for not merely did he call himself a stranger, but said that he was dead to the world, and that the world was dead to him.

But we, both citizens and quite alive, busy ourselves about everything here as citizens. And what righteous men were to the world, “strangers” and “dead,” that we are to Heaven. And what they were to Heaven, alive and acting as citizens, that we are to the world.

As Jesus rested by faith in the Father’s care, so we are to rest in the care of our Saviour. If the disciples had trusted in Him, they would have been kept in peace. Their fear in the time of danger revealed their unbelief. In their efforts to save themselves, they forgot Jesus; and it was only when, in despair of self-dependence, they turned to Him that He could give them help.

The decisive character of this appeal is evident in the verb let us go forth (exerchōmetha), an act which involves a definite break, which is reinforced by the words outside the camp. Such an act involves separation from the existing society of Judaism, but this has already been endured by Jesus himself. It was part of the offence of the cross that it brought with it a rejection from official Judaism. It was a stumbling-block to the Jews. And yet these Jewish readers are being invited to leave their Jewish faith and identify with Jesus. Since he is outside, his followers must follow him there.