The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 109

Had Jesus been a mere teacher, he would not have excited the enmity which, as a matter of fact, encountered him. But he wrought mighty works, and by their means not only excited interest among the people, but acquired influence over them. That this influence might be used to the detriment of the religious leaders of the Jews was their chief dread with regard to Jesus. The exact ground upon which they might well fear him they did indeed misunderstand. Yet it was his possession of superhuman power which made him formidable to their imagination and to the foreboding of their guilty hearts. It was this authority which in fact, though in a different way from that expected by them, did prove fatal to their position, and subversive of their sway. II. THIS ADMISSION ESTABLISHES THE FACT OF CHBIST'S POSSESSION OF llllRACULOUS POWER, If it had been possible for these selfish and calculating ecclesiastics to do so, doubtless they would ha.ve denied the fact of Christ's miracles. It was against their interests to admit it, could it with any plausibility be questioned. The witness of Christ's friends to his superhuman power is val~ble ; that of disinterested and impartial spectators is more so; but that of his avowed enemies is most valuable of all. They attributed his mighty works to an infernal power; but they never denied them. How can the conclusion be avoided that these signs and wonders did really take place ? III. Tms ADMISSION AGGRAVA'l'ES TBE GUILT OF THOSE WHO CONSPIBED TO SLAY CHRIST. There could be no question that the miracles of Jesus were for the most part obviously benevolent and merciful, and that this was well known to his enemies. What .excuse then could they have for plotting his death? If he was not only a. wise Teacher, but a popular Benefactor and Healer, his enemies, in conspiling to bring his ministry to a close, proved their indifference to the welfare of the people, which Jesus so compassionately and powerfully promoted. It was not only that they slew "the Holy One and Just;" they slew the Self-denying and Compassionate. IV. THIS ADMISSION SHOULD SERVE TO CONVINCE THE SCEPTICAL THAT CHRIST WAS THE SoN OF Gon. If men enter upon the consideration of Christ's claims with the foregone conclusion in their minds that no miracle can by any power be wrought, then all evidence that may be adduced will be adduced in vain. But if they come with unprejudiced and candid minds, the testimony recorded in this verse must surely have weight with them. At all events, it may serve to show that the objections against our Lord's claims advanced in these days are utterly unlike those advanced in his lifetime. There was keen criticism then, although of a different kind from that we meet with now. Then, the only ground on which our Lord's authority was disputed was the very natural ground of the selfish interests of his enemies. It was thought expedient to bring his ministry to a close by violence, falsehood, and injustice. With such a method of opposition to Christ many modem unbelievers have no sympathy. But it is very hard to substantiate any other method of opposition, that is, upon the grounds of rational plausibility. Take the testimony of Christ's worst foes, and deal fairly with it. And their admissio11s will be seen to preclude the possibility of impugning ChrillL's authority. Nor mu~t it be forgotten that the" many miracles" which Jesus wrought when here on earth were the earnest and the prowise of those greater e.nd more IWlaz.iug 112 THE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO ST. JOHN. [ou. xr. 1-157,