 |  |
might see, and that they which see might be made blind", where an allusion to Isa. 6: 10
(quoted in both Matt. 13: and Acts 28:) is apparent. The synoptic Gospels operate
under the terms of the New Covenant and consequently the New Covenant memorial
feast, known also as the Lord's Supper, is given a prominent place in them all. It is
somewhat surprising, if one does not possess the dispensational key, to discover that John
makes no mention of the institution of the Lord's supper in his gospel! If, however, the
point of view advocated here be correct, then, seeing that before John's Gospel was
written the people of the New Covenant had passed off the scene, it is but right and
proper that John should leave the New Covenant feast unrecorded.
The revelation of the Mystery through the prison epistles of Paul had been made
known some years before John's Gospel saw the light of day, consequently although John
did not teach the truth of the Mystery, he need not have been ignorant of it, and a
comparison with the doctrine of Christ, as made by John with the earlier revelation found
in Colossians will show how this twofold ministry could run together, John ministering to
the world, Paul ministering, through his prison epistles, mainly to the Gentiles believer.
John 1:
Colossians 1:
The Word (No man hath seen God).
The Image of the Invisible God).
The Only Begotten.
The Firstborn.
All things made by Him.
All things created.
His fullness.
All fullness.
The Word made flesh.
The body of His flesh.
Preferred before me.
He is before all things.
He was before me
He has pre-eminence.
In the record of our Saviour's conversation with the woman of Samaria, John slips in a
note of time in order to indicate that what the Saviour had then said to the woman, had at
the time of writing been fulfilled. At the time that Christ spoke to this woman it was still
true that salvation was of the Jews and that Jerusalem was the place divinely appointed
for worship. He, however, revealed to this woman that a day was coming when this
would be changed, saying:
"Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet
at Jerusalem, worship the Father."
"The hour cometh (and now is, adds John), when the true worshipers shall worship
the Father in spirit and in truth" (4: 21, 23).
John's gospel covers the period indicated by the words "and now is", a phrase
repeated in 5: 25-28 and referring to the gift of life which is the central message of his
gospel.
The complete structure of John's gospel, both as a whole and in its separate parts will
be found in our new book which is now well in hand. It is hoped that this book entitled
"Life Through His Name", being an exposition of John's Gospel in its entirety, will be
ready and on sale by the end of this year. The present article is but an attempt to indicate
this teaching and dispensational place, in order that the series now in hand should be in
some measure complete.