indeed, after _the ascension, be beyond the reach of man. (2) The grcl\t reBlity wna the lortbcom111g Pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit. (a) 'l'hus the second Adam becomes a quickening Spirit (1 Cor. xv. 45). (b) Thus the words that Jesus speaks " ere spirit and life," that is, they a.re " the pure incarnation of. the Spirit and the vehicle of life." III, 1ET SOME ABE INACCESSIDLE TO THIS LIFE-GIVING INFLUENCE BY THEIR 11 m.'111!:LIEF. B1'.t there _are. B<?me of you that _believe _not." 1. They _toet·e, perlu1ps, but a small portwn of his disciples. 2. Yet their unbelief was no surprise to one gifted with omniscience. "For Jesus knew from the beginning who they wore that believed not, and who it was that should betray him." 3. The explanation of their unbelief. "Therefore I said unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." (1) It is impossible to understand the interaction of the will of God 1md the will of man in salvation ; (2) yet our Lord asserts plainly that, as faith is God's gift, the salvation of man depends upon his efficacious grnce, Vers. 66-71.-The crisis reached at last. The G:i.lilman disciples, in many cases revolted against Christ's te.~ching. ' I. THE DEFECTION IN GALILEE. "From that time many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him." 1. Tliese disciples returned once more to the world, with its old occupations, and to the religious guidance of the scribes and Pharisees. 2. They ceased to attend upon our Lord's ministry, or to follow him from place to place in his errands of truth and mercy. 3. The cause of their dejection was their u,wilief. "There are some of you which believe not." (1) There e.re many persons who profess to be Christ's disciples for a time, and afterwards fall away from their profession. (2) Though Jesus foresaw this defection, it must have been a bitter disappointment. II. Oun LoBD's TOUCHING APPEAL TO THE TWELVE, "Will ye also go. away?" L Though he has suffered from the sudden thinning of the ranks of his disciples; he yet hd<h open the door for the chosen twelve to follow them if they are so inclined. 2. Yet such an additional defection would have added immensely to his.trial, as the apostles were nearer to .him than the Galilala.n disciples. 3. Our Lord seelcs to find a small company of true disciples, as the last support of his word, who would be impregnable against apostasy. IIL I'ETEB's PROHPT .il.'D FEBVE1-'T ANSWER. "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the word,, of eternal life." 1. The answer is characteristic of the apostle's impulsive nature; for he does not take the trouble to inquire whether it represents the convictions or feelings of all his colleagues. 2. The answer recognized the impossibility of the return of the apostles: (1) Either to the guidance of the scribes and Pharisees, who taught for doctrines the commandments of men, and were blind leaders of the blind; (2) or to the Law of Moses, by which there was neithec life nor righteousness. a. It recognized the essential fitness of Ohrist to be the Tea.cher of the apostles. (1) He had words of eternal life. (a) Either promises of eternal life made before the world began, and put into Christ's hands ; (b) or the doctrines of eternal life, which exhibit the way of salvation through a crucified Saviour. (2) The ground of this conviction. "We believe and know that thou art Christ, the Holy One of God." (a) The belief is first, as it is the foundation of a right understanding, while the right understanding distingnishes the belief from mere opinion. (b) The confession, strangely recalling that of the demoniacs (Mark L 24; Luke iv. 34), was the recognition of Christ as God's Son, sealed unto the work of giving his life for the world. IV. Oun Lonn's DlSCLOSUBE OF T.HE SECRET CJIABACTEll OF ONE OF RIB APOSTLES, "Have I not chosen you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" 1. The choice is to aposfleship, not to salvation. (Luke vi. 13.) 2. Our Lord sees tlte truly devilish character of one apostle tlirough all disguises. Judas was (1) a deceiver, (2) a liar, (3) a murderer. 3. It is a si9nijicant fact that Judas was, unlike the eleven disciples, who were al,l Gali[;BQ,ns, a native of Jud;BQ,. "He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon." He belonged to the village of Kerioth, in J udrea (Josh. xv. 25). The betrayer of our Lord belonged to that Jutlala where the hostilities of the Jews reached its highest point. 4. Our Lord maka the apostlu aware of tlie character of Judas, partly that he may prepare them for the coming betrayal-" for he it was that should (HI, vr. 1-71.] THE GOSPET, ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 283
belrny him "-partly to convincn them that they could only stand steadfast in their faith and nllogianco by relinnco on his grnco.