Two great ' signs ' of our Lord's mastery over material elements and the forces of nature are recorded in the Fourth Gospel (G'"-'), and correspond with the Synoptic narrative in all their ni.ain features, ami the two throw valuable sidelights on each otiier; e.g. the circumstance that .lesus constrained His disciples to enter the boat wliile JJe sent tlie multitude away (Mt 14--||Mk 6"), is best explained by the sym[)athy felt by tlie dis- ciples towards the desire of tlie multitude to take Jesus by force and hail Him as Messiah King (Jn 6'°). The combined narrative brings out the impressive feature of the hi-story.
Jn 12 gives new and interesting details of the anointing of the Lord by a woman (cf. Mt 26, Mk 14). It is from the Fourth Gospel that we learn her name, as well as the date, the motive, the criticism of this noteworthy deed which has tilled the Church and the worm with the fragrance of its perfume.
Jolin agrees with the Sj-noptists in the main features of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Tlie accounts of the 'supper' that preceiled the passion, notwithstanding diU'erences alreaiiy dis- cus.sed, have much in common, e.q. the detection and departure of Judas, and mucli of the matter of advice and consolation given by the dejiart- ing Lord (cf. Lk IS"'** with the valedictory dis- course).
In addition to this there are numerous identities, Budi as tlie trial scenes, the denials by Peter, the conduct of Pilate, the incident of Karabbas, the 'title' and accusation, the crucilixion, the two other victims, the death itself, with its certilication — the witneiwes of the resurrection. Mucli that John wrote would be more difficult to appreciate if we could not supjwse that he hml the narrative of the Sj-noptista liefore him. Thus, altliough John does not describe the discnssion 'n the San-
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JOHN, GOSPEL OF
hetlrin or tliu ducision arrived at, he implies it in Pilate's private interrogation of Jesus.
(6) Other matters of fact or teachinfr, given in detail by the Synoptists, are characteristically hinted at in the Fourth Gospel, e.g. John does not describe the baptism of Jesus, but he pointedly refers to the accompaniments and consequences of it. The reference in 3" to the fact that 'John was not yet cast into prison,' is best explained by the evangelist's knowing from the Synoptic narra- tive that the commencement of our Lord's Galihran ministry coincided with the imprisonment of John. Further,he seems to show that the previous J udican ministry was not incompatible with the assertion that a great public ministry of Christ in Galilee was apparently dependent on the arrest of John's activity. The Saviour's knowled^'e of Peter, and the tatter's acceptance of the authority of Jesus (Lk 5", Mt 4", Mk 1"), are best understood from Jn !■" and the record of their early intercourse in the place where the Baptist was lirst exercising his ministry. The parable of the Children of the Bridechamber in Mt 9" is curiously confirmed by the last recorded utterance of the Baptist, Jn 3*.
Again, there are proverbial sayings found in Jn which are preserved sometimes in dili'erent con- nexions by the Synoptics. Comp. 4** with Mt 13", Mk 6*, Lk4"; and 12» with Lk 6" and Mt 10"; also 13=» with Mt 10« and Lk 10".
The identity of the character of our Lord as portrayed in the Synop. and Johan. narratives is very remarkable, though this has been sometimes disputed. Even A. B. Bruce (Apologetics, p. 485) thinks it diflicult to reconcile the apparent motive of the great miracles of the Fourth Gospel wth the philanthropic, sympathetic, and personal reasons which dictate corresponding miracles and other incidents in the Synoptics. He says that while our Lord's chief motive in the Synoptics was piti- fulness over human need, on the other hand the obvious purpose of His ' signs ' in the Fourth Gospel was to call attention to His own Person and claims on human love and veneration. There is serious matter for contemplation here, should this contrast be observed throughout these docu- ments. But the case of every applicant for His mercy was severally considered and dealt with according to His wisdom. As He said to the woman who washed and anointed His feet, ' Thy sins are forgiven thee ' ; ' She loved mnch ' ; ' Go in peace ' ; — so to the woman taken in adultery, and brought before Him, He said, ' Go and sin no more. Doubtless He healed many in the affluence of His love, as detailed by the Synop- tists ; but He would not allow the woman with the issue of blood to steal away with a purely temporal blessing ; and in like manner He ' found ' the sick man of Bethesda in the temple to give him warning, and did not rest after healing the blind man until He ' found ' him to confer upon him the highest benediction. The reason of the miraculous feeding of the multitude in both documents is anxiety for their secular and physical require- ments ; and the creation of the elements of wine at the wedding feast is an answer to the call upon His pity on behalf of the embarrassed villagers. The walking of Jesus upon the boisterous lake was a distinctly expressed concern for the peril both of mind and body to which His disciples were exposed. In all these cases our Lord un- doubtedly found occasion to bring out the great assurance that He had come forth from God and down from heaven ; that He was the Light of the world, the Giver of strength, and a great Prophet. So though the raising of Lazarus was ;x>naitioned by consciousness of alliance with Heaven and oneness with the Father, yet few things in the Bible are more impressive than His