The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 228

mcnt in t_he_ eKrR~ding growth of the kin~dom ~f God. 3._ This higher p1'oductiveness. o_f lhe d1se1ples 1s to depe11d upon Clmst's higher position. "Decnuse I go to tho F:ither." 'l'he ascended Lord hRs received the "all power" of hea,·en nnd earth for the u~e of hie Church. 4, Pray<:r toill be the discip7es' part in these greater works. 11 And whatsoever ye ehnll ask in my Name, that will I do, thRt the Father mny be glorified in the Son.'' (1) Mark the true condition of successful prnycr. It must be II in Christ'11 N nme." (a) It implies thnt it is by the blood of Christ we draw near to God; (b) that we pray in the strength of Christ; (c) that we believe wo shnll obtain from Christ in hea Yen whatever we a.sk of him. (2) Mnrk the largo sco-pe of prnyer: "Whatsoever ye ~hall ask." There is no limitation save what is implied in subjection to the will or G0d. (3) Mark the cert.-.inty of the answer of prnycr: "I will do it." Does Jesus.. hear his own prayer? As the Organ of Divine power, he gives the answer. (4) Mark the ,lesign of this prayer: "That the Father may be gloritiod in the Son." Tbe object is, "Thy kingdom come." IT. 1'HE SOURCE WHENCE TlllS r:iu.YER OF POWER DERIVES ITS VALIDITY. It is the· Holy Spirit, the Comforter. 1. Mark the moral condition of this new blessing. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (1) Obedience is the necessnry fruit of .love. "LoYe without obooience is -dissimulation; obedience without love is but drudgery and slaYery." (2) Our efficiency depends u1)on our fellowship with him in a loving. obedience. 2. Mark the gwrious provision tl1at is made fur Ollrist's. absence. "And l will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide-· with you for ever." (1) It is Christ's prayer that procures for us the Holy Spirit. So long ns Christ is in heaven, in his intercessory power, we shall never want blea.sing.· (2) It is the Father who gives the Holy Spirit. He is, indeed, the Father of all comfort. His Fatherhood is the pledge that the prayer will be granted. (3) The blessing is the Comforter-" the Spirit of truth." (a) This title implies his distinct. Pernonality, (b) his true Divinity. (c) Mark hie various relations to believers. ( ..). He is •• with them" in fellowship. (fJ) He abideth by them in personal comfort. (-y}, He is" in them" in indwelling power. (~) His presence will be perpetual-" that he- may abid.c with you for ever." Christ's historical presence was now to be measured by a few hours or days. 'l'he Holy Spirit will be with the Church till the end of the- worlu. C•) lle cannot be recei,ed by an unreceptive, unsympathetic world.· "Whom the world cannot recei.e, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him." The world cannot see or know spiritual things, which demand the faculty of.spiritual discernment. (1 Cor. ii. 14). (() The receptiveness of the disciples, so different from the moral blindness of the world, had its origin in the Spirit's ind\;l'elling, and would be still further stren,,crth.ened by the fuller measures of his grace. V. TEE CONSOLA';CION SUPPLIED BY Cw:IST'S SPlBITUAL PRESENCE .JN ·THE FllTllltE EXPERIENCE OF BIB DISCIPLEB. "I will not leave you orphans." 1.' Our Lord thinks- of them as "littk diil.dren," who ~eedcd (1) guidance, (2) support, (3) comfort... 2. His departure 'llXUjust st. hand. "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also." (1) The world was .to see him no-• more after his death. After his resurrection be appeared only to his disc1ples. • (2), His disciples would see him; they would "behold with uncovered face the glory -of the Lord" (2 Cor. iii 18). (3) The ground of this faculty of dsion lay in their. fellowshi(> wit.h his life. (a) It is the fulness of life to see God as be is (1 John iii. ·1, 2). (b)- Chril!t's life is the foundation and guarantee of the life of believers. .B. Tke day of the- _qift of the C<JmfO'Tf.er will be the Bi!f11al of freBk and enlarged blessing,. .·" At that day ye sha.1 know tl.te.t. I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.'' . ,(1) The Com- forter will impart the knowledge of the mystical union in all its spiritual completoness. He will witness with the spirit of believers that they. are children of God. (2) The· siucerity of love will be manifested by a steadfast obedience. "He . that bath my commandment.&, and keepE-th them, loveth me." (a) Mark the need of knowladge ,to- obedience. (b) The need of obedje.nc,e .to loving happiness. (3) The promise to. obedience. "He shall .be loveci of my Father, and I will lo,•e him, and ·will manifest my8elf to him." (a) The Father l,mia all who love tho Soo, hie own; beloved Bon, (I,) The Son loves thoae who love the Father,- and· make~ through. that very love, a. mr,re perfect revelation of himself. 'l'hus this higher manifestation more than, aupplies- t.he place of his bodily presence. on. XIV, 1-31.J THE GOSPEL ACCOnDING 'rO ST. JOU~.