While their minds were in this state of ferment concerning Christ, calmly and silently he journied towards Jerusalem.

XXVIII.

JOHN VII.

JOHN vii. 14. "Now about the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple, and taught."

The feast of Tabernacles lasted seven days. It was therefore on the fourth day that Jesus appeared suddenly in the midst of the crowds assembled in the temple, and taught. The people were astonished, for they knew that He had never been in the schools of the Rabbi: from whence then came His learning?

Verses 15-17. "And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."

Jesus knew how men's minds were tossed to and fro by the different opinions concerning Him. He shewed them how to arrive at the truth. Let them throw from them all prejudice, and have but one desire-to do the will of God as it was plainly made known in the Scriptures they already had, and God's further will should be made clear to them.

Christ, the Son of God, promised to all who served God in simplicity of purpose, that they should know whether the doctrine they now heard from Him was of God, or whether He spoke it himself, that is, they should not be left in doubt, whether He was or was not the Messiah. This promise that was

made to them is still made and kept to us. If we look back upon what we have read of those who had become the disciples of Christ, we shall find that they had every one of them, shewn this simplicity of mind. Sinners, more or less, they were all but they did the will of God in this-that instead of hardening themselves against instruction, they desired to be turned from their sins. They humbly sought to know, and they were taught the way of salvation. There was a sign by which the true teachers might be known from the false.

:

Verse 18. “He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him."

The last time Jesus stood in the temple, it was to defend His life against the accusation of having broken the law by healing a man on the Sabbath day, and of blaspheming in "making himself equal with God." He reminded them of this, for He knew the Jews still sought his life; but it was with no feeling for himself. He sought not His own glory, but "the glory of Him that sent Him, therefore He said unto them,

Verses 19, 20. "Did not Moses give you the law, and and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil : who goeth about to kill thee?"

Those who were seeking the Saviour's life, did not choose openly to confess it: and there were some who did not desire to harm him. It was a mixed crowd that pressed around Him. Some were furious enemies, some looked and listened without being able to make up their minds what they ought to think, and there were besides, people from all parts drawn by curiosity to hear Him. To His question, "why go ye about to kill me?" the answer" thou hast a devil, (which seems to have been a saying to express, thou art a madman *) who goeth

* John x. 20.

about to kill thee?" is an angry denial of any such desire. Our Lord knew that the Pharisees did seek His life, and he carried back their minds to the great cause of accusation against Him, His working miracles on the Sabbath-day. He once more shewed them, that to do well on the Sabbath-day, was to keep it holy. He had before reminded them that from their own temple-service they might learn that works in the service of God ought to be done on the Sabbath as on other days; and now He brought forward as another proof of this, the fact that the holy rite of circumcision, which distinguished the Jews from all other nations, was commanded to be performed on the eighth day from the birth of every child, whether it were the sabbath For this they had not only the example and authority of Moses, but of the patriarchs down from Abraham.

or not.

Verses 21-27. "Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the Fathers :) and ye on the sabbath-day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath-day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath-day? Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he whom they seek to kill? But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is."

These men must have been among the most ignorant of the dwellers in Jerusalem; had they attended to the Scriptures read in the synagogues each Sabbath-day, they would have known that the very place and family from which Christ should

VOL. III.

* Matt. xii. 12. Luke vi. 8. Vol. II. p. 64.

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be born was pointed out. This was thoroughly understood by almost all the Jews, yet it is likely that their confused notions of the Messiah bewildered them. Time was fast rolling on, and to those who watched and listened with willing minds, the mists of ignorance and doubt would soon clear away. These . men of Jerusalem had not spoken to Jesus, but he knew the thoughts that perplexed them, and made haste to show them that what they needed was a more spiritual understanding. If they had known God better, if they had studied his word, they would have known His Son by the message He brought them.

Verses 28, 29. "Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am; and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me."

The anger of the Jews was stirred against him by these words; and they were the more eager to make him their prisoner; but so long as the hour fixed by the Father was not yet come, their rage against him could do nothing.

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Verse 30. Then they sought to take him; but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come."

And now we see more and more clearly the struggle between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. The spirit of evil strove violently to keep possession of the minds of men, but the spirit of good was prevailing in those among them whose hearts were open to receive him. There was strife between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman. While some grew more fierce in their enmity to Christ, others saw the truth more clearly, and ranged themselves on his side.

Verses 31-34.

"And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more mira

cles than these which this man hath done! The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me. Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come."

Oh foolish people and unwise! The Messiah, the Deliverer, stands among you and ye know him not. This is the time given you, and will ye shorten it? The days and weeks are flying fast, the hour will soon be here, when, all things being fulfilled, he will return to his Father's throne, but you, what will become of you? Ye know not the time of your visitation, and evermore will vainly seek the deliverer, whom ye rejected when he stood among you.

The cold mocking spirit of these Jews caused them always to miss the spiritual meaning of the words spoken by Jesus to them, and each solemn warning fell unheeded on their ears.

Verses 35, 36. "Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles? What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me; and where I am, thither cannot come ?"

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Prayer.

O Lord, raise up, we pray thee, thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.*

* Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent.