The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 471

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 9.-The ignorance which evidence dispelled. I. IT WAS THE DIVINE PUBPOSE THAT JESUS SHOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD. Nothing in the ministry of our Lord was unforeseen and accidental. The closing scenes of that ministry were evidently fore- Rppoioted. The expressions "must" and "must needs" occur frequently in connection with these marvellous and memorable events. They are parts of the plan arranged by lnfinite Wisdom. II. TnE DIVTh"E PUllPOSE THAT THE CHRIST SHOULD RISE FROH THE DEAD RAD BEEN HTh"TED IN OLD TESTA.KENT SCRIPTURE. The text seems to refer to one passage of Holy Writ especially. This may be Ps. xvi. 10-a passage quoted by St. Peter ( Acts ii. 2-t) and by St.. Paul (Acts xiii. 35) as finding fulfilment in the raising of the Redeemer from the grave. There are other passages in the Old Testament which have their full meaning bronght out in the light of the same glorious event. But the light of fulfil- ment is in these cases needed. in order that we way re.,d the predictive meaning in the words of psalmist and of prophet.. It is not to be wondered at that disciples of Christ failed t.o unden;tand the reference of some Old Testament passages to the Messiah. But the rderence was there-after the event itself to be brought out in clearness and beauty. ill. JESUS HAD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FORETOLD BIS RESUBRECTION IN TllE BEARING OF ms DISCIPLES. Early in his ministry he had spoken of the temple of his body, as to be taken down and to be reared again in three days. He bad predicted his resur- rection by representing Jonah's history as a type of what should happen to himself. Towards the close of his ministry, before and after his transfiguration, Jesus had, on three several occasions, declared beforehand to his apostles what was about to occur- how he was to be betrayed, condemned, and crucified, and on the third day to rise again from the dead. It is surprising that so faint an impression should have been made upon their minds by these communications. They seem to have been so absorbed by their own expectations that they did not really receive his express teaching. IV. Oun LORD'S RESURRECTION WAS NOT EXPECTED BY me OWN DISCIPLES. We can- not but admire the candour with which the apostles acknowledged their own failings. There is in this la.nguftge a confession of ignorance and of a lack of sympathy with the purposes of their Lord. John, the most likely of all to seize the spiritual meaning of Christ's words, admits that he had not until this time had any expectation that his MaBter would die and then rise again. Mary wept because she regarded her Lord SB for ever lost to her. The two who walked to Emmaus were distressed and downcast because of Jesus' death. 'l'homas would not believe that Jesus had risen. It is' remarkable that, whilst the disciples forgot, or failed to believe, what their Lord had, said, the priests and rulers who had put him to death remembered the words attributed to him, and guarded, as they thought, against any attempt Oil the part of his followers to remove hill body, and so to give colour to a report of his resurrection. 'l'hey looked coolly at the facts; the friends of Jesus were blinded by overwhelming emotion I V. 'l'HE DELlEF wnrcn THE DISCIPLES CAME TO CHERISH IN THE LORD'S BEBUBREOTIOl!f CB, :n. 1-31.) THE GOSPEL AC<JORDING TO ST. JOHN. 485