The first part of the first chapter of John gives a twofold character of the Lord—Son of God, and Son of the Father. Not only had He created all—not only does all the intelligence of God dwell in Him—but He had the competency of God to make sons. These glories—Son of God, Son of the Father—are brought out in connection with blessing to poor sinners. The light is too strong—that I shrink from; but when I hear that He came to make sons of poor sinners, and bring them to the bosom of the Father, in love, I say, Let me see that light. It is a glory surpassing creatorial glory; yet man does not see any beauty in that in which God sees everything. The poor sinner says, I see nothing!
In the second part of the chapter we see Him connected with God’s own mind. God had a purpose, and He took the Son of His love to work it out. He brought His own name in where the power of sin only dwelt, and the work is committed to Him as the One competent to put everything to rights and take away the sin of the world. The new heavens and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness is the answer to this. He is on the road to turn all out of heaven above, and out of earth beneath, that Satan brought in. Where shall you be in that day? Spilled, as one turns over a cup and empties out of it all that displeases Him? He is the chosen One! Do we care for Him? Do we live for Him, or do we not?
The last part of the chapter does not take up the person of the Son, or His being intent on this work for God; but the person of the Lord in detail in His humiliation, which you and I must know each for ourselves. The accessibility of Christ—the approachability of His person is brought out. There is nothing there to scare, nothing to terrify, but ten thousand times ten thousand things to attract. There was that about Him altogether different from anyone else. The grace that was in Him was ready to meet every felt need of the soul.
In the second part of the chapter He is the doer of things which are needful in order to approach Him, and which man must have individually if He would meet God. He appropriates these things by faith. There is something very wonderful in faith. No sooner does faith come into the heart than the inquiry springs up as to the person of Christ and where He dwells. He had no abiding place on earth—He has an abiding place now. John sees Jesus pass, and says to his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God.” He lets a little word out of his heart, which is everything. What should they do who hear such? Just what these did! The word had got hold of their hearts and they “followed Him.” They went blindly after Him, the Lamb—one like other men—nothing to frighten them. He goes on walking with His back towards them, still drawing them. Any drawing is of Him. Do they say, “Oh, that I could find Him—follow Him!” Who puts a barrier? The poor sinner needs drawing. These disciples, in following Him, were carrying out the mind of God as to His Son being a drawer of men. Faith led them to fulfill the thoughts of God.
He knew Peter (v. 42), and had the first word with him. He says, as it were, Not only do I know you, but you shall know me. I have absolute power over you, and can do just what I like with you, and I will put my mark on you. (We know him as “Peter,” and not as a sinner, to this day.) I have got the key to your circumstances. I have perfect disposal of you.
What a thing it is that perfect power of Christ! He put it into the heart of Andrew to call Simon, and when He told Simon that He knew all about him, Simon had not a word to say, and the scene closes. Do not the children of God know this? O, the presence of a Heart Reader! Did He not know all your circumstances when He took you up? Did He not know what a poor breast-torn sheep you were, and all the dirt you were in? How He would have to put you on His shoulders and carry you home! Did He not say, I know all, and will do all that is my pleasure with you? What is the stay of my heart? Is it any rest to know that I have followed the Lord for years, and that I shall go on to the end, and that my purpose will last? Not that! It is that the Master called me, and that I know His beauties are as a link in a gold chain, drawing me on (as He called Philip) and have led to the resurrection side of the cross. My Master in beauty here, and in beauty up there—shining on me—forming me—linked with me!
By whatever form of truth—by law or by grace—it was something in Christ which drew me after Him. The call of the Lord is power to bring on that soul—whether He says to John, “Come up hither,” or to Philip, “Follow me.” He has all power, that Blessed One. He comes to draw and call, leading on after His own walk and work-for I must have a share in that too.
The best preaching of the gospel is that telling of something about Christ that cannot be shut up in the heart, because of its greatness.
Philip has large thoughts about Christ. He says to Nathanael, “You know the Book?” It is all about one person, and we have found Him! Oh! there was a heart there to go on after Him. How he puts out things that would stumble many. If my bosom cannot rise to the highest glories of Christ, there are some glories with which I can be occupied. It was not Nazareth and Joseph’s son, but God’s side of Christ which was occupying Philip’s soul. Nathanael was a thinker—a student. (A poor stupid thing reason is!) Faith is simple, and Philip gives heartfelt utterance to his experience— “Come and see!” It was a beauty of Christ that could not be gainsaid, that he had seen—had tasted—and the Lord was drawing through him. And, though Nathanael speaks in a sort of taunt about Nazareth, and the Lord heard it, He does not turn His back, but declares him an “Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.”
“Before that Philip called thee.” Nathanael is in the presence of One who knew him long before. He knew him as a man of prayer—(Nathanael could not deny that it was so)—a man who had got to his wits’ end, and had got to God’s resources. The Lord knew it, and calls him an “Israelite indeed.” David had tried to hold up his head, and keep up a good appearance, but it burst out at last, and he made a clean breast of it; then there was “no guile.” (Psa. 32) “I saw thee.” He can read the heart in its relationship with God. The eye of the Lord is on all His people before they know Him. He can read all, and do what He pleases. His eye passes up and down—sees all circumstances—knows everything about them. There is no title too magnificent for this wondrous Person—Son of God and King of Israel.
“Henceforth” (not “hereafter”)—and mark, He brings, in another title. The chapter begins with “Son of God”—His heart rejoices in that of “Son of Man.” No title more precious to the Lord Jesus Christ—no title more sweet to the blessed One than this. All approachability—all competency for man is presented in it! He lets out what is clear to His own heart. You shall understand my heart as “Son of Man,” if you are following me.
He had to do with a heart; so faith has. From the time the person of that Lord was known, it became clear that this Son of Man should be the center of all God’s plans, and all in heaven crown with honor that Man who is the key-stone of the arch of God’s building. He came to draw poor sinners—to save the lost. Not only have we here the glories of His person as Son of God—Son of the Father—Vindicator of God, as Lamb of God, to put away sin—but there is something for the heart individually in His humiliation. Something has to pass between each sin-burdened heart and Himself; not merely what He is to God, and has to do for God, but what He and I have to do with each other—what He has to say to me, and I have to say to Him, as to all those things of darkness and wickedness in which He found me. I know He can read me—He has read me over and over again-never complimenting me, but showing me a grace that told me who He was, and drew me away from the things around me to Himself—the Son of Man—for whom I desire to leave all and follow.
If you have not had such interviews with the Son of Man, you cannot take your place with Natbanael and Philip.
Faithfully, O how faithfully, O Lord, Thou hast kept—Thou dost keep—Thou wilt keep us to the end, till the Father’s house is gained and reached! Then we shall have all joy in Thee, and know fully the blessing of being connected with Thee.