He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God
The Mediator
I. CHRIST’S EXCELLENCY IN HIS PROPHETICAL OFFICE (John 3:34).
1. He is the sent of God. His mission is the measure of Divine love to the world. God sent other messengers, the prophets, John, ministers; but as there is but one sun in the firmament, though men have furnished themselves with many derived lights, so there is but one messenger from God--one great centre of illumination for the use of all who are beyond the limits of the unapproachable light.
2. They are the words of God which He speaketh. The same is true of every true minister, hut they are derived. Christ spoke the very oracles of God.
3. God giveth not the Spirit by measure to His Son. The prophets had the Spirit to discharge their commissions, but under such limitations as were necessary to their limited capacities and occasions. But there was no such limit in regard to Christ.
II. CHRIST’S DIGNITY AS THE APPOINTED SOURCE OF ALL GOOD TO THE CHURCH (verse 35). For the use of this language the Baptist had Old Testament warrant.
1. The Father loveth the Son. He loves the world--some with a love of good will, others with a love of delight, hut not even angels share such a love as this; and indeed they and men are loved for and in the Son.
2. All things have been given into Christ’s hands. If God so loved the world that He gave His Son, He so loves the Son that He hath given Him all things--all government, all the economy of redemption.
3. What obedience then is due to the Son! If God hath withheld nothing, shall we?
III. THE SAFETY OF THE SOUL IS DEPENDENT ON CHRIST (verse 36).
1. Salvation is laid up in Christ as its fountain and dispensing author.
2. This salvation is to be sought in Christ by faith.
3. No salvation without faith. Unbelief refuses Christ’s testimony, declines all personal alliance with Christ, opposes God’s purpose, and is the fruit of an evil heart.
4. The unbeliever shall not see life.
5. Upon the unbeliever the wrath of God abides. (A. Beith, D. D.)
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand
I. CHRIST’S RELATION TO THE FATHER AND TO MAN.
1. The excellency of Christ above all other ambassadors is that He is the Son and they are but servants.
2. Christ is the object of the Father’s love in a peculiar way: as a Son, and not a servant in respect of His Person; and as Mediator, He is pointed out as the beloved Son in whom God will be found well pleased (Matthew 3:17); as He who is beloved, and hath purchased love to others because of His death (John 10:17) (so willing was the Father to be reconciled), as He whose being beloved answereth our being unworthy of love, and is a pledge of the Father’s love to us (John 17:23).
3. In carrying on the redemption of sinners, as the matter is accorded betwixt the Father and the Son, so the redeemed are not left to themselves, but are put on Christ’s hand, to purchase and be forthcoming for them; and all things are concredited to Him that may tend to their good. Under “all things” we are to comprehend the elect themselves, together with all the gills and graces of the Spirit (verse 34) needful for their conversion and salvation, which are not entrusted to ourselves, but to Him who can keep us And them, and let them out as we need; and a dominion over all things that may contribute to help or hinder His people’s happiness, that He may order them so as may be for their good. And this power He hath as God with the Father, and as Man and Mediator, by donation and gift from the Father (Matthew 11:27; Matthew 28:18). And thus the believer’s happiness is firm, being transacted between such parties, the Father being satisfied in the Mediator, and they entrusted to Him whose dear purchase they are, and therefore He will not lose them, who hath capacity to receive their furniture far above what they could hold, power to maintain, wisdom to guide and dispense their allowance, dominion to curb all enemies and opposition, and a commission and charge to be answerable for them. All which may invite us to be content that we be nothing, and that we and all our furniture be in His hand. (G. Hutcheson.)
All things in Christ’s hand
The verse gives us the following teachings
1. The Father is the Origin and Arranger of all things.
2. In His arrangements all things are put into the hands of His Son.
3. One reason of this is the love of the Father towards the Son.
4. Ere Christ came to men there had been a sublime transaction in which a vast administration had been entrusted on the one hand and accepted on the other. To confine ourselves to our point
What things are put into the Redeemer’s hand?
I. THE ACT OF CREATION. “All things were made by Him.” Thus He is clearly marked off from aught that is created. This fact establishes His essential equality with God and His official subordination to God.
II. REVELATION. Creation had to do with all worlds; revelation with this. God indeed reveals Himself by His works, the laws of social life, the voice of conscience. But we want a revelation fuller and clearer. Here it is: “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.”
III. PROPITIATION. Where sin is, a revelation of God is not enough: but the Revealer says, “No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” A serious state of things when a man’s way to his Father is blocked up save as a Mediator clears it! Yet so it is; but He has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
IV. HEART CONQUEST. A power is needed to make the mediation effective manward. At the same moment that the herald says “Behold the Lamb of God,” He declares “This is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.” The bestowment of the Spirit to convict, convert, and train the Church, is the prerogative of Christ.
V. ADMINISTRATION. When won over to Christ, men have to be governed and sanctified. The subjects of the kingdom of grace have to be inspired with a supreme desire to leaven the world with righteousness. His holy inspiration is begun and sustained by Christ. As He formed the kingdom of grace, so He administers it.
VI. THE CONSUMMATION OF ALL THINGS. He who sent Peter to reap the first-fruits will send forth His angels to reap the harvest. (C. Clemance, D. D.)
What things?
I. LIGHT for your mind.
II. LIFE for your souls.
III. LOVE for your hearts.
IV. RIGHTEOUSNESS for your nature.
V. ATONEMENT for your sins.
VI. GRACE for strengthening.
VII. COMFORT for sorrow.
VIII. HEAVEN. (Bp. Gregg.)
The Father loveth the Son
Therefore faith may have firm footing. God hath laid help upon one that is mighty that our faith and hope may be in God. (J. Trapp.)
He who has Christ has all things
King Porus, when Alexander asked him, being then his prisoner, how he would be used, answered in one word, “Basilikeios,” that is, “Like a king.” Alexander again replying, “Do you desire nothing else?” “No,” said he, “all things are in this one word, ‘Like a king.’” Whereupon Alexander restored him again. But this has not always been the happiness of kings and princes. Yet, however, he that hath God hath all things, because God is all things. Take a pen, and write down riches, honours, preferments, they are but as so many ciphers--they signify nothing; but write down God alone, and He will raise them to thousands--hundreds of thousands. And then it is that a Christian is truly happy, when he can find himself, and all things, in his God.