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THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
explanation given by P au l: “The love of Christ constraineth us." Men are separated from God by sin; they are afar off. The law cannot draw them ; it only drives them fa rth er away. There is no mercy in it. Only th e matchless love of the Crucified Son of God is equal to this emergency. If men are not drawn by th is m anifestation of God’s love, they must rem ain hope lessly lost, for God has no o ther means of attractin g them. The g reat duty en tru sted to every believer is to lift up Jesus Christ. He was lifted up on th e cross, and now th a t cross must be lifted up. The power to draw men lies in th e cross. The power to convict men lies in th e cross. The power to Convince men lies in th e cross. The power to convert men lies in th e cross. TOPICS FOR STUDY (1 ) Do any people come to us seek ing Jesus, and if so, why? If they do not, Why not? (2) How could He say, “The hour is come th a t th e Son of Man should be glorified” when He was facing the Cross? (3 ) W hat is involved for us believers in His statem en t in vs. 24, 25? (4) How do you suppose th e F ath e r will honor those who serve Jesus here? v. 20. ' 5) When and how has th e F ath e r glorified th e name of His Son? (6) When will the prince of th is world be cast out? Where from and where to ? (7) W hat message for tnese days is involved in v. 35? H i SUGGESTIVE COMMENT By Dr. G. A. B riegleb The key to th e lesson recorded in John 12:20-36 is to be found in the twenty-first verse. The words, “We would see Jesu s,” is a rich golden nug get and in these words we have pre sented th ree outstanding hum an ele ments.
1. There is the element of Curi osity. The Greeks were th e newsy people of the day, th e purveyors of legends and philosophy. (Constantly on the lookout for some new thing, these men longed to secure an interview w ith th e Master. The purpose of th is in te r view was in order th a t they m ight take back to th e ir own people th e ir “ Personal Impressions of th e Man of Galilee.’’ Thus would they be able to add something to th e sum to ta l of Greek knowledge. 2. Then there is the element of Admiration. The presence of th e Greeks a t the feast indicate th a t they were no doubt proselytes to the Jewish faith. Ming ling w ith those who had come to wor ship in th e Temple, they imbibed much inform ation concerning th e work and the teaching of th e strang e man who claimed to be Messias. They no doubt h eard about His cleansing the Temple, of His superiority in wisdom over the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes, and of His defense of th e weak and op pressed. Filled, w ith adm iration a t His heroism , His wonder working power and His sincerity, they wanted to see Him th a t they m ight do honor to Him. 3. Finally there is the element of Necessity. How suggestive are th e words “We would see Jesu s” when we place th e emphasis upon the word “WE .” Greek philosophy and Hebrew faith had both failed. The .imperious cry of th e ir souls was for something higher and better. There is no record th a t Jesus ever answered th e ir request for an audience. Instead He stated th a t th e hou r had come' for th e Son of Man to be glorified and th a t “Except a corn of wheat fall into th e ground and die it would abide alone.” The Saviour was th ink ing in world term s. Run- ing th rough to th e th irty -six th verse of th e chapter is th e clear pronounce-
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