John 9:4 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters | Metropolitan Tabernacle

Navigator

John 9:4

Comments

It is Christ in the singular who is sent, he is the Messiah, he is the Saviour. It is his works that we do, but we must work them with Christ. It is not only the rule for the Lord who while on earth did nothing but good, who went about healing, demonstrating his power and his mercy and his spiritual work and preaching repentance and remission of sins and saving souls. We too must work the works of the Father who sent the Son; the commission is to us. The disciples were gradually learning this. That was not just a matter of a mighty privilege to be disciples of Christ, and one day when he brought them into the kingdom they would have offices of state. That is the kind of idea that was in the back of their minds as their faith grew. But gradually they were going to have to learn: no, you are going to be the apostles of Christ, continuing his work by his power after he has ascended into heaven. Just as the Father sent him, so he will send you, and in succession, all of us. We must all work the works of him that sent us while it is day.The Lord knew the time was coming, six months from this time when he would in apparent weakness allow himself to be arrested and mistrial and go to Calvary’s cross where God the Father would lay upon him the sins of all the redeemed. He would suffer the punishment instead of them and so purchase their redemption, their salvation, and he knew then his work on earth would be complete. He knew too that the disciples had only so long to work in Jerusalem, before the place would be destroyed by Roman armies. In less than forty years, Titus Vespasian would surround the city, and it would be ransacked, set on fire, and the Temple would be destroyed and the people dispersed. There was only so long that the disciples had to preach and proclaim in that living city. Then of course, they would be martyred themselves. The period of time given to them to preach Christ, to make him known was limited. We must work the works of him who sent the Lord to bring salvation.

Application

Look at this age we are living in today. How long will it be that we are allowed to operate Sunday Schools and bring in the children and the youth? Even now we are finding so many workers in China who were evangelising students, working on university campuses, convening Bible Studies and evangelistic meetings: now they can no longer do it. Now the order has gone out to all the universities throughout China and it is a very serious offence to allow on campus any religious gathering. How long before that sort of thing comes here - for different reasons, with different arguments, but the banning of access to the young? We must work the works of him that sent the Lord while it is still day, before the night cometh when no man can work.

How long will you and I be alive? How long will we be given on earth to represent Christ, to our families, to our colleagues? How long will you be in your present firm, your present employment? Every position, every posting is from the Lord. How long have we got, to be the influence that we should be? It is a very pressing verse. ‘I must [we must] work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work.’

Questions

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

John 9:4 Commentary and Bible Study