John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes, when no man can work. The utter restfulness which filled the heart of the Lord Jesus is beautifully manifested in the introductory verses of this chapter. I. THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH GOD'S WORKS ARE DONE. The phrase, "works of God," is a familiar one throughout this Gospel. To do them fed the Redeemer's soul (John 4:34); they were in an ever ascending scale (John 5:20); they were of a certain definite number, given Him to finish (John 5:36); they were the signs and seals of His mission (John 10:38); they were not His own, but wrought through Him by the Father (John 14:10); they were unique in the history of the world (John 16:24); they were definitely finished ere He left it (John 17:4). But it becomes us to learn the conditions under which they were wrought, that we may be able to do those greater works of which He spoke. 1. His heart was at rest in God. Nature herself teaches the need of repose for the putting forth of her mightiest efforts. It is in the closet, the study, the cave, the woodland retreat that problems have been solved, resolves formed, and schemes matured. It is not possible for us all to have a life of outward calm. But beneath all the heart may keep its Sabbath. 2. He was specially endued with the Holy Spirit. 3. He was willing that the Father should work through Him. II. THE NEED FOR THESE WORKS. "A man blind from his birth." If there is need for the works of God to be manifested, we must be at hand, and willing at all costs to manifest them. If there is the opportunity for the glorifying of Christ, we must not be slow to seize it. Make haste, the night is coming, in which no man can work. What works await us yonder we cannot tell. But the unique work of healing blindness and enriching beggary is confined to earth, and we must hasten to do all of this allotted to us before the nightfall. He lives intensely whose eye is fixed on the fingers of the dial, as the poor seamstress works swiftly whose last small wick of candle is rapidly burning down in its socket. III. THE SUBJECT OF THESE WORKS. What a contrast between the opening and the close of the chapter. The soul ignorant of Christ owns Him as Son of God. And all this because of the individual interest our Lord took in him. 1. He detected what was working in his mind. Beneath that unpromising exterior were the elements of a noble character. 2. He developed the latent power of faith. It was there, but it had nothing to evoke it, and yet it must be evoked ere Christ could give him sight. He could feel, though he could not see. 3. He found him when cast out by all besides. Does not Jesus always steal to our side when we are cast out, or deserted by our friends? 4. He answered his hunger for faith. "Dost thou believe on the Son of God?" If we live up to what we know, at all costs, we shall most certainly be led into further discoveries of truth. We think we are going to plough a field, and we suddenly come on a box of treasure, struck by our plough, which makes us independent of work for the rest of our lives. And so obedience passes into worship, and we see that He who has made our life His care, tending us when we knew Him not, is the Christ of God, in whom are hid all the riches of time, all the treasures of eternity: and we worship Him. (F. B. Meyer, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. |
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