The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 196

him. His own }Xlll8eesion e.nd property, his own spiritual kin, theso friends or Jea1111 were attached 1rnd devoted to him, conformed to hie cha.racter, pA.rtioipators in hie e~irit. 2. They were" in the world." Thie expression ie significant, as implylllg that Christ's disciples were the objects or hill affection, notwithstanding the.t they were encompassed by life's difficulties and temptations, notwithstanding that in their oharactor they bore traces or this world's influences and assaults. 8. The le.nguage used is applicable to othera beside the immediate disciples oC,our Lord. Ho felt townrde others end prayed for others ( oh. xvii.) as he felt towards the twelve and prayed for thetn, All are " hie own " who truly trust and love and obey him ; and all his own have 11n interest in his purposes of pity and of grace. II. ITS WO?\'llEB. Marvellous indeed is it that the affection or Jesus should outlast the many trials to which it was put by his disciples, to which it has been put by all of us. There was very much in his followers which was fitted to check, to kill, the love of Jesus. • Oould we bear from one another What he daily bears from ue? Yet this glorious Friend e.nd Brother Loves ue, though we treat him th111 I Though for good we render ill, He accounts ne brethren still." "His own" were: 1. Slow to understand his teaching. 2. Slow to appreciate his nature and his mission. 3. Unworthy in their character of his fellowship and his Name. : 4. Inconstant, as was shown by their afterwards forsaking him in the depth 0£ his distress and humiliation. Amazing was the love which endured when so tried I Amazing is the love which we B.nd all Christ's people have experienced from him, notwithstanding our .unfaithfulness and coldness ! IlL 1TB MOTIVE AND EXPLANATION. 1. The constancy of our Saviour's affection is not attributable to any qualities in his disciples, which could deserve and retain his int.erest and attachment. So far as we are concerned, our need, our dependence upon him, are all that have to be takcR into account. If Jesus were not faithful to us, where would be our strength, our safety, our hope? 2.,For the explanation of this ro.ar- vellous constancy we must look to Christ's own character, to his faithful, unchauging nature, free from every ea.price, from every unkindness. It is his nature to love, and to love without fickleness or weariness. IV. ITS PBOOFB. 1. In the lessons he taught. Christ's was a love that first.and chiefly contemplated the highest good of its objects. His aim.has ever been the spiritual welfare of those whom he befriends. He teachEs (1) by words; (2) by symbols, as in the context, where, :first by washing the disciples' feet, and then by instituting the Lord's Supper, he evinces his affectionate interest in his disciples' well-being by imparting i.o them pictorial and sacmmental lessons which were intended to perpetuate to all generations the memory and the blessing of his unchanging love. 2. In the sufferings and aeath to which he was about to submit. Only constant, unchanging friendship could account for our Lord'!! willingness to lay down his life for his own. And no one who studies this record can doubt that the sacrifice was willing and cheerful ; that our Lord, the good Shepherd, " laid down his life for the sheep." V. ITs DURATION. "•ro the end," says John the evangelist, who had good reason to know the Master well. To the approaching end of his own earthly ministry and life, and to the end of his disciples' period of probation and of education. Christ's love is " faithful, free, and knows no end." It is not only mighty; it is immortal.-T. Ver. 3.-Chrisfs comciousnesB of his mision. The occasion upon which our Saviour 18 ea.id by his friend and apostle John to have had a vivid consciousness of his mission is deserving of attention. It was just before his Passion, in tho upper room where he was about, by act and lanauage, to inculcate great lessons upon his disciples, and whence he was to take his iay to Gethsemane and Calvary. In such circumstances the confidence of a human leader might well have wavered, and his purposes might well have faltered. But Jesue could look forward to what he was about to endure with a touching equanimity, beca.nse he knew whence he had come, whither he was going, what was the nature and authority of hie mission. 011. xm. 1---SB.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST, JOHN. 21)3