Irish Church Quarterly

The Last Discourse: St. John XIV-XVIIAuthor(s): James McConnellSource: The Irish Church Quarterly, Vol. 2, No. 7 (Jul., 1909), pp. 243-244Published by: Irish Church QuarterlyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30066938 .

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DISCUSSION. 243

DISCUSSION.

THE LAST DISCOURSE: ST. JOHN XIV.-XVII. It is a curious coincidence that the April number of the

IHibbert Journal contains an article partly dealing with these chapters. It likewise emanates from an Irish clergyman, the Rev. F. J. Paul, Presbyterian minister at Bushmills. Some comfort to those of conservative minds may be extracted from the fact that Mr. Paul and Mr. Byrn come to directly opposite conclusions as to their position.

Space only allows me to deal briefly with Mr. Byrn's interesting speculations.

I. We have at the outset to adopt certain theories as to the Evangelist's method of composition. Either (a) he forgot when our Lord's words were spoken. But the memory of an old man is not so uncertain regarding the events of his earlier life. Rather, these stand out in greater vividness. And is no account to be taken of the Lord's promise, "The Holy Ghost. . . shall bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you"? Or does the record of this saying only depend on St. John's uncertain recollection ? Or (b) the Evangelist deliberately groups together sayings spoken at different times. If so, he so far gives a false historical impression. And why, on Mr. Byrn's hypothesis, should he place these sayings before the crucifixion, when they belong, for the most part, to the post- resurrection period? What is his reason for this apparently unnecessary historical dislocation ?

2. The argument from the silence of the Synoptics seems of little value. Their silence as to this discourse is not so remarkable as the omission, in the fourth Gospel, of the institution of the Lord's Supper. The undoubted post- resurrection sayings, recorded in the Synoptics, bear very slight resemblance to the words in St. John xiv.-xv. which Mr. Byrn supposes to be reminiscences of the same teaching. The later sayings, so far as there is any similarity, are the natural re-calling of teaching previously given.

3. I need not say much as to the apparent break at the end of chapter xiv. Perhaps the company adjourned to the Temple Courts: but there is much force in the contention that there was an interruption of the session at the table, but no departure from the house. It may be that the further discourse and prayer were uttered in the open courtyard.

4. I am most at issue with our author in his psychological arguments. " Is it possible," he asks, " that in such an

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244 DISCUSSION.

hour our Lord could utter words of the utmost peacefulness and most confident assurance that He ever spoke in this world?" Yes, I reply, it is not only possible, but most congruous with the nature of our blessed Saviour. He passed to His supreme sacrifice, the thought of which was before Him all His life, with supreme courage. The agony in the garden was a passing trial, was part of that agony which He had steadfastly set His face to endure. On merely human grounds, cafmness and courage may often be followed by a temporary period of despair: ordinary experi- ence, to which Mr. Byrn appeals, is against him here. I strongly demur to these attempts to determine, on alleged psychological grounds, what our Lord must have felt. In the very act of celebrating the Sacrament of His death, when the broken bread and poured out wine, symbols of His own suffering, were before Him, the Saviour " gave thanks." There is no collapse under an intolerable strain here: but even joy at so suffering for men.

5. I have only space for one more criticism. What is meant by the " fatalism . . which is foreign to Christ's usual method of instruction"? Did not He know before- hand, and at times declare plainly, His coming passion and resurrection? In our Lord's perfect knowledge of His pre- destined work the future is regarded as already accom- plished. He has come to the supreme hour, the consumma- tion of the task.

Here I close by stating what is to me a decisive note of the time at which the prayer is uttered. " Father, the hour is come." The hour is that of which before He had said, " Mine hour is not yet come." It is the hour of the great atoning sacrifice. Towards this hour He moves, not oppressed and burdened, though at brief intervals its agony does come upon Him, but knowing the joy set before Him. Of this hour He prays, not " pity, sustain," but " glorify." (I borrow here a thought from the Bishop of Durham.) His " glory " is the cross of Calvary: so St. John views it: so our Saviour saw it. The prayer is the confident speech of One, not dragged to the cross overwhelmed with anguish, and in a state of nervous collapse (as Mr. Byrn pictures), but who marches to it as conqueror, seeing the eternal glory of the Lamb who was slain.

JAMES MCCONNELL.

[Mr. Byrn hopes shortly to contribute to I. C. Q. another article on the Last Discourse in which the questions raised by Mr. McConnell will be discussed.-ED.]

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