John 1:51 And he said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Hereafter you shall see heaven open… I. AS TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE TEACHER. The Jews were astonished at His doctrine, for He taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes, "which suggests a contrast with other teachers." 1. Put side by side with the autocratic ring of this "Verily, verily I say unto you," the formula of the prophets — "Thus saith the Lord." 2. Contrast again the bare utterance of His own word as a reason for our acceptance of His sayings with the teaching that was busy around Him. One rabbi says this and another that, and so on through all the wearisome Talmud. They drew their authority from their faithfulness to tradition. Christ steps forward as a fresh fountain of certitude. 3. Contrast His teaching with the tone of modesty suitable to mere thinkers who have learned their truths. The philosopher may argue, Christ asserts. Now, what business has Christ to talk in this fashion and demand that I should take from His lips anything He chooses to say? The only answer is, that He is the Word, the Truth of God. II. AS TO THE CERTITUDE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE LESSON. Other teachers have to say, "Peradventure," "This I deem to be true." Jesus says, "Most assuredly." 1. In our day of uncertainties and unsolved problems the world wants more than ever to listen to that voice. Much is dark and doubtful, but here at least is a central core of hard rock that no pressure can grind nor any force shift. 2. Think of the difference between the freshness and adaptation of Christ's words and the film of old-fashioned untimeliness which has crept over all other ancient utterances, and say what is the secret of this immortal youth. It is because they are free from all admixture of human limitation and transitoriness, and so fit every generation, and are to every generation the source of certitude. 3. Classify the utterances to which this formula is attached, First, those which refer to Himself. He asserts — (1) His Divine nature (John 8:58). (2) His absolute unity of being and identity of action with the Father (John 5:19). (3) His place as the medium of all communication between earth and heaven (John 1:61). (4) That He is the way by which all men enter the fold of God (John 10:7). (5) That He is the infallible Teacher (John 3:11). (6) That He is the God-given source of life (John 6:32). (7) The certain granting of all prayers offered in His name (John 16:23). (8) The necessity for His death, that His mission may be accomplished (John 12:24).Secondly, those which refer to us, (1) Union by faith with Him is the condition of our life (John 6:58; John 8:51; John 5:24). (2) The necessity of a new nature ere we can see or enter the kingdom (John 3:3, 6). (3) The promise of our complete assimilation and conformity with Him on condition of our faith (John 13:16, 20; John 14:12).Thirdly, those which contain predictions of a near or remote future which could only be made from supernatural knowledge (John 13:21; John 16:20; John 13:38; John 21:18).Fourthly, those which lay bare to men the hidden foulness of their nature (John 6:26; 8:84). III. AS TO THE BACKWARDNESS OF THE SCHOLARS. 1. Verily implies that they to whom it was addressed had dull ears, whose languid attention needed to be stimulated, or that the words which He was going to utter were too great to be easily believed, or too unwelcome to be swiftly accepted. 2. It is a warning against prejudice and sluggish apathy. 3. It is a solemn appeal to us to permit no indifference to come between us and His Word. Two things are required of us as His scholars. 1. That which it is degradation to give to man, but which is blasphemy to withhold from Christ. "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth." 2. The absolute certitude of His messsge has for its correlative our unwavering steadfastness. (A. Maclaren, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. |
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