Joh 9:4, 14:10 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 4. The works of him , &c. The works of beneficence and mercy which God has commissioned me to do, and which are expressive of his goodness and power. This was on the Sabbath-day ( ); and though Jesus had endangered his life ( ) by working a similar miracle on the Sabbath, yet he knew that this was the will of God that he should do good, and that he would take care of his life. While it is day . The day is the proper time for work-- night is not. This is the general, the universal sentiment. While the day lasts it is proper to labour. The term day here refers to the life of Jesus, and to the opportunity thus afforded of working miracles. His life was drawing to a close. It was probably but about six months after this when he was put to death. The meaning is, My life is near its close. While it continues I must employ it in doing the works which God has appointed. The night cometh . Night here represents death. It was drawing near, and he must therefore do what he had to do soon. It is not improbable, also, that this took place near the close of the Sabbath, as the sun was declining, and the shades of evening about to appear. This supposition will give increased beauty to the language which follows. No man can work . It is literally true that day is the appropriate time for toil, and that the night of death is a time when nothing can be done. : "There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave." From this we may learn, 1st. That it is our duty to employ all our time in doing the will of God. 2nd. That we should seek for opportunities of doing good, and suffer none to pass without improving it. We go but once through the world, and we cannot return to correct errors, and recall neglected opportunities of doing our duty . 3rd. We should be especially diligent in doing our Lord's work from the fact that the night of death is coming. This applies to the aged, for they must soon die; and to the young, for they may soon be called away from this world to eternity. (b) "I am the light"

John 9:4

Verse 4. The works of him, &c. The works of beneficence and mercy which God has commissioned me to do, and which are expressive of his goodness and power. This was on the Sabbath-day (Jn 9:14); and though Jesus had endangered his life (Jn 5:1-16) by working a similar miracle on the Sabbath, yet he knew that this was the will of God that he should do good, and that he would take care of his life.

While it is day. The day is the proper time for work-- night is not. This is the general, the universal sentiment. While the day lasts it is proper to labour. The term day here refers to the life of Jesus, and to the opportunity thus afforded of working miracles. His life was drawing to a close. It was probably but about six months after this when he was put to death. The meaning is, My life is near its close. While it continues I must employ it in doing the works which God has appointed.

The night cometh. Night here represents death. It was drawing near, and he must therefore do what he had to do soon. It is not improbable, also, that this took place near the close of the Sabbath, as the sun was declining, and the shades of evening about to appear. This supposition will give increased beauty to the language which follows.

No man can work. It is literally true that day is the appropriate time for toil, and that the night of death is a time when nothing can be done. Eccl 9:10: "There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave." From this we may learn,

1st. That it is our duty to employ all our time in doing the will of God.

2nd. That we should seek for opportunities of doing good, and suffer none to pass without improving it. We go but once through the world, and we cannot return to correct errors, and recall neglected opportunities of doing our duty.

3rd. We should be especially diligent in doing our Lord's work from the fact that the night of death is coming. This applies to the aged, for they must soon die; and to the young, for they may soon be called away from this world to eternity.

(b) "I am the light" Jn 1:5,9, 8:12, 12:35,46

John 14:10

Verse 10. I am in the Father. Jn 10:38.

The words that I speak, &c. Jn 7:16 Jn 7:17.

The Father that dwelleth in me. Literally, "The Father remaining in me." This denotes most intimate union, so that the works which Jesus did might be said to be done by the Father. It implies a more intimate union than can subsist between a mere man and God. Had Jesus been a mere man, like the prophets, he would have said, "The Father who sent or commissioned me doeth the works;" but here there is reference, doubtless, to that mysterious and peculiar union which subsists between the Father and the Son.

He doeth the works. The miracles which had been wrought by Jesus. The Father could be said to do them on account of the intimate union between him and the Son. See Jn 5:17, 19, 36, 10: 30.