CHAPTER IX THE INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF THE FOURTH GOSPEL BY CANON G. OSBO NE TRO P, M. A.,
MONTREAL, CANADA The whole Bible is stamped with the Divine "Hall-Mark"; but the Gospel according to St. John is primus inter -pares. Through it, as through a transparency, we gaze entranced into the very holy of holies, where shines in unearthly glory v "t e h rs e ity gre h a a t s v m is a io d n e i o t f th th e e " f s a to c r e m of ce C nt h e r r i " st" o . f NY e e w t m T a e n s ' t s am p e e n rt criticism, doubtless for the very reason that it bears such unwavering testimony both to the deity of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and to His perfect humanity. The Christ of the Fourth Gospel is no unhistoric, idealized vision of the later, dreaming church, but is, as it practically claims to be, the picture drawn by "the disciple whom Jesus loved", an eye-witness of the blood and water that flowed from His pierced side. These may appear to be mere unsupported s ti t fi a c tem re e a n d t e s r , . an N d e a v s er s th u e c l h es w s il t l he at a o p n p c e e al b o e f d t i h sm is is a s r e t d icl b e y is a t s o cie th n e instinct of the "one flock" of the "one Shepherd". "They know His voice" . . . "a stranger will they not follow." 1. There is one passage in this Gospel that flashes like lightning-it dazzles our eyes by its very glory. To the broken-hearted Martha the Lord Jesus says with startling suddenness, "I am the resurrection and the life; he that s b o e e li v e e v r et l h ive o t n h M an e d , b th el o i u ev g e h th h i e n d M ie e , , y s e h t al s l h n al e l v h er e d li ie v . e " ; and who It is humbly but confidently submitted that these words are utterly beyond the reach of human invention. It could 193
I •
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker