The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 230

HOMILIES DY VARIOUS .AUTHORS. V ors. 1-3.-The revelation ma,de to faith. The dark sba.dow of our Lord's approach- -ing agony and death was now upon his heart. Yet he thought tenderly of the sorrow of his disciples on their own account. Hence the sympathizing and consolatory tone of his last sustained and leisurely conversation with them. Hence the special revelation with which they were on this occasion favoured. And hence, too, the intercessory prayer which was at that juncture of their need offered so ferveolly on their behalf. The words which comforted them have proved consolatory to Christ's people in every age, and especially to those in affiiction of spirit. L 'l'RE OBmCT OF FAITB, AS ENJOmED DY CnRIST. Faith was the condition of receiv- ing the revelation and enjoying the promise which the Lord Jesus had to communicate. Now, it is a very common thing in our days for men to eulogize faith. But it is not infrequently forgotten that the virtue of faith depends upon its object. 'l'o believe is good, if we believe what is worthy of credit. To trust is good, if we trust one deserving of confidence. Our Lord enjoins fuith: 1. In God. If there be a God, sorely we can need no argument, no persuasion, to induce us to believe in him. We believe in our imperfect earthly friends; how much more reason have we to believe in our perfect God? Especia.lly does this appear when we consider, not only what God is, but what he has done to justify and to elicit our faith. 2. Iu Christ. How shall we connect faith in the Saviour with faith in the Father? Probably thus: we need some faith in God in order to believe in Jesus whom he sent, and then, trusting in Christ, we attain to a fuller, stronger faith in the Father. 'l'he apostles and disciples, whom Jesus gathered round him in his earthly ministry, had such experience of his truth, his tenderness, his fidelity, that they might well trust him entirely and always-trust him so as to receive his declarations, to rely upon his promises, to do hie will. How natural ao.d proper is it for the Christian, who knows alike bis own need and the sufficiency of bis -Saviour, to place in him an absolute and unfaltering trust! If such trust was becoming on the pa.rt of those who knew Jesus in hie ministry, how far stronger are the induce- ments which our experience of our Saviour's grace and power furnish to our confidence I We look back upon what Jesus suffered for us, upon bis victory as our Representative, and upon his loug unseen ministry of grace; and we respond to his summons, and renew .:1ur faith in his words and in his work. lL 'l'BE REVELA'l'I01i CHRIST MAK.ES TO FAITH. This unfold.in~ of Divine counsels baa OJI, XIV, 1-31.] TTIE oosrEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOH~. 237