The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 238

III. 'fm: rRrJMISE Ill BUGOl(STIVE OF Tm: WORK Ol' THE HOLY SPlmT IN TTIE Cm:rncfl. 'l'ho Parnclote is One who is cnlied to the side of him who ia in need, nn Advocato who untlortnkes the cnuso of tho ~efc~cele~s, e. Patron exercising a wise protection, n Strengthener or Comforter communicating his power to the feeble. It is implied in the tlosignntion thnt the Holy Spirit is n Person, nnd that he is Di vine. He t<·achcs, au ides, 0 nssists; ho is living, acting, grncious. As he came on the Day of Pentecos t-thc promise of the Father-so he has ever resided in his Church, to quicken, to purify, to Lloss. IV. THE PROMISE IS SUGGESTIVE OF THE PECULIAR ADAPTATION OF THE SPIRIT TO TJIE WANTS OF TUE RANSOMED HUMANITY, Our Lord's mission to earth, and in the body, wns a local nnd temporary mission. In both respects the mission of the Com- forter was more suited to the condition of the Church. \Vhilst the ministry of Jesus was confined to one land, the influences of the Holy Spirit are felt wherever the gospel is preached, wherever Christian society is established. Whilst the ministry of Jesus lasted but for a few years, the abiding mission of the Comforter endures for ever. Wherever and whenever humnn spirits call, in necessity and under the prompting of faith, upon the unseen God for strength and help, the Spirit of might and wisdom and grace, ever near and ever compassionate, comes to their aid, and proves himself their Comforter indeed.-T. Ver: HJ.-Hidden, yet revealed. 'I'he "little wl1ile" doubtless refers to the very short time which was to elapse before Jesus' removal from the view of men. Thence- forth, he taught, the world should lose sight of him, but he should be plainly appre- hended by the gaze of faith. I. UPON CHRIST'S DEPARTURE THE wonLD CEASED TO SEE m:ir. 1. '\vn.ilst Jesus was upon earth, the unenlightened and unspiritual saw but little of him. It had been foretold thnt men should "see no beauty in him." "His own received him not." They saw in him a Friend of sinners, a carpenter's son, Ono unlearned. But they saw in him no Divine glory, for they he.d no spiritual eyesight with which to discern it. Some there were who whlhecl to behold his form and features, e.g. Zaccha:ms, Herod, the Greeks, etc. But genernlly speaking, the Jews, because there was no sign such as they desired to witness, cared not to see anything of him. In his humiliation Jesus disap- pointed the expectations of the carnal, and offended their prejudices. 2- After Jesus wns crucified, he wu.s not-to the apprehension of the world. Those who had seen but little of the Lord during his ministry, after his departure saw nothing of him. His enemies thought they had succeetlcd in altogether expelling him from the world he came to save, and they had. no further concern with him. And e\'cr !!ince, to the irreligious, Jesus is invisible and as it wero non-existent. Perverted by prejudice and self- sufficiency, their minds are open to what interests them, but are closed against any communication with the Saviour and the Lord of men. II. WHEN CHRIST WAS HIDDEN FROM THE EYES OF TllE UNSrIRITUAL, HE WAS SEEY DY HIS FRIENDS MORE CLEARLY THAN DEFORE. There were thos,~ who learned to see in Jesus after his departure more than they had seen during his residence on earth. Just as the sailor can see a distant ship which the landsman's eyes cannot discover; just as the scholar can read a difficult manuscript which is unintelligible to the unlearned; just so there were those who, during Christ's minidtry of humiliation, saw him to be full of grace and truth. Lowly, peuitm1t, devout souls r~cognized his authority and felt his love. And after bis depnrture, taught and illumined by the Spirit., they beheld indeed their Friend and King. Like the blind mnn whose eyes Jesus opened, they saw their Benefactor, believed, and worshipped. Stephen saw him in the hour of martyrC:.Jm; Saul saw him by the way. Christians see their Lord, in all the glory of his moral attributes, in all the adaptation of his mediatorial grace, in all the authority of his world-wide rule. Christians see their Lord so as to correct their views of all beside, nnd especially to moderate their earthly affections by the recognition of his superior excellence, Christians seo their Lord as the Guide of their present course, and as the Object of their aspiring hope. He is now discerned by the eye of faith, and this vision is the pledge and the preparation for a vision fuller, clearer, and immortal. Faith shall give place to sight. The confident expectation of the Christian is that expressed by the apostle in the simple but soul-~tiLTing words," We shall see him as he is."-T.  246 THE G0SrEL AOCORDIN"G TO ST. JOHN. [en. xiv. 1-31,