Sayfadaki görseller
PDF
ePub

JOHN xi. 37-43.

LET US THEREFORE, AS MANY AS BE PERFECT, BE THUS MINDED: AND IF IN ANY

38

said, Could not this-man, which opened the eyes of-the blind, have-caused that even thisman should-not-have-died?

Jesus therefore again groaning eußpiuwuevos in himself cometh to the grave. It-was 39 a-cave, and a-stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take-ye-away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that-was-dead, saith unto-him, Lord, by-this-tine he-stinketh: for he-hath40 been dead four-days. Jesus saith unto-her, Said-I not unto-thee, that, if thou-wouldest41 believe, thou-shouldest-see over the glory of God? Then they-took-away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, 42 I-thank thee that thou-hast-heard me. And I knew that thou-hearest me always: but because-of the people which stand-by I-said it, that they-may-believe that thou hast-sent 43 me. And when-he- thus -had-spoken, he-cried expavyage with-a-loud voice, Lazarus,

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Jno. xi. 37. which opened the eyes, &c.-referring his people should be giving thanks always for all to ch. ix. 1, 6, § 55, p. 109. things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,' Eph. v. 20.

38. It was a cave-It was, and still is, customary to excavate sepulchres from the solid rock. Abraham bought a cave' to bury Sarah in, Ge. xxiii. 19.

40. Said I not unto thee-see what he had said, ver. 4, p. 127, when the sisters sent to apprise him of the sickness of Lazarus; also what he said to Martha upon meeting her, ver. 23, .5, .6, p. 129.

see the glory of God-He had before said, ver. 4, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.' -Jesus had predicted that his raising the dead should be given among the proofs of his Messiahship. When he had healed the impotent man at Bethesda, he said, speaking of the Son in relation to the Father, ch. v. 20, .1, § 23,He will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.'

41. they took away the stone-The mouth of the cave or sepulchre was usually covered with a stone. Joseph covered the entrance of our Lord's tomb with a stone, which was sealed by the Pharisees, Mt. xxvii. 60, .6, § 92.

Father, I thank thee-Mt. xi. 25, § 29, p. 227, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,' &c.-So also

NOTE.

hast heard me-This seems to have been indicated by that which is related, ver. 33-Rom. viii. 27, And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.'-1 Jno. v. 14, .5, And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us; and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.'

42. hearest-He. v. 7, He was heard in that he feared;' because of the people-Christ came not for his own benefit, but for ours; his sayings were for the salvation of those who heard them, ch. v. 34, § 23- The voice heard in the temple came, not because of him, but for the sake of the people, xii. 28-30, § 82, P. 268-His grace was shewn in this, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich,' 2 Co. viii. 9. hast sent me-ch. v. 36, § 23.

43. Lazarus, come forth-The power of Jesus' word had before been shewn in raising Jairus' daughter from the dead, Mk. v. 41, .2, § 36, p. 284.

NOTES.

Jno. xi. 38. It was a cave. See Mk. v. 3, § 35, p. 269, when, as it is asserted in the narrative, ver. 17, 39, the dead man would actually have been three days, and a part of a fourth day, in the grave.'-Greswell, A stone lay upon it. It was shut up with a stone. Vol. II. p. 513. 39. By this time, &c. The putrefaction of dead bodies is extremely rapid in hot countries.

For he hath been dead four days. τεταρταίος γαρ εστι. The word 'dead' is not in the original; it is, for he hath been four days,' i. e., in the grave, and not four days dead only.-See ver. 17.

'When Jesus arrived at Bethany, Lazarus had been either four days dead, or four days in the tomb, or both, ver. 39; for it was the custom of the Jews to commit the bodies of the dead to the grave as soon as possible, so that the burial of Lazarus on the day of his death itself, especially if he had died of a fever, would be nothing extraordinary. The distance of the quarter where our Lord would receive the first intimation of his sickness, was probably more than two, but less than three, days' journey from Jerusalem. Hence, if he had received the message of the sisters on one day; if Lazarus had died and been buried on the next; and if Jesus himself set out on the third: he would arrive at Bethany in the course of the fifth;

The miracle ensued so soon after the arrival, that Jesus did not even enter the village, ver. 30, but until he had performed it, continued without, going only in the meantime to the tomb; the situation of which, according to the Jews, would necessarily be some place apart.'-Ibid. p. 514.

40. The glory of God, ver. 25. The power and goodness displayed in the resurrection.-See on ver. 43. 41. Lifted up his eyes. See Mt. xiv. 19, § 40, p. 313; Jno. xvii. 1, § 87.

Father, I thank thee. Jesus did not ordinarily so appeal. It may be supposed that he did so now to shew that he worked by his Father's authority, and not, as maliciously said, by the aid of devils.

43. A loud voice. Greek, A great voice;' Syriac, A high voice.' This was distinctly asserting his power. At his second advent, he will call the dead with a great sound of a trumpet, Mt. xxiv. 31, § 86; 1 Th. iv. 16.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

is able, not only to preserve from death, but to deliver from under its power. Death's temporary triumph will only give occasion for our Saviour's obtaining the greater victory.]

Jno. xi. 38, .9. Although those who were present with Jesus at the raising of Lazarus could not, like the Lord of life, command him to come forth alive, yet they could do something to prepare for his coming forth-they could take away the stone.

[40 ver. Jesus again speaks to Martha, as if faith on her part was a necessary condition to her enjoy. ment of the promise.]

[The resurrection of the dead is the glory of God. VOL. 11.] ARE NOT MY DAYS

May he be glorified in our being now raised up together with Christ.]

41 ver. We should not only pray to God for what we want, but return thanks on account of his granting that for which we have prayed.

[42 ver. The public expression of confidence in God, as about to bestow promised blessing, is to be made, not only on our own account but for the benefit of those that stand by.]

43 ver. Marvel not that one should be raised from the dead: the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall come forth. FEW ?-Job x. 20.

[131

THING YE BE OTHERWISE MINDED, GOD SHALL REVEAL EVEN THIS UNTO YOU.-Phil. iii. 15.

STABLISH THY WORD UNTO THY SERVANT, WHO IS DEVOTED TO THY FEAR.

Psalm cxix. 38.

JOHN Xi. 44-.9.

44 come forth devpo etw. And he that-was-dead came-forth, bound hand and foot withgrave-clothes: and his face was-bound-about with-a-napkin. Jesus saith unto-them, Loose him, and let him go.

(G. 24.) The tidings of this miracle being brought to the Pharisees, they are the more determined thereby to put Jesus to death: Jesus withdraws to Ephraim, where he stays some time.

45

John xi. 45-54. Line from Bethany to Ephraim.

Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had-seen the things which Jesus 46 did, believed on him. But some of them went-their-ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had-done.

47

Then gathered the chief-priests and the Pharisees a-council, and said, What do-we? 48 for this man doeth many miracles. If we-let-him thus -alone, all men will-believe on 49 him and the Romans shall-come and take-away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the-high-priest that same year, said unto-them, Ye know SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Jno. xi. 44. napkin-see also in the case of Jesus, ch. xx. 7, § 93.

46. told them what things-see Abraham's saying, in the parable, when he was petitioned that Lazarus might be sent from the dead, to warn the rich man's brethren, Lu. xvi. 31, § 69, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.'

47. gathered.... a council - Ps. ii. 2, The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed,'-see the Pharisees,' Mt. xii. 14-' and Herodians,' Mk. iii. 6, § 25-the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,' Mt. xxvi. 3, § 86.

doeth many miracles-They conld not deny that there were miracles wrought, but the Pharisees said, he cast out devils through Beelzebub, Mt. xii. 22-.4, § 31-Nicodemus confessed that no man could do the miracles which Jesus did, except God were with him, Jno. iii. 2, § 12, p. 83 Ac. ii. 22, miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:'-see also iv. 16. 49. Caiaphas-high priest (with Annas) at the time of John's beginning to prophesy, Lu. iii. 2, § 7, and at the time of Jesus' crucifixion, Jno. xviii. 13, .4, § 89. being the high priest-see the institution of the high priesthood, Ex. xxviii., xxix., and the requisites for the office, He. v. 1-4.

NOTES.

Jno. xi. 44. Bound hand and foot. It is not certain whether the whole body and limbs were bound together, or each limb separately.

His face was bound, &c. If the Jews buried as the Egyptians did, the face was not covered with a napkin, but it only went round the forehead and under the chin.

Loose him. Remove the bandages, so that he may walk freely. The effect of this miracle is said to have been, that many believed on him.-See ver. 45. Others who saw it, and did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, went and told the Pharisees. But they did not deny that Jesus had raised up Lazarus. They could not deny it. The very ground of their alarm, the very reason why they went, was, that he had actually done it. Nor did the Pharisees dare to call the act in question.

The resurrection of Lazarus was a powerful testimony to the Messiahship of Jesus, & an emblem of the power of Christ in quickening dead sinners. By his word they awaken from a death of sin to a life of righteousness. It is an earnest of the final resurrection of all men. The same voice that raised Lazarus shall awaken the dead which have slumbered in the dust for ages, and all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation,' ch. v. 28, .9, § 23, p. 178.

47. A council. A meeting of the sanhedrim, or great council of the nation. NOTE, Mt. ii. 4, § 5, p. 32. They claimed the right of regulating all the affairs of religion. NOTE, Jno. i. 19, § 10, p. 68.

What do we? rí rоLovμev. What are we doing?' A popular phrase suited to deliberation, and implying also, What are we to do?'

48. All men will believe on him. Will openly acknowledge him to be that king whom they have so long expected.-Comp. ch. vi. 15, § 41, p. 317; xii. 11, 3, .8, 9, §§ 81, .2, pp. 257, 264, &c.; and see Mt. ii. 2, § 5, p. 31, NOTE.

And the Romans shall come. They were then subject to the Romans; tributary and dependent. Whatever privileges they had, they held at the will of the Roman emperor. They believed, or feigned to believe, that Jesus was intending to set up a temporal kingdom; and that the consequence would be, that the Romans, provoked by the rebellion against the authority of Cæsar, would come and destroy both their place of religious worship, and their national existence. It was on this charge that they at last arraigned him before Pilate, Lu. xxiii. 2, 3, 23, § 90.

Our place. This probably refers to the temple, Ac. vi. 13, .4. It was called the place by way of eminence, as being the chief or principal place on earth, being the seat of the peculiar worship of God. This place was utterly destroyed by the Romans.See NOTE on Mt. xxiv. § 86. p. 323.

49. Caiaphas. See NOTE on Lu. iii. 2, § 7, p. 49.

High priest that same year. The high priesthood, by Divine appointment, was to continue in the same person for life; but the Romans changed the high priest at pleasure, and made the office, for the most part, annual.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

Jno. xi. 45, .6. The same results still follow the wonder-working word of Jesus. Some believe on His name, and others go their way, and tell the Pharisees.

[47 ver. No wonder Jesus refrained from manifesting himself more frequently at Jerusalem; the very report of his doing good, stirred up the religious authorities there to greater diligence in doing evil.]

132]

48 ver. That which the Jewish rulers pretended to

fear, came upon them. The Romans did come and take away their place and nation, but not on account of all men believing on Christ. Those that believed in him were they who alone escaped from that dreadful destruction."

by Caiaphas! As being ignorant of Jesus, the Christ, [49 ver. How true were the words which were uttered they indeed knew nothing at all; they were ignorant of the law in which they gloried, and of the great purpose of God with regard to their nation.]

FORSAKE THE FOOLISH, AND LIVE;-Prov. ix. 6.

[VOL. IL

I WILL DELIGHT MYSELF IN THY STATUTES: 1 WILL NOT FORGET THY WORD.-Psalm cxix. 16.

BEWARE LEST ANY MAN SPOIL YOU THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND VAIN DECEIT, AFTER

JOHN xi. 50-.4.

50 nothing at-all, nor consider diaλovice00e that it-is-expedient ovudepe for-us, that one 51 man should-die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spakehe not of himself: but being high-priest that year, he-prophesied that Jesus should 52 eueλλev die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but that also he-shouldgather-together in one es év the children of God that were-scattered-abroad dieσкоρπiσ53 μeva. Then from that day forth they-took-counsel-together for to-put- him-to-death. Jesus therefore walked no more openly appηnoia among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near-to the wilderness, into a-city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. [Ch. xi. 55, lxxxi. p. 252.]

54

SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Jno. xi. 51. he prophesied-Prophecy was not at the will of the prophet; we find Balaam saying, Nu. xxiii. 26, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?' and we find Saul also among the prophets,' 1 Sa. xix. 23, .4.

52. gather together in one-the children of Israel, who had been dispersed; and in whose casting out the Jews had rejoiced, Eze. xi. 15-20-Of that house of Israel upon whom the Lord had not mercy under the law, and who were to appearance cut off, whilst the Jews were preserved, it is said, Ho. i. 10, .1, Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves ONE HEAD, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the

day of Jezreel.'-See Jno. x. 16, § 55, p. 116, Other sheep I have,' &c.

54. walked no more openly, &c. ch. vii. 1, § 52, p. 70-In this he was exemplifying his own direction to his disciples, Mt. x. 23, § 39, When they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another:'--Paul and Barnabas fled from Iconiun, Ac. xiv. 6, and Paul and Silas, when persecuted at Thessalonica, departed by night to Berea, ch. xvii. 10.

Ephraim-'In Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim,' Absalom had sheep-shearers, 2 Sa. xiii. 23-It was taken from Jeroboam by Abijah, 2 Chr. xiii. 19Ephraim was the name of Joseph's younger son, Ge. xli. 52-of whom was to come the fulness of the Gentiles-comp. ch. xlviii. 19, with Rom. xi. 25-who is at length to prove worthy of his name (fruitful), being made fruitful in the Lord, Ho. xiv. 8-and to which there is probably an allusion, Mt. xxi. 43, § 84, p. 290.

NOTES.

Jno. xi. 49. Ye know nothing at all. It is probable that there was a party, even in the sanhedrim, who was secretly in favour of Jesus as the Messiah. Of that party Nicodemus was certainly one.-See ch. iii. 1, 2, § 12; vii. 50, .1, § 55; xi. 45, supra; xii. 42, § 85, 'among the chief rulers also many believed on him; &c. 50. Expedient for us, that one man should die. It is likely that Caiaphas understood the words thus: 'Better that one man should be put to death at a venture, for the preservation of a whole nation, than that the whole nation should be ruined by your needless scrupulousness about the life of one man.'

[51. And this spake he not of himself. i. e., and in thus counselling that Jesus should be put to death, he was not left to himself alone; but being high priest that year,' he was inspired in virtue of his office to express himself in terms which had a far higher meaning than he knew or irgended.-See ch. x. 16, § 55, p. 116; also Is. xlix. 6; 1 Jno. ii. 2. God may make even the malice and wicked plots of his enemies the very means of accomplishing his purposes. What they regard as the fulfilment of their plans, God may make the fulfilment of his; yet so as directly to overthrow their designs, and prostrate them in ruin.]

He prophesied. pоepnтevσev, to prophesy does not always signify to predict future events,' but to speak by Divine impulse and direction, as in Lu. i. 67, 76, § 3, pp. 16, .8.

For that nation. For the Jews. As a sacrifice for their sins. In no other sense whatever could it be said that he died for them. His death, so far from saving them, in the sense in which the high priest understood it, was the very occasion of their destruction. They invoked the vengeance of God when they said, 'His blood be on us, and on our children,' Mt. xxvii. 25, § 90, p. 453; and all these calamities came because they would not come to him and be saved; that is, because they rejected him, and put him to death, xxiii. 37-.9, § 85, p. 320.

Cer

54. No more ovx eri, rather, 'not yet,' for within a short time after he appeared openly at the passover. [A country. Ty xópar, the country.' The exact situation of Ephraim it is impossible to fix. tainly it was not where it is placed in Arrowsmith's map. As it is called by a Rabbinical writer, cited in Wetstein, Ephraim in valle, I should conjecture that it was situated somewhere in the southern part of the Valley between mount Ephraim and the opposite range of Bethaven, which formed, we may imagine, the desert of Bethaven. The word róλ here should phus, Bell. v. 8, woXixvov.'-Bloomf.]-See GEOG. NOT. be rendered town, since the place is called by Josep. 134.

A city called Ephraim. In the mountainous country near the wilderness of Judæa, at the edge of the tribe of Ephraim.'-Wells.

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

[Jno. xi. 50. It requires great sincerity of heart, and simplicity of purpose, to deal truly with revelation, and escape from wresting it to our own destruction. It is likely that Caiaphas understood the prophecy as warranting his offering up Jesus as a propitiation to the Romans, whose predicted destruction of their nation he may thus have expected to avert.]

[51 ver. God was pleased to make use of Balaam, in pronouncing blessing upon the children of Israel; and of Caiaphas, to declare his gracious purpose in the death of our Redeemer.]

[The prophecy through Caiaphas was to be received; but not Caiaphas' interpretation of the prophecy.]

How long-suffering is our God! How persevering in the offers of his mercy. When they had driven away the Saviour, and stopped the mouths of his confessors, God made use of the high-priest himself

to reprove their ignorance, and point them to the Atonement.

52 ver. It is only in Christ, and upon the ground of his atonement, that the happy gathering together can be expected, of the children of God that were scattered abroad.

53 ver. From the effect of the word of prophecy upon the minds of the Jewish rulers, let us be warned to pray much and earnestly, that we may be given to receive the good seed into an honest and good heart.

[54 ver. Jesus, not only in word, but by his acting, condescended to give warning to the Jews of the time when he would be hid from them; when the kingdom should be taken away from their place and na tion, that it might be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof,' Mt. xxi. 43, § 84, p. 290. May Ephraim (fruitful) not be found equally unworthy of his name, as the Jews were of theirs, confession.]

*At Ephraim the gospel of St. John leaves our Saviour for the present, and brings him back to Bethany only six days before the next passover.'-Greswell, Vol. II. Diss. xxx. p. 515.-See Juo. xii. 1, § 81, p. 253. GO IN THE WAY OF UNDERSTANDING.-Prov. ix. 6.

VOL. II.]

N

[133

THE TRADITION OF MEN, AFTER THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD, AND NOT AFTER CHRIST.-Col. ii. 8.

IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH-Psalm xcii. 1.

GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
BETHANY.-John xi. 1, p. 127.

The following is from Dr. Robinson's Biblical Researches in Palestine,' Vol. II. p. 100-..3: Passing along the wall from the Damascus gate to that of St. Stephen's, we then descended and crossed the bridge in the valley, and followed the camel road, which ascends obliquely the side of the mount of Olives, back of the village of Siloam, and crosses the ridge at a lower spot some distance to the south of the summit. It then winds N. around the head of a wady running off S. E., and after crossing another lower ridge, passes on towards Jericho. Here, on the eastern slope, (strictly of the mount of Olives,) in a shallow wady, lies the village of Bethany, in a direction about E.S. E. from Jerusalem. We reached it in three-quarters of an hour from the Damascus gate. This gives a distance of a little less than two Roman miles from the eastern part of the city, corresponding well to the fifteen furlongs of the Evangelist (Jno. xi. 18). On the W. N. W. is a hill partially separated from the higher ridge of the mount of Olives by a deep valley; the head of which we went round in returning over the summit of the mount. Just south of the village is a very deep and narrow wady or ravine running down towards the east; and on its further side on higher ground, S.E. from Bethany, about one-third of a mile distant, is seen the deserted village of Abu Dis.

'Bethany is a poor village of some twenty families; its inhabitants apparently are without thrift or industry. In the walls of a few of the houses there are marks of antiquity; large hewn stones, some of them bevelled; but they have all obviously belonged to more ancient edifices, and been employed again and again in the construction of successive dwellings or other buildings. The monks, as a matter of course, show the house of Mary and Martha, that of Simon the leper, and the sepulchre of Lazarus. The latter is a deep vault, like a cellar, excavated in the limestone rock in the middle of the village; to which there is a descent by twenty-six steps. (In the days of Cotovicus there were twenty-two steps.)* It is hardly necessary to remark, that there is not the slightest probability of its ever having been the tomb of Lazarus. The form is not that of the ancient sepulchres; nor does its position accord with the narrative of the New Testament, which implies that the tomb was not in the town. (Jno. xi. 30-.8.) The Arab name of the village is el-'Aziriyeh, from el-'Azir, the Arabic form of Lazarus. The name Bethany is unknown among the native inhabitants. Yet there is no reason to question the identity of the place. The distance from Jerusalem and the situa tion on the road to Jericho, are sufficiently decisive. The Itin. Hieros, in A.D. 333, already mentions here the crypt of Lazarus; and Jerome, some seventy years later, speaks of a church as having been built over it. In the seventh century it is further mentioned by both Antoninus Martyr and Arculfus ; at that time the church (Basilica) was standing over the supposed sepulchre, and a large monastery had been established. About A. D. 1132, Melisinda, the queen of king Fulco of Jerusalem, wishing to found a nunnery over

which her younger sister Iveta might preside as abbess, selected Bethany as the site, and obtained it from the canons of the Holy Sepulchre in exchange for Tekoa. She then established here a convent of Black nuns professing the rule and institutes of St. Benedict-the same order of which her sister was already a member in the nunnery of St. Anna in Jerusalem. The new convent was more richly endowed than any other in Syria; and for its protection the queen caused a strong tower of hewn stones to be erected at a great expense. The buildings were not completed until near the death of king Fulco, in A.D. 1143. An aged matron of approved piety was made the first abbess; who was soon succeeded by the high-born Iveta. Two centuries later, this convent was no longer in existence. Brocardus, in the thirteenth century, does not allude to it; and Rudolf de Suchem, in the fourteenth, speaks only of three churches, one of which was used by the Arabs as a stall for cattle. In A.D. 1484, Felix Fabri found only the church over the sepulchre of Lazarus; and this in the days of Cotovicus had been converted into a mosque. Since then the place is often mentioned by travellers, and has been gradually falling more and more into decay.

Of the village of Bethphage no trace exists. In coming from Jericho our Lord appears to have entered it before reaching Bethany (Mt. xxi. 1; Lu. xix. 29); and it probably therefore lay near to the latter, a little below it towards the east. Of course it could not well have been where Abu Dis now stands; and still less on the spot which the monks assign to it, half-way between Bethany and the summit of the mount of Olives, where there is nothing to show that a village ever stood. shorter route over the summit of mount Olivet.''We returned to Jerusalem by the somewhat Robinson, Vol. II. pp. 100, ..3.

Our Lord and his apostles seem to have lodged at Bethany during their attendance at the last feast of passover, and probably on former occasions, Mt. xxvi. 6, [Mk. xiv. 3; Jno. xii. 2,] §81; Mt. xxi. 17, [Mk. xi. 11,] § 82; Mk. xi. 12, § 83-and on the day of his ascension into heaven, he led them out as far as to BETHANY,' Lu. xxiv. 50, § 98.-Bethany is a lovely spot, though but a scene of ruin and poverty: the soil is good, but miserably neglected. The ravine in which it lies is terraced, and the terraces are covered with fruit trees or waving grain. Though occupying an elevated spot, it is overshadowed, on the north and west, by the mount of Olives; and looking towards the south-east, presents a view of parts of the plain of Jordan and the Dead sea. It is a most charming seclusion, and a fitting place of quiet retirement, such as Jesus sought, from the maddened Pharisees. 'It seems a humble village; few its homes, And few and poor its dwellers; cottage roofs, Except one single turret, are they all: Yet save the neighbouring city, it were hard, If Palestine were searched, to find a spot On which the Christian traveller should muse, With fonder interest, than BETHANY.'

may be collected, that the name of 'mount Ephraim' was applied to the whole of the ranges and groups of hills which occupy the central part of the southernmost border of this tribe, and which are prolonged southward into the tribe of Benjamin. In the time of Joshua these hills were densely covered with trees (Josh. xvii. 18), which is by no means the case at present. In Je. 1. 19, mount Ephraim is mentioned in apposition with Bashan, on the other side of the Jordan, as a region of rich pastures, suggesting that the valleys among these mountains were well watered and covered with rich herbage, which is true at the present day.

EPHRAIM.-John xi. 54, p. 133. 'EPHRAIM. Eppaíu, a city in the wilderness of Judæa, to which Jesus withdrew from the persecution which followed the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, Jno. xi. 54. It is placed by Eusebius (Onomast. S. 5, 'Eppior) eight Roman miles north of Jerusalem. This indication would seem to make it the same with the Ephrain which is mentioned in 2 Chr. xiii. 19, along with Bethel and Jeshanah, as towns taken from Jeroboam by Abijah. And this again is doubtless the same which Josephus also names along with Bethel as two small cities (rolívia) which were taken and garrisoned by Vespasian, while reducing the country round Jerusalem. 'EPHRAIM, a mountain, or group of mountains, in central Palestine, in the tribe of the same name, on or towards the borders of Benjamin. (Josh. xvii. 15; xix. 50; xx. 7; Ju. vii. 24; xvii. 1; 1 Sa. ix. 4; 1 Ki. iv. 8.) From a comparison of these passages it

'EPHRAIM, THE FOREST OF, in which Absalom lost his life (2 Sa. xviii. 6-8, 9), was in the country east of Jordan, not far from Mahanaim.'-Kitto's Bib. Cyclop. Vol. I. p. 643.

It is perfectly dark, and can only be explored by the light of tapers. The first chamber is about twelve feet square, and five or six feet high. From this there is a second descent, to a smaller vault, of sufficient size to contain three or four bodies.

134]

IN THEE, O LORD, DO I HOPE:-Psalm xxxviii. 15.

[VOL. II.

TO SHEW FORTH THY LOVING KINDNESS IN THE MORNING, AND THY FAITHFULNESS EVERY NIGHT,-Psalm xcii. 2.

ENTER INTO THE ROCK, AND HIDE THEE IN THE DUST,

SECTION 59.-(G. 25.)-[Lesson 56.1-WHEN THE FOURTH PASSOVER WAS DRAWING NIGH, JESUS DEPARTS FROM EPHRAIM THROUGH SAMARIA TO CAPERNAUM; INTENDING TO COMMENCE HIS FOURTH AND LAST CIRCUIT OF GALILEE FROM THENCE.-Luke ix. 51-62.*

INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS.

Mr. GRESWELL does not recognise any account as being given in the gospels, of our Lord's journey to the feast of tabernacles. Some think, however, that what is here recorded, Lu. ix. 51-62, took place during the journey to that feast, and not, as above stated, in going from Ephraim to Capernaum. For some time previous to the Transfiguration, Jesus seems not to have attended the Jewish festivals; but thenceforth we find him stedfastly setting his face to go up to Jerusalem upon these occasions, and availing himself of the opportunities they afforded for publishing the truth.

[blocks in formation]

51

55, .6. Jesus rebukes the two disciples,

refusing their request apon two grounds-1st, they had asked for the punishment of the Samaritans in a wrong spirit-2nd, to destroy men's lives was foreign to the purpose of the Saviour's mission into our world.

Jesus goes with his disciples to another village.

57, .8. As they go, one proposes to follow Christ whithersoever he goeth; Jesus, in reply, warns him, that in so doing, he must expect to have less of a home upon earth than the beasts of the field or the birds of the air.-[See Mt. viii. 19, 20, § 34, p. 264and ADDENDA, infra. p. 137.]

59, 60. Another, whom Jesus invites to follow him, asks to go first and bury his father. Jesus intimates, that men spiritually dead can bury the dead; but that it becomes those who have spiritual men, Go thou and preach the kingdom of God.'-[See life, to be employed in promoting its increase among Mt. viii. 21, .2, § ib.-and ADDENDA, infra.] him after first going home to bid his friends farewell, 61, .2. To another who proposes to follow Jesus replies, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

No. 59. Jesus departs. Luke ix. 51.

[Ch. ix. 50, 2 lii. p. 76.]

And it-came-to-pass, when the time was-come that-he should-be-received-up EV TY συμπληρούσθαι τας ήμερας της αναληψεως αυτον, he stedfastly-set εστήριξε his face to-go to Jerusalem,

Messengers sent into Samaria to prepare for him.-Ver. 52-.6. 52 and sent messengers before his face: and they-went, and-entered into a-village of-the53 Samaritans, to make-ready for-him. And they-did-not-receive him, because his face SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Lu. ix. 51. received up-The verb from which the noun avans is formed, is used with regard to the ascension of Christ, Mk. xvi. 19, § 98; Ac. i. 2; ii. 34; 1 Ti. iii. 16-We should, more especially when suffering is before us, look forward to the glory, 2 Thess. i. 6, 7-see Heb. xii. 2; 2 Ti. ii. 12.

stedfastly set his face, &c.-There was much to discourage in going up to Jerusalem-The Jews had sought to kill him, Jno. v. 16-.8, § 23, &c.-and he knew that it was at Jerusalem he was to meet with suffering and death, Mt. xvi. 21, § 50, p. 40-and that such consummation of guilt on the part of Jerusalem was soon to be followed by her destruction, Lu. xix. 41-.4, § 82, p. 264-Notwithstanding these discouragements, we find that from the time of his Transfiguration, one of the last events recorded by Luke ix. 28-35, § 51, p. 51-Jesus is constant in his attendance at the Jewish festivals in Jerusalem; there braving reproach, and every opposition of unreasonable men, that so he may deliver a full and faithful testimony, and finish the work which had been given him to do for our redemption-see his ministry at the feast of tabernacles, Jno. vii. 10-x. 21, § 55, pp. 91-117 at the feast of dedication, 22-39, § 56, p. 120 and between that feast and the passover,

xi.; and finally at the passover itself, xii.; Mt. xxi.-..v, §§ 81-6-Upon these occasions were more especially fulfilled the words of the prophet, Is. 1. 7-9, For the Lord GoD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. 8, He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. 9, Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.'-Thus stedfastly did he set his face, not only at the last passover, but upon each of the two preceding festivals, so that the account of what took place at them, as given Juo. vii. 10-x. 39, §§ 55,.6, pp. 91-123, is perhaps the best comment upon the words, Therefore have I set my face like a flint,' &c.

52. village of the Samaritans-Samaria lay between Galilee and Judæa, Jno. iv. 4, § 13, p. 92.

53. not receive him-Jesus had formerly been well received in a Samaritan city, Jno. iv. 39-42, § ib., p. 96-and Mt. x. 5, § 39, p. 295.

because his face, &c.-see ver. 51, supra.

NOTES.

[Lu. ix. 51. When the time was come. Evμλпpovodai, when used of time, denotes such a completion of a period between two given periods as that the latter is fully come. Here it is, as often, taken populariter; an event being thus spoken of as come, when it is very near at hand. On the sense of avaλhews the commentators are not agreed. The true one is, no doubt, that of the Syriac and Arabic, who understand it of our Lord's being received back into heaven (comp. Jno. iii. 13), with allusion to his having

come from heaven. The noun, indeed, does not elsewhere occur either in the New Testament or the LXX., except in 2 Ki. ii. 11, of the translation of Elijah; but the verb àvaλaußáver is often used to denote Christ's ascension.'-Bloomf.]-See ADDENDA, p. 138, On the supplementary relation,' &c.

firm and settled resolve.'-R. Watson. Stedfastly set his face. Composed himself into a

53. Because his face was, &c. The Samaritans

PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS.

Lu. ix. 51. Let not the season of arduous duty or of suffering find us unprepared: let us look to the crown, and stedfastly resolve to bear the cross.

52 ver. Let us not only firmly resolve, but deliberately make preparation for the course appointed us by our heavenly Father.

*On the supplementary relation of Luke ix. 51-xviii. 14, to the first two gospels, see Greswell, Vol. II. Diss. xxxi. pp. 517-.44, and ADDENDA, p. 138, infra.

+ See Suggestions on the probable place, &c., of Luke ix. 51,' &c., ADDENDA, p. 139.

VOL. II.]

WITH GOD IS TERRIBLE MAJESTY.-Job xxxvii. 22.

[135

FOR FEAR OF THE LORD, AND FOR THE GLORY OF HIS MAJESTY.--Isa. ii. 10.

« ÖncekiDevam »