John 5:35

He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. HE WAS A BURNING AND A SHINING LIGHT, [ ho (G3588) luchnos (G3088) ho (G3588) kaiomenos (G2545) kai (G2532) fainoon (G5316)] - literally, 'the burning and shining lamp,' or 'torch:'-q. d., 'the great light of his day.' Christ is never called by the humble word here applied to John-a light-bearer-studiously used to distinguish him from his Master, but ever The Light [ to...

35._He was a burning and shining lamp. _When he calls John _a burning lamp, _this proves their ingratitude; for it follows that they are only blind, because they choose to be so, since God kindled a _lamp _before their eyes. The meaning of the words therefore is, “God did not intend that you should go astray; for he appointed John to be a _lamp, _that he might direct you by his brightness; and, therefore, when you do not acknowledge me to be the Son of God, this arises from voluntary error.” This is followed by another reproach, that not only did they shut their eyes, and thus obstruct the entrance of the _light _which was offered to them, but they intentionally abused it for the purpose of crushing Christ. For when they were ready to applaud John beyond what he justly deserved, this arose from a wicked and treacherous design not to give way to the Son of God. And you were willing to amu...

30-38 Our Lord returns to his declaration of the entire agreement between the Father and the Son, and declared himself the Son of God. He had higher testimony than that of John; his works bore witness to all he had said. But the Divine word had no abiding-place in their hearts, as they refused to believe in Him whom the Father had sent, according to his ancient promises. The voice of God, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost, thus made effectual to the conversion of sinners, still proclaims that this is the beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased. But when the hearts of men are full of pride, ambition, and the love of the world, there is no room for the word of God to abide in them....

Verse 35. _HE WAS A BURNING AND A SHINING LIGHT_] Ην ὁ λυχνος ὁ καιομενος και φαινων, should be translated, _He was a burning and a_ _shining LAMP_. He was not το φως του κοσμου, _the light of the_ _world_, i.e. the _sun_; but he was ο λυχνος, _a lamp_, to give a clear and steady light till the sun should arise. It is supposed that John had been cast into prison about four months before this time. John 4:35. As his light continued no longer to shine, our Lord says _he WAS_. The expression of _lamp_ our Lord took from the ordinary custom of the Jews, who termed their eminent doctors _the lamps of Israel_. A lighted candle is a proper _emblem_ of a minister of God; and, _Alteri serviens consumor _- "In serving others, I myself destroy:" - a proper _motto_. There are few who preach the Gospel faithfully that do not lo

HE WAS - It is probable that John had been cast into prison before this. Hence, his public ministry had ceased, and our Saviour says he was such a light. LIGHT - The word in the original properly means a “lamp,” and is not the same which in John 1:4 is translated “light.” That is a word commonly applied to the sun, the fountain of light; this means a lamp, or a light that is lit up or kindled artificially from oil or tallow. A teacher is often called a “light,” because he guides or illuminates the minds of others. Romans 2:19; “thou art confident that thou art a guide of the blind, a light of them that sit in darkness;” John 8:12;...

EXPOSITION Here commences the second division of the Gospel (John 5:1) II. THE CONFLICT WITH THE CHOSEN PEOPLE IN JERUSALEM, GALILEE, AND JERUSALEM, TO THE DEATH SENTENCE RECORDED BY THE SANHEDRIN. JOHN 5:1 1. _Christ proved, by signs and wonders and testimonies, to be Source of life._ JOHN 5:1 (1)

HE WAS A BURNING AND A SHINING LIGHT,.... He was not that light, the famous light, the Messiah, the sun of righteousness; yet he was the "phosphorus", the forerunner of that light, and was himself a very great one: he had much light himself into the person and office of the Messiah; in the doctrines of faith in Christ, and repentance towards God; in the Gospel dispensation, and in the abolition of the Mosaic economy; and gave great light to others, in the business of salvation, and remission of sins, and was the means of guiding the feet of many in the way of peace. His light of pure doctrine, and of an holy and exemplary conversation, shone very visibly, and brightly before men; and he burned with strong love and affection for Christ, and the souls of men; and with flaming zeal for the honour of God, and true religion, and against all sin and profaneness, which he was a faithful reprove...

John 5:24. _Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,_ If we truly believe the word of Christ, and trust in him who sent his Son into the world, we have at this moment everlasting life. John 5:24. _And shalt not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life._ What a grand verse this is! It is worthy to be written in letters of gold at every street corner; would that we all knew the fullness of its meaning by heartfelt experience! John 5:25. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the

CHAPTER 5 _ 1. The Healing of the Impotent Man. (John 5:1 .)_ 2. The Opposition of the Jews. (John 5:10 .) 3. His Unity with the Father. (John 5:19 .) 4. The Present Hour. Believers Delivered from Death and Judgment. (John 5:24 .) 5. The Future Hour. His Power to Raise the Dead. (John 5:26 .) 6. Witness Concerning Himself. (John 5:30 .) 7. The Witness of John. (John 5:33

WITNESS. The subject is introduced abruptly, but rises naturally out of the circumstances. The claims made, if less than the author represents them, were such as to raise the question of authority. By what authority could He substantiate them? In the first place, John the Baptist, in whose teaching the people for a time took such pleasure. His chief witness is God Himself, whose testimony is declared through the works which He enables Jesus to do, and also directly in Scripture, which they study in the hope of gaining life. And yet they reject the Prophet, whom Moses in those very Scriptures (_cf._ Deuteronomy 18:15 ff.) and many others foretold....