J. S. Clemens.
INFLUENCE.— 1. The influence of Christ DURING His life. — (a) On His disciples. — This from the verj' first was remarkable. The short interview that John and Andrew had with Jesus after He had been pointed out by their old mastei as the Lamb of God that taketli away the sin of the world, seems to have canied tliem away at once. Andrew has no misgivings, but goes ofl' to his brother with the gTeat news that they have found the Messiah (Jn 1^"-). The disciples, spiritually minded though they were, must have felt aU the prejudices that widely existed against the appearance of the !Messiah as a poor and un- distinguislied person from a northern village of no reputation, and yet they were at once conquered. One evening's conversation conduced them that He was their Prince. A like instantaneous recog- nition is recorded of Bartholomew, if he be, as seems likely, the same as Nathanael. He has difficulties to overcome which he had frankly stated to Philip when he ran in with the same great news that Andrew had told Peter. But they vanish before the presence and words of his Lord. The encouraging description of his own character set Nathanael wondering, and when this was followed by news which showed that He knew of some secret passage in his life, he confesses His great- ness in the fullest terms, ' Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel' (1^'). In all these cases it is to be noted that the impression is made not by any miracle or sign, but by what Christ was and what He said. A little later there follows the first sign, — the changing of water into wine, — and with it the natural deepening of the hold Christ had on His disciples (2'ff-). All their previous hopes were confirmed ( ' crediderunt amplius,' Bengel). Up to this time there are no hostUe influences at work. As simple-minded men they probably supposed that all the world would share their sanguine hopes. The cleansing of the Temple, followed as it was by public questioning as to His right to take that bold step (2'3*-), was probably the first indication that He would not be able to influence all men alike.
From that time onward the attempt to break down oui- Lord's influence becomes much more definite and decided. His supposed birthidace, — Nazareth, — His liumble parentage. His lack of a really good education, all these and many other objections were constantly urged (Jn 7'°), and must have caused some difficulty in the disciples' minds. His great assertions that He was the Bread of Life and the Light of the worid (Jn 6^- « S'- 9'), aroused great opposition and lost Him many friends. But when after eighteen months of
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criticism, obloquy, and insult, He asked His dis- ciples definitely as to their opinion about Him, they replied through Peter without hesitation : ' Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God ' (Mt 16'*). It is true that this was the conviction they had had at the outset, but it had not been tested, it had not been held against the whole world. The disciples were not fanatics, they were not indifferent to the opinion of their own Church and nation ; they felt keenly the opposition and hatred which tlieir \-ie\v everywhere encountered, and yet they held it. It is a striking proof of our Lord s personal influence. That He knew their difficulties is plain from the fact that He prayed for them before He asked the question (Lk 9'*). That He rejoiced in their loyalty is also plain from the great words spoken to Peter (Mt le""""). The Transfiguration followed quickly (Mt 17"^- II), in order that the three disciples who knew Him best might have something to fall back upon in the greater difficulties that lay before them. Soon our Lord became a proscribed person, not only ex- communicated from all the synagogues of the land, but bringing under that ban all His friends (Jn ;)22)_ Their loyalty, however, remained unbroken except in one case, that of Judas. This man must have felt our Lord's influence at one time, and indeed been always more or less under it. He could not tear himself away from it, though he was feeling more and more uncomfortable in the barren prospects that Christ's language and the hostility of the world seemed to suggest. Only little by little he stifled it, and we may well believe that it was not till the very last, even after he had promised to betray Him, that it failed. Then St. John (13-') adds the significant words, 'After the sop, then entered Satan into him,' and the disciple was lost.
The severest test was felt after the arrest. That the Prince and Messiah should be betrayed by His own people into the hands of the heathen, and that they should clamour for His death, was the greatest trial that a faithful friendship has ever had to bear. It is true the disciples ought to have known their Scriptures ; but, luce good people to-day, they fol- lowed current interpretations instead ot' searching the Holy Writings for themselves. That our Lord's influence would have remained with them had He not risen again is, of course, certain ; but it would have been the influence of a holy life and a great example, not of an abiding Presence and a mag- nificent hope. This was given them by the Resur- rection, which at once illuminated all the per- plexities of the past and made His Messiahship a