THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN - Chapter 14 - Verse 5
Verse 5. We know not whither thou goest. Though Jesus had so often
told them of his approaching death and resurrection, yet it seems they
did not understand him, nor did they fully comprehend him until after
his resurrection. See Lu 24:21. They entertained the common
notions of a temporal kingdom; they supposed still that he was to be
an earthly prince and leader, and they did not comprehend the reason why
he should die. Thomas confessed his ignorance, and the Saviour again
patiently explained his meaning. All this shows the difficulty of
believing when the mind is full of prejudice and of contrary opinions.
Had Thomas laid aside his previous opinions—had he been willing to
receive the truth as Jesus plainly spoke it, there would have been no
difficulty. Faith would have been an easy and natural exercise of the
mind. And so with the sinner. If he were willing to receive the plain
and unequivocal doctrines of the Bible, there would be no difficulty;
but his mind is full of opposite opinions and plans, occupied with
errors and vanities, and these are the reasons, and the only reasons,
why he is not a Christian. Yet who would say that, after the plain
instructions of Jesus, Thomas might not have understood him? And who
will dare to say that any sinner may not lay aside his prejudices and
improper views, and receive the plain and simple teaching of the Bible?
This book has been accessed more than 2076791 times since June 1, 2005.
