 |  |
This corresponding members of the structure must therefore be the object of our
investigation. We shall devote what space we now have left to the members "A | 5: 19"
and "A | 5: 30", "What he seeth" and "As I hear".
In John 3: 34 the testimony is given, "He whom God hath sent speaketh the words
of God", and we shall have occasion to consider this statement more fully when we arrive
at chapter 7: 16, where the Lord says, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me".
Here, in chapter 5:, it is not "words" or "doctrine" but "works" that are in view.
The Lord claimed that He both "saw" and "heard" the Father. In this He stands apart
from all other men. In the prologue it is written, "No man hath seen God at any time"
(John 1: 18), and in the very passage where the Lord's great claim is asserted, He said
"He have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape" (John 5: 37). This
unique claim is repeated in John 6:, "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He
which is of God, He hath seen the Father" (John 6: 46). Yet again, in the chapter where
He claims the title "I AM" (John 8: 58), this unique vision of the Father is repeated, "I
speak that which I have seen with My Father" (John 8: 38).
On the other hand, Who so dependent as the Son of God?
"The Son can do nothing of Himself" (John 5: 19).
"I can of Mine own self do nothing" (John 5: 30).
Similarly, the Lord said later to His disciples concerning the other Comforter, even the
Spirit of truth, "He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall
He speak" (John 16: 13).
A superficial reading of these statements might lead to the conclusion that, of
themselves, the Son and the Spirit were powerless, not even possessing the abilities
common to man, yet we have but to consider the reasons put forward in this Gospel for
this very limitation to see that they reveal not only the true relationship of the Son with
the Father, but magnify the Son Himself.
Here then are the reasons given why the Son did nothing and said nothing "of" (apo,
from) "Himself".
(1)
The Son spoke not "from Himself" because one sent by another who so acted
would evidently be seeking "His own glory: but He that seeketh His glory that
sent Him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is found in Him" (John 7: 18).
(2)
The Son spoke not "from Himself", because, not only had He been "sent" and
found His meat and drink in finishing the work He had been sent to do, but He had
the further reason and further joy that, "My Father hath not left Me alone; for I do
always those things that please Him" (John 8: 29).
(3)
And He added (verse 42), "neither came I of Myself". The Son was not
self-commissioned. It is the glory of the gospel that God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son; consequently, as the Sent One, He spoke and
wrought only those things that pertained to His blessed commission.