The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 202

how perfectly Josue merited the warmest attachment and devotion, Yet ho betrayed him whom be should have honoured and defended; and on this account bis guilt wne 2rcatcr. It may be said of many who have been trained in the Ohristian Church who ha'\'e enjoyed many opportunities of studying Christ's character, and who yet' hnve ,lesertcd and calumniated their Lord, that their sin is without cloak, They knew how holy and how compassionate W&S the Saviour against whom they spoke nnd acted and their~ is the greater sin. 2. The disciple has been graciously treated by the M~ter snd this fact aggravates tbo guilt of him who, having been so treated, proves traitor: Judas was admitted to the Saviour's intimacy, was even promoted to an office of trust, was permitted to provide for Jesus' wants, and to administer Jesus' cha.rity • yet he betrayed the Lord who had so exalted him. How many are there who ~ disciples, have listened to Christ's words, eaten at his table, companied with 'hie friends, yet, in the hour of temptation, have fallen, and have betrayed the dear Lord whose kindness should have been with them as a sacred amulet to preserve them fro~ defection I . PRACTICAL LESSONS. 1. Let the history of Judas remind us of human infirmity and liability to sin. 2. Let the tempted remember that ChrisL's knowledge of his people ii! complete. Whilst he knows the hypocrisy of the false, he knows the danger of the sincere and true friend. 8. Let every disciple hold fast to the Saviour, for in his fellowship only is safety. The peril lies in consorting with Christ's foes, in entering into any complicity with such, in even hearkening to their plans. Better to be in the garden with Christ, than in the council-house with Christ's foes.-T. Ver. 23.-The inti'fTIQ,te friend of Jesus. In mentioning himself in this indirect manner, our Lord's beloved disciple displays his modesty, and at the same time gratifies his attached devotion to bis Master. The friendship which existed between Jesus and John has been productive of some obvious and signal advantages to the Church and to mankind at large. I. Tms FRIE!."'DSHIP WAIi THE MEANS BY WHICH THERE RAS BEEN PROVlllED FOB US A MEllOm OF CHRIST DISTINGUISHED BY A REJIIARKABLE CONGENIALITY BETWEEN THE BIOGBA.PHEB Al>"D HIS DIVINE SUBJECT. If the first three Gospels contain the popular tradition concerning Jesus, the Fourth Gospel records the impressions received during an association of the closest character, lasting throughout our Lord's public ministry. It is to this fa.et that we owe the record of conversations and discourses not preserved by the other evangelists, and more particularly of our Lord's wonderful reve- lations, promises, and prayers precediog his betrayal and crucifixion. The difference, which cannot but be noticed by e1·ery reader as distinguishiog John's Gospel from the others, must be mainly attributable to John's peculiar opportunities of knowing Christ, and to that congeniality of spirit which enabled him to limn a portrait of his Friend io outlines so clear, in colours so true. li. To THIS FRIENDSHIP WE OWE DOCUMENTS PECULIABLY STEEPED IN THE SPIRIT OF CHBIBT's CllillACTEB AND EXA.li1PLE. No one can study John's three Epistles and the Book of Revelation without recognizing, in the compositions of their author, the influence of the Redeemer's companionship and teaching. Not only did John (the eagle of the Christian symbolists) soar into the heavenly, the spiritual world, and dis- cern the Deity and the eternal glory of bis Master; he also, by association with him in his humanity and bis humiliation, so shared his spirit, that we seem, in reading some of John's words, a.I.most to be reading the words of Jesus himself. Especially is this apparent in the constant inculcation in the First Epistle of the incomp:i.rable virtue of Christian Jove. JIL THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN TllE MASTER AND HIS DISCIPLE AFFORDS US AN INSIGHT INTO THE VERY HEART OF CHRIST. Our Lord's perfect humanity is here brought very strikingly before us. There a.re several intimations of Christ's capacity ,for human Jove. He loved the young ruler who appealed to him for spiritual direction ; he loved the family at Bethany; and he loved the disciple who w&e wont to recline upon his breast at their social meals. John's was not only the place of distinction and honour; it was the vlace of affection. We delight to remark our Lord's perfect partici• pation in our human nature, with its sympathies, its tenderness, its personal affectious. Jesu!! appreciated the noble, ardent, affectionate nature of the son of Zebedee; and he orr. xiii. 1--38,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 209