The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 440

human relationships when compared with spiritual ones. 1. Human relationships belong to this world. They belong to the natural, physical, and visible order of things. 'fhey are the outcome of our existence, the arrangements of wise Providence, and important for the government of the human race, their social order, progress, and happiness, and capable of serving our highest interests. 2. CJhrist spoke of and treated them a, inferior to spiritual relationships. Although he was the most obedient, affec- tionate, and exemplary of sons, yet he ever spoke of his spiritual and Divine relation- ships e.s being superior and more important-those arising from a Divine and spiritual birth, from the will of God, as superior to those arising from physical birth, or the will of the flesh. The former had ever his preference, and he was fonder of his relations after the spirit than of those after the flesh. Once, when told that his mother and his brethren were outside, seeking him, he said, " He that doeth the will of my Father," etc. 3. At death human relationships are merged into those of a higher life. He saith, "woman," not "mother;" and, pointing to John, and not to himself, "Behold thy son!" As much as to say, in the old sense of the term, "Henceforth I cease to be thy Son, and thou ceasest to be my mother." She had to think of him, not as her Son, but e.s her Lord and Saviour. By the regenerative influence of Christianity and the tran- sition of death, the material is lost in the spiritual, the human in the Divine, and the temporal in the Eternal. II. THE PEBFOBMANCE OF FILIAL DUTY. "Wben he saw his mother," etc. This duty involved provisions for the future support and comfort of his mother. 1. This duty is felt and admitted by Christ. This implies: (1) That human relationships involve special duties. Brothers have special duties to brothers, po.rents to children, and children to parents. Christ felt that his widowed mother was dependent upon hiIJ>. for support and comfort, and he feels it his sacred duty to provide for her. (2) Tl:ese duties are inC'Umbent, although the relationships whence they arise are about to cease. Jesus was about to cease to be Mary's Son, in the old senije; he was about to enter into a higher life. Still he felt it is duty to provide for her. The spiritual does not atone for the material. The obligations of every state of existence should be performed in that ste.ae, Our oblicrations survive the relationships which ga.ve rise to them. (3) CJhristianity makes all :nder its influence more alive to the duties of human relation- ships. It is not Christ-like to leave the wo_rld as ~hieves a~d t\1ose_who l?ved and :vere dependent upon us as absconders. The higher llfo of Christ 10sp1red him to penorm the duties of this, Christianity ennobles every relationsbiv, a.ud consecrates every duty  'l'HE GOSPEL AOOORDING TO BT, JORN, [OIL x1x. 1-42,