And when they had found Him.
The desire of humanity for Christ
While rejoicing in Divine solitude, the loneliness in which He left the suffering, toiling people was indescribably painful to them. A man born blind does not realize his deprivation, but if there is given him a brief vision of daylight how unutterable his sense of loss when it fades away again. So these people felt themselves deprived of the fresh interest and hopes with which they had been inspired when they lost the society and communion of Jesus. But the question was asked by all lips: “Where is He?” And most true is it today-be man’s opinions what they may-there is no more universal experience of human kind, whether gentle or simple, scientific or ignorant, barbarian or bond or free, than the hunger for that fulness of life which is in Christ Jesus. (J. A. Picton, M. A.)
An unconscious prophecy
What the disciples said in their wondering delight, shall one day be literally true-all men will be in search of the Saviour of the world. In the first instance the Saviour sought all men, and in the second all men will seek the Saviour. “We love Him because He first loved us.” (J. Parker, D. D.)
Christ the centre of union for all men
“All men seek for Thee.” Yes, they are tired of their sectarian wranglings; they are wearied out with their ineffectual metaphysical analysis; they are sick of the poor results yielded up by material research; they have lost confidence in their own self-will; they prize no longer their self-conceit; they long to be brothers in the embrace of one common Father, and none can bring them together but Christ. “All men seek for thee.” Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (J. A. Picton, M. A.)
The reason for Christ’s apparently unreasonable departures
He had spoken to the people because He desired them to know; and again, He will retire from them, and have His heart set on their well-being as he retires. When you and I have heard the sermon, what remains for us to do? Is it to hear more, or to think about what we have heard? You can learn by hearing, but you can be confused by hearing too much; one sermon may obliterate the effect of the other. So Christ left the people to whom He had been so acceptable, that in the quietude of their homes they might think of that which they had both heard and seen. (J. Cymore Davies.)
Christian evangelization
I. That this Christian evangelization was preceded by private devotion.
II. That this Christian evangelization was accompanied by an earnest preaching of the truth.
III. That this Christian evangelization made use of the already existing agencies of the Church.
IV. That this Christian evangelization was just in its conception of work, in that it east the devil out of men. Lessons:
1. That evangelistic work requires and is worthy of the best talent that can be obtained.
2. That evangelistic work is ennobling to those who engage in it, as well as to those who are contemplated by it.
3. That evangelistic work has done much to cast the devil out of the masses of our large towns. (J. S. Exell, M. A.)
Christ, a home missionary
From these words I commend to your notice-
I. The resemblance between your own labours, and the personal ministry of your Lord and Saviour, as performed in the field of home missions.
1. In the scene of your labours. The title of missionary denotes one sent forth, and especially belongs to one whose errand is to propagate religion. Christ was sent from God-“The great Apostle of our profession” (Hebrews 3:1). To bring the glad message to our earth from the far heavens, He emptied Himself of glory, etc. It was to an alien race that he ministered. His personal ministry was far more limited and national in its character than was His message. Whatever His intent, in narrowing the field of His toils as a preacher, the fact is evident that to the land of Canaan, or the bounds of His native country, His ministerial labours were confined, and Jesus Christ, while upon earth, was a Home Missionary. Now a work which occupied the greatest of preachers can never be unimportant, etc.
2. In the commission under which He acted, the message He bore, the manner in which He published it, and the mode in which His labours were sustained.
II. The consequent duty of the Church to continue and abound in the like good work. Whether we look to the advantages which our nation presents for such labour, or to its peculiar necessities; to our duty as Christians, or our interests as men loving their country; to the general obligations of the Church, or our own personal and special privileges and responsibilities-on every hand are teeming incitements to energy and liberality, to perseverance and courageous devotedness. (W. R. Williamson, D. D.)