The Lord Jesus Christ (John's Gospel)

From: Christian Treasury: Volume 1

John • 2 min. read • grade level: 7

How precious is the Lord Jesus to us? What value do we place upon Him? In John's gospel we see how He was valued by various persons.

In John 1 verses 29 and 36, John the Baptist points Him out to others. In John 1:36³⁶And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (John 1:36) he says merely, "Behold the Lamb of God!" and two of his disciples were attracted to Jesus. They left John and followed Jesus. It was not a question of His taking away sin, but they had been drawn to the Person, to the Lord Jesus, "God manifest in the flesh.”

Is John jealous? No! his feeling is "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30³⁰He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30). Here is the attitude of a true servant. May it be ours likewise, to exalt the Lord Jesus.

Nicodemus had been attracted to Him also. He addresses Him with respect, "Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God." John 3:2²The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. (John 3:2). He learned more of Jesus that day, and though very mild about it, he spoke in the Lord's favor in John 7 and was reproached for it. He comes out more strongly later and, with Joseph of Arimathea, anoints the Lord's body and buries Him.

The woman of Samaria (John 4) recognizes Him only as a Jew (John 4:9⁹Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (John 4:9)), but she learns He is the Christ who knew all about her (John 4:29²⁹Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? (John 4:29)). She then announces Him to others who became attracted to Him (John 4:39³⁹And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. (John 4:39)).

Peter gives a lovely confession, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." John 6:68, 69⁶⁸Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. (John 6:68‑69).

Even His enemies said, "Never man spake like this Man." John 7:46⁴⁶The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. (John 7:46). The judge declared three times, "I find no fault in Him." John 18:38; 19:4, 6³⁸Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. (John 18:38)
⁴Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. (John 19:4)
⁶When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. (John 19:6). The dying thief said, "This Man hath done nothing amiss." Luke 23:41⁴¹And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. (Luke 23:41). The blind man of John 9 discovered Him to be the Son of God and worshiped Him.

A beautiful type of attraction to Christ is given in Sol. 5:9-16⁹What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? ¹⁰My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. ¹¹His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. ¹²His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. ¹³His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. ¹⁴His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. ¹⁵His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. ¹⁶His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. (Song of Solomon 5:9‑16) & 6:1. This lovely description ends with, "Yea. He is altogether lovely." and must have been given in such warmth that those who heard were attracted and desired Him also. We will "seek Him with thee.”

The Apostle Peter advises us to follow this pattern when he says, "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." 1 Peter 3:15¹⁵But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15). If we do set the Lord apart in our hearts, giving Him His proper place, people will ask and we will be ready to speak for Him. Then they may desire to "seek Him with thee.”

T. Roach

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