the aptest illustrati(
by 1
the words of Ps 411 to the work Epistle to the Hebrews ('IJo-.. ix 111"), who sees in this passage object o! Jesus' life.
3. This protracted and Avilling subordination on the part of Jesus had its linal reward in that perfect liarmony between His own and His Father's will, which left no room, in the sphere of His human activity, for anything but the most complete com- munity of interests. Looking at this side of His life, we can appreciate the element in His teaching, so constantly emphasized, which in- sists on the lowliest and most complete self-sur- render in others. He, the Man Jesus, succeeded in bringing His human will into absolute conformity with that of His Father, and -so He teaches men to pray, 'May thy will be done ... on earth' (Mt 6'", cf. 26^= = Lk 22^-). Our right to participate in the privileges of that family relationship which Jesus is not ashamed to own (He 2") depends on the fidelity with which we enter, by our actions, into the spirit guiding His own work (see Mt 12^"). This is the touchstone bj- which men shall be ultimately tested, and by which their right of entry into the Kingdom of heaven shall be decided (Mt 7=").
i. Nor must we forget that this phenomenon is obser^-able in Jesus' relation to His fellow-men. And here it is significant to note that, althougli .•il«;iy^ uilling to exercise the i.riM..,L.'.-ilivc- ..f His I ii\ ii;.- Suii-liip in favour of the di-trr-^i'd. yet He iii'MT \M irks a miracle on His own l.i.li;ill. If He i.-. liuiigry ur thirsty. He trusts to tlie kindness and goodwill of others (Jn 4' 19=8t-, Mt 21'"- 4='^-, Mk jis. 31) xi,g ]ack of -sympathy has a nrarked effect on the power of His iiiinistrations ('And he could there do no mighty work,' Mk 6'), and He recog- nizes that, in certain eases at least, the exercise of His power of miraculous healing may be marred or promoted by the absence or presence of a .sym- patiietic trust on the part of those with v liom He IS dealing ('All things are possible to him tluit believeth,' -Mk 9=a, see Mt 9="-, witli wlii.li we may also compare a remarkable extension, in the application of this rule to the sufferer whose friends stand sponsor, as it were, for his faith and trust [ttiv Tr'uTTiv airrCiv, Mt 9-]). Indeed, the presence of a captious spirit in His hearers moved Him, on more than one occasion, to indignation or grief (cf. /irr' ipyii%, Mk 3^ ; f^Spi/ioi/icj'ot, Jn 11^), feelings which were .ilsn aronsed in His breast by any .tction ten.linj to -title in others the expression <)f their tm-t in, -.r'A -ynipiithy with. His work and J'ersoiii. I it' III itic verb i77aKdKT))(rci',M k lO").
.Mt '2610, Mk »^■^■
For t'he use of
the same ^erl.iTl Mk -J''! ll.iiAr.',!. tS IIit^). he verb •miz/A'ris-i^a.i, which is almost confined npare Mk 35= Lk Gl", -Mk 33-1 lO^!. Even when question of the profound, vital union of Him-
!that
eir attitude to Him. The ini- ' (Jn lo-*) is supplemented by nterpreted as contain'
with those who belie\< His work is conditioned perative clause 'abide ii another clause, which ma}
tingent promise, ' I will on that condition abide more probably, as a complementary imperative, 'permit me to abide in you.' In either case it is true to say that Jesus here recognizes and teaches the doctrine that ' the freedom of man's will is such that on his action depends that of Christ' (see Plummer's ' St. John ' in Cambridge Greek Testament, in loc).
5. Not the least remarkable feature in the teach- ing of Jesus is that on which the writer of the Fourth Gospel lays particular stress. The union between Him and the Father is so complete, that He describes it as a mutual indwelling or co- existence (Jn ICf* 14"^'- -■"). He derives from the Father, as the ultimate source of each (Jn 16"), both the terms of the message He delivers (Jn 8-" V^ ij iuri diSaxfi, 12''') uiid tlie j. ewer which renders His work ' coincident :iiiil ( cH\istent with that of the Father' (Jn 5'^ .-.e Wi-t. ..its Gospel of St. John, in lac). Jesus ruiuses tu claim the right or even the ability to act separately from the Father, and the character of His works is determined by the fact that it is not He Himself who is the author of them, but the Father dwelling in, speak- ing and acting through Him (cf. Jn 5™ 14'"). It is quite true, in a very real sense, to say with West- cott that ' Christ places His work as co-ordinate with that of the Father, and not as dependent on it' ; at the same time it is true in a sense no less real that ' the very idea of Sonship involves . . . that of dependence,' as will be seen if we refer to such phrases as dx' f/iaiToC (5^"), «"t iiiavrov (V2^). What this phraseology implied, in the mind at least of the writer of the Fourth Gospel, will jier- haps be better understood by observing his use of it in other connexions (cf. e.g. Jn IP', where the ' prophecy ' of Caiaphas is made to depend for its validity on the xapiT/ia inherent in the high priestly office ; see also 15* 16'^, where the deeds done and the words .spoken are relegated to a higher source than to the energy possessed by the actors).