rently
insignificant coincidences with Old Testament prophecy. It is, however,
to be remembered that John was himself a Jew, and was writing for a
public which laid great stress on such literal fulfilments of prophecy.
The wording of the narrative might lead us to suppose that John believed
Jesus to be intentionally fulfilling prophecy. Where he says, "After
this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the
scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst," it might be fancied that
John supposed that Jesus said "I thirst" in order that Scripture might
be fulfilled. This is, of course, to misconceive the Evangelist's
meaning. Such a fulfilment would have been fictitious, not real. But
John believes that in each smallest act and word of our Lord the will of
God was finding expression, a will which had long since been uttered in
the form of Old Testament prophecy. In these hours of dismay, when Jesus
was arrested, tried, and crucified before the eyes of His disciples,
they tried to believe that this was God's will; and long afterwards,
when they had found time to think, and when they had to deal with men
who felt the difficulty of believing in a crucified Saviour, they
pointed to the fact that even in small particulars the sufferings of the
Messiah had been anticipated and were to be expected.

The first instance of this which John cites is the manner in which the
soldiers dealt with His clothes. After fixing Jesus to the cross and
raising it, the four men who were detailed to this service sat down to
watch. Such was the custom, lest friends should remove the crucified
before death supervened. Having settled themselves for this watch, they
proceeded to divide the clothes of Jesus among them. This also was
customary among the Romans, as it has been everywhere usual that the
executioners should have as their perquisite some of the articles worn
by the condemned. The soldiers parted the garments of Jesus among them,
each of the four taking what he needed or fancied--turban, shoes,
girdle, or under-coat; while for the large seamless plaid that was worn
over all they cast lots, being unwilling to tear it. All this fulfilled
an old prediction to the letter. The reason why it had been spoken of
was that it formed a weighty element in the suffering of the crucified.
Few things can make a dying man feel more desolate than to overhear
those who sit round his bed already disposing of his effects, counting
him a dead ma