and that the Jews, perhaps, no longer wished to kill Him, is very improbable and unsatisfactory.
I grant that the conclusion of the tenth verse, "there is no light in him," presents some difficulty. The simplest explana- tion is, that it only means, " because he has no light."
Pearce conjectures that the clause should be rendered, "Be- cause there is no light in it; viz., the world." The Greek will perhaps bear this interpretation.
Let us note that the great principle underlying the two verses is the old saying in another form, " Every man is immortal till his work is done." A recollection of that saying is an excellent antidote against fears of danger. The missionary in heathen lands, and the minister at home, pressed down by unhealthy cli- mate, or over-abundant work, may take comfort in it, after their Lord's example. Let us only, by way of caution, make sure that our dangers meet us in the path of duty, and that we do not go out of the way to seek them.
Rupertus suggests that our Lord had in His mind His own doctrine, that He was the Light and Sun of the world. Now as the sun continues shining all the twelve hours of the day, and no mortal power can stop it, so He would have the disciples know that until the evening of His own course arrived, no power of the Jews could possibly check, arrest, or do Him harm. As to the disciples, He seems to add, " So long as I am shining on you with my bodily presence, you have nothing to fear, you will not fall into trouble. When I am taken from you, and not till then, you will be in danger of falling into the hands of per- secutors, and even of being put to death." Ecolampadius takes the same view.
Melancthon thinks that our Lord uses a proverbial mode of speech, in order to teach us the great broad lesson that we must attend to the duties of our day, station, and calling, and then leave the event to God. In the path of duty all will turn out right. Calvin, Bullinger, Gualter, and Brentius, take much the same view.
Leigh remarks : " Christ comforts from God's providence. God made the day twelve hours. Who can make it shorter? Who can shorten man's life ? "
Does it not come to this, that our Lord would have the disci- ples know that He Himself could not take harm till His day of work was over, and that they could take no harm while He was with them ? (Compare Luke xiii. 32, 33.) Bishop Ellicott sug- gests that this was the very time in our Lord's ministry when He said to the Pharisee, " I do cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheles s I must walk to- day and to-morrow and the day following." But I doubt this.
It is certain that there came a time when our Lord said, "This