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#17. The Testimony in Jerusalem, Judaea and Samaria (2: 13-4: 42).
Jerusalem. The Temple cleansed (2: 13 - 23).
pp. 37 - 41
We now come to the first of the six links in the chain that binds together the
eight signs. The interrelation of these links with the signs themselves and the six links as
a whole have been set out in Volume XXIX, page 127. In each of these links there is an
emphasis on works and faith, except in the second case, where, although work is
performed, it is not specifically mentioned.
The passage before us is John 2: 13 - 4: 42, and we find that this is balanced by
John xi 47 - 20: 31:
A | 2: 13 - iv.42. Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria.
"My meat is . . . . . to finish His work."
A | 11: 47 - 20: 31. Ephraim, Bethany, Jerusalem.
"I have finished the work."
Each of the geographical subdivisions in the first of these sections leads up to a great
Messianic witness, and continues the testimony already given in John 1: 19-51.
JERUSALEM. John 2: 13 - 3: 21.
"The Son of Man." "The only begotten Son of God" (3: 13, 18).
JUDAEA. John 3: 22 - 4: 2.
"I am not the Christ." "The Son" (3: 28, 35, 36).
SAMARIA. John 4: 3-42.
"I am He." "The Christ, the Saviour of the world" (4: 26, 42).
The wealth of material here is overwhelming, and, unless we exercise care, we may
easily miss the main theme. In Jerusalem we have the cleansing of the Temple, the
prophetic reference to the Lord's resurrection, the solemn words to Nicodemus, and the
gospel illustrated by the brazen serpent. After this we have the controversy about
purifying and the report that the Lord was attracting all men to Himself. This gives
John the Baptist a further opportunity of witnessing for Christ. The Lord then enters
Samaria, and we have the conversation with the woman at the well--a conversation that
is full of teaching, as is the subsequent witness to Christ by the people of Samaria. The
ninety verses that comprise this section are replete with truth, doctrinal, dispensational
and devotional. With such a wealth of subject-matter, we are only too conscious of our
limitations, both of space and ability, and we must therefore concentrate upon the salient
points only. These we shall discover from an examination of the structure, which is
given below:--