The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 388

thl'm out into thC' dnrknl'BB and the middle the aymbolism Ineffably suhlime. They of tlie lnkC', which is there, at its widest, could not have been ignorant of tho Psolma about firn miles broad, i.e. forty etadia, or which spoke of JehovRh walking on tho furlongs. ThP statement of the next verse sea., aud mightier than its waves (see comes t.hC'n into undesigned coincidence also Job ix. 8, "Ho nlone sprcndeth out the with i\fnrk 'l"i. 47, which shows that they heavens, and treadeth on the heights of the wl're " in tlie midst of the sea," i.e. hali·- sea"). This visible nearness to them of WR'I" from shore to ehore. This would the mi!l'hty power of God is enough to he.ve exnclly c-0rrespond with Lhe following state- startled tl,em into cries of feo.r; but it Is ment. quite incompntible with the rationRlisUo Yer. 19.-When they had rowed 1 about interpret~tiou of the event. Matthew ond twenty-five or thirty stadia ; or, furlongs. Mark both relate that the Lord camo to When they had rowed with a north-west them at or about the fourth watch (i.e. wind, one "contrary to them," about three between three and six. o.m.), when the first miles and a half, they would be in the gleams of light were breaking over the midst of the broadest portion of the lake, eastern bills. Consequently, their peril ho.d nml exposed to the force of those gales been prolonged and perplexing. The whole which often s"•eep down -with astonishing of the nam1tive lends itself to symbol, and fury upon lakes similarly guarded on all suggests the impressive analogy of the sides by high hills. While the wind we.s calamities to which the ship of God's tossing the little lake into angry waves, it Church has been exposed in its long his- was not silent on the mountain side or tory. Often has the Church been chastised summit, nnd Jesus (says Mark)" se.w them for its seculnr tastes and worldly passions, toiling in rowing." He loved them to the buffeted with the storms of the world e.nd uttermost. Now, Jesus never went out of tormented by the wo.ves ; but in the direst his way to work a miracle, but he never extremity it has seen the deliverer approach, went out of his 'WBY to avoid one. It seems and at fhst cried out for feo.r, trembling as naturo.l to him to make his will the at his neo.rness. Individual believers have cause of events as to submit to the arbitra- often seen, in this picture of the storm e.nd ment of circumstances. The miracle, how- the Saviour, an image of the sore travail and ever, was always for the benefit of others, victory of their faith. The disposition on not for bis own advantage and comfort the po.rt of numerous expositors to press 7'hey beheld J1;s11S wa.lkmg on the se&, and these analogies has strengthened the hands drawing near to the ship. PaulUB, Gfriirer, of the critical and rationo.listio expositors. and lianmgo.rten-Crnsius Sllppose the.t We can grant that the idea which is so JesUJl was wu.l.king"Blong the shore"(,rapa fertile is more important than the nnrro.tive •dw 6t!Aa.lJ'lJ'cw i.s the phrase used for this per se, but apart from the historic fact itself, movement in Mark i 1G; not i1rl rijs 6aAclJ'- who c11n sny tbe.t the idea would ever have lf7Js, ns here), and that they had mis- dawned on human minds? We make no calcuhted their distance, and that there further attempt to think ont the modus \'l'e.s no nmnifosto.tion of specie.I power on operandi of the miro.cle, nor can we with the occasion, not.hing less than one of the that view accept the docetio conception of most ordinary of e.ll coincidences. The the body of Christ, which some have attri- three D.a.rratore, e.ach in his own manner, buted most unfairly to John's Gospel, It is convey a profonndly difi'erent impres.sion. enough that t!Je will of Ohrist thus faced The discovery of their Lord thus in nee.r the forces of nature, and prophesied the proximity would not have me.de them" cry nltime.te victory which the will of glorified out for fear," and say (Matthew e.nd Mark), humanity will likewise win. The great " It is a phB.Diasm," an apparition, a herald tna. of Christ include his power over of immediate destruction. The loud cry nature, in its physical elements and forces, (avi,cpaE,,P) is the especial note of Mark. in the regions of both animal nnd vegetable John simply says, 7'heywere a11'righted C•<l>rr life, over human nature, disco.sed, crippled, /Ji,9-r/lJ'a11). They might have.eagerly longed devil-ridden, e.nd dead. The highest realm for his presence, remembering Ids recent over which he reigned was his own Divine- display of power when" the winds and see. human Person, e.e rcoord.ed (1) in tliia e1'611t, obcyt:d him." But when the deliverance (2) in his transfi.guro.tion, (3) in his resur- came, the manner of it was nnexpected, and rection and ascension. Ver. 20.-But he aaith to them, It ii I (lite- 1 'E>,.aw••"• UBed in Mark vi 48 e.nd rally, I am); be not afraid, These Divine here, commonly means "to drive," and is words, in e. voice which reminded them of his 11Bed of ships or clonda driven by the wind entire personality, of all his previous benefi- (JOB. iii. 4; 2 Pet. ii. 17); but from Homer cence, of all bis knowledge of their weakncsa downwe.rda it is, wit.h ri;CI or ""'""• UBed for and fee.r, are sacredly symbolic. The Church "rowing." baa evor since regarded them aa veritably OB. VJ. 1-71.) 'l'll.E GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 255