Under the strange compelling power of Jesus’ word and will, utterly conscience-stricken at being as guilty as she in the particular item under discussion, they turn, one by one, and slink softly out, until the last one is gone.  As an instance of one will controlling and changing another will wholly against its will to the point of forcing out confession of personal guilt, it is most remarkable.  One wonders if, under that tremendous conviction of personal sin, some of these were later included in those of the Sanhedrin who openly accepted Jesus.  It is quite possible.  It is not improbable.[95]

The fact is noted that the very language used here under the English indicates a different authorship of the incident than John’s.  Possibly a thoughtful delicacy of regard for the woman restrains John’s pen if she were still living as he writes.  And then later the Holy Spirit, who so tactfully restrains John’s pen, guides another to fit the remarkable story in its place in the record.

The drastic turning of bargaining cattle-dealers and bickering money-brokers, out of the temple-area, and restoring it from a barn-yard to a place of holy worship, is a most remarkable illustration of restraint upon antagonistic wills at the point of their greatest concern.  These leaders would gladly have turned Him out.

And who was He, this man with flashing eye and quiet stern word?  A stranger, unknown, from the despised country district of Galilee.  And they have authority, law-officers, everything of the sort on their side.  Yet the restraint of His presence and will over them is as absolute as though they were in chains.  They weakly ask for a sign and evidence of power.  They themselves experienced the most tremendous exhibition of power the old temple-area had known for generations.[96]

The power of restraint at the Feast of Tabernacles is yet greater.  Or it might be more accurate to say that it is a greater antagonism that is restrained by the same power.  They are fully prepared now.  The cleansing incident took them unawares.  It made them gasp to think that any one would dare oppose them like that.

Now they are on guard.  Then, too, their antagonism has intensified and embittered to the point of plotting His death.  And they have grown more openly aggressive.  There are three attempts at His arrest.  Yet that strange noiseless power of restraint is upon them.  They do not do as they would.  Clearly they cannot.  They are restrained.  The man whose presence so aroused, also held them in check, apparently without thinking about it.  His presence is a restraint.[97]

Then a second clash of wills comes a day or so later.  Their opposition is yet intenser.  There has been no cooling-off interval.  His continued open teaching in face of their attempts at arrest puts fresh kindling on the fire.  “No man took Him,” but clearly they wanted to.  Their open relations become more strained.  He uses yet plainer speech in exposing their hypocrisies.  This stirs them still more.  Their hooked fingers reach passionately for the stones that would make a finish at once, and the green light flashes out of their enraged eyes.  It’s the sharpest clash yet.  They are at a high fever point.