The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 381

mcnt of this mirnetiloue nnrrntive with led to grio'1"011e deJ')nrture from and diminu- its ·rnriod C'0necqucnces and rel!'Cl!.ts. Many tion of tho temporary popul,uity of the cnrious Rnd even violout tneasnros have great Prophet. It would ECllm that bitter been resorted to with o. view to solve hostility, o.s well o.s excited enUrnsinsm, was them. Some have supposed thnt eh. v. checkcring his eal'ly ministry. The synop- nnd vi. ho.ve been inverted in ordor, o.nd tics take pains to show the combincJ eflbcf that time the presence of our Lord in of his eolf-revelations (1) on his own fellow- Galilee, mentioned in eh. iv., would account townsmen (Luke iv. 16--30; l\Iark vi. 1-6); for the statement of eh. vi. I nnd the (2) upon his own family (llfork iii, 19-21, journey to Jerusalem of eh. v. I, be brought 31-35); (8) upon the populace (l\fatt. :xv. into oloeer relation with eh. vii. We can- SI); (4) upon Herod Autipo.s (Mark vi. not see the faintest indication or evidence 14-IG); (5) upon tlie twelve disoiples (Matt. whatever of any Sllch trentm:ent of the :xvi. 13~28); (6) upon John the Bo.ptist (Mo.tt. Gospel by the e.utho~ of the manuscripts or xi. 3); and (7) .upon the Fnther in heavon the quotations or versions. The evangelist (l\Iatt. :xviL 1-13 and parallel pli.sso.ges), hns just completed his record of the conflict The canvas is crowded with scones, the between Jesus e.nd the recognized leaders signs and wonders of henling and teaching of the people in Jerusalem. He !,ad intro- are e.b11ndnnt. The 'biind sec, tho ceo.t' duc,ed our Lord's own vindication (bascJ on hei!.r, the dead are raised, the dmmons o.ro the highest grounds) of hie own right to exorcised. The tweJve. apostles o.re chosen, deal with the ro.bbiuical restrictions upon the sermon on the mount is delivered, se.bbath duty. These grounds were the the twelve are sent forth in every direotion eternal relatiO'llS of his own inner nature with the proclo.mation of the coming of and consciousneSll with the Father's. On the kingdom and with the call to repents no occasion bo.d Christ me.de the unique-' once, • IUld an excitement produced. by ness of his persona.I claims and powers more the mission of the twelve had pi·ov_ed to explicit. He called for entire. obedience to be extensive. The crowds throng him; his word as the condition of eternal life, • they have 'no time even to eat bread.• And we and o.s the key to-the Scri.ptnres-ofGod. If judge from Luke ix.JO tllat this ve1·y_ex- we had no synoptic tradition to give a closer citement, amounting -to ,feverish self-glori- historical setting .of the nana.tive which fication, on theix •pa.rt, o.ppears .to have. be.en here follows, we might ta.ke Meyer's view, one at least of our Lord'.s. motives for the ll.Ild say that the " after these things " (/L<.-a, temporary withdre.we.l of his disciples from .,-aimi) of ver. I referred to the <li1lcourse the multitudes. Another event of singule.r of ·the previOllB chnpter, and that the "de- signi:fica.nce contributed to tht;l '_same resuti. parted" (lr.riiM•) referred to Jerusli.lem ns - Me.tthew (xiv. 12} te.kes •the' opportunity of its sto:rtiiig-point; and, notwithstanding the describing the tragic close of John's ii:i:i~- extreme awkwardness of the expression, we prisonment, and relates how John's "dis- might have supposed that "the other side" ciples came to t~ll Jesus" of the bloody of the sea was the other side of it from deed. A sudden panic was felt by the Jernse.lem (cf. eh. x. 40; x:viii.. 1). Some mnltitude. A crisis he.d arrived. The comment!Ltors appear to have a morbid fear great Prophet must avenge his forerunner's of redncing a difficulty, or seeing a hurmony, death or lose bis hold upon the e.ffections between these four -no.rre.tives. One thing of the fickle mass. The people appeared is clear, th.e.t they are independent of one to the eyes of Jesus (Mcirk vi. 34) "o.s another, are not derived from each other, do sheep without a shepherd." He had com- each involve aide views of the event distinct passion on them, but be must· make them from the rest, nnd yet concur in the same understand the nature of the royalty as well general representation. The synoptiats, as of the realm of the Messianic King. however, place the "feeding of the multi- The true grounds for Christ's retirement tudes " in the midst of a group . of most are not incompatible, but mutually explana• remarkable and varied events. It ill for tory. Thedeathoftherenowned forerunner, them one page out of many descriptive of of the idol of the multitude brought vi'tidly the Galiliean ministry, and whfch ultimately to the mind of the Lord his own dellth-'-tha  THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 2.ii