THE SECOND PASSOVER.



IN our last lesson we left our Lord at the Passover, the second one after his baptism. He had just performed a noted miracle at the pool of Bethesda. This wakened the jealousy of the Pharisees, who raised an outcry against him, and "sought to slay him," accusing him of breaking the Sabbath, and of making himself equal with God. Jesus then discoursed to them, defending his own conduct, condemning them for their envy and unbelief, and giving encouraging promises to those who should believe and obey.  He thus continues: 

"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 Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 

Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of mine own self do nothing; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

"There is another that beareth witness of me, and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 

But I receive not testimony from man but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light; and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John; for the works, which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 

And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not." Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they, which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life, receive not honor from men, but I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? 

Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. 

But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?"