Vcrs. 22-24.-'l7ae nature and conditions of (Jhrisi's manifestation. Tho last sen- toncc of our Lord suggests the question of Juclns. I. Tm; QUESTION Oil' JuDAB. "Lord, and what h!IB happened, that thou wilt mani- fost thyself to us, and not unto the world?" 1. The questioner, who is otherwise known as Lebb:cus or Thaddmus, mistakes the nature rf (Jhrilft's ma11ifeslation. He ima~ined that it would be a theophnny associated with the establishment of a temporal kin"dom. 2. He imagines that Jesus has made some sudden change in the scope or sphere ~/ the llfcssicmic manifutation, Ro knew that it would affect the Gentiles as well as the J ewe. Ho is at a. loss to understand the chango in the Messianic programme. II. OuB LonD'B EXPLANATION Oil' TIIE CONDITIONS OF ms MANIFESTATION. "If any man love me, he will keop my worrls: and my Fnther will love him, and wo will como u11to him, and make our abode with him." 1. The conditions are love to Jesus, proved by obedience, and crowned with the love of the Father. The power of receiving the revclntion depends upon loving obedience. Thus the Divine fellowship is alwnys con- ditioned, 2. The want of love in tlie world made tlie manifestation impossible to it. "lie that loveth me not kccpeth not my rnyings." This was the true answer to the question of Judas. 3. The manifestation of Christ is spiritual rather than temporal. "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation; the kingdom of God is within you." God dwells with the believer; the believer dwells with God. The first is the condition of the second. Vers. 25-27.-The promise of a fuller revelation ancl of an abidi11g peace. The disciples had much yet to learn. I. THE OFFICE OF THE HoLY SPIRIT. "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my Name, he shall tench you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." 1. As the purpose of the Hon's mission is to' reveal the Father, so the purpose of the Spirit's mission is to reveal the Son. 2. He has a double office: (1) teaching new truth; (2) bringing old truth to remembrance, 'fhe sayings of Jesus will be the groundwork of all the Spirit's operation. II. THE LEGACY. OF PEACE, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the worlil giveth, give I unto you." The words breathe the sweetness of a fare- well blessing. 1. Marie the blessing promised. "Peace." (1) It is the inward security of the soul based upon reconciliation with God. (2) It is Christ's own peace (a) which he enjoys; (b) which it is his prerogative to give; (c) it is allied to the" peace on earth" sung at his birth; (d:) it is identified inseparably with him who is continuously " our peace" (Eph. ii. 14). 2. Mark the method of its bestowal. (1) It is left as a legacy before his departure from the world. Precious legacy to a sin-troubled race! (2) It is a gift, not earned by man; but, like salvation itself, altogether of grace. (3) It is superior to all the world's gifts. "Not as the world giveth, give I unto you." (a) '!'he world's peace is not lasting. (b) It gives the greatest plensure at the first.. (c) This peace is absolutely superior to all legacies of the world, such as houses anil lands. 3. Mark the effect of peace upon the heart.-trouble. "Let not yoor heart be- troubled. neither let it bo afraid}' (1) Peace guards the heart against care, (2) and makes the heart strong for service and fearless in suffering in the face of the world's hostility. Ver. 28.-The propriety of the disciples' gladness at (Jhrist's exaltation. Hxs DEPA!l.· 'l'URE CALCULATED TO CAUSE JOY, NOT sonnow. "If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto my Father." 1. True love rejoices in another's good rather than in one's own. Our Lord's words imply that the disciples were selfish in seeking his further continuance with them on earth. 2. The ground of a lrgitimate joy at liis departure. "For my Father is greater than I." (1) He would share in heaven the omniprescnr.e of the Father, and be thus able to bless hls people in every place. He wou!d bo their omnipresent Redeemer and Friend. (2) His exaltation, in union with the Father, would enable him elfcctually to carry out his redemptive work. (a) Tb& word~, "My Fnthor is greater than· I," are not inconsistent with the Son's Deity, as Arians afiirm; for what mere man or·mere creature would ever think of say-ing tha~ Go,! is greater than himself? Is it not a truism to say so? The very fact that Christ used these words impli~s his consciousness. of possessing a Divine natllfe, (b) The Lonl 'l'IIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO S1'. JOUN, [cu. xiv. 1-31,
refen1 here, (a) not to the inforiotity of his human nnture, (.8) nor to his mero Mccliator- Fhip, 11s implying II sorvant•~ position, ('Y) but to hie subordination 11s e. Sou to the Father, in his esscntie.l Godhead. lie e.sserts, in fact, his Divine essence, Vers. 29-31.-The crisis at hand. Jesus is about to end his discourse in the chamber. J. RIB PREDICTION OF EVENTS IS DESTGNED TO STRENGTHEN TilE DISCIPLES' FAITil, "And now I lmve told you before it come to pass, that, when it is oomo to pnss, ye may believe." 1. The events foretold are his departure and all invol11ed in it, as well as the mission </f the Comforter. 2. What a wise provision he made to support tl1efaith and patience of his followers I For his separation from them would bo the greatest ot trinls. II. THE: IIIMINENCE OF Tm: CRISIS. "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." 1. Satan wa.s approaching in the persons of Judas and the chiPf priests, whose counsels he inspired. They were all instruments of the great enemy, 'J'here was likewise in our Lord's mind e. presentiment of his approaching agony in Gethsema.ne. 2. Yet Satan had, nothing in Jesu,a that fell under Ms power. It is sin that gives Sa.tan the power over m,in. Our Lord's words imply (1) Christ's perfect sinlessness, (2) and the absolute voluntariness of his death. III. TnE PURPOSE OF ms DEATH. "Dut that tho world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do." 1. His obedience to death was an evidence ef his looe to tlie Father. 2. It was likewise an acl of obedience to tlui Divine commandinmt. " Lo, I come to do thy will, O God."