Part 5 (1/2)

All this is included in one sentence:

”G.o.d so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

This is the golden text of St. John's Gospel, and of the whole Bible.

Through all the ages it has sounded, and will sound to the end of time, as the gospel itself.

John must have been a most attentive listener to all that Jesus said.

This was at the beginning of His Lord's ministry. Fresh truths easily impressed him. They were the buddings of which he was to see the bloom, of whose fruitage he would partake most abundantly, and which he would give to others long after the echo of the Great Teacher's words had died in the chamber where he and Nicodemus heard them.

It was long after that nightly visit that John wrote his account of it, including the golden text whose keyword was _Love_. It is supposed that he wrote his Epistle about the same time. That text was so present in his thought that he repeated it in almost the same words: ”Herein was the Love of G.o.d manifested in us, that G.o.d hath sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”

At the close of his long life, in which he had learned much of the power and justice and holiness and goodness of G.o.d, it seemed to him that all these were summed up in the one simple saying, ”G.o.d is love.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE FIRST DISCIPLES _Ittenbach_ Page 67]

When John bade Nicodemus good-night, he could not look forward to the time, nor to the place where we see them together again. John the lone apostle with Nicodemus and his Lord at the beginning of His ministry, is the lone apostle at the cross. Then and there, he recalls the first meeting of the three as he beholds the Rabbi approaching. This is his record; ”Then came also Nicodemus, who at the first came to Jesus by night.”

There is a tradition concerning Nicodemus that after the Resurrection of Jesus, his faith in Him was strengthened. The ”teacher come from G.o.d” he now believed to be the Son of G.o.d. The timid Rabbi became a bold follower of the Lord whom he once secretly sought. For this he was no longer permitted to be a ruler of the Jews. He was hated, beaten, and driven from Jerusalem. At last he was buried by the side of the first martyr Stephen, who had baptized and welcomed him into the fellows.h.i.+p of the Christian Band.

_CHAPTER XIII_

_St. John and the Samaritaness_

”He cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar.... Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well. There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said unto her, Give Me to drink.”--_John_ iv. 5-7.

”Probably John remained with the Master. They would scarcely have left Him alone especially in that place; and the whole narrative reads like one who had been present at what pa.s.sed.”--_Edersheim._

The vale of Sychar is one of the most interesting spots in the Holy Land. Jacob's well is one of the sacred sights about whose ident.i.ty there is no dispute. I count the Sabbath when my tent overshadowed it one of the most memorable of my life. It was a privilege to read on the spot John's story of the Master tarrying there, and of the truths there revealed.

John tells us that Jesus, on His way from Judaea to Galilee, pa.s.sed through Samaria, arrived at Jacob's well, and ”being wearied with His journey sat thus on the well,” while His disciples went ”away unto the city to buy food.”

It is not necessary to suppose that all of the six went to the neighboring city. Probably John remained with the Master. His narrative is one of the most distinct word-paintings in the whole Gospel story.

He writes like one who saw and heard all that pa.s.sed, not only when the other disciples were with him, but also and especially what happened when they were absent from the well.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE MARRIAGE AT CANA _Old Engraving_ Page 72]

John tells us that Jesus ”was wearied with His journey.” The observing, tender-hearted disciple saw and remembered his Master's weariness. In this simple, brief record, he reminds us of Jesus' humanity, and so how much He was like ourselves. How much of his Lord's weariness and suffering the sympathizing disciple was yet to witness.

We may think of John alone with Jesus, seated in an alcove which sheltered them from the sun. They may often have been thus found in loving companions.h.i.+p. With what delight would we read of those private interviews. How sacred and precious they must have been to John.

At the well, what subjects there were for conversation, suggested by memories of the spot. Here Abraham had erected his first altar in Canaan to the true G.o.d, whom Jesus was about to reveal more perfectly. This was the parcel of ground which Jacob had bought, and in which he had buried the false G.o.ds of his household. Here Joseph had been a wanderer seeking his brethren. This was the place which Jacob when dying had given to his son Joseph, on whose tomb Jesus and John looked as they talked together. The twin mountains of Ebal and Gerizim looked down upon them, reminders of the days of Joshua, when the two Israelitish bands called to each other in solemn words, and the valley echoed with their loud ”Amen.” Not every Jew could have the personal interest in that well, such as the two weary travelers could claim, through the family records of their common ancestor even to Abraham. It was not on account of John that these records had been kept, but of the ”Son of Man” at his side, whom he had learned to look upon as ”the Son of G.o.d.” As they sat together John could not look into the future, as his Master could, and think of the time when they would be in the region together with an unfriendly reception; nor of that other time when John would come to it again and have a friendly reception, but with memories only of his Lord.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST _Old Engraving_ Page 74]

But their visit alone did not last until the return of His disciples. It was suddenly interrupted. ”There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water.” She was no fitting companion for them. She was not prepared to enter into their thoughts and feelings. She was an ignorant woman of the lower order of society, sinful, and not worthy of the respect of those who knew her. ”Give me to drink,” said Jesus--fatigued, hungry, thirsty.

She gazed upon Him with astonishment. She knew by His appearance and dress that He was a Jew. She supposed that any such would be too full of hatred and pride to ask even such a simple favor of a Samaritan. Her answer showed her surprise. He gently spoke of her ignorance of Him, and of a richer gift than the one He asked, and which He was ready to bestow. It was ”living water”--”the grace and truth of which He was full.” Changing her manner toward Him, and addressing Him more respectfully, she asked, ”Art _Thou_ greater than our father Jacob?” She meant, ”Surely Thou art not greater.” How strange this must have sounded to John as his eye turned from her, to Him before whom Jacob would bow in adoration could he have joined that circle on the spot where he had built an altar many years before. Jesus explained more fully the difference between the water for which He had asked, and that which He would give. He had asked a very small favor of her; He would bestow the greatest of gifts, even eternal life.

Not fully understanding Him, and yet believing He was some wonderful person, she repeated His own request, but with a changed meaning,--”Sir, give me this water.” Perhaps to make her feel her sinfulness and to lead her into a better life, He showed her that though He was a stranger, He knew her past history. Her astonishment increased and she exclaimed, ”Sir, I perceive that Thou art a Prophet.” Ashamed, she quickly changed the subject.