There is little in the Scriptures to gratify our curiosity. Hence we are not told what the man spake, or how the mother was affected at the first interview with her son ; but, if once she forgat her pangs, for joy that he was born, how much more her sorrows now, that he was restored to life ? Doubtless the scene must have been inexpressibly interesting —
[We may conceive Jesus, meekly majestic, delivering the man to his mother : but it is not so easy to conceive the first emotions of their minds. Nature would stimulate the reunited relatives to expressions of mutual endearment. Grace, on the other hand, would rather lead them first to admire and adore their Benefactor. Perhaps, looking alternately on Jesus and on each other, they might stand fixed in silent astonishment. We need not however dwell on that which, at best, is mere conjecture.]
The effect produced on the multitude is recorded for our instruction —
1. They were all filled with fear —
[The people that attended Jesus, and those who followed the funeral, meeting together, the concourse was very great ; and one impression pervaded the whole body. The fear which came upon them was a reverential awe : this is natural to man, when he beholds any signal appearance of the Deity. It is equally produced whether God appear in a way of judgment or of mercy f. Somewhat of this kind is felt by the seraphim before the throne g: and it would be more experienced by us, if we realized more the Divine presence11. When it is excited only by some visible display of the Deity, it will generally vanish with the occasion ; but when it is caused by faith, it will abide and influence our whole conduct. Happy would it be for us if we were continually thus impressed1.]
2. They glorified God—
[They did not know that Jesus was indeed a divine per- son ; but they manifestly saw that he was " a great prophet," and that God, after suspending all miraculous interpositions for above three hundred years, had again " visited his people." In these tokens of God's favour they could not but rejoice. Doubtless they congratulated each other on this glorious event, and gave vent to their gratitude in devoutest adorations. We have reason indeed to fear that these impressions were soon effaced. Happy had they been if they had retained this
f Compare Acts v. 11. and Luke i. 65. e Isai. vi. 2.
h Jer. x. 6, 7. ' Prov. xxviii. 14.