The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 225

thot this monifeetotion of the power of the paeee.ge which unveil the glory of the Divine Lord wus uot, in his opinion, the coming of love and power now wrought in ma.n. A his "hour." Stro.nge reticence is observed, point of connection with the synoptic but this is adcled- Gospels is that they too record Christ' d Vor. 11.-lesus ma.de this beginning of own description of the contrast between the signs in Ca.na. of Ga.Wee, a.nd ma.nifested his austere prophet and the Son of man (Matt. glory, The beginning, the earliest of the xi. 18, 19) in terms almost taken from th i3 tokens which he gave of his higher nature very scene. Compo.re also the mode in which ond lofty cloims ond fnculties. The word Christ vindicated his own social free<lom cr11µ.•ia, corresponding with the Hebrew from Pharisaic exclusiveness, a.nd the con- nitt, is genemlly, in the Acts as well as in duct of his own disciples from the.t of John the LXX., associoted with -rlpa-ra, or " por- the Baptist's disciples in the matter of cere- tents;" when it occurs in the eynoptiste it monial purifications, by his parable of the is tranelo.ted "signs.'' The word by itself old wine-skins bursting with the new an,! does not connote miraculous energies, but potent fluid put into them ()fatt. ix. 14-17 any event, natural or huma.n, which becomes e.nd parallel pe.sse.ges). John gives here a 11. token or witness to unseen or Divine ener- deeper apprehension of the mystery, a. key- gies. When Christ's wonderful notions ( often note to a whole cycle of instructions, on the called 6uvdµ.E1r by the synoptists) are referred "glory" of his love. By manifesting hi3 to by John, he calls them simply Ip-ye,; so Divine sympathy with marriage, with hum1rn that operations which, if wrought by other life a.nd fellowship, with innocent gladness, persons, might have been portents, miracles, he proves himself to be the same Christ of or marvels, a.re to him perfectly normal, and whom the synoptic tradition speaks, tho nre ce.llecl simply "works." Weise leaves same Jesus who took the children to his the question of the manner in which this arms, and constituted a "marriage-supper" supply of wine was provided entirely u11- the great type of the eternal union between eettled, but declares that, whether by some God and man in the gospel of h's love (cf. fortunate providential opportunity, by the fore- Me.tt. x.xii. 2, etc.). But this same evange- cast of the mother, or by concealed methods list is filled with the same imagery dating of meeting the exigency, this great gift we.s back to experiences of Ca.no., when he brought a.bout by the Son of l\fary, the effect describes the fine.I victory of the " Lamb ot" we.s the same o.s if it had been wrought by God" (Rev. xi.x. 7; x:xi. 2). the Creator's hand. The glory of his power Ver. 12.-After this he went down.-from ond love ond sympathy wo.s monifested. the high lands of Ge.Wee to the border3 of This appears to us utterly inconsistent with the Sea of G5Wee, depressed ns we now know the intention or idea. of the evangelist. The it to be below the level of the Mediterranean impression previously made upon John the -to Ce.perns.um.1 Three competing sites for Baptist was of his supreme submission to this small town have been advocated by the Divine will, hie sacrificial yielding to Eastern travellers; u.11 of them on the shore tho.t will for the to.king a.way of sin; further, of the loke, all near to Betlisaicla and the.t iu some sense ho wa.s Son of God, a.nd Chorazin, in "the way of the sea," combin- Minister e.nd Organ for the dispensation of ing more or less the characteristics required the Spirit of God. The few disciples ad- by the New Testament narrative ant.I the mitted that, by his penetro.tion of their cha.- references in Jooephus (' Bell. J ud.,' iii.10.8). meter and hidden inner life, hie wisdom was Keim is in favour of Khan 1llinyeh; but there of a different kind from that of men. Now, is no o.bundaut spring such o.s Joseph us however, they see a monifestation of his describes, nor a.re there e.ny ruins which glory e.s power. He has unlimited resources indicate ILil :extensive town. Caspari has ut his disposal, e.nd his disoiples believed on argued in favour of .din Mudawarah, e. mile him to thot extent. This expression asserts nnd a half to tLe west of Khan. .Jlinyeh, iu the truth of the selective and discrimine.ting which, though water is abundant, there aro force of tho mission of Christ, and the nega- no reme,ins of buildings. The o!J travellers, tive fact tltot the company e.ssembled received and the most rel"ent explorations, have coin- no religious impression beyo11d the most cided in fixing on Tell-Hum ns the site; e.utl superficial oue. "The disciples" who came Dr. Farrar, Dr. Westcott, M~jor Wilson, in- with him " believed " more the.n they hnd cline to this conclusio11. Abunclaut ruins are ,Jone before. It mny be that they, especially fouud there, and, what is more than probe.hie, John and Natha.uo.el of Cana., were among 1 ~. B, X, etc., read Kc,cpapvao6µ. (so Tisch- tho honoro.ry 6,a,covo, who were alone fully conscious of who.t happened ou the occasion. ellllorf (8th edit.) e.nd Tregelles); but the 'rhey apprehend the "glory," oud entirely Revised Version has ret11,ined the familia.r trust themselves els av-r&v, to him, and follow spelling. It is probably its origin0,l form, him with an mlded momentum. There nre answel'iug to Anbio KeJ,Jlier, equivalent tu new ancl wo11derful suggoelio11s m11de in this "hnmlet." 86 THffi GOSPEI, ACCORDING TO ST, JORN. (ou. II. 1-26,