disclosed to Him; He had, in particular, heard these words: ‘Thou art my well beloved Son ;’ He reposed on the Father’s bosom, and He could descend and redescend without ceasing into the depths of the Father’s fathomless love, of which He felt the vivifying power; and when He came, at certain excep- tional moments, to speak of that divine relationship, and to give scope to that fulness of life with which it supplied Him, His language took a peculiar, solemn, mystical, one might even say a heavenly tone; for they were heavenly things which He then revealed. Now such is precisely the character of His language in the fourth Gospel.” Compare Luke x. 18, sqq., where Jesus’ words take on a character similar to that of His utterances in John.
13. And («al). Note the simple connective particle, with nothing to indicate the logical sequence of the thought.
Hath ascended. Equivalent to hath been in. Jesus says that no one has been in heaven except the Son of man who came down out of heaven; because no man could be in heaven without having ascended thither.
Which is in heaven. Many authorities omit.
14. Must (Sc?). Must signifies the eternal necessity in the divine counsels. Compare Luke xxiv. 26, 46; Matt. xxvi. 54; Mark viii. 31; John xii. 34.
Lifted up (iyodjvar). The following are the uses of the word in the New Testament: The ewaltation of pride (Matt. xi. 23; Luke x. 15; xiv. 11). Zhe raising of the humble (Luke i. 52; Jas. iv. 10; 1 Pet. v. 6). Zhe exaltation of Christ in glory (Acts ii. 33; v.31). The uplifting on the cross (John iii. 14; viii. 28; xii. 32, 34). The reference here is to the cruci- jiwion, but beyond that, to the glorification of Christ. It is characteristic of John to blend the two ideas of Christ’s passion and glory (viii. 28; xii. 32). Thus, when Judas went out to betray him, Jesus said, “ Now is the Son of man glorified ” (xiii. 31). Hence the believer overcomes the world through