“Et abiit iterum trans Jordanem, in eum locum ubi erat Joannes baptizans primum, et mansit illic ;”
“And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized ; and there he abode.”
“Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there.”
“He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and there he stayed.”
“And he went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was at the first baptizing; and there he abode.”
III. How he disposed of himself in his retirement: He went away again beyond Jordan, v. 40. The bishop of our souls came not to be fixed in one see, but to go about from place to place, doing good. This great benefactor was never out of his way, for wherever he came there was work to be done. Though Jerusalem was the royal city, yet he made many a kind visit to the country, not only to his own country Galilee, but to other parts, even those that lay most remote beyond Jordan. Now observe,
Verses 39-42 No weapon formed against our Lord Jesus shall prosper. He escaped, not because he was afraid to suffer, but because his hour was not come. And He who knew how to deliver himself, knows how to deliver the godly our of their temptations, and to make a way for them to escape. Persecutors may drive Christ and his gospel our of their own city or country, but they cannot drive him or it out of the world. When we know Christ by faith in our hearts, we find all that the Scripture saith of him is true.