ministry. There is something touching and instructive in the choice of this place. Where our Lord began His ministry, there He resolved to enter it. It would remind His Jewish hearers that John the Baptist had repeatedly proclaimed Him as " the Lamb of God," and they could not deny John's Divine mis- sion. It would remind His own disciples of the iirst lessons which they learned under their Master's teaching, and recall old things to their minds. It is good to revisit old scenes sometimes. The flesh needs many helps to memory.
Henry makes the quaint remark, " The Bishop of our souls came not to be fixed in one See, but to go about from place to \>lace doing good."
[And there he abode.'] Our Lord must evidently have remained here between three and four months, — from the feast of dedica- tion to the last passover when he was crucified ; that is from winter to Easter. Where precisely, and with whom he stayed, we do not know. It must have been a solemn and quiet season to Himself and His disciples.
Musculus observes that this verse teaches us that it is lawful to regard localities in which great spiritual works have been done with more than ordinary reverence and affection.
II. — [And many resorted, etc.'] Our Lord's choice of an abode seems to have had an excellent effect. It was not so far from Jerusalem but that "many" could come to hear Him. as they did to hear John the Baptist. There on the very spot where John, now no longer living, used to preach to enormous crowds, and baptize, they could not help being reminded of John's repeated testimony to Christ. And the consequence was, that they said, " John, whom we believe to have been a prophet, certainly did no miracles, but everything that he said of this Jesus as the coming One, whose shoes he was not worthy to wear, was true. We believed John to be a prophet sent of God. Much more ought this man to be believed."
Let us observe that John's preaching was not forgotten after his death, though it seemed to produce little effect during his life. Herod could cut short his ministry, put him in prison, and have him beheaded ; but he could not prevent his words being remembered. Sermons never die. The Word of God is not bound. (2 Tim. ii. 9.)
We never read of any miracle or mighty work being performed by John. He was only " a voice." Like all other ministers, he had one great work, — to preach, and prepare the way for Christ. To do this is more lasting work than to perform miracles, though it does not make so much outward show.
Besser remarks : " John is a type of every servant of Christ. The gift of working miracles, imparted but to few, we can do without, if only one hearer testify of us, 'All things that they spake of Christ are true.' If only our preaching, though it may