The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 434

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER vn. seoking to kill him, Now the feaat of the J'ews, the Feut of Tabern&olea, w&a at h&nd. Ch. vii.-x. oonto.in the record of the The lo.at olnuso supplies a vnluo.ble chrono- conflict between fe.ith e.nd unbelief in the logical dntum. This great climo.oterio fee.et metropolis. At first the narrative indico.tes of inge.thering e.nd joyful memories of all the goodness of Jchovllh wns held on the e. vast a.mount of criti~al inquiry, of un- fifteenth de.y of the seventh month (Lev. xxiii. settled opinion, of angry disappointment e.nd 34-36). Consequently, according to John's e. certain readiness t,o be convinced on the own statement, six months had elapsed pa.rt of one section or another. The secrecy between the tmnsactions o.t Bethsn.icle. and of the Galilma.n ville.ge is contrasted with Caperno.um, e.nd those which he now proceeds t,o describe. During these six months some the brood arena of the temple-courts. " The of the most thrilling events in the synoptic Jews," or leaders of opinion and authority in narro.tive must ho.ve been enacted. The Judma. e.nd Jerase.lem, who were hostile, a.re Lord •• wollred in Glllilee." He had dis- seen in contrast with "the Jews who be- cussed the whole question of Phnriso.ic and lieved on him" (eh. viii. 31 ). There a.re ceremonial cleansing and food, o.ud the entire principle of revelation and tradition (Matt. multitades e.nd multitades (vers. 12, 30, 31), xv. and Mo.rk vii.). He had given express priests and Pharisees (ver. 32), the synagogue, illustration of his own teaohing by ventlll'ing e.nd the blind beggar with his fea.rfnl e.nd even into heathen cities, e.nd there heal- temporizing parents (eh. ix.). There are ing the Syro-Phmnicie.n's child. He had those who are deeply plotting Christ's de- journeyed t.owards the north of Palestine, into the Greek cities of Dece.polis (Mark vii. strnction, and those who a.re indignant that 31), and had me.de a great demonstration of any such plot is being hatched (eh. vii 20). hie healing powers on the mountain heights The discourses treat the deepest questions of above the Sea of Ge.lilee. There too (Mark ethics and theology, national prejudices and viii. 1-9) he he.d once more fed multitudes the Divine correction of them. The conver- by his word, on the second miraculous meal. It is probable the.t the multitudes were sations are fragmentary, broken in thread, Gentiles, whose stock of food would ho.ve been and yet closely interwoven., while a lifelike exhausted by a three do.ye' sojourn; that at circnmste.ntiality pervades the entire narra- least they were not excitable Galilme.ne, who tive, which argues strongly in favour of its might come by force and mo.ke him a King. h.ist.oricity and authentic cha.re.et.er. It is the The Pharisees e.ssailed him, asking for a sign, The disciples, by the month of Peter, had record of definite acts and genuine questions, oonfet!SCd their faith (Matt. xvi. 13-28) in veritable rebukes and repartees, which have more explicit form o.nd force than before a permanent value as an insight into the (eh. vi. 68, 69), and Christ had explained character, mind, and Person of the Lord. in yet more definite terms than in the Ch. vii consists of three distinct pa.rte : synagogue in Capernaum the needs-be for hie Passion, death, e.nd resurrection. '.l.'he (1) the conditions of the journey to Jeru- Transfiguration on the mountain, with its salem (vers. 1-13); (2) the discnssions inetfe.cee.ble impressions, had followed, with during the feaBt (vers. 14-36); (3) the last numerous miracles, parables, and connected day of the feast (vers. 37-52). Topice.Jly instructions (Matt. xvi., xvii., xviii.). Jesus considered, we regard this section as ex- w&lked for six months in Galilee, knowing, as we learn from these verses, that the hibiting- authorities in Jeruso.lem were utterly hostile Ver. I-eh. viii 11.-3. Christ as the Sour/J8 to him, and had neither forgotten nor for- of truth. given the o.ssertion of his special claims Vere. 1-10.-{l). Treatment of the un- when he was on the last occe.eion in Jeru- beliernng brethren; the hour of his full mani- salem at the unnamed feast (be it the Fee.st futatiun Mt yet come. of Passover or Te.bemaeles, the Feast of Vere. 1, 2.-.lnd after these thing& 1eeus Purim or Trumpets). The outburst of walked in Galilee: fol he was not willing to we.lk in 1u!B8., 1 beo&lll8 the 1ew1 were the old word " Jewry" in place of" J udma." It occurs also in the Prayer-book Versiou of 1 The Authorized Version, in this place, the Psalms (lnvi. l); and in all the older Luke :uiii. 5, 11.nd D11n. v. 13, he.s retained versions except Wiokllil'e'1. an. vn. 1-63.) THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. ,JOHN. 303