However, before we further pursue this aspect, let us fortify our understanding by

reading what is written concerning this One Who became "flesh". Was such a descent

accompanied by the loss of inherent life? Could it be said of Him Who was found in

fashion as a man and Who had actually come to die for sin, that He still had "life in

Himself"? Yes, blessed be God, it is so written; we are not left to inference, however

sound may be our reasoning.

Because the Saviour had cured a man on the sabbath day, the Jews sought to slay Him,

and, instead of placating, He added to their wrath by saying, "My Father worketh

hitherto, and I work". "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not

only broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal

with God" (John 5: 16-18).

Then follows a series of stupendous claims, any one of which is a wonder, and any

one a proof of His Deity. He saw what the Father did, and did "likewise". He quickened

the dead, even as the Father raised up the dead and quickened them. He was the

appointed Judge of all men, the Father judging no man. All men were required to give

equal honour to the Son as to the Father.

When He made Himself of no reputation and became man, He necessarily laid aside

the insignia and the associations of Deity and, unless it had been revealed, we might have

felt that although as "The Word" it could be written "In Him was life", yet, when He

became flesh, this mark of Deity would be absent. For our peace it is not so. As the

"Son" and the "Word became flesh", He possesses "life in Himself" and so is the Author

and Fountain of life to all who believe. When therefore we read: "Of His fullness have

all we received", we know that once again we are at the Source of all life and blessing.

The confessed purpose of John in writing his Gospel is "life" (John 20: 31), and this

last reference is the last link in a chain of thirty-six occurrences of zoe, "life", in his

Gospel. If to these we add the thirteen occurrences of the word in the first epistle, we

have a total of 49, or 7*7, for perfection is indeed found here.

As we trace the use of zoe throughout John's Gospel we find that the goal of the

gospel there preached is everlasting life (3: 15, 16), and that this life is ours only by

virtue of the sacrifice of "His flesh, which" said He, "I will give for the life of the world"

(John 6: 51). Further, this life is essentially "resurrection life". Those who receive it

"pass from death unto life" (John 5: 24), and hear the voice of Him Who said, "I am the

resurrection and the life" (John 11: 25).

As we become conscious of our sin and consequent death, and as we perceive the

fullness that dwells in Him, can we not, with a full heart, look up to Him Who is Himself

"The Way, the Truth and the Life" and say, "All my springs are in Thee".