The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 392

Ve!'II. 8, 9.-The unselfishnes., of <Jhrist. Jesus was in the gl\rden of Gethsemane. He bad passed through the agony. He was in the presence of the betrayer and his myrmidons. He was about to endure the indignities of the trials and the anguish of the cross. Yet his thonghts were not of himself, but of bis friends. Knowing the danger to which they were exposed, the weakness which still characterized them, he was anxious on their behalf that they should not be exposed to a trial which they were not then ready to bear. Hence the stipulation and the plea to which, in surrendering himself, be gave utt.erance, "If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way." L THERE WERE SPECIAL REASONS WHY AT THIS CRISIS JESUS SHOULD TAKE MEASURES l'OR THE LIBERTY AND SAFETY OJI' ms FRIENDS A.ND FOLLOWERS. 1. Jesus intended them to be his apostles, and therefore it was not in accordance with bis purposes that they should at that time accompany him to trial and to death. 2. It was part of Jesus' plan to die alone. Malefactors, indeed, yielded up their breath by bis side. But as bis was a death unique in its import, it was not consonant with his wishes that- any of his adherents should partake bis Passion, and distract attention from himself. 3. In all likelihood the faith and devotion even of his nearest friends were not such as to enable them to endure participation in bis death. They could not suffer for Christ until Christ bad first suffered for them. 4. Oar Lord designed to fulfil his own decla- ration uttered in bis int.ercessory prayer-that of those given to him he had lost none. IL Tms REGARD OJI' JESUS FOB OTBEB8 WAB IN RABHONY WITH ms OONDUOT THROUGH- OUT BIB MlNlSTBY. It was bis habit to forget himself in his benevolent work and in his regard for those whom he came f;o eave. E.g. his disinterested and generous treat- ment of his forerunner, John; the complete self-forgetfulness which he displayed in the season of bis temptation, when he, for the sake of bis mission to men, lost sight of hunger, reputation, power; his benovolent ministry to the multitude, to the sick, the suffeiiug, the sinful His own ease, comfort, or renown, never occupied his attention; but no pains did he ever spare that he might serve the objects of hi-s Divine pity. Christ would not have been himself if he had not thought of and secured the liberation of his threatened friends. Ill. THE UNBELJl'ISH~'ESS WHICH JEBUB DISPLAYED IN THE BOUR OJI' ms ABBEBT WA.B PERFECTED IN ms B.AORIFICIAL SUFFERINGS .AND DEATH. It was his own profession that the laying down of bis life should be for hie friends-his sheep. Paul testified that he gave himself a Ransom for all, that he was a Propitiation for the sins of the whole world. When the Saviour-in aooordance with the appointm,int of Divine wisdom. on. xvm. 1-40.J THE GOSPEL ACCOTIDING TO ST. JOHN. 405