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#3.
Christ, the Image and the Word.
pp. 103 - 108
We have arrived at the conclusion that the Gospel according to John very specially
meets the need and position of that great company of believers who, though called during
this present time, do not seem to come under the dispensation of the mystery. Naturally
our present findings will modify some statements made in earlier volumes. For this we
feel there is no need to apologize, but rather give thanks for added light. However, it may
be well to repeat, without detail or proof, the eight features found upon the surface for
John's Gospel, which reveals the special fitness of his message for the time:--
1.
The message must be world-wide in its scope.
2.
It must give evidence that it is written for non-Jewish readers.
3.
It must start with the fact that Christ came and was rejected.
4.
It will omit the Lord's Supper.
5.
It will give prominence to the ascension.
6.
It will give a title to the Lord, which is in some way parallel with "The Image" and
the "Creator" of Col. 1:
7.
It will convey the Lord's desire that, though rejected by "His own", the world may
yet believe and know Him as the Sent One.
8.
It will not use the word "miracle", but will substitute some other word in recognition
of the fact that Pentecostal conditions have passed.
We believe that the distinctive nature of these prominent features carry the matter
beyond debate into the region of fact and faith. We therefore spend no time in "proofs",
but proceed to the more edifying labours connected with exposition.
The Word.
This Gospel opens with a wonderful revelation concerning Christ as the Word. Now
there is a principle (found fairly constantly throughout the N.T.) that in harmony with the
line of blessing which is to be developed in any one Gospel or Epistle, there will be found
either in that Epistle or Gospel, or in a book connected therewith, some special aspect of
the person and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. This must be so, for there are no blessings,
promises, callings, or hopes apart from Him, and before we can be told of either earthly
or heavenly hopes, we must first be assured and instructed as to the position of Him on
Whom all our hopes must rest.
Ordinarily we should leave this statement unelaborated and pass on, but as we trust
these studies will be useful to those who may be engaged in ministering the Word to the
wider circle of which we speak, we will give one or two illustrations of the principle.
Matthew.--The opening chapter is occupied with the genealogy (Son of David,
Son of Abraham, and Son of the virgin), birth and work ("for He shall save His people
from their sins"), of the Lord Jesus, which lays the foundation for all that is subsequently
written in the Gospel.