The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-02
G0SP Ell
OF John the
Beloved.
IMMORTAL BOOK
Discu> sed and Analyzed by
DR.. McCulIagh.

Rev. Archibald McCullagh made for
the subject of his morning sermon yes
terday, a review of the gospel accord
ing to st. John, on which the Sunday
school lessons Of the next quarter are
based. He said in part:
This gospel has been pronounced the
most original, the most important, the
most influential book in all literature.
1t has been called the supreme literary
work In the world which presents the
highest subject and presents it in the
mGsI Earmonious and perfect manner;
Waere the author is always hidden,
| WalIe the theme is always iuminouSly
exhibited, where the style is lucid as
lght, while the contents are immense.
incaIculable, surprising thought, celes-
tai IN nature, divine in glory. Some
OF the greatest minds in Chrstendom,
Origen, the great Bible exegate, Chry-
soSton, the most eloquent Of the Greek
Fathers, Jerome, the scholarly, and
Augustine, the most eminent of the
| Latin Fathers, Luther and Calvin. who
enrlched their respective languages
have expressed themselves in the
strongest terms Of its matchless beauty
and priceless worth.
Five things concerning it are to be
oonsidered--the career and character of
the author Of this gospel, it's object and
deslgn, the time and place of its COM
position, an outline of it's structure and
some Of its salient characteristics
John was the son Of Zebedee and
Saiome, and brother of James first OF
the apostolic band TO suffer martyrdom
re was probably ten years younger
imam Jesus. lie first comes TO notice
as scholar in the preparatory school
OF John the Baptist. He was among
the first TO Join the band OF disciples
but also one Of the chosen three, the
most beloved of all.
Probably no character has been
more misconceived than Johns. He is
100 often regarded as d soft tender,
| feminineiy, affectionate spirit, lacking
masculine strength and positiveness.
AS matter of fact, in his character
We have masculine strength and an
ardent temperament, united to wom-
anly purity, susceptibility and tender
ness, all refined, ennobied and conse-
Grated by divine grace,
What is the object and design Of the
gospel of John? There are four biogra-
phies of Jesus. Matthew wrete for the
Jew, the converted and dispersed peo-
pie Of his nation, and for those whose
minds were open 10 conviction. Mark
wrote for the Romans, a lordly and
conQuering people, who Judged charac
ter by 2chieVem ants. Luke d man of
Greek culture, wrote for Greeks.
when We take up the gospel Of John
the first thing that strikes us is it's
omissions. There is not & word sail
of many of the most ctril7ing events in
the lire OF Christ But the few mira
cles that he does relate all show a
higher degree Of power than those re-
lated i'll other gospels He does not pre-
tend to give full history of the life of
Jesus. John wrote nos distinctively for
Jew, Roman or Greek but for converts
CT ali nations.
The third point is the place where and
me time when this gospel was written
Ihere are internal evidences that this
gospel was written after the destruction
81 Jernsaiem which took place in the
year ~ A. d. II was after fifty years of
incubation, when the other gospel had
Lor years been in circulation, 20 or % years
AFTER a.! the other apostles were dead,
that John, in the nellowness of old age,
put with Intellectual powers unimpaired,
Hhder the Illuminating influence Of the
h22 5gS Spill wrote this gospel.
G!ance at an outline of the structure
! OIL Jnls book. Without attempting any
analysis OF its contents, it may be said in
RRass,ng that this gospel IS divided into
ton in which Jesus Is set forth as eternal
IN his existence, divine in his nature the
creator OF all things, and the reveaier Of
Sod 70 man. The second part is the self
manifestation of Jesus Christ as the in
car4ate word in his life, teachings ana
WORKS: The third embraces the closing
interview Of Jesus and his disciples. his
53reWell address and sacredotal PRAYER
Inc fourth part contains an account Of
MS betrayal, arrest, trial, condemnation.
/ ctuc4 nixon and resurrection The fifth
paIt is the epilogue
Let US note in closing two Of the eos-
pei most salient characteristics First
| II Is pfe-eminently and emphaticallv The
gospel or the incarnation-that is. Of fhe
perfect union Of the human and divine IN
me person of Jesus of Nazareth. The
theme is that the 'Word was God ana
mat me word became flesh and dwelt
IN the midst OF men. John begins his gos
/ pei with the pre-eXistence of Jesus In
ne beginning. before creation or time
| was the word, and he ends il with the
alteration Of this incarnate divine person
~ the exclamation OF the convinced
Thomas, My Lord and my God.
IN the gospel of Matthew. Luke and
Mark we have the history of a divine
man In the gospel of John we have the
history OF human God It is the y0snei
| OF love: In its pages God is set forth 8 .
| love, giving in the incarnation and his
toric mission of his son the greatest nos
sIsble proof Of his love for mankind. Il is
the gospel which contains the new com,
mandment, Love one another. y