THE pre-existence, divinity, and creative exertion of the Word. The light of
the world. The end of John's mission. The reception of the Word among
God's ancient people. The word incarnate, the interpreter of God, the
fountain of grace and truth to men, visits the earth. The Baptist's testi-
mony concerning himself; concerning the Messiah, whom God had indica-
ted to him by a visible token. Two of John's disciples, induced by their
Master's testimony, follow Jesus. Others also called by Jesus,
SECTION II. The Entrance on the Ministry.-Ch. ii. iii.
Jesus turns water into wine at a marriage in Cana; goes to Jerusalem; drives
the traffickers out of the temple; silences those who questioned his authori-
ty; makes many converts, but not all worthy of confidence; is visited se-
cretly by Nicodemus, a magistrate, with whom he converses on regenera-
tion, faith, and fortitude in the cause of truth. Jesus retires into the coun-
try; employs his disciples in baptizing: this is reported to John, who gives
his testimony of Jesus, exalting his mission and personal dignity much
above his own,
SECTION III. The Journey to Galilee.—Ch. iv.
Jesus, near Sychar of Samaria, enters into conversation with a Samaritan
woman discovers himself to her to be the Messiah. The disciples, who
had gone into the city to buy food, are surprised to find them conversing
together. He acquaints his disciples, that to do the work for which he was
sent, was to him as food; goes into the city; stays two days, making many
converts: returns to Galilee; heals the courtier's son who lay sick at Ca-
pernaum,
428
SECTION IV. The Cure at Bethesda.-Ch. v.
The supernatural cures wrought at Bethesda by the agitation of the water.
A diseased man who lay there, waiting such a cure, healed on the Sabbath
by Jesus, who commanded him to carry home his couch. Hence some al-
tercation of the Jews,-first with the man-afterwards with Jesus. Jesus al-
leges the example of his Father, from whom he derives both the power where-
by he acts, and the wisdom wherewith he teaches. His mission proved by
-1. the testimony of John; 2. the miracles he wrought; 3. the decla-
ration of the Father at his baptism; 4. the Jewish Scriptures,
SECTION V. The People fed in the Desert.-Ch. vi. vii. 1.
Jesus feeds five thousand miraculously in the desert. While his disciples
embark, he retires from the multitude, who intend by force to make him
their king. The night being stormy, he follows his disciples, walking on
the sea; enters their vessel, which immediately reaches the intended port;
instructs the people who flock about him, as to the object most worthy of
their labor; declares himself the bread of life, the source of spiritual nour-
ishment and comfort, prefigured by the manna which the Israelites ate in
the desert. His language, so strongly metaphorical, proves unintelligible
to many, and makes not a few withdraw altogether. Jesus having asked