent contemplation. Why was it the Father suffered
His blessed Son, now incarnate, to be born in a stable? Why were the
cattle of the field His first companions? What spiritual lessons are we
intended to learn from His being placed in a manger? Weighty questions
are these admitting, perhaps, of at least a sevenfold answer.
(a) He was laid in a manger because there was no room
in the inn. How solemnly this brings out the world’s estimate of the
Christ of God. There was no appreciation of His amazing condescension.
He was not wanted. It is so still. There is no room for Him in the
schools, in society, in the business world, among the great throngs of
pleasure seekers, in the political realm, in the newspapers, nor in
many of the churches. It is only history repeating itself. All that the
world gave the Saviour, was a stable for His cradle, a cross on which
to die, and a borrowed grave to receive His murdered body.
(b) He was laid in a manger to demonstrate the extent
of His poverty. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that,
though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through
His poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).
How “poor” He became, was thus manifested at the beginning. The One
who, afterwards, had not where to lay His head, who had to ask for a
penny when He would reply to His critics about the question of tribute,
and who had to use another man’s house when instituting the Holy
Supper, was, from the first, a homeless Stranger here. And the “manger”
was the earliest evidence of this.
(c) He was laid in a manger in order to be Accessible
to all. Had He been in a palace, or in some room in the Temple, few
could have reached Him without the formality of first gaining
permission from those who would have been in attendance at such places.
But none would have any difficulty in obtaining access to a stable;
there He would be within easy reach of poor and rich alike. Thus, from
the beginning, He was easy to approach. No intermediaries had first to
be passed in order to reach Him. No priest had to be interviewed before
entre could be obtained to His presence. Thus it was then; and
so it is now, thank God.
(d) He was laid in a manger so as to foreshadow the Character
of those among whom He had come. The stable was the place for
beasts of the field, and it was into their midst the newly-born Saviour
came. And how well did they symbolize the moral character of men! The
beasts of the field are devoid of any spiritual life, and so have no
knowledge of God. Such, too, was the condition of both Jews and
Gentiles. And how beastlike in character were those into whose midst
the Saviour came: stupid and stubborn as the ass or mule, cunning and
cruel as the fox, grovelling and filthy as the swine, and ever
thirsting for His blood as the more savage of the animals. Fittingly,
then, was He placed amid the beasts of the field at His birth.
(e) He was laid in a manger to show His contempt
for Worldly riches and pomp. We had thought it more fitting for the
Christ of God to be born in a palace, and laid in a cradle of gold,
lined with costly silks. Ah, but as He Himself reminds us in this same
Gospel, “that which is highly esteemed among men, is abomination in the
sight of God” (Luke 16:15).
And what an exemplification of this truth was given when the infant
Saviour was placed, not in a cradle of gold but, in an humble manger.
(f) He was laid in a manger to mark His
identification with human suffering and wretchedness. The One born
was “The Son of Man.” He had left the heights of Heaven’s glory and had
descended to our level, and here we behold Him entering the human lot
at its lowest point. Adam was first placed in a garden, surrounded by
the exquisite beauties of Nature as it left the hands of the Creator.
But sin had come in, and with sin all its sad consequences of suffering
and wretchedness. Therefore, does the One who had come here to recover
and restore what the first man lost, appear first, in surroundings
which spoke of abject need and wretchedness; just as a little later we
find Him taken down into Egypt, in order that God might call His Son
from the same place as where His people Israel commenced their national
history in misery and wretchedness. Thus did the Man of Sorrows
identify Himself with human suffering.
(g) He was laid in a manger because such was the
place of Sacrifice. The manger was the place where vegetable life
was sacrificed to sustain animal life. Fitting place was this, then,
for Him who had come to be the great Sacrifice, laying down His life
for His people, that we might through His death be made alive.
Remarkably suggestive, therefore, and full of emblematic design, was
the place appointed by God to receive the infant body of the incarnate
Saviour.
It is only in Luke’s Gospel that we read of the
shepherds who kept watch over their flocks by night, and to whom the
angel of the Lord appeared, saying, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you
good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you
is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord” (2:10, 11). Note that the One born is
here spoken of not as “The King of the Jews,” but as “a Saviour, which
is Christ the Lord”—titles which reach out beyond the confines of
Israel, and take in the Gentiles too.
Again, it is only here in Luke that we behold the
Saviour as a Boy of twelve going up to Jerusalem, and being found in
the Temple “sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and
asking them questions” (2:46).
How intensely human is this! Yet side by side with it there is a strong
hint given that he was more than human, for we read, “And all that
heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.” So, too,
it is only here that we are told, “And He went down with them (His
parents), and was subject unto them” (2:51).
How this brings out the excellencies of His humanity, perfectly
discharging the responsibilities of every relationship which He
sustained to men as well as to God! And how strikingly appropriate is
the closing verse of this chapter—“And Jesus increased in wisdom and
stature and in favor with God and man”! There is nothing like this in
any of the other Gospels; but Luke’s would have been incomplete without
it. What proofs are these that Luke, as the others, was guided by the
Spirit of God in the selection of his materials!
Luke 3 opens
by presenting to us the person and mission of John the Baptist. Matthew
and Mark have both referred to this, but Luke adds to the picture his
own characteristic lines. Only here do we read that it was “in the
fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being
governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother
Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and
Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilena, Annas and Caiaphas being the high
priests, the Word of God came unto John, the son of Zacharias in the
wilderness” (3:1, 2)—points of historic interest in
connection with these human relationships. So, too, it is only here
that we read of other human relationships of “the people” who asked
John “What shall we do?” (3:10), of
the “publicans” who asked him the same question (3:12), and of “the soldiers” is
also to be noted, that only here is the Lord Jesus directly linked with
“all the people” when He was baptized, for we read, “Now when all the
people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized” (3:21), thus showing Him as the
One who had come down to the common level. And again, it is only here
we are told of the age of the Saviour when He entered upon His public
ministry (3:23),
this being another point of interest in connection with His humanity.
Luke 3 closes
with a record of the Genealogy of the Son of Man, and noticeable are
the differences between what we have here, and what is found in Matt. 1. There, it is the royal
genealogy of the Son of David, here it is His strictly personal
genealogy. There, it is His line of descent through Joseph which is
given, here it is His ancestry through Mary. There, His genealogy is
traced forwards from Abraham, here it is followed backwards to Adam.
This is very striking, and brings out in an unmistakable manner the
respective character and scope of each Gospel. Matthew is showing
Christ’s relation to Israel, and therefore he goes back no farther than
to Abraham, the father of the Jewish people; but here, it is His
connection with the human race that is before us, and hence his
genealogy in Luke is traced right back to Adam, the father of the human
family. But notice, particularly, that at the close it is said, “Adam
was the son of God” (3:38).
Thus the humanity of Christ is here traced not merely back to Adam, but
through Adam directly to God Himself. How marvellously this agrees with
the words of the Lord Jesus as found in Heb.
10:5—“A body hast Thou prepared Me”!
Luke 4 opens
by telling us “And Jesus being full of the Holy Spirit returned from
Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted
forty days of the Devil.” Only here do we learn that the Saviour was
“full of the Holy Spirit” as He returned from the Jordan. Then follows
the account of the Temptation. It will be observed by the close student
that between Matthew and Luke there is a difference in the order of
mention of Satan’s three attacks upon Christ. In Matthew the order is,
first the asking of the Lord Jesus to turn the stones into bread,
second the bidding Him cast Himself down from the pinnacle of the
Temple, and third the offer to Him of all the kingdoms of this world on
the condition of worshipping Satan. But here in Luke we have first the
request to make the stones into bread, second the offer of the kingdoms
of the world, and third the challenge for Him to cast Himself down from
the pinnacle of the temple. The reason for this variation is not hard
to find. In Matthew, the order is arranged climactically, so as to make
Rulership over all the kingdoms of the world the final bait which the
Devil dangled before the Son of David. But in Luke we have, no doubt,
the chronological order, the order in which they actually occurred, and
these correspond with the order of temptation of the first man and his
wife in Eden, where the appeal was made, as here in Luke, to the lust
of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—see 1 John 2:16 and compare Gen. 3:6. We may also note that
Luke is the only one to tell us that “Jesus returned in the power of
the Spirit into Galilee” (4:14),
showing that the old Serpent had utterly failed to disturb the perfect
fellowship which existed between the incarnate Son of God upon earth
and His Father in Heaven. After the horrible conflict was over, the
Lord Jesus returned to Galilee in the unabated “power of the Spirit.”
Following the account of the Temptation, Luke next
tells us, “And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and,
as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and
stood up for to read” (4:16).
Luke again, is the only one that mentions this, it being another point
of interest in connection with our Lord’s Manhood, informing us, as it
does, of the place where He had been “brought up,” and showing us how
He had there been wont to occupy Himself on each Sabbath day. In the
words that follow there is a small line in the picture which is very
significant and suggestive: “And there was delivered unto Him the book
of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the
place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me” etc. The
book, be it noted, did not open magically at the page He desired to
read from, but, like any other, the Son of Man turned the pages until
He had “found the place” required!
Others have called attention to another thing which
occurred on this occasion and which was profoundly suggestive. There in
the synagogue at Nazareth the Saviour read from the opening words of Isaiah 61, and it will be found by
comparing the record of the prophet with the Lord’s reading as recorded
in Luke 4, that He stopped at a most
significant point. Isaiah says the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him to
“preach” good tidings unto the meek to proclaim the acceptable year of
the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God;” but in Luke 4 we find the Saviour read that
the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him to “preach” the gospel to the poor
to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,” and there He stopped, for
immediately following we are told, “He closed the book.” He ceased His
reading from Isaiah in the midst of a sentence; He concluded at a
comma! Why was it that He did not complete the verse, and add, “The Day
of Vengeance of our God”? The answer is, Because such did not fall
within the scope of His mission at His first Advent. The “Day of
Vengeance” is yet future. The Lord Jesus was setting us an example of
“rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (2
Tim. 2:15). As the Saviour closed the book that day in
Nazareth’s synagogue, He declared, “This day is this Scripture
fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21),
and that which was then “fulfilled” was the portion He had read to them
from Isaiah 61:1, 2; the remainder of Is. 61:2 was not then fulfilled,
for it has to do with that which is yet future: hence, He read it not.
It should be added that the next time we find the Lord Jesus with a
“book” in His hands is in Rev. 5:7, and
there we read of Him opening it—see Rev. 6:1
etc.—and the striking thing is that when the Lord opens that book the
Day of God’s Vengeance, so long delayed, then commences! These points
have been brought out by others before us, but we have not seen it
intimated that Luke is the only one of the four Evangelists to refer to
this incident. Not only was there a dispensational reason why the Lord
Jesus read not the whole of Is. 61:2 in
the Nazareth synagogue that day, but it was peculiarly fitting that the
one whose happy task it was to present the human perfections of Christ,
should note our Lord’s silence concerning the Day of God “vengeance”!
It is beyond our present purpose to attempt even a
running exposition of each chapter of this third Evangel. We are not
seeking to be exhaustive, but simply suggestive, calling attention to
some of the more outstanding features of Luke’s Gospel. There is so
much here that is not found in the other three Gospels, that to examine
in detail every distinctive feature would call for a large volume. As
this would defeat our object, we shall be content to single out a few
things here and there.
Luke 7
records the raising of the widow of Nain’s son. None of the others
mention this. There are several lines in this picture which serve to
bring out that which is central in Luke’s Gospel, namely, human need,
human relationships, and human sympathies. Thus we may note that the
one here raised by Christ was “the only son of his mother” and that she
was a “widow;” that when the Lord saw her “weep not”; that before He
commanded the dead to “Arise,” He first “came and touched the bier,”
and that after the dead one was restored to life, the Saviour
“delivered him to his mother.”
In Luke 8:2, 3 we are told, “And certain women
which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called
Magdalene, out of whom went seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza,
Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto
Him of their substance.” How this shows us the place which our blessed
Lord had taken as the Son of Man! Nothing like this is found in the
other Gospels, and that for a very good reason. It would have been
beneath the dignity of the King of the Jews to be “ministered unto”
with the substance of women; it would be out of place in Mark’s Gospel,
for there the Holy Spirit shows us that the Servant must look to God
only for the supply of His every need; while John, of course, would not
mention it, for he sets forth the Divine glories of our Lord. But it is
perfectly appropriate, and illuminative too, in the Gospel which treats
of Christ’s humanity.
Above we have noted that Luke informs us the one raised
from death by Christ at Nain was a widow’s “only son,” and we may now
notice two other examples from this Gospel where the same feature is
mentioned. The first is in connection with the daughter of Jairus.
Matthew says, “While He spake these things unto them, behold, there
came a certain ruler, and worshipped Him saying, My daughter is even
now dead” (9:18).
Mark tells us, “Behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the
synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Him, saying, My little
daughter lieth at the point of death” (5:22,
23). But Luke gives additional
information, “And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a
ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought
Him that He would come into his house: for he had one only daughter,
about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying” (8:41, 42).
The second example is in connection with the demon possessed child,
whose father sought relief at the hands of Christ’s disciples. Matthew
says, “And when they were come to the multitude, there came to Him a
certain man, kneeling down to Him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my
son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into
the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to Thy disciples,
and they could not cure him” (17:14–16). But Luke
tells us, “And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master,
I beseech Thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. And, lo, a
spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that
he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. And I
besought Thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not” (9:38–40). Thus in each
case Luke calls attention to the fact that it was an “only child” that
was healed, thereby appealing to human sympathies.
Luke is the only one who records the exquisite story of
the Good Samaritan ministering to the wounded traveller, and there are
many lines in the picture of this incident which bring out, strikingly,
the distinctive character of this third Gospel. First, we are shown the
traveller himself falling among thieves, who strip him of his raiment,
wound him, and depart, leaving him half dead. How this brings out the
lawlessness, the avarice, the brutality, and the heartlessness of
fallen human nature! Next, we hear of the priest who saw the pitiable
state of the wounded traveller, lying helpless by the road, yet did he
“pass by on the other side.” The priest was followed by a Levite who,
though he “came and looked on” on the poor man that was in such sore
need of help, also “passed by on the other side.” Thus we behold the
selfishness, the callousness, the cruel indifference of even religious
men toward one who had such a claim upon their sympathies. In blessed
contrast from these, we are shown the grace of the Saviour who, under
the figure of a “Samaritan,” is here seen moved “with compassion” as He
came to where the poor traveller lay. Instead of passing by on the
other side, He goes to him, binds up his wounds, sets him on His own
beast, and brings him to an inn, where full provision is made for him.
So does this incident, summarize as it were, the scope of this entire
Gospel, by showing the infinite contrast that existed between the
perfect Son of Man and the fallen and depraved sons of men.
In Luke 11 we
read of the unclean spirit who goes out of a man, and later, returns to
his house, to find it “swept and garnished.” Then, we are told, this
unclean spirit takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than
himself, and they “enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that
man is worse than the first” (11:24–26). Matthew
also refers to this in 12:43–45
in almost identical language, but it is very significant to observe
that Luke omits a sentence with which Matthew closes his narrative.
There in Matt. 12 we
find the Lord applied the incident to the Jewish nation by saying,
“Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation” (or “race”).
This was the dispensational application, which limits it to Israel. But
appropriately does Luke omit these qualifying words, for in his Gospel
this incident has a wider application, a moral application,
representing the condition of a more extensive class, namely, those who
hear the Gospel, and reform, but who are never regenerated. Such may
clean up their houses, but though they are “swept and garnished,” yet
they are still empty—the Spirit of God does not indwell them! They are
like the foolish virgins, who, though they mingled with the wise
virgins and carried the lamp of public profession, yet had they no oil
(emblem of the Holy Spirit) in their vessels. Such cases of reformation
though at first they appear to be genuine instances of regeneration,
ultimately prove to be but counterfeits, and at the last their
condition is worse than it was at the beginning—they have been deceived
by their own treacherous hearts and deluded and blinded by Satan, and
in consequence, are far harder to reach with the Truth of God.
In Luke 12 we
have an incident recorded which is similar in principle to Luke’s
notice of our Lord’s omission of the closing words of Is. 61:2 when reading from this
scripture in the synagogue at Nazareth. Here we find that a certain man
came to Christ and said, “Master, speak to my brother, that he divide
the inheritance with me” (12:13).
But the Master refused to grant this request and said, “Man, who made
Me a judge or a divider over you?” The reason why Luke is the only one
to mention this is easily seen. It would have been incongruous for
Matthew to have referred to an incident wherein the Lord Jesus declined
to occupy the place of authority and act as the administrator, of an
inheritance; as it would have been equally out of place for Mark to
have noticed this case where one should have asked the Servant to
officiate as “judge and divider.” But it is fitting it should have
found a place in this Third Gospel, for the words of Christ on this
occasion, “Who made Me a judge or a divider over you?” only show us,
once more, the lowly place which He had taken as “The Son of Man.”
In Luke 14
there is recorded a parable which is found nowhere else: “And He put
forth a parable to those which were bidden, when He marked how they
chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of
any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room, lest a more
honorable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him
come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to
take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the
lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee,
Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship (or “glory”) in the
presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth
himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted”
(vv. 7–11).
How thoroughly is this parable in accord with the character and scope
of Luke’s Gospel! First, it ministers a much needed rebuke upon the
general tendency of fallen human nature to seek out the best places and
aim at positions of honor and glory. Secondly, it inculcates the spirit
of meekness and modesty, admonishing us to take the lowly place. And
thirdly, it is an obvious shadowing forth of that which the Lord of
glory had done Himself, leaving as He had, the position of dignity and
glory in Heaven, and taking the “lowest” place of all down here.
In accordance with the fact that Luke’s Gospel is the
third book of the New Testament (the number which stands for
manifestation), we may notice that in the fifteenth chapter we have a
parable which reveals to us the Three Persons of the Godhead, each
actively engaged in the salvation of a sinner. It is very striking that
it is one parable in three parts which, taken together, makes fully
manifest the One true God in the Person of the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit.
Luke 15 may
well be entitled, God seeking and saving the lost. In the third part of
this parable, which deals with the “prodigal Son,” we are shown the
sinner actually coming into the presence of the Father, and there
receiving a cordial welcome, being suitably clothed, and given a place
at His table in happy fellowship. In what precedes we learn of that
which was necessary on the part of God before the sinner could thus be
reconciled. The second part of the parable brings before us the
work of the Holy Spirit, going after the one dead in sins and
illuminating him, and this under the figure of a woman who, with a
light in her hand (emblematic of the Lamp of God’s Word), seeks
diligently till she finds that which was lost. Notice, particularly,
that her work was inside the house, just as the Holy Spirit works
within the sinner. In the first part of the parable we are shown that
which preceded the present work of God’s Spirit. The ministry of the
Spirit is the complement to the Work of Christ, hence, at the beginning
of the chapter, the Saviour Himself is before us, under the figure of
the Shepherd, who went forth to seek and to save the sheep that was
lost. Thus, the first part of the parable tells of God’s Work for us,
as the second tells of God’s work in us, the third part making known
the blessed result and happy sequel. So, in this one parable in three
parts, we have revealed the One God in the Three Persons of the Holy
Trinity, fully manifested in the work of seeking and saving the lost.
In full accord with what has just been before us in Luke 15, though in marked and
solemn contrast, we find that in the next chapter the Lord Jesus makes
fully manifest the state of the lost after death. Nowhere else in the
four Gospels do we find, as here, the lifting of the veil which
separates and hides from us the condition of those who have passed into
the next world. Here the Lord gives us a specimen case of the present
torments of the lost, in the experiences of the “rich man” after death.
We read “In hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth
Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said,
Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the
tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in
this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime
receivest thy good things, and Lazarus evil things: but now he is
comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and
you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from
hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from
thence” (vv.23–26).
Here we learn that the damned, even now, are in a place of suffering;
that they are “in torments;” that the misery of their awful lot is
accentuated by being enabled to “see” the happy portion of the
redeemed; that there is, however, an impassible gulf fixed between the
saved and the lost, which makes it impossible for the one to go to the
other; that memory is still active in those that are in Hell, so that
they are reminded of the opportunities wasted, while they were upon
earth; that they cry for mercy and beg for water to allay their fiery
sufferings, but that this is denied them. Unspeakably solemn is this,
and a most pointed warning to all still upon earth to “flee from the
wrath to come” and to take refuge in the only One who can deliver from
it.
Passing on now to the nineteenth chapter we may observe
how Luke there records something that is absent from the other Gospels.
“And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and weep over it,
Saying, If thou hadst known, which belong unto thy peace! but now they
are hid from thine eyes” (vv.41, 42). How this brings out the
human sympathies of the Saviour! As He looked upon Jerusalem, and
foresaw the miseries which were shortly to be its portion, the Son of
Man wept. He was no stoic, but One whose heart was full of compassion
for the sufferers of earth.
In drawing to a close, we would notice seven features
which are particularly prominent in this Gospel, and which are in
striking accord with its particular theme and scope:—
1. The full description here given of fallen human
nature.
Luke’s is the Gospel of our Lord’s Manhood, and, as He
is the true Light shining amid the darkness, it is here also that the
characteristics of our corrupt human nature are shown up as nowhere
else. Luke’s special design is to present the Lord Jesus as the Son of
Man contrasted from the sons of men. Hence it is that the
depravity, the impotency, the degradation and the spiritual deadness of
all the members of Adam’s fallen race is brought out here with such
fullness and clearness. It is here, and here only, we read that, until
the miracle-working power of God intervened, the mother of John the
Baptist was barren—apt symbol of fallen human nature with its total
absence of spiritual fruit; and that his father, though a priest, was
filled with unbelief when God’s messenger announced to him the
forth-coming miracle. It is only here that we read of all the world
being “taxed” (Luke 2:1),
which tells, in suggestive symbol, of the burdens imposed by Satan on
his captive subjects. It is only here that we read that when Mary
brought forth her Son, there was “no room for them in the inn,”
signifying the world’s rejection of the Saviour from the beginning. It
is only here we are told that when the Lord Jesus came to Nazareth and
read in the synagogue from the prophet Isaiah, adding a comment of His
own, that “All they in the synagogue, when they heard these things,
were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust Him out of the city,
and led Him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built,
that they might cast Him down headlong” (4:28,
29): thus did those who ought to
have known Him the best, manifest the terrible enmity of the carnal
mind against God and His Christ. It is only here that we read, “And it
came to pass, when He was in a certain city, behold a man full of
leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought Him, saying
Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean” (5:12). In the other Gospels
reference is made to this same incident, but Luke alone tells us that
the subject of this miracle was full of leprosy. “Leprosy” is the well
known figure of sin, and it is only in Luke that man’s total depravity
is fully revealed. It is only in Luke that we hear of the disciples of
Christ asking permission to call down fire from Heaven to consume those
who received not the Saviour (9:51–55). It is only
here that Christ, in the well known parable of the Good Samaritan,
portrays the abject condition of the natural man, under the figure of
the one who, having fallen among thieves, had been stript of his
raiment, sorely wounded, and left by the wayside half dead. It is only
here that we read of the Rich Fool who declared, “I will say to my
soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine
ease, eat, drink, and be merry” (12:19),
for such is the invariable tendency of the boastful human heart. So,
too, it is only here that in Luke 15 the
sinner is likened unto a lost sheep—an animal so senseless that once it
is lost, it only continues to stray farther and farther away from the
fold. It is only here that we find the Saviour drawing that matchless
picture of the Prodigal Son, who so accurately depicts the sinner away
from God, having wasted his substance in riotous living, and who,
reduced to want, finds nothing in the far country to feed upon, except
the husks which the swine did eat. It is only here that we learn of the
heartless indifference of the rich man who neglected the poor wretch
that lay at his gate full of sores. It is only here that the
self-righteousness of man is fully disclosed in the person of the
Pharisee in the Temple (Luke 18).
And so we might go on. But sufficient has been said to prove our
statement at the head of this paragraph.
2. The Manner in which Luke introduces his Parables,
etc.
In perfect accord with the character and scope of His
Gospel, we find that Luke introduces most of his parables, also various
incidents narrated by him, as well as certain portions of our Lord’s
teachings, in a way quite peculiar to himself. By comparing the
parallel passages in the other Gospels, and by noting the words we now
place in italics, this will be apparent to the reader.
In Luke 5:12,
we are told, that “a man full of leprosy” came to Christ to be
healed, whereas Matthew, when describing the same incident, merely
says, “there came a leper” to Him (8:2).
Again, in 8:27 we
read, “When He went forth to land, there met Him out of the city, a
certain man, which had demons a long time, and ware no clothes,
neither abode in any house, but in the tombs;” whereas Matt. 8:28 reads, “And when He
was come to the other side into the country of the Gergessenes, there
met Him (not “two men,” but) two possessed with demons coming
out of the tombs” etc. Again, in 8:41
we read, “There came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of
the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet,” whereas Mark 5:22 says, “There cometh one
of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw Him, he
fell at His feet.” In Luke 9:57
we read, “And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a
certain man said unto Him, Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever
Thou goest,” whereas Matt. 8:19
reads, “And a certain scribe came, and said unto Him, Master, I
will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest.” In Luke 9:62 we find that the Lord
said, “No man (not “disciple,” be it noted), having put his
hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
In 19:35
we read, “As He was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man
sat by the wayside begging,” but in Mark
10:46 we are told, “As He went out of Jericho with His
disciples and a great number of people, blinded Bartimaeus, the
son of Timaeus, sat by the wayside begging.”
Coming now to the parables, note the striking way in
which they are introduced here: “And He spake also a parable unto them:
No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old” etc. (5:36). “A certain man
went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves” etc. (10:30). “And He spake a parable
unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought
forth plentifully” etc. (12:16).
“He spake also this parable: A certain man had a fig tree
planted in his vineyard” etc. (13:6).
“Then said He unto him, A certain man made a great supper” etc.
(14:16). “And He spake this
parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having a hundred
sheep” etc. (15:3, 4). “And He said, A certain man
had two sons” etc. (15:11).
“And He said also unto His disciples, There was a certain rich man,
which had a steward” etc. (16:1).
“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and
fine linen” etc. (16:19).
“And He spake a parable to them to this end, that men (not
“believers”) ought always to pray, and not to faint” etc. (18:1). “Then began He to speak to
the people of this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard”
etc. (20:9).
“And He spake also this parable unto certain which trusted in
themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. Two men
went up into the Temple to pray” etc. (18:9,
10). Thus we see how the human
element is emphasized here.
3. The references to Christ as “The Son of Man.”
It is only in this Gospel we read that the Saviour said
to the Pharisees, “The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one
of the days of the Son of Man, and ye shall not see it” (17:22). It is only in this
Gospel we find that the Saviour put the question, “When the Son of
Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” (18:8). It is only in this Gospel
we find that the Saviour said to His followers, “Watch ye therefore,
and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these
things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man”
(21:36). And it is only in this
Gospel we find that the Saviour said to Judas in the garden, “Betrayest
thou the Son of Man with a kiss?” (22:14).
It is, perhaps even more striking to notice that Luke
records a number of instances where our Lord referred to Himself as
“The Son of Man” where, in the parallel passages in the other Gospels
this title is omitted. For example, in Matt.
16:21 we read, “From that time forth began Jesus to show
unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many
things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and
be raised again the third day;” whereas, in Luke
9:22 we learn that He said unto His disciples, “The Son
of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and
chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.”
Again; in Matt. 5:11
the Lord said to His disciples, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile
you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you
falsely, for My sake;” whereas, in the parallel passage in Luke
we read, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall
separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out
your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake” (6:22). Again; in Matt. 10:32 we read, “But
whatsoever shall confess Me before men, him will I confess
before My Father which is in Heaven;” whereas in Luke 12:8 we are told, “Whosoever
shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of Man confess
before the angels of God.” Once more; in John
3:17 we are told, “For God sent not His Son into the
world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be
saved;” whereas, in Luke 9:56
we read, “For the Son of Man is not come to destroy men’s
lives, but to save them.” How these examples bring out the verbalperfections
of Holy Writ!
4. The Lord is referred to as “the Friend” of
publicans and sinners.
It is only Luke who tells us, “And Levi made Him a
great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of
publicans and of others that sat down with them” (5:29). It is only here we learn
that Christ said to the querulous Jews, “For John the Baptist came
neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and ye say, He hath a demon.
The Son of Man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a
gluttonous man, and a winebidder, a Friend of publicans and
sinners!” (7:33, 34). It is only in this Gospel we
find that the Saviour’s critics openly murmured, and said, “This Man receiveth
sinners,and eateth with them” (15:2).
And it is only here we are told that because Zaccheus had joyfully
received the Saviour into his house “they all murmured, saying, That He
was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner”(19:7).
It is beautiful to notice the graduation pointed by the
Holy Spirit in the last three passages quoted above. In 7:34 Christ is simply “The Friend
of publicans and sinners.” In 15:2
it was said, “This Man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.” But in 19:7 we are told, “He was gone to
be guest with a man that is a sinner”! Thus did God make even the wrath
of man to praise Him.
5. The Lord is here portrayed as a Man of Prayer.
It is indeed striking to see how often the Saviour is
seen engaged in prayer in this Gospel. The following passages bring
this out: “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that
Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened” (3:21). “And He withdrew Himself
into the wilderness, and prayed” (5:16).
“And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to
pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (6:12). “And it came to pass about
an eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James,
and went up into a mountain to pray. And as He prayed,
the fashion of His countenance was altered” (9:28,
29). “And it came to pass, that,
as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of
His disciples said unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray” (11:1). “And the Lord said, Simon,
Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as
wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (22:31, 32). “And He was withdrawn from
them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed. And
being in an agony He prayed more earnestly” (22:41, 44). “Then said Jesus, Father,
forgive them for they know not what they do” (23:34): only here do we find Him
praying thus for His murderers. Add to these examples the fact that
Luke alone records our Lord’s teaching on Prayer which is found in 11:5–8, that he only
tells us of His parable on Importunity in prayer (18:1–7), and that he
alone tells us of the two men who went up to the Temple to pray, and it
will be seen what a prominent place prayer has in Luke’s Gospel.
6. Christ is frequently seen here Eating food.
“And one of the Pharisees desired Him that He would eat
with him. And He went into the Pharisee’s house and sat down to
meat” (7:36).
“And as He spake, a certain Pharisee besought Him to dine with him: and
He went in, and sat down to meat” (11:37).
“And it came to pass, as He went into the house of one of the chief
Pharisees to eat breadon the Sabbath day, they watched Him” (14:1). “And when they say it,
they all murmured, saying, That He was gone to be guest with a
man that is a sinner” (19:7).
“And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took
bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them” (24:30). “And they gave Him a
piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And He took it, and
did eat before them” (24:42, 43). It scarcely needs to be
pointed out that these examples demonstrated the reality of His Manhood.
7. The Circumstances connected with His Death and
Resurrection.
The awful hour spent in Gethsemane is described in this
third Gospel with a fullness of detail which is not found in the
others. Luke is the only one that tells us, “And there appeared an
angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him;” as he is the only one
to say, “And being in agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was
as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (22:43, 44). Then followed the Arrest,
and as they were all leaving the Garden, we read, “And one of them
smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. And Jesus
answered and said, Suffer ye thus far, and He touched his ear, and
healed him” (22:50, 51). The other Evangelists
record this incident of the smiting of the high priest’s servant, but
only Luke shows us the tenderness of the Saviour, full of compassion
toward the suffering of others, right to the last.
Luke is the only one to tell us, “And there followed
Him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and
lamented Him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem,
weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children” (23:27, 28). Appropriately, does this
find a place here, bringing out, as it does, human emotions and
sympathies. Luke is the only one to designate the place where the
Saviour was crucified by its Gentile name—“And when they were come to
the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him” (23:33). And, again, Luke tells
us, “A superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek,
and Latin, and Hebrew, This is the King of the Jews” (23:38). How this hints at the
international scope of this third Gospel! Matthew and Mark give no hint
of the “superscription” being written in the world-languages of the
day; though John does, for he, again, presents Christ in connection
with “the world.” Luke is the only one to describe the conversion of
the dying robber, and to record his witness to the Human perfections of
the Lord Jesus: “This Man hath done nothing amiss” (23:41). So, too, it is only here
we find a similar testimony borne by the Roman centurion: “Now when the
centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this
was a righteous Man” (23:47).
After His resurrection from the dead, it is only Luke
who mentions that long walk of the Saviour with the two disciples, and
of the familiar intercourse which they had together as they journeyed
to Emmaus. And Luke is the only one who presents the Lord to our view
as eating food after He had risen in triumph from the grave.
It only remains to add a brief word concerning the
characteristic manner in which this third Gospel closes. Luke alone
tells us, “And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up
His hands, and blessed them” (24:50)—a
beautiful touch is this! Then we are told, “And it came to pass, while
He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into Heaven” (24:51). Note, particularly, that
Luke says that the Son of Man was “carried up into Heaven,” not that He
ascended! And then the curtain falls to the strains of the expressions
of human joy and praise: “And they worshipped Him, and returned to
Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the Temple, praising
and blessing God. Amen” (24:52, 53).
The Gospel of John
As we turn to the fourth Gospel we come to entirely
different ground from that which we have traversed in the other three.
True, the period of time which is covered by it, is the same as in the
others; true, that some of the incidents that have already been looked
at will here come before us again; and true it is that he who has
occupied the central position in the narratives of the first three
Evangelists, is the same One that is made preeminent by John; but
otherwise, everything here is entirely new. The fourth Gospel is more
elevated in its tone, its viewpoint is more exalted, its contents bring
before us spiritual relationships rather than human ties, and higher
glories are revealed as touching the peerless person of the Saviour. In
each of the first three Gospels, Christ is viewed in human connections,
but no so in the fourth. Matthew presents Him as the Son of David;
Mark, as the perfect Workman of God; Luke, as the Son of Man; but John
unveils His Divine glories. Again; Matthew writes, particularly, for
the Jews; Mark, is specially adapted to God’s servants; Luke’s is
written for men as men; but John’s Gospel is concerned with the Family
of God.
John’s Gospel is the fourth book of the New Testament,
and four is 3+1. The numerals of Scripture are not employed
fortuitously, but are used with Divine discrimination and significance.
The reverent student is not left free to juggle with them at his own
caprice, nor may he give to them an arbitrary meaning, so as to fit in
with any private interpretations of his own. If he is honest, he will
gather his definitions from the manner in which they are employed in
Scripture itself. Thus, whether our statement that four is 3+1 is an
arbitrary assertion or not, must be determined by its support, or lack
of it, in the Word. The numeral four is used two ways in the Bible.
First, its meaning as a whole number, and second, its meaning as a
distributive number. In its first usage, four is the world number, the
number of the earth and all things therein, the number of the creature,
as such; and hence, it comes to signify, Universality. But in its
second usage, the distributive, when employed in connection with a
series, it is frequently divided into three and one. Four is rarely, if
ever an intensified two; that is, its significance does not represent
2x2.
The last paragraph sounds somewhat academical, we fear,
but its force may become more apparent as we apply its principles to
our present subject. The four Gospels form a series, and the character
of their contents obviously divide them into a three and a one, just as
in the four kinds of soil in the parable of the Sower, representing
four classes of hearers of the Word, are a series, and similarly
divided—three barren and one fruitful. As we have seen, the first three
Gospels have that in common which, necessarily, binds them
together—each looking at Christ in human connections. But the fourth is
clearly distinguished from the others by presenting Christ in a Divine
relationship, and therefore it stands separated from the others. This
conclusion is established beyond all doubt, when we observe that the
character of its contents is in perfect accord with the significance of
the numeral one. One speaks, primarily, of God: “Hear, O Israel: the
Lord our God is one Lord” (Deut. 6:4).
And again: “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day
shall there be one Lord, and His name one” (Zech.
14:9). In all languages one is the symbol of unity: it
excludes all others. The first of the ten commandments, therefore, was:
“Thou shalt have no other gods before Me” (Ex.
20:3). So in John’s Gospel, the one following the other
three, it is the Godhead of Christ which is in view.
Each book in the Bible has a prominent and dominant
theme which is peculiar to itself. Just as each member in the human
body has its own particular function, so every book in the living Body
of Divine Truth has its own special purpose and mission. The theme of
John’s Gospel is the Deity of Christ. Here, as nowhere else so fully,
the Godhead of the Lord Jesus is presented to our view. That which is
outstanding in this fourth Gospel is the Divine Sonship of our Saviour.
In this Gospel we are shown that the One born at Bethlehem, who walked
this earth for over thirty years, who was crucified at Calvary, and who
forty-three days later departed from these scenes, was none other than
“the Only-Begotten of the Father.” The evidence presented for this is
overwhelming, the proofs almost without number, and the effect of
contemplating them must be to bow our hearts in worship before “The
great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus
2:13).
Here is a theme worthy of our most reverent and
prayerful attention. If such Divine care was taken, as we saw in the
previous chapter, to guard the perfections of our Lord’s humanity,
equally so, has the Holy Spirit seen to it that there should be no
uncertainty concerning the affirmation of the absolute Deity of our
Saviour. Just as the Old Testament prophets made known that the Coming
One should be a Man, and a perfect Man, so did Messianic prediction
also give plain intimation that He would be more than a Man. Through
Isaiah, God foretold that unto Israel a Child should be born, and unto
them a Son should be given, and that “the government shall be upon His
shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The
mighty God, the Father of the ages (Heb.), the Prince of Peace” (9:6). Through Micah, He declared,
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the
thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is
to be Ruler in Israel: whose goings forth have been from the days of
eternity”—marginal rendering (5:2)! Through
Zechariah, He said “Awake, O Sword, against My Shepherd, and against
the Man that is My Fellow, saith the Lord of hosts” (13:7). Through the Psalmist, He
announced, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand,
until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool” (110:1).
And again, when looking forward to the time of the second Advent, “The
Lord hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee”
(or, “brought Thee forth”) 2:7.
Coming now to the New Testament we may single out two or
three of the most explicit witnesses to the Deity of Christ. In Rom. 9, where the apostle is
enumerating the peculiar privileges of Israel, he says in verse 5, “Whose are the fathers, and of
whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed
for ever. Amen.” In 1 Cor. 15
we are told, “And the first man is of the earth, earthy, but the second
Man is the Lord from Heaven” (v. 47).
In Col. 1:16 we read, “For by Him
were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth,
visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him;”
and again, in 2:9, “For in
Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” In Heb. 1 we learn that “God, who at
sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers
by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son,
whom He hath appointed Heir of all things, by whom also He made the
worlds; Who being the Brightness of His glory, and the express Image of
His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He
had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the
Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:1–3).
While in Rev. 19:16
we are informed that when He comes back to earth again, “He hath on His
vesture and on His thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of
lords.” A more emphatic, positive, and unequivocal testimony to the
absolute Deity of Christ could not be borne.
In these days of widespread departure from the Truth, it
cannot be insisted upon too strongly or too frequently that the Lord
Jesus Christ is none other than the Second Person in the Holy Trinity.
Vicious but specious are the attacks now being made upon this cardinal
article in the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Satan, who
poses as an angel of light, is now sending forth his ministers
“transformed as the ministers of righteousness.” Men who are loudly
trumpeting their faith in the verbal inspiration of Scripture, and who
even profess to believe in the vicarious Sacrifice of Christ are,
nevertheless, denying the absolute Godhood of Him whom they claim to be
serving: they repudiate His essential Deity, they deny His Eternality,
and reduce Him to the level of a mere creature. It was concerning men
of this class that the Holy Spirit said, “For such are false apostles,
deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ”
(2 Cor. 11:13).
In keeping with the special theme of the fourth Gospel,
it is here that we have the fullest unveiling of Christ’s Divine
glories. It is here we behold Him dwelling “with God” before time began
and before ever a creature was formed (1:1,
2). It is here that He is
denominated “the Only Begotten of the Father’ (1:14). It is here John the
Baptist bears record that “this is the Son of God” (1:34). It is here we read, “This
beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested
forth His glory” (2:11). It
is here we are told that the Saviour said, “Destroy this temple, and in
three days I will raise it up” (2:19).
It is here we read that God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn
but to save (3:17). It
is here we learn that Christ declared, “For as the Father raiseth up
the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the
Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father.
He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent
Him” (5:21–23).
It is here that we find Him affirming, “For the Bread of God is He
which cometh down from Heaven, and giveth life unto the world” (6:35). It is here we find Him
saying, “Before Abraham was, I am” (8:58).
It is here that we find Him declaring, “I and Father are One” (10:30). It is here we hear Him
saying, “He that hath seen Me, hath seen the Father” (14:9). It is here He promises
“Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father
may glorified in the Son” (14:13).
It is here that He asks, “And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine
own Self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was” (17:5).
Before we take up John’s Gospel in detail, and examine
some of the more prominent lines in his delineation of Christ’s person
and ministry, a few words should be said concerning the dispensational
scope and bearings of this Gospel. It should be evident at once that
this one is quite different from the other Gospels. There, Christ is
seen in a human relationship, and as connected with an earthly people;
but here, He is viewed in a Divine relationship, and as connected with
a heavenly people. It is true that the mystery of the one Body is not
unfolded here, rather is it the family of God which is in view. It is
also true that the Heavenly Calling is not fully disclosed, yet are
there plain intimations of it—what else can be said, for example of the
Lord’s words which are found in 14:2,
3?—“In My Father’s House are many
mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be
also.”
In the first three Gospels, Christ is seen connected
with the Jews, proclaiming the Messianic kingdom, a proclamation which
ceased, however, as soon as it became evident that the Nation had
rejected Him. But here, in John’s Gospel, His rejection is announced at
the beginning, for in the very first chapter we are told, “He came unto
His own, and His own received Him not. It is, therefore, most
significant to note that John’s Gospel, which instead of presenting
Christ in connection with Israel, views Him as related to believers by
spiritual ties, was not written until after A.D. 70, when the Temple
was destroyed, and the Jews dispersed throughout the world!
The dispensational limitations which attach to much
that is found in the first three Gospels, do not hold good with John’s
Gospel, for as Son of God, He can be known only by believers as such.
On this plane the Jew has no priority. The Jews claim upon Christ was
purely a fleshy one, whereas believers are related to the Son of God by
spiritual union. The Son of David, and the Son of Man titles link
Christ to the earth, but the “Son of God” connects Him with the Father
in Heaven; hence, in this fourth Gospel, the earthly kingdom is almost
entirely ignored. In harmony with these facts we may observe, that it
is only here in John’s Gospel we hear of Christ saying, “And other
sheep I have, which are not of this (i.e., the Jewish) fold. Them also
I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold
(i.e., the Christian fold), and one Shepherd” (10:16). It is only here in John
we learn of the wider scope of God’s purpose in the Death of His Son,
“Being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for
that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also He should
gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad” (11:51, 52). It is only here in John
that we have fully unfolded the relation of the Holy Spirit to
believers. And it is only here in John that we have recorded our Lord’s
High Priestly prayer, which gives a sample of His present intercession
on high. These considerations, then, should make it abundantly clear
that the dispensational bearings of John’s Gospel are entirely
different from the other three.
Coming now to a closer view of this fourth Gospel we
may observe how striking are its opening verses: “In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was
in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him
was not anything made that was made” (1:1–3).
How entirely different is this from what we find in the introductory
statements in the other Gospels! John starts, immediately, by
presenting Christ as the Son of God, not as the Son of David, or the
Son of Man. John takes up back to the beginning, and shows that our
Lord had no beginning, for He was in the beginning. John goes right
back behind creation, and shows that Christ was Himself the Creator.
Every clause in these opening verses is worthy of our
closest attention. First, the Lord Jesus is here termed, “The Word.”
The significance of this title may, perhaps, be most easily grasped by
comparing with it what is said in v. 18
of this first chapter of John. Here we are told: “No man hath seen God
at any time; the Only Begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the
Father, He hath declared Him,” or “told Him out.” Christ is the One who
came here to tell out God. He came here to make God intelligible to
men. As we read in Heb. 1: “God,
who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the
fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His
Son.” Christ is the final Spokesman of God. Again; the force of this
title of Christ, “the Word,” may be discovered by comparing it with the
name given to the Bible—the Word of God. What are the Scriptures? They
are, the Word of God. And what does that mean? This: that the
Scriptures reveal God’s mind, express His will, make known His
perfections, and lay bare His heart. This is precisely what the Lord
Jesus Christ has done for the Father. But let us enter a little more
into detail:
(a) A “word” is a medium of manifestation. I have in my
mind a thought, but others know not its nature. But the moment I clothe
that thought in words, it becomes cognizable. Words, then, make
objective, unseen thoughts. This is precisely what the Lord Jesus has
done, as the “Word” Christ has made manifest the invisible God. Christ
is God clothed in perfect humanity.
(b) A “word” is a means of communication. By means of
words I transmit information to others. By words I express myself, make
known my will, and impart knowledge. So, Christ as the “Word,” is the
Divine Transmitter, communicating to us the Life and Love of God.
(c) A “word” is a method of revelation. By his words a
speaker reveals both his intellectual caliber and his moral character.
It is by our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be
condemned. And Christ, as the “Word,” fully reveals the attributes and
the character of God. How fully He has revealed God! He has displayed
His power: He has manifested His wisdom: He has exhibited His holiness:
He has made known His grace: He has unveiled His heart. In Christ, and
nowhere else, is God fully and finally revealed.
But was not God fully revealed in Nature? “Revealed,”
yes; but “fully revealed,” no. Nature conceals as well as reveals.
Nature is under the Curse, and is far different now from what it was in
the day that it left the hands of the Creator. Nature is imperfect to
day, and how can that which is imperfect be a perfect medium for
manifesting the infinite perfections of God. The ancients had Nature
before them, and what did they learn of God? Let that altar, which the
apostle beheld in one of the great centers of ancient culture and
learning, make answer—“To the unknown God,” is what he found inscribed
thereon. No; in Christ, and in and by Him alone, is God fully and
finally revealed.
But lest this figurative expression—“the Word”—should
convey to us an inadequate conception of the Divine person of the Lord
Jesus, the Holy Spirit goes on to say, in the opening verse of this
Gospel, “And the Word was with God.” This denotes His separate
Personality, and also indicates His essential relation to the Godhead.
He was not “in God.” And, as though this were not strong enough, the
Spirit expressly adds, “And the Word was God.” Not an emanation from
God, but none other than God. Not merely a manifestation of God, but
God Himself made manifest. Not only the Revealer of God, but God
Himself revealed. A more unequivocal affirmation of the essential Deity
of the Lord Jesus Christ it is impossible to imagine. Granted, that we
are in the realm of mystery, yet, the force of what is here affirmed of
the absolute Godhead of Christ cannot be honestly evaded. As to how
Christ can be the Revealer of God, and yet God Himself revealed; as to
how He can be “with God,” and yet be God, are high mysteries that our
finite minds are no more capable of fathoming than we can understand
how that God can be without beginning. What is here stated in John 1:1, is to be received by
simple, unquestioning faith.
Next we read, “All things were made by Him; and without
Him (apart from Him) was not anything made that was made” (1:3). Here, again, the absolute
Deity of Christ is emphatically affirmed, for creation is ascribed to
Him, and none but God can create. Man, despite all his proud boasts and
lofty pretensions, is utterly unable to create even a blade of grass.
If, then, Christ is the Creator, He must be God. Observe, too, that the
whole of Creation is here attributed to the Son of God—“all things were
made by Him.” This would not be true, if He were Himself a creature,
even though the first and highest. But nothing is excepted—“all things
were made by Him.” Just as He was Eternal—before all things—so was He
the Originator of all things.
Again we are told, “In Him was life; and the life was
the Light of men.” This follow, necessarily, from what has been said in
the previous verse. If Christ created all things, He must be the Fount
of life. He is the Life-Giver. But more: “The Life was the light of
men.” What this means is made clear in the verses that follow. “There
was a man (in contrast from “the Word,” who is God) sent from God,
whose name was John,” and he, “Came for a witness, to bear witness of
the Light, that all through him might believe” (1:6, 7).
Compare with these words what we are told in 1 John 1:5, “God is Light, and in
Him is no darkness at all.” The conclusion, then, is irresistible, that
the Lord Jesus is none other than God, the Second Person in the Holy
Trinity.
But we pass now to the fourteenth
verse of this opening chapter of John. Having shown the
relation of our Lord to Time—without beginning; having declared His
relation to the Godhead—a separate Person of the Trinity, but Himself
also God; having defined His relation to the Universe—the Creator of
it, and the great Life-Giver; having stated His relation to Men—the One
who is their God, their “Light,” having announced that the Baptist bore
witness to Him as the Light; and having described the reception which
He met with here upon earth—unknown by the world, rejected by Israel,
but received by a people who were “born of God,” the Holy Spirit goes
on to say, “And the Word was made (better, “became”) flesh, and dwelt
(tabernacled) among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the
Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” This verse
announces the Divine incarnation, and brings out, once more, the Divine
glories of the One born of Mary.
“The Word became flesh.” He became what He was not
previously. He did not cease to be God, but He became Man. becoming
Man, He “tabernacled” among men. He pitched His tent here for
thirty-three years. And then we are told that the testimony of those
whose eyes Divine power had opened, was, “We beheld His glory.” The
language of this verse takes us back in thought to the Tabernacle which
was pitched in the wilderness, of old. The Tabernacle was the place of
Jehovah’s abode in the midst of Israel. It was here that He made His
dwelling-place. The Tabernacle was where God met with His people, hence
was it termed “the Tent of Meeting.” There, within the Holy of Holies
was the Shekinah Glory manifested. The Lord Jesus Christ was the
Anti-type. He was, in His own person, the Meeting-place between God and
men. And just as the Shekinah—the visible and glorious manifestation of
Jehovah—was seen in the Holy of Holies, so those who came near to
Christ, in faith, “beheld His glory.” The Lord Jesus was God manifest
in the flesh, displaying “the glory as of the Only Begotten of the
Father.” For, as the 18th verse
goes on to say, “No man hath seen God at any time; the Only Begotten
Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” Thus,
the essential Deity of the One born at Bethlehem is, once more,
expressly affirmed.
Next we have the witness of John the Baptist. This is
quite different from what we find in the other Gospels. Here there is
no Call to Repentance, there is no announcement of “The kingdom of
heaven” being at hand, and there is no mention of Christ Himself being
baptized by His forerunner. Instead of these things, here we find John
saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world” (1:29).
And again he says, “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of
God” (1:34). It is also to be noted
that when referring to the anointing of Christ with the Holy Spirit, a
word is used which is not found in the other Gospels: “And John bare
record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove,
and it abode upon Him” (1:32).
The Spirit did not come upon Him and then leave again, as with the
prophets of old: it “abode,” a characteristic and prominent word in
John’s Gospel (see particularly chapter 15),
having to do with the Divine side of things, and speaking of
Fellowship. We have the same word again in 14:10—“Believest
thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that
I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth
(“abideth,” it should be) in Me, He doeth the works.”
The first chapter closes by describing the personal
Call (not the ministerial call in the other Gospels) of the first
disciples of the Lord. Here only do we read of Christ saying to
Nathaniel, “Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the
fig tree, I saw thee” (1:48):
thus manifesting His Omniscience. Here only do we find recorded
Nathaniel’s witness to Christ. “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou
art the King of Israel” (1:49).
And here only did Christ tell His disciples that, in the coming Day
they should “see Heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and
descending on the Son of Man” (1:51).
Coming now to the second
chapter, we find described there the first miracle performed
by the Lord Jesus, namely, the turning of the water into wine. John
alone records this, for only God can fill the human heart with that
Divine joy, of which the wine was here the emblem. In this miracle we
are shown the “Word” at work. He, Himself, did nothing. He simply told
the servants what to do, and at His word the wonder was performed. The
special point in connection with this miracle is stated in v. 11, “This beginning of miracles
did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and his
disciples believed on Him.”
In the remainder of this chapter we witness Christ
cleansing the Temple. Here, again, John brings into the picture his own
distinctive lines. Here only do we find the Lord terming the Temple “My
Father’s house” (v. 16). Here
only do we find Him saying, in reply to the challenge of His critics
for a sign, “Destroy this temple (meaning His body), and in three days
I will raise it up” (v. 19). And,
here only do we read, “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in
the feast, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which
He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew
all, and needed not that any should testify of man: for He knew what
was in man” (vv. 23–25).
What a proof was this of His Deity! Only He “knew what was in man.”
Compare with this the words of 1
Kings 8:39—“Hear Thou in Heaven Thy dwelling place, and
forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose
heart Thou knowest—for Thou, even Thou only, knowest the hearts of all
the children of men.” In thus reading the hearts of men, what a
demonstration did the Saviour give, that He was God manifest in flesh!
John 3
records the interview of Nicodemus with Christ—something not found in
the other three Gospels. In full accord with the scope of this Gospel,
we find the Saviour here speaking to Nicodemus not of faith or
repentance, but of the New Birth, which is the Divine side in
salvation, declaring that, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see
the kingdom of God.” And only here in the four Gospels do we read, “God
so loved the world, that He gave his Only Begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (3:16).
In John 4 we
find another incident that is not described elsewhere, namely, the
Lord’s dealings with the poor Samaritan adulteress. And here, once
more, we behold flashes of His Divine glory shining forth. He tells
her, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never
thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of
water springing up into everlasting life” (v. 14). He manifests His omniscience
by declaring, “Thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast
is not thy husband” (v. 18). He
speaks to her of worshipping the Father “in spirit and in truth.” He
reveals Himself to her as the great “I am” (v. 26). He brings her from death
unto life, and out of darkness into His own marvellous light. Finally,
He proved His oneness with the Father by affirming, “My meat is
to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work” (4:34).
John 5 opens
by recording the healing of the impotent man who had an infirmity
thirty-eight years. None of the other Evangelists make mention of it.
This miracle evidenced “the Word” at work again. He does nothing to the
poor sufferer, not even laying hands upon him. He simply speaks the
authoritative and healing word, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk,” and
“immediately,” we read, “the man was made whole, and took up his bed,
and walked” (v. 9). The
miracle was performed on the Sabbath day, and the Lord’s enemies used
this as an occasion of criticism. Not only so, but we read, “Therefore
did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had
done these things on the Sabbath day” (v. 16).
We also read in the other Gospels, of Christ being condemned because He
transgressed the Jews’ traditions respecting the Sabbath. But there, we
find a very different reply from Him than what is recorded here. There,
He insisted on the right of performing works of mercy on the Sabbath.
There, too, He appealed to the priests carrying out their Temple duties
on the Sabbath. But here He takes higher ground. Here, He says, “My
Father woreth hitherto, and I work” (v. 17).
The meaning of these words could not be mistaken. Christ reminded His
critics, how that His “Father” worked on the Sabbath day, worked in
connection with His government of the universe, in maintaining the
orderly course of Nature, in sending rain, and so on. And because He
was one with “the Father,” He insisted that what was right for the
Father to do, was equally right for Him to do. That this was the force
of His reply, is clear from the next verse, “Therefore the Jews sought
the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but
said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God” (5:18). In the remaining verses of
the chapter we find that Christ continued to affirm His absolute
equality with the Father.
The sixth chapter
opens by describing a miracle, which is narrated by each of the other
Evangelists, the Feeding of the five thousand. But, here, it is
followed by a lengthy discourse which is not recorded elsewhere. Here
the Lord presents Himself as “The Bread of God,” which had come down
from Heaven to give life unto the world. He here declares that He alone
can satisfy the needy soul of man: “And Jesus said unto them, I am the
Bread of Life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that
believeth on Me shall never thirst” (v. 35).
We cannot now follow the details of this wonderful chapter, but it will
be evident to the student that it is the Divine side of things which is
here dwelt upon. For example: it is here we are told that the Saviour
said, “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw
him” (v. 44). It
is here we are told that “Jesus knew from the beginning who they were
that believed not, and who should betray him” (v. 64). And it is here we learn that
when many of the disciples “went back and walked no more with Him,” and
He said to the twelve, “Will ye also go away?” that Peter replied,
“Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (v. 68).
The seventh chapter brings before us Christ at
Jerusalem during the feast of tabernacles. There is much here that is
of deepest interest, but it is beside our present purpose to give a
complete exposition. We are not here writing a brief commentary on
John, rather are we attempting to point out that which is distinctive
and characteristic in this fourth Gospel. Notice, then, one or two
lines in this scene which serve to emphasize the Divine glories of
Christ. We are told that, about the middle of the feast, “Jesus went up
into the Temple, and taught.” His teaching must have been exceedingly
impressive, for we read, “And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth
this man letters, having never learned” (v. 15).
But, arresting as was His manner of delivery, what He said only served
to bring out the enmity of those who heard Him: “Then they sought to
take Him: but no man laid hands on Him, because His hour was not yet
come” (v. 30). How
striking this is, and how thoroughly in accord with the central theme
of John’s Gospel! bringing out, as it does, the Divine side, by showing
us God’s complete control over the enemies of His Son. Next, we read
“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried,
saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that
believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall
flow rivers of living water” (vv. 37,
38). How this brings out the
Divine sufficiency of Christ! None but God could make such a claim as
that. Finally, we may observe here, that when the Pharisees heard that
many of the people believed on Him, they “sent officers to take Him”
(vv. 31, 32).
How striking was the sequel: “Then came the officers to the chief
priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought
Him? The officers answered, Never man spake like this Man” (vv. 45, 46).
John 8 opens
by recording the incident of the woman taken in adultery, brought to
Christ by the scribes and Pharisees. Their motive in doing this was an
evil one. It was not that they were zealous of upholding the claims of
God’s law, but that they sought to ensnare God’s Son. They set a trap
for Him. They reminded Him that Moses had given commandment that such
as this woman should be stoned—“but what sayest Thou?” they asked. He
had declared that, “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the
world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17). Would He, then,
suffer this guilty adulteress to escape the penalty of the Law? If so,
what became of His other claim, “Think not that I am come to destroy,
but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17)?
It seemed as though He was caught on the horns of a dilemma. If He gave
the word for her to be stoned, where was grace? On the other
hand, if He allowed her to go free, where was righteousness?
Ah, how blessedly did His Divine wisdom appear, in the masterly manner
in which He dealt with the situation. Said He to them that sought to
trap Him, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone
at her.” It was “the Word” at work again, the Divine Word, for we read,
“And they which heard Him, being convicted by their conscience, went
out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus
was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst” (v. 9). The was was now open for Him
to display His mercy. The Law required two “witnesses” at least; but
none were left. To the woman He said, “Where are those thine accusers?
hath no man condemned thee?” And she answered, “No man, Lord.” And
then, to manifest His holiness He said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go,
and sin no more” (v. 11).
Thus, do we here behold His glory, “the glory as of the Only Begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Then followed that lovely
discourse in which Christ proclaimed Himself as “The Light of the
world,” saying, “he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but
shall have the light of life” (v. 12).
This was peculiarly appropriate to the occasion, for He had just given
proof that He was such, by turning the searching Light of God upon the
conscience of those who accused the adulteress.
What follows in the next chapter is closely linked to
that which has just been before us. Here Christ gives sight to a man
who had been blind from his birth, and immediately before He gives
light to the darkened eyes of this man, He uses the occasion to say,
again, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (9:5). The sequel to this miracle
had both its pathetic and its blessed sides. The one who had had his
eyes opened was brought to the Pharisees, and after a lengthy
examination they excommunicated him, because of the bold testimony he
had borne to his Benefactor. But we are told, “Jesus heard that they
had cast him out; and when He had found Him, He said unto him, Dost
thou believe on the Son of God? And he answered and said, Who is he,
Lord, that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast
both seen Him, and He it is that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord,
I believe. And he worshipped Him” (vv. 35–37). Thus did Christ
graciously evidence that when God begins a good work in a soul, He
ceases not until it has been perfected. The chapter closes with a most
solemn word against those who opposed Christ, in which we behold the
Light blinding: “And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this
world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might
be made blind” (v. 39).
John 10 is
the chapter in which Christ is revealed as the Good Shepherd, and there
is much in it which brings out His Divine glories. Here He presents
Himself as the Owner of the fold, and makes it known that believers,
under the figure of sheep, belong to Him. They are His property, as
well as the objects of His tender solicitude. They know Him, and they
are known of Him. His, is the Voice they follow, and the voice of
strangers they heed not. For the sheep He will lay down His life. But,
be it carefully noted, the Saviour declares, “No man taketh it from Me,
but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have
power to take it again” (v. 18). No
mere man could have made good such a claim as this. Nor could any mere
human teacher say to his disciples, “And I give unto them eternal life;
and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My
hand” (v. 28).
That He was more than Man, that He was God the Son, incarnate, is
expressly affirmed in the words with which the Saviour here closed His
discourse—“I and Father are one” (v. 30).
John 11
brings us to what, perhaps, was the most wonderful miracle that our
Lord performed, while here on earth, namely, the Raising of Lazarus.
Record of this was, appropriately, reserved for the fourth Gospel. The
others tell us of the raising of the daughter of Jairus, just dead; and
Luke mentions the raising of the widow of Nain’ son, as his body was on
the way to the cemetery; but John only records the raising of Lazarus,
who had been in the grave four days, and whose body had already begun
to corrupt. Signally did the performance of this miracle demonstrate
Christ to be the Son of God. Here, too, we behold “the Word” at work.
The daughter of Jairus He took by the hand; concerning the widow’s son,
we read, “He touched the bier;” but here He did nothing but speak:
first, to the spectators to remove the stone which lay over the
entrance to the grave, and then to Lazarus, He cried, “Come forth.”
John 12
brings us to the close of our Lord’s public ministry as it is followed
in this Gospel. The chapter opens with a scene which has won the hearts
of all who have gazed by faith upon it. The Saviour is seen in a
Bethany home, where deep gratitude made Him a supper, and Lazarus is
also one of the guests. After the meal was over, Mary anointed His feet
with fragrant ointment that was “very costly,” and wiped His feet with
her hair. It is very striking to notice the differences between
Matthew’s account of this incident and what is recorded here. It is
only John who tells us that Lazarus sat at the table with the Lord; it
is only John who says that “Martha served,” and it is only John who
gives the name of this devoted woman who expressed such love for
Christ: here everything is “made manifest’ by the Light. Moreover, note
particularly, that Matthew says the woman poured the ointment “on His
head” (26:7),
but here in John, we are told, she “anointed the feet of Jesus” (12:3). The two accounts are not
contradictory, but supplementary. Both are true, but we see the hand of
the Holy Spirit controlling each Evangelist to record only that which
was in keeping with his theme. In Matthew it is the King who is before
us, hence it is His “head” that is anointed; but in John we are shown
the Son of God, and therefore does Mary here take her place at His
“feet”!
John 13 is
in striking contrast with what is found at the beginning of the
previous chapter. There, we behold the feet of the Lord; here we see
the feet of His disciples. There, we saw His feet anointed; here, the
feet of the disciples are washed. There, the feet of Christ were
anointed with fragrant and costly ointment; here the feet of the
disciples are washed with water. There, the feet of the feet of the
Lord was washed by another; but here, the feet of the disciples are
washed by none other than the Son of God Himself. And observe that the
anointing of His feet comes before the washing of the disciples’ feet,
for in all things He must have the preeminence. And what a contrast is
here presented! The “feet” speak of the walk. The feet of the disciples
were soiled: their walk needed to be cleansed. Not so with the Lord of
glory: His walk emitted nought but a sweet fragrance to the Father.
At first sight it appears strange that this lowly task
of washing the disciples feet should be recorded by John. And yet the
very fact that it is recorded here supplies the surest key to the
interpretation of its significance. The act itself only brought out the
amazing condescension of the Son of God, who would stoop so low as to
perform the common duties of a slave. But the mention of this incident
by John indicates there is a spiritual meaning to the act. And such,
indeed, there was. The “feet,” as we have seen, point to the walk, and
“water” is the well known emblem of the written Word. Spiritually, the
act spoke of Christ maintaining the walk of His disciples, removing the
defilements which unfit them for communion with a holy God. It was
members of His Church that were here being cleansed by the Head “with
the washing of water by the Word” (Eph.
5:26). How fitting, then, that this should have found a
place in this fourth Gospel, for who but a Divine Person is capable of
cleansing the walk of believers and maintaining their fellowship with
the Father!
In the remainder of John 13
and to the end of chapter 16 we have
what is known as the Lord’s “Pascal discourse.” This, too, is peculiar
to John, and almost everything in it brings out the Divine glories of
the Saviour. It is here that He says to the disciples, “Ye call Me
Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am” (13:13). It is here that Christ
said, anticipating the Cross, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God
is glorified in Him” (13:31).
It is here that He speaks of going away to “prepare a place” for His
people (14:2, 3). It is here He invites His
disciples to pray in His name (14:13).
It is here He says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (14:27).
It is here that He says so much about fruit-bearing, under the
beautiful figure of the Vine. It is here that He speaks of “The
Comforter whom I will send unto you from the Father” (15:26). And it is here that He
declares of the Holy Spirit, “He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive
of Mine, and shall show it unto you” (16:14).
John 17
contains what is known as the High Priestly prayer of Christ. Nothing
like it is found in the other Gospels. It gives us a specimen of His
present ministry on High. Here we find the Saviour saying, “Father, the
hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee” (v. 1). Here He speaks of Himself as
the One given “power over all flesh” (v. 2).
Here He is inseparably linked with “the only true God” (v. 3). Here He speaks (by way of
anticipation) of having “finished” the work given Him to do (v. 4). Here He asks, “O Father,
glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with
Thee before the world was” (v. 5).
Here He prays for His own beloved people: for their preservation from
evil, for the supply of their every need, for their sanctification and
unification. His perfect equality with the Father is evidenced when He
says, “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with
Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me:
for Thou lovest Me before the foundation of the world” (v. 24).
The remaining chapters will be considered in another
connection, so we pass on now to notice some of the general features
which characterize this Gospel in its parts and as a whole.
I.
Things Omitted from John’s Gospel.
While examining the second Gospel, we dwelt at some
length upon the different things of which Mark took no notice, and saw
that the items excluded made manifest the perfections of his particular
portrayal of Christ. Here, too, a similar line of thought may be
followed out at even greater length. Much that is found in the first
three Gospels is omitted by John, as being irrelevant to his special
theme. Some of the more outstanding of these we shall now consider:
1. In John’s Gospel there is no genealogy, neither His
legal through Joseph, nor his personal through Mary. Nor is there any
account of His birth. Instead, as we have seen, He was “In the
beginning.” For a similar reason, John is silent about Herod’s attempt
to slay the Christ Child, about the flight into Egypt, and subsequent
return to Galilee. Nothing is said about the Lord Jesus as a Boy of
twelve, in the midst of the doctors in the Temple. No reference is made
to the years spent at Nazareth, and no hint is given of Christ working
at the carpenter’s bench before He began His public ministry. All these
are passed over as not being germane.
2. Here, there is no description of His baptism. Mark
refers to the Lord Jesus being baptized by his forerunner, and Matthew
and Luke each describe at length the attendant circumstances. John’s
reason for saying nothing about this is obvious. In His baptism,
Christ, in condescending grace, took His place alongside of His needy
people, saying to the one who baptized Him, “Thus it becometh us to
fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15).
3. John says nothing about the Temptation. Here,
again, we may observe the superintending hand of the Holy Spirit,
guiding the different Evangelists in the selection of their material.
Each of the first three Gospels make mention of the season spent by
Christ in the wilderness, where He was tempted for forty days of the
Devil. But John is silent about it. And why? Because John is presenting
Christ as God the Son, and “God cannot be tempted” (Jas. 1:13).
4. There is no account of His transfiguration. At
first sight this seems strange, but a little attention to details will
reveal the reason for this. The wonderful scene witnessed by the three
disciples upon the holy mount, was not an unveiling of His Divine
glories, but a miniature representation, a spectacular showing forth of
the Son of Man coming in His kingdom (see Matt.
16:28 etc.). But the earthly kingdom does not fall within
the scope of this Gospel. Here, it is spiritual and heavenly
relationships which are made most prominent.
5. Here there is no Appointing of the Apostles. In the
other Gospels we find the Lord Jesus selecting, equipping, and sending
forth the Twelve, to preach, and to heal; and in Luke we also read of
Him sending out the Seventy. But here, in harmony with the character of
this Gospel, all ministry and miracle working is left entirely in the
hands of the Son of God.
6. Never once is Christ here seen praying. This does
not come out so clearly in our English translation as it does in the
original Greek. In John’s Gospel we never find the word associated with
Christ which signifies taking the place of a supplicant; instead, the
word “erotos” is used, and this word denotes “speaking” as to an equal.
It is very striking to compare what each Evangelist records following
the miracle of the Feeding of the five thousand: Matt. says, “And when
He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to
pray” (14:23).
Mark says, “When He had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to
pray” (6:46).
Luke also follows his narration of this miracle with the words, “And it
came to pass, as He was alone praying” (9:8).
But when we come to the fourth Gospel, we read, “He departed again to a
mountain Himself alone” (6:15),
and there John stops!
The contents of John 17
may seem to contradict what we have just said above, but really it is
not so. At the beginning of the chapter we read, “Jesus lifted up His
eyes to Heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son,
that Thy Son also may glorify Thee” (v. 1).
And at its close we read that He said, “Father I will that they also,
whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am” (v. 24). Thus He spoke to the Father
as to an Equal.
7. We never read in John’s Gospel of “The Coming of
the Son of Man,” and for the same reason as this, He is never addressed
as “The Son of David” here. The Coming of the Son of Man always has
reference to His return to the earth itself, coming back to His earthly
people. But here we read, not of a restored Palestine, but of the
“Father’s House” and its “many mansions,” of Christ going on High to
prepare a place “for His heavenly people, and of Him coming back to
receive them unto Himself, that there may they be also.
8. We never find the word “Repent” in John. In the
other Gospels this is a term of frequent occurrence; what, then, is the
reason for its absence here? In the other Gospels the sinner is viewed
as guilty, and needing, therefore, to “repent.” But here, the sinner is
looked upon as spiritually dead, and therefore, in sore need of that
which only God can impart—“life”! It is here we read of man needing to
be “born again” (3:7),
needing to be “quickened” (5:21),
and needing to be “drawn” (6:44).
9. Neither is the word “Forgive” found in John. This,
too, is a word often met with in the other Gospels. Why, then, its
omission here? In Matt. 9:6
we read, “The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” As Son
of Man He “forgives;” as Son of God He bestows “eternal life.”
10. No Parables are found in John’s Gospel. This is a
very notable omission. The key to it is found in Matt. 13: “And the disciples came,
and said unto Him, Why speakest Thou unto them in parables? He answered
and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries
of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Therefore speak
I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they
hear not, neither do they understand” (vv. 10–13). Here we learn
why that Christ, in the later stages of His ministry, taught in
“parables.” It was to conceal from those who had rejected Him, what was
comprehensible only to those who had spiritual discernment. But here in
John, Christ is not concealing, but revealing—revealing God. It is to
be deplored that the rationale of our Lord’s parabolic form of teaching
should be known to so few. The popular definition of Christ’s parables
is that they were earthly stories with a heavenly meaning. How man gets
things upside down! The truth is, that His parables were heavenly
stories with an earthly meaning, having to do with His earthly people,
in earthly connections. This is another reason why none are found in
John—the word in 10:6 is
“proverb.”
11. In John’s Gospel no mention is made of the
Demons. Why this is we do not know. To say that no reference is here
made to them, was, because mention of them would be incompatible with
the Divine glories of Christ, hardly seems satisfactory; for, Satan
himself is referred to here, again and again. It is, in fact, only
here, that the Devil is spoken of three times over as “The prince of
this world;” and, Judas, too, as the son of Perdition, occupies a more
prominent position here than in the other Gospels. Should it be
revealed to any of our readers why the “demons” are excluded from this
Gospel, we shall be very glad to hear from them.
12. There is no account of Christ’s Ascension in this
fourth Gospel. This is very striking, and by implication brings out
clearly the Deity of the Lord Jesus. As God the Son He was omnipresent,
and so, needed not to ascend. As God the Son He fills both heaven and
earth. We turn now to,
II.
Positive Features of John’s Gospel.
1. The Titles of Christ are very significant
Only here (in the four Gospels) is the Lord Jesus
revealed as “the Word” (1:1). Only
here is He declared to be the Creator of all things (1:3). Only here is He spoken of as
“The Only Begotten of the Father”1:14).
Only here was He hailed as “The Lamb of God”(1:29). Only here is He revealed
as the great “I am.” When Jehovah appeared to Moses at the
burning bush, and commissioned him to go down into Egypt and demand
from Pharaoh the release of His people Israel, Moses said, Who shall I
say hath sent me? And God answered, “Thus shalt thou say unto the
Children of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you” (Ex. 3:14). And here in John’s
Gospel Christ takes this most sacred title of Deity and appropriates it
unto Himself, filling it out with sevenfold fullness: “I am the Bread
of Life” (6:35); “I
am the Light of the world” (9:5); “I am
the Door” (10:7); “I
am the Good Shepherd” (10:11);
“I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25);
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (14:6);
“I am the true Vine” (15:1).
2. The Deity of Christ is prominently revealed
here.
Christ Himself expressly affirmed it: “Verily,
verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead
shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live” (5:25). Again; “Jesus heard that
they had cast him out; and when He had found him, he said unto him,
Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is He,
Lord, that I might believe on Him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast
both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee” (9:35–37). Once more.
“His sisters sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest
is sick. When Jesus heard that, He said, This sickness is not unto
death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified
thereby” (11:3, 4). Thirty-five times in this
Gospel we find the Lord Jesus speaking of God as “My Father.”
Twenty-five times He here says “Verily, verily” (of a truth, of a
truth)—nowhere else found in this intensified form.
Including His own affirmation of it, seven different
ones avow His Deity in this Gospel. First, John the Baptist: “And I saw
and bare record that this is the Son of God” (1:34). Second, Nathaniel, ”Rabbi,
Thou art the Son of God” (1:49).
Third, Peter, “And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ,
the Son of the living God” (6:69).
The Lord Himself, “Say ye of Him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and
sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of
God” (10:36).
Fifth, Martha, “She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord, I believe that Thou art
the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world” (11:27). Sixth, Thomas, “And
Thomas answered and said unto Him, My Lord and my God” (20:28). Seventh, the writer of
this fourth Gospel, “These are written, that ye might believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have
life through His name” (20:31).
3. There is a remarkable series of Sevens here
It is striking to discover how frequently this
numeral is found here, and when we remember the significance of this
numeral it is even more arresting. Seven is the number of perfection,
and absolute perfection is not found until we reach God Himself. How
wonderful, then, that in this Gospel which sets forth the Deity of
Christ, the number seven meets us at every turn!
By seven different persons is the Deity of Christ
confessed here, and, as we have seen seven times does He fill out the
ineffable “I am” title. John records seven miracles performed by our
Lord during His public ministry, no more and no less. Seven times do we
read, “These things have I spoken unto you.” Seven times did Christ
address the woman at the well. Seven times, in John 6,
did Christ speak of Himself as “The Bread of Life.” Seven things we
read of the Good Shepherd doing for His sheep, and seven things Christ
says about His sheep in John 10.
Seven times does Christ make reference to “the hour” which was to see
the accomplishment of the Work given Him to do. Seven times did He bid
His disciples pray “in His name.” Seven times is the word “hate” found
in John 15. There are seven things
enumerated in John 16:13,
14 which the Holy Spirit is to
do for believers. There were seven things which Christ asked the Father
for believers in John 17,
and seven times over does He there refer to them as the Father’s “gift”
to Him. Seven times in this Gospel do we read that Christ declared He
spoke only the Word of the Father—7:16;
8:28; 8:47;
12:49; 14:10; 14:24; 17:8. Seven times does the writer
of this Gospel refer to himself, without directly mentioning his own
name. There are seven important things found in John which are common
to all four Gospels. And so we might continue. Let the reader search
carefully for himself and he will find many other examples.
4. Man’s futile attempts on His life
Not only was the Christ of God “despised and
rejected of men,” not only was He “hated without a cause,” but His
enemies repeatedly sought His life. This feature is noticed, briefly,
by the other writers, but John is the only one that tells us why
their efforts were futile. For example, in John
7:30 we read, “Then they sought to take Him: but no man laid
hands on Him, because His hour was not yet come.” And again, in
8:20 we read, “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.” These Scriptures, in
accord with the special character of this fourth Gospel, bring before
us the Divine side of things. They tell us that the events of earth
transpire only according to the appointment of Heaven. They show that
God is working all things after the counsel of His own will and
according to His eternal purpose. They teach us that nothing is left to
chance, but that when God’s “hour” arrives that which has been decreed
by His sovereign will, is performed. They reveal the fact that even His
enemies are entirely subject to God’s immediate control, and that they
cannot make a single move without His direct permission.
The Lord Jesus Christ was not the helpless Victim of
an angry mob. What He suffered, He endured voluntarily. The enemy might
roar against Him, and His emissaries might thirst for His blood, but
not a thing could they do without His consent. It is in this Gospel we
hear Him saying, “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down
My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me,
but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have
power to take it again” (10:17; 18). While He hung upon the
Cross, His enemies said, “He saved others; let Him save Himself,
if He be Christ, the Chosen of God” (Luke
23:35). And He accepted their challenge! He saved Himself
not from death, but out of it; not from the Cross, but the Tomb.
5. The Purpose and Scope of this Gospel
The key to it is hung right under the door. The
opening verse intimates that the Deity of Christ is the special theme
of this Gospel. The order of its contents is defined in 16:28: 1. “I came forth from the
Father:” this may be taken as the heading for the Introductory portion,
the first eighteen verses of the opening chapter; 2. “And am come into
the world:” this may be taken as the heading for the first main section
of this Gospel, running from 1:19
to the end of chapter 12. 3.
“Again, I leave the world:” this may be taken as the heading for the
second great section of the Gospel, comprising chapter 13 to 17
inclusive, where the Lord is seen apart from “the world,” alone with
His beloved disciples. 4. “And go to the Father:” this may be taken as
the heading for the closing section of this Gospel, made up of its last
four chapters, which give us the final scenes, preparatory to the
Lord’s return to His Father.
The closing verses of John
20 tell us the purpose of this Gospel: “And many other signs
truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written
in this book. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through His name.” John’s Gospel, then, is peculiarly suited to the
unsaved. But this does not exhaust its scope. It is equally fitted for
and written to believers; in fact, the opening chapter intimates it is
designed specially for the saved, for in 1:16
we read, “And of His fullness have all we received, and grace
for grace.”
6. The account of His Passion is remarkable
Here there is no glimpse given us of the Saviour’s
agony in Gethsemane: there is no crying, “If it be possible let this
cup pass from Me,” there is no bloody sweat, no angel appearing to
strengthen Him. Here there is no seeking of companionship from His
disciples in the Garden; instead, he knows them only as needing His
protection (see 18:8).
Here there is no compelling of Simon to bear His cross. Here there is
no mention of the three hours of darkness, nor is reference made to the
awful cry, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Here there is
nothing said of the spectators taunting the dying Saviour, and no
mention is made of the insulting challenge of the rulers for Him to
descend from the Cross and they would believe in Him. And here there is
no word said of the Rending of the Veil, as the Redeemer breathed His
last. How striking is this, for in John’s Gospel God is unveiled
throughout; no need, then, for the veil to be rent here! John says
nothing about Him eating food after the resurrection, for as Son of
God, He needed it not!
7. Christ’s dignity and majesty comes out here
amid His humiliation
John is the only one that tells us that when the
Lord’s enemies came to arrest Him in the Garden that when He asked them
“Whom seek ye?”, and they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth,” and he then
pronounced the sacred “I am,” they “went backward and fell to the
ground” (18:6).
What a demonstration of His Godhead was this! How easily could He have
walked away unmolested had He so pleased!
John is the only one to speak of His coat “without
seam” which the soldiers would not rend (19:24).
John is the only one to show us how completely the Saviour was master
of Himself—“Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished”(19:28). His mind was not
beclouded, nor was His memory impaired. No; even at the close of all
His sufferings, the whole scheme of Messianic prediction stood out
clearly before Him.
John is the only one of the four Evangelists to
record the Saviour’s triumphant cry, “It is finished” (19:30), as he is the only one to
say that after He had expired the soldier’s “brake not His legs” (19:33). John is the only one to
tell us of Love’s race to the sepulcher (20:3,
4). And John is the only one to
say that the risen Saviour “breathed” on the disciples, and said,
“Receive ye the Holy Spirit” (20:22).
The closing verse of this Gospel is in perfect
keeping with its character and scope. Here, and here only, we are told,
“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if
they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself
could not contain the books that should be written. Amen” (21:25). Thus, the last note here
sounded is that of infinity!
Conclusion
On our somewhat brief examination of the four Gospels
it has been the writer’s design to bring before the reader that which
is characteristic in each one, pointing out the various connections in
which the different Evangelists view our Lord and Saviour. It is
evident that each of the Gospels contemplates Him in a distinct
relationship—Matthew as King, Mark as Servant, Luke as Son of Man, and
John as Son of God. But while each Evangelist portrays the Lord Jesus
in an entirely different viewpoint from the others, yet he does not
altogether exclude that which is found in the remaining three. God knew
that where the Scriptures would be translated into heathen tongues,
before the whole Bible or even the complete New Testament was given to
different peoples, oftentimes only a single Gospel would be translated
as a beginning, and therefore has the Holy Spirit seen to it that each
Gospel presents a more or less complete setting forth of the manifold
glories of His Son. In other words, He caused each writer to combine in
his own Evangel the various lines of Truth found in the others, though
making these subordinate to that which was central and peculiar to
himself.
That which is dominant in Matthew’s delineation of the
Lord Jesus is the presentation of Him as the Son of David, the Heir of
Israel’s throne, the Messiah and King of the Jews. Yet, while this is
the outstanding feature of the first Gospel, nevertheless, a careful
study of it will discover traces therein of the other offices that
Christ filled. Even in Matthew the Servant character of our Lord comes
into view, though, in an incidental manner. It is Matthew who tells us
that when the sons of Zebedee came requesting of Him that they might
sit on His right hand and on His left in His kingdom, and that when the
other ten apostles were moved with indignation against them, He said,
“Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them,
and that they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall
not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be
your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your
servant: Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give His life a ransom for many” (20:25–28); and it is
from this Gospel we learn that when He sent forth the Twelve, He warned
them, “The disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his
Lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the
servant as his Lord. If they have called the Master of the house
Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of His household” (10:24, 25).
Again; Matthew’s Gospel does not hide from us the lowly
place the Lord took as the Son of Man, for it is here we have recorded
His word, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests;
but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head” (8:20): as it is here we are told
that when they that received tribute came to Peter and asked, “Doth
your Master pay tribute?” that the Lord said to His disciple, “What
thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or
tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter said unto Him,
Of strangers. Jesus said unto him, Then are the children (i.e. of
kings) free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, to thou to
the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up;
and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money:
that take, and give unto them, for Me and thee” (17:25–27).
So, too, do the Divine glories of Christ shine forth on
the pages of this first Gospel. It is here that we are told, “Behold, a
virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall
call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us”
(1:23). And it is here we have
recorded most fully Peter’s notable confession, “Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God” (16:16).
Mark’s central purpose is to present Christ as God’s
perfect Workman yet, here and there, he gives hints that the Servant of
Jehovah possessed other and higher glories. This second Gospel, as well
as the first and third, record His Transfiguration upon the holy mount (9:2), and Mark also tells us of
the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (11:7–10). It is here
we are told that when the high priest asked Him, “Art Thou the Christ,
the Son of the Blessed?” that He answered, “I am: and ye shall see the
Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds
of Heaven” (14:62).
Thus did He bear witness to His Messianic and Kingly glory.
Mark is also careful to tell us in the opening verse of
his Gospel that Jesus Christ was “the Son of God,” as he also informs
us that the demon-possessed man from the tombs cried and said, “What
have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of the most high God?” (5:7). These things do not detract
from that which is central in this second Gospel, but guard the Divine
glories of Him that “took upon Him the form of a servant.”
Luke describes the Humanity of the Saviour, pictures
Him as the Son of Man, and shows us the lowly place which He took. But
while this is the central theme of the third Gospel, references are
also made, here, to His higher glories. It is here we read that the
Saviour told the people, “Behold a greater than Solomon is here” (11:31), as it is here we also
find Him owned as “The Son of David” (18:38).
Luke also refers to the Transfiguration and the Triumphal Entry into
Jerusalem.
This third Gospel reveals the fact that the Saviour was
more than Man. It is here we are told that the angel of the Lord said
unto Mary, “That Holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called
the Son of God” (1:35); as
it is here also read of the demon-possessed man crying, “What have we
to do with Thee Jesus, Thou Son of God most high” (8:28)!
So it is with the fourth Gospel. The outstanding
feature there is the setting forth of the Deity of Christ, yet a
careful reading of John will also reveal His Kingship as well as His
Human lowliness. It is here we read of Andrew telling his brother
Simon, “We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the
Christ (1:41). It
is here that we are told Nathaniel owned our Lord as, “The King of
Israel” (1:49). It
is in this fourth Gospel we hear the Samaritans saying unto the
converted adulteress, “Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for
we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ
(i.e., the Messiah), the Saviour of the world” (4:42). And it is here also we
learn that when entering Jerusalem, the people “took branches of palm
trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried, Hosanna, Blessed is The
King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (12:13).
In like manner, we find in John illustrations of our
Lord’s lowliness. It is in this fourth Gospel that we read, “Jesus
therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well” (4:6). It is here we find recorded
the pathetic fact, that, “every man went unto his own house—Jesus went
unto the mount of Olives” (7:53; 8:1). Every “man” had his “own
house” to which he retired at night, but the Beloved of the Father was
a homeless Stranger here! So, again, it is John who tells us, “And it
was winter, and (being cold out on the mountain) Jesus walked in the
Temple in Solomon’s porch” (10:22, 23). Once more: it is John who
shows us the Lord, as the perfect Man, making provision for His widowed
mother, providing her a home with His beloved disciple (19:26, 27).
Returning now to our central design in this book, we
would take a look at two or three incidents found in all four Gospels,
and comparing them carefully, would notice the characteristic and
distinctive lines in each one. First, let us observe the reference
which each Evangelist makes to John the Baptist. Matthew alone tells us
that he cried, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (3:3), for Matthew is the one who
presents the Lord Jesus as Israel’s King and Messiah. Mark is the only
one to tell us that those who were baptized by our Lord’s forerunner
“confessed their sins” (1:5), this
being in accord with the ministerial character of this second Gospel.
Luke, who dwells on human relationships, is the only writer that tells
us about the parentage of the Baptist (chap. 1),
as he is the only one to describe in detail the various classes of
people who came to him at the Jordan. All of these things are
significantly omitted by John, for in this fourth Gospel the emphasis
is placed not upon the Baptist, but upon the One he was sent to herald.
Here only are we told that he “came to bear witness of the Light” (1:7); that Christ existed before
him (1:15), though as a Child He was
born three months after him; and that he testified Christ was both
God’s “Lamb” (1:29) and
God’s Son” (1:34).
Again; let us note what each Evangelist has said about
the Feeding of the five thousand, and particularly the way in which
this miracle is introduced. Matthew says, “And Jesus went forth, and
saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and
He healed their sick. And when it was evening, His disciples came to
Him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the
multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves
victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them
to eat” (14:14–16).
Thus, Matthew prefaces his account of this miracle by speaking of
Christ “healing the sick,” for this was one of the Messianic signs.
Mark says: “And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved
with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a
shepherd: and He began to teach them many things. And when the day was
now far spent, His disciples came unto Him, and said, This is a desert
place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go
into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves
bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them,
Give them to eat” (6:34–37).
Instead of mentioning the “healing of the sick,” Mark brings a
beautiful ministerial touch into his picture by telling us the Saviour
was moved with compassion toward the people because they were “as sheep
not having a shepherd,” and then makes known how the perfect Servant
“began to teach them many things,” thus ministering to them the Word of
God. Luke tells us, “And the people, when they knew it, followed Him:
and He received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and
healed them that had need of healing. And when the day began to wear
away, then came the twelve, and said unto Him, Send the multitude away,
that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and
get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. But He said unto them,
Give ye them to eat” (Luke
9:11–13). Here we find Human sympathy and human want brought
out, for Luke presents the great Physician healing, not as a Messianic
sign, but healing those “that had need of healing.” Now, observe, how
entirely different is John’s method of introducing this miracle. He
says nothing about the Messianic sign of healing, nothing about the
Servant of God “teaching” the people, and nothing of the Son of Man
ministering to the “need” of the sick; instead, he tells us, “When
Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him,
He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
And He said this to prove him: for He himself KNEW what He would do” (6:5, 6).
Thus the fourth Gospel, again, brings out the Deity of Christ, by
revealing His Omniscience.
As another example of the characteristic differences
of each of the four Evangelists when recording the same or a similar
incident, let us take the Sabbath criticisms which the Saviour met
with. Each of the Gospels make mention of Christ being condemned for
transgressing the traditions of the elders with which the Jews had
cumbered the Sabbath, and each tells us the reply which He made to His
objectors, and the arguments He used to vindicate Himself. In Matt. 12:2, 3 we read, “At that time Jesus
went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and His disciples were an
hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the
Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, Thy disciples do that
which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day.” To this our Lord made
answer by reminding the Pharisees how that David, when he was an
hungered, entered the house of God and did eat the shewbread, sharing
it also with those that were with him. Then He went on to say, “Have ye
not read in the Law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the
temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That
in this place is One greater than the Temple” (Matt. 12:5, 6). Mark also refers to this same
incident, and records part of the reply which the Saviour made on this
occasion (see 2:23–28),
but it is very striking to observe that he omits the Lord’s statement
that He was “Greater than the Temple.” In Luke’s Gospel there is a
miracle recorded which is not found elsewhere—the healing of the woman
who had an infirmity for eighteen years (Luke 13:11–13). As
the sequel to this we are told, “And the ruler of the synagogue
answered with indignation because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath
day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to
work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath” (11:14). But on this occasion we
find Christ employed an argument to vindicate Himself, which was
thoroughly in keeping with the scope of this third Gospel. “The Lord
then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you
on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him
away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of
Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed
from this bond on the Sabbath day?” (13:15,
15). Here the appeal was not to
the Old Testament scriptures, nor to His own Greatness, but to human
sympathies. John records another miracle, not mentioned by the others,
which also met with a similar rebuke from the Lord’s foes. But here, in
answering His critics, the Lord Jesus vindicated Himself by using an
entirely different argument from those employed on other occasions, as
noted by other Evangelists. Here we find Him replying: “My Father
worketh hitherto, and I work” (5:17).
Thus, we see again, the principle of selection determining what each
Evangelist recorded.
One more example must suffice. Let us observe what
each Gospel says about the Arrest in the Garden. Matthew tells us, “And
while He yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a
great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and
elders of the people. Now he that betrayed Him gave them a sign,
saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He: hold Him fast. And
forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; and kissed Him. And
Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they,
and laid hands on Jesus, and took Him. And, behold, one of them which
was with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a
servant of the high priest’s and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus
unto him, Put up thy sword again unto his place: for all they that take
the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now
pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve
legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that
thus it must be?” (26:47–54).
Mark says: “And immediately, while He spake, cometh Judas, one of the
twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the
chief priests and the scribes and the elders. And he that betrayed Him
had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is
He; take Him and lead Him away safely. And as soon as he was come, he
goeth straightway to Him, and saith, Master, Master; and kissed Him.
And they laid their hands on Him, and took Him. And one of them that
stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut
off his ear. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out as
against a thief, with swords and with staves to take Me? I was daily
with you in the Temple teaching, and ye took Me not: but the Scriptures
must be fulfilled” (14:43–49).
It will be observed that Mark omits the fact that Christ addressed the
traitor as “Friend” (see Ps. 41:9—Messianic
prophecy), as he also says nothing about His right to ask the Father
for twelve legions of angels. In Luke we read, “And while He yet spake,
behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve,
went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said
unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss? When they
that were about Him, saw what would follow, they said unto Him, Lord,
shall we smite with the sword? and one of them smote the servant of the
high priest, and cut off his right ear. Then Jesus answered and said,
Suffer ye thus far. And He touched his ear, and healed him. Then Jesus
said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the
elders, which were come unto Him, Be ye come out, as against a thief,
with swords, and staves? When I was daily with you in the Temple, ye
stretched forth no hands against Me, but this is your hour, and the
power of darkness” (Luke
22:47–53). Luke is the only one to record Christ’s touching
but searching question to Judas, as he is the only one to tell us of
Christ healing the ear of the high priest’s servant. Entirely different
is John’s account. In 18:3 we
read, “Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the
chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches
and weapons.” But here only is it added, “Jesus therefore, knowing all
things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom
seek ye. They answered Him, Jesus of Nazareth.” Here only are we told,
“Jesus said unto them, I am. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood
with them. As soon then as He had said unto them, I am, they went
backward, and fell to the ground” (18:5,
6). Here only do we read, “If
therefore ye seek Me, let these go their way: that the saying might be
fulfilled, which he spoke, Of them which Thou gavest Me have I lost
none” (18:8, 9). And here only are we told
that the Lord said to the disciple who had cut off the ear of the
priest’s servant, “Put up thy sword into the sheath:
the cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11).
In closing, we would call attention to one other
feature of the Gospels, that has often been noticed by others, and that
is, what is found in the closing portions of the respective Gospels.
There is a striking and climatic order observed. At the close of
Matthew’s Gospel, we read of the Resurrection of Christ (28:1–8). At the close
of Mark’s Gospel, we read ofthe Ascension of Christ (16:19). At the close of Luke’s
Gospel, we hear of the Coming of the Holy Spirit (24:49). While at the close of
John’s Gospel, reference is made to the Return of Christ(21:21–23)! May that
Day soon dawn when He shall come again to receive us unto Himself, and
in the little interval that yet awaits, may we study His Word more
diligently and obey its precepts more carefully.
Endnotes: