The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 446

claims of Jeeus, when it is made cleAr to them that in this emphnUc way Jesus was "numbered with the tranRgressors" ?-Y. Vera. 26, 21.-Tl,e ,qreat Model of filial duty. The last hours of Jesus, as mi.~ht be !Xpeclcd, wero marked by e. very deep feeling of the tie that bound him to his Father In heavon. The ruling motive was strong in death. But the human mother was equally remembered according to her claims and needs. Even in the midst of intease pain, and an the verge of death, Jesus thinks of everybody who ought to be thought of. 'l'he pain, intense e.s His, will soon be over, but the Father in heaven will r2main, with whom Jesus has to dwell in power e.nd glory, and the mother on earth will remain, provided for through the ministry of a trusted friend. Jesus seems to have had a trying time with his relatives; well is it tho.t this last glimpse is so beautiful. J. CONTRAST WITH THE WAY IN WHICH THE RELATIVES OF JESUS TilEATED HDJ. This is the only trnnsaction of Jesus with his kinsfolk in which he takes the initiative. Jesus had to guard himself from tbe plausible suggestions of those who felt they had e. claim to shape or at least to modify his course. His difficulties in this W"-Y woukl begin long before he emerged into public life. We may be sure Jesus did not love opposition or contradiction for opposition's or contradiction's sake. But when his natural kinsfolk pointed one way, and his heavenly Father another, there could be no doubt in his own mind which way to take. And we must learn, as Jesus did, to make little of kindred as advisers, and yet remain loving and helpful to them as kindred. That a man is your father does not make him more competent to advise you; it may only make him more powerful to mislead and ruin you, if his advice is bad. II. KINSFOLK MUST EVER DE TREATED AB KINSFOLK. The time comes when the claim of nature is recognized, and met all the better because other claims bad to be refused before. If Jesus had listened to the expostulations of his kindred, he himself might have supported the old age of his mother, and soothed her dying pillow. But he did something far better. Whatever Mary may have lost in the natural, sbe had the chance of gaining far more in the spiritual. Mary was among the praying band in the upper room, waiting for Pentecost, and doubtless, when the Spirit of power came down, she would rejoice with exceeding gladness that her Son had gone on in single- hearted devotion to his Father's will. Jesus, therefore, is a great Example and Guide to us in all dealings with kinsfolk. In such dealings we peculiarly need an example and guide. He would not let his kinsfolk go beyond their rights, bnt all the time he was keenly observant of their claims. As we read of him providing a protector and son for his mother, we cannot but remember his indignant exposure of those who kept back helpful gifts from father and mother under pretence that they were dedicated to Gori. To please Christ we must both attend to the legitimate claim of natural kinship, and also we must be ready for the claim that cowes upon the human friend.-Y. Ver. 28.-Sujfering, yet not ascetic. Each of the seven words from the cross, if they are to be appreciated at their full value, must be looked at in the light of the other six. Especially is this the case here, This word comes the fifth in order. The first three words show Jesus thinking of the needs and sufferings of others rather than of his own. 'l'he fourth word shows him feeling mental suffering far more than bodily. While Jesus felt forsaken of the Father, the needs of the body would almost lie dormant. But when the gladdening sense of the Father's presence returned, then for the first time would Jesus feel fully conscious of physical pain. Pain of body is forgotten in pain of wind. But, after all, bodily thirst is a reality, rising to one of the intensest, most intolerable pains that the physical frame can suffer; and thus, when Jesus became fully free to feel that he had a body, he naturally gave expression to the keen want. What a curious correspondence there is with the experience of Jesus in the wilderness at the beginning I Then he hungered ; now he thirsts. There he was in solitnde, and needed to say nothing; now there are people round him, able to allay hie thirst, if they are so disposed. I. THE FEELING ITSELF. To know that Jesus thirsted in this wa.y is to know that he must have suffered a great deal of physical pain. The po.in is suggested rather than described, which is a great deal hotter; for who wants minute descriptions of physical pain? And yet there must be some particular hint to produce on our miuds ,, most 460 Tim GOSPEL AOOORDlNG TO BT. JORN. [en. x1lt, 1-4Z