tlie distinction of tlie Persons in tlie Trinity, is very remark- able and instructive.
[I am glorified in them.'\ In this sentence our Lord seems to return to the disciples. " I have been and am glorified in them, by their faith, and obedience and love, when the vast majority of their countrymen have hated and rejected Me, They have honored Me and brought glory to Me, by continuing with Me in my tribulation. Therefore I now make special prayer and in- tercession for them."
Let us mark here that the weakest faith and love to Christ brings Him some glory, and is not overlooked by Him.
11. — [And now 1 am. ..come to TJieei] In the beginning of this verse our Lord describes the position of the disciples, and shows the special reason wliy they required prayer and intercession to be made for them. They were about, for the first time, to be left alone like orphans, and thrown on their own resources, in a certain sense. Hitherto they had always had their Master at their side, and could turn to Him in every case of need. Now they were about to enter on a totally different condition of things. — " The time of my departure from the world is at hand. I am very soon about to ascend into heaven and come to Thee. But these few sheep, these weak disciples, are not coming to heaven with Me. They are going to be left alone in a wicked, cold, persecuting world."
Poole observes, " Christ here speaks of Himself as one who had already died, and was already risen, and ascended, though none of all these things were past, because they were so soon and suddenly to come."
Let us not fail to note how our Lord remembers the position of His people here on earth, — cares tenderly for them, and will make all needful provision for their safety and comfort. " I know thy works, and where thou dwellest." (Rev. ii. 13.)
{Hol^ Father.'] This is the only place in the Gospel where we find our Lord addressing the Father by this epithet. There is doubtless some good reason for it. It may be that there is a fitness in asking the " Holy " Father to keep the disciples holy and free from the dominion of evil. "As Thou art holy, BO keep these my disciples holy."
[Keep through Thine.. .name...given Me.] Here is the first pe- tition that our Lord puts up for His disciples. He asks that they may be kept and preserved from evil, from falling away, from fal'se doctrine, from being overcome by temptation, from being crushed by persecution, from every device and assault of the devil. Danger was around them on every side. Weakness was their present characteristic. Preservation was what He asked.
The expression, " Keep through Thine own name," is re.