The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 436

mCLke thyself known: claim the place thBt what you blindly <leeire. The kind of belongs to thee." It must be remembered manifestation he subsequently me.do on tbe.t thnt the dieoiples (JudtL•, not Iec11riot, eepe- occasion was one of love to the needy, not olally) enid on the very night of the one of power to dazzle the world (see notes, Pa•einn, "How is it tbnt thou wilt mBnifeet eh. ii. 11). The underlying thought which thyself to us, o.nd not unto the world?" the postponement suggested was th,it tl,e Thie slight note of resemblance with tho appronch of Jesus to ,Jernsslem with the pil- form of the present admonition of the grim-throng would be the signal for the final brothers, is more coincident in the letter outburst of bitter hostility which he knew than the spirit, and received from the Lord was smouldering in the hearts of the Sanhe- a profoundly different reply (see eh. xiv. driete, and would also be tbe torch applied to 22, 23, notes). the magazine of combustible passion in which Vor, 5.-For not even did his brethren he would sacrifice his life. But your time (the believe in him. The evangelist, writing a season whioh is yours) ia always ready. The gencmtion later, and keenly remembering the brothers were at liberty at any time to show attitude the brothers had assumed before the themselves and their works to tbe world. Resurrection, adds, " not even hie brothers," They had plans akin to those of the worl,l. who ought to have been the most prominent They she.red the fashion of religious thought, of hie discipies," did up to this time believe the ideal of the Israelitish world, completely. on him," i.e. entrust themselves to him, dis- James, for instance, Nazarite though he pose of their prejudices, change their con- may have been, punctilious in traditionary ceptions, accept hie spiritual lead, acknow- ritual, e.nd honouring the conservative ledge his Divine mission,'or know him to be passions of his order, might e.t e.ny time the Holy One of God. They had not come secure the e.ccle.me.tions or approval of the into the position of the twelve. What ideas chief powers of the world-their little world. soever they grasped fell immee.snrably short "I" (Christ implied)" wait for the predeter- of" ea.ting his flesh e.nd drinking his blood," mined hour, for the kind of 11ppearance in of coming to him, being given to him e.nd Jerusalem which will be the giving of my drawn to him by the Father. It we.s a flesh for tbe life of the world. Yon a.re so world-Messiah, e. theocratic King, a Prophet- much in harmony with the world that e.t any Ce.pte.in, e. royal Christ, the.t they sought e.nd time yon me.y say all that is in your heart. would have been glad to find in him. This If I go as yon enggest, it mUBt be as treatment of the Lord was another striking Messiah; yon go a.a pious pilgrims to share pa.re.lie! to the temptation of Jesus a.a de- in this natione.l celebration." scribed by the synoptists, "All these things Ver. 7.-The world cannot hate yon; but will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down e.nd it hateth me, beoe.nse I bear witness concern- worship me "(seenoteonch. iv.,and Introduc- ing it, that its works a.re evil. The " world" tion, VIII. 5). The non-belief of the brothers is here used in the current J ohe.nnine sense is in remarkable unison with the widespread of" humanity unregenerate, hun111nity with- unbelief of the people, who were anxious to out grace, or apo.rt from God." The hatred of discern the Christ of their own traditional the world to Christ was pressing down upon expectations, and ready to press almost e.ny his spirit like an intolerable load. He ad- possible cle.ime.nt to premature demonstra- mitted that, from its own standpoint, thel'e tions. The Pharisees e.nd the people sought we.s some justification for the feeling. The some sign from heaven, But while the world hates its censor; it repels thejndgment people demanded it, they expected the.t he passed upon it. It is satisfied with itself would e.nd might gratify them if he chose. e.nd its own idea of righteousness. It is The Pharisees cynically tempted him to so.tisfied with its own ste.ndo.rd.:, e.nd cries procl11im what they believed would prove and professions, so that to be accused of his i1Temedie.ble failure (Weiss, ' Life of wrongful notions, of a depravity under the Christ,' vol. ill. Eng. trans., pp. 167-188). olothing of Pharisaic propriety, of 11, hidden Ver. 6.-J' esns then se.ith to them (to his leprosy which is ee.t:ll{Z .into its vitals, rouses brothers), My time (the" season" for my full all its 11nimosity. If Christ were to go. ho manifestation to tho nation of wh11t I e.m, must deliver his soul. Already the thunder- or the time to disclose my own idea of peal oi Matt. xxii.-xxv., to be shortly de- my own oommisaion) is not 1 yet present. livered after full nssertion of the nature of The season or opportunity for my fine.I his work, e.nd in the metropolis of the tbeo- aclf-revele.tion pauses, e.nd I pa.use for o.n ore.cy, was hurtling in his soul, e.•1d he intiwe.tion of the Father's will. Tins lan- foresaw the outburst of maddened rage guage corresponds with the reply to his whioh would follow; but with melancholy mother, " My hour is not yet come" to do and some gentle irony he so.id, " The world agninst whioh I have to deliver my pro- 1 ~ here rends ob for o~,rw, but is not phetic burden cannol ( o/, 66vaTa1, moral im- followed by modern editors. pollBibility) hatB you I Your uim is to fu 11 JOHN, ·" 006 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. [ou. vu. 1-68.