SOME THOUGHTS ON JOHN 5.

The pool represents the Law. There is no power for life or healing in it. The occasional troubling of its waters answers to the mercy and longsuffering of God connected with the second giving of the Law (see Ex. 34), extending to Israel a chance to profit by this gracious provision, if they had strength for it. The successive divine deliverances after failure (as witness the book of Judges) answer to the seasons of angelic ministry which are figured by the disturbance of the pool; but Israel's moral impotence is reflected in the one who at Bethesda had repeatedly tried to get first into the pool, and had failed. His thirty-eight years in that condition answer exactly to the number of years of Israel's wilderness wanderings, after refusing to enter the land at Kadesh-barnea. Jesus heals him by the power of His word, quickening his deadened body, which thus reflects His power to quicken souls "dead in trespasses and sins," such being "greater works" (ver. 20, etc.). This is the characteristic teaching of John's Gospel:life in Christ-its source, and the communication of it to those needing it. The cure is performed on the Sabbath day, which greatly angers the Jews-the Sabbath being the seal of the covenant between them and Jehovah. See Ex. 31. The violation of it signifies the broken covenant of which they are guilty, and answers to the breaking of the first tables of stone by Moses at the foot of Sinai; the latter in wrath, however; but this in grace; for "the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."Compare with this, other gracious acts on the Sabbath day. Compare Luke 6 :6-11, proving Jesus to be " Lord also of the Sabbath " (ver. 5).The persecution and murderous spirit of the Jews, called forth by this favor to the impotent man (ver. 16), is meekly answered by Jesus with the words, "My Father worketh hitherto (or until now), and I work (or am working) " ; showing Himself to be in harmony with the Father's heart in a love that sought the salvation of men from the beginning. There was no independence in His coming and service. As the obedient One, He could "do nothing of Himself" (1:e., independently, ver. 19).As the object of the Father's love, He was in all the secrets of His ways (ver. 20). All judgment being committed unto the Son (ver. 22), His coming into the world demanded from men equal honor for Him with the Father (ver. 23).By virtue of such authority, coupled with His divine power, He could deliver from coming judgment and impart eternal life to every one hearing His word and believing Him to be sent of the Father. Every such believer "passed from death unto life" (ver. 24).His authority as judge extends to the end of time, when He shall raise the wicked dead and pass judgment upon their deeds done in the body (ver. 29). How good to have such a One for our Saviour, "who hath delivered us from the wrath to come" (1 Thess. 1:10)! for there is no higher authority to reverse His sentence. "It is God that justifieth. Who is He that condemneth ?" (Rom. 8:33, 34). C. E. B.