IN the first chapter of John’s Gospel we have a prologue fully in keeping with this wonderful book. It brings before us a seven-fold view of the Lord Jesus Christ. Beginning with Him in a past eternity as the eternal “Word” it stretches forward into a future eternity when as “Son of Man” all creatures will own His sway, and the earth will be filled with His glory.
THE WORD. (verses 1-2).
The essential deity of our blessed Lord is first brought before the vision of our souls. Ere time began He was the eternal self-existent One, He was with God, showing His separate existence, and this blessed peon was in very truth GOD. The truth enshrined in this unique title is exceedingly precious. The normal mode of expressing our thoughts is by words, so the Lord Jesus Christ is the true expression of the mind and thoughts of God, and, blessed be God, He in His infinite grace “hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son.” (Heb. 1:22Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2)). How fitting it is indeed that this wondrous book commences with the Lord as “The Word,” the only and eternal utterance of all that God is.
THE TRUE LIGHT. (Verse 9).
The next vision that is given of the blessed Lord is as the “True Light.” This would naturally seem necessary because of the complete moral and spiritual darkness in which man was groping. Surely it calls forth the deepest praise of our hearts to see Him taking this stupendous step from Heaven’s brightest glory to this dark benighted scene where sin o’er all seemed to reign. In sovereign grace this true light was not only for the Jews but was for all men. Thus we have grace and truth come in a divine Person, and the test to all men is whether they will receive Him (verse 12) or refuse Him (verses 10-11).
THE LAMB OF GOD. (Verse 29).
This is the first time this title of the eternal Son is mentioned. What a moment in this world’s history when the privileged forerunner as taught of God, could say “Behold the Lamb of God,” and the glorious Person of whom all the prophets had foretold, and testified, actually stood before them (“God will provide Himself a lamb.” Genesis 22:88And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8)) and was so very near that He could be seen, and heard, and handled— “The Word of life” (1 John 2.); not announcing Himself, but in keeping with His character and royal dignity, being announced by another. Surely this wondrous title takes our memories back to the memorable Passover night—the lamb without blemish—not a bone of whose body should be broken. (Ex. 12:4646In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. (Exodus 12:46)).
This unique and glorious title indicates that: ―
(a) His death was divinely pre-ordained.
(b) His death was vicarious, i.e., as a Substitute for others.
(c) Through it all question of sin would be forever settled, for He “taketh away the sin of the world.” Praise God! His cross is an accomplished fact, and what the blood of bulls and goats could not do (i.e. take away sins) His precious blood can do. Now it can be said “the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). Whichever way we look everything is divinely secure and serene because of His work. We know too, that throughout eternal ages this title, ever speaking of His redeeming love and His lowliness and meekness, will never be dissociated from His blessed Person. How unspeakably blessed too to look on to that time of eternal bliss when “the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Rev. 22:33And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: (Revelation 22:3)) will be forever exalted and the curse removed.
THE MESSIAH. (Verse 41).
“We have found the Messiah.” Not the Messiah in pomp and power come to redeem Israel but a suffering One come to bleed and die, and thus accomplish redemption and lay a basis whereby every other blessing could be freely given by a God of love to a ruined race. “Christ” which is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew “Messiah,’ is the official name of the Son of God, and this connects Him with all the wondrous types and glowing prophecies of the old Testament. The name signifies “Anointed One,” and now we can ponder over the time and manner in which this anointing was brought about. See this lowly sinless Stranger stepping down into the waters of Jordan with the sinful and repentant remnant of Israel, because “it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” See how God chooses this fitting occasion to manifest His unbounded pleasure in His beloved Son. At this wondrous moment the Trinity, so often foreshadowed in the Old Testament, was fully manifested—the voice of God from the open heaven declaring the Father’s pleasure in the Son; the incarnate Son about to step out on His mission of redemption; the Spirit of God descending upon Him like a dove, anointing Him and declaring Him to be the Christ of God the Messiah of Israel. Now we know Him as both Lord and Christ, risen and victorious, and every Messianic prophecy will yet be fulfilled in Him to God’s eternal pleasure and glory.
JESUS OF NAZARETH (verse 45).
From the lips of Philip we have the first mention of this lovely title in John’s Gospel.
It speaks of immeasurable grace. JESUS the personal name of our blessed Lord signifies “Jehovah Saviour”―the sweetest name on mortal tongue.
Moses the great lawgiver spoke of this One, and right on to Malachi every prophet of God spoke of Him. Their visions were filled with His humiliation, and His glory to follow. They foretold in minute detail all that He would do from the manger to the cross.
Surely this proves beyond all doubt that our God never fails to perform all that He Promises. May we again
“Praise Him for all that is past,
And trust Him for all that’s to come.”
THE SON OF GOD—KING OF ISRAEL (verse 49).
This double name as found here appears to connect itself with Israel. Nathaniel is here a figure of the spared remnant of the Jews in the last days. Zechariah 12:1010And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10) tells us “they shall mourn for Him as one mourneth for His only Son” Then they will confess Him and receive Him as the Son of God, the King of Israel, in fulfillment of Psalms 2. Then as the root of David, God’s Eternal Son, and the Offspring of David, the King of Israel, He will ascend the Hill of Zion and to Him every knee will bow. In that day, in His divine character He will vanquish every foe. His glory shall cover the earth “as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:1414For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14)).
SON OF MAN. (verse 51).
In response to the confession of Nathaniel (verse 49) the Lord had announced this lovely title. He says “Greater things than these thou shalt see.” He then draws aside the veil and privileges us to look into a future day, and we can already see by faith that One who will yet be the center of attraction both in heaven and in earth.
The Son of Man is His racial name. It tells that He is a real man, and consequently the supreme Man. The heavenly Representative in contrast to the first man Adam and in accordance with 1 Corinthians 15:4545And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45) “a life-giving spirit” — a heavenly Man. The blessed Lord is to His earthly people the King of Israel. To the Father He is the only begotten Son. But God’s plans and purposes in connection with Him as Son of Man will overflow the limits of Israel, and will outflow to the remotest bounds of the universe of God.
In previous ages God had promised through His prophets a “Man” and in the Lord Jesus Christ is fulfilled all those bright and blessed promises. As Son of Man He must suffer, bleed and die, but also it is in this name that God has delegated Him to be the Judge of the living and the dead—the universal Judge (see John 5:22-2722For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him. 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. (John 5:22‑27)).
We can even now by faith gaze into an open heaven and see that blessed One— “the Son of Man” whom God has made “strong” for Himself (Psa. 80:1717Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. (Psalm 80:17)). We know Him now seated at God’s right hand, a Prince and a Saviour, crowned with glory and honor, and as we apprehend a little of His infinite worth and His perfect glory our hearts with one accord exclaim “He alone is worthy.”
J. GILLFILLAN.