The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 269

Ver. 20.-And now the Baptist bethinks of intermediary-the confidant or both. He him of o.nolher remarkoble image, with presides 1tt the ceremonies of the betrotb.l which, os e. student of the Old Teetarnont, and at the wedding-feast, o.nd especially in onrl being himself "more than a prophet," ho tbe interests of the bridegroom. Tile imago wos fomilio.r. The tendcrnees of the in,ngery w_as probably suggested to him by the gre:o~ 110.cl not hitherto, however, comported with chscovery made by the friend of the Can:. the ministry of the voz clamantis. Whereas bridegroom touching the" ~Jory" of the mys- the New Tesloment represents the loving- terions Guest on that typical occasir,n. "The kindness oncl righteousness of tho Lord friend of the bridegroom" di11era profounrlly God under the metaphor of o Father's from the Bridegroom. The Christ will prov" love to hie prodigal but repenting children, renrly to occupy this position, and John )ms the prophets were often disposed to set declared that be is not the Christ. Morc• forth the snme idea in the light of a Husband over, John differs from tlie Bride; he doca yearning over his bride, even betrothing her not receive the lavish love, nor tho deep a second time unto himseH after her faith- intimacies of that affection, nor the dowry lessness o.nd folly. Jehovah o.nd Jchovo.h's of sacrificial devotion with which that lorn King and.Representative are set forth as the will at length be won. This parnnymphios Bridegroom of the true Isrnel (Ps. xiv.; ste.ndeth and beareth him. It is not saicl, Iso.. liv. 5; Hoe. ii. 10, 20; the Song of "seeth him." Some have argued that John Songs; Ezek. xvi.; Mal. ii. 11, etc.); and here calls attention to the fact that all that the New Testament writers, especially John the Bridegroom has been saying has reached himself, who delights in tho image (Rev. him by means of the informc.tion brought to xix. 7; xxi. 2, 0; x.x.ii. 17), and Paul, who him on the part of those who were both hia compares the relation of tl10 Saviour to his own disciples a.nd the disciples of Jesus; Church under this endearing imagery (Eph. but the next clause is inconsistent with this. v. 32; 2 Oor. xi. 2), vindicate the legitimacy The friend of the bridegroom stands ready of the metaphor. The Baptist might easily to do the will a.nd proruotc the honour and think of this le.ngunge, but it is more than pleasure of his friend. (The ma terio.listic possible that he had been profoundly and sensualistic manner in which some touched by the news that had reached him have pressed the force of the imagery is out concerning the presence of Jesus at o. of place.) "The voice of the bridegroom," marriage-feast. John had been e. N azarite the hilarious joy of the bridegroom, is a pro- from his birth. Jesus was revealing himself verbial expression (Jer. vii. 34; xvi. 9; ixv. amid the pleasures and innocent joys of 10). There is e. contrast felt between the life ond love. John's conception of the fonna.l business-like fellowship that pre- kingdom had been that of severance from the vnilcd between the bride o.nd the frien<l of world--!!eolusion, ascetic restraint. Jesus the bridegroom, and the free outs!Joken had manifested his glory amid the festival love of the bridegroom himself. The lisp- and in the common life and daily ways of ings of prophecy are contrasted with tl.Je oui- men. John mo.y have seen that there was spoken utterances of the gospel of love. And much in this to captivute the heart of the he rejoiceth with joy (xap'f X"-fpeo; cf. for this true Israel; and be glances at the bridal of form of expression, which corresponds with heaven and earth in this new conception of the frequent Hebrew juxtaposition of the the mission of the Messiah. It may have finite verb with the infinitive absolute, the staggered hiril, as he had taught Israel to LXX. of Lie.. xu. 19; !xvi. 10; Deut. vii. 26, hope for One whose hand would be more etc.; Luke xxii.15; Acts iv. 17; v. 28; x::tiii. heavy upon them and on their sins than his H; Jas. v. 17). It is not an indubitable had been. Where wns the 11xe laid at the Hebro.bm, because similar expressions a.re root of the trees ? where the firo that scorches found in the classics, as Plato, ' Sympos.,' to cleanse and purify? But he e.ccepte,l to 195, B., </><{ryw11 'PV"f!i; 1 Pl.J:-edr.,' 265, D. ; some extent the new revelation, a.nd found Soph., '<Ed. Rex,' 65; see Wiuer, • Gramm. his own place in the novel reconstruction of E.T.,' p. 585. This is the only place where the kingdom, So he snys, He that hath the such e. construction occurs in the writings of bride is the bridegroom. However, John John) because of the bridegroom's voice. throws in e. novel thought, explanatory of Intense joy is thus e.sc1-i.bed to oue who was his own position, and l\Ot found in the Old the minister of the bfus of t\nother. This my Testament imagery: ul._e.m not the Bride- joy--0r, this joy, there/ore, 1.Dhich is mine- groom," says he; "but it is also true that I he.th been made full. "I have thus com- am not the Bride. Such is my position that pleted my task, and reached the climax of I o.m standing outside the company of those my bliss. I ho.ve wooed and won," 'l'he who are the prophetio 'Dl'icle.'" The friend bridal of heaven a.ad esrth is begun. Iu of the bridegroom ( q,l~os ..-ou J111µq,Cov, ,ra,pa.- subsequent words of Jesus and b..is disci pies 116µ,p,os, answering to the ::ir,\N and Hlf1111 of other gree. t epochs of complete cousumme.tion ~he Al'll.Jlll\io writers) is he who aots the part a.re referred to. The joy of the Lord will only  132 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [cu. m.1-30.