The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 243

Tgnornnec: is 'l'l"CAkness 1md trouble, knowl!!dge is strength and hBppincss. Christ re\"eRI~ himself to f11ith, 11nd giv'l'R eV{>ry neces~uy infomrntion. He !mvo this with l'i'g~rd to hie dep11rture, and faith followed him through the gloo'ln °of death nutl t'!~p<'CiRlly through the·eff'ulgenoe of his asccm1ion up to the riaht hnnd of powe; nm\ wnit.ed his return to fetch the spirit homa. In the light of J'esus faith can ae~ tho- im·i~ible, and see the Dinne movements proceeding in tho diroctlon of the soul's good• And where it cannot trace, it can trust. (3) Consciousness of Divine oare and love. A. ~ense of lonelinees and e,•cn nrathy is & source of grent trouble to a sonsitivo henrt · ·but the J)Ol!1!8880r of faith need not feel this. His heart is filled with the sweet conscious- ness of a Saviour's Jo,·c, and a Father's tender and constant care. (4) Infinite supplies. It is an old t.actic of the foe to attempt to stop the supplies by besieging the hi!nrt with doubts and feal'I!, and these t-breat.en it with physical and spiritual destitution. But this can nc\"cr be in the presenco of a strong faith. It the water without become dry there is still a perennial fountain within; and should the rivers about Jerusalem cens~- to flow, there is lltill "a river, the ~treams,'' etc. The supplies come from above, and often meet faith midway, aud often the suppliant can scarcely rise from his knees. under the delightful burden of bis pr11.yer's speedy answer. (5) The possession of gloriou3 pro~s. Much of onr present trouble or comfort depends upon the future~ If it be gloomy, there is trouble; but if bright, there is joy. 'flie future of Christian faith is bright and fnll of hope. Fnith often penetrates the intervening gloom, and opens the porfals of immortality and the door of our Father's house, and returns with her wings laden with blessings, tinged with tbo light and beauty of the happy place, her garments perfumed with delightful aroma from· the gardens of'spices, her face- beaming with the awaiting glory, and sings many a sweet song of the future amid the present discord of earth. The God and Saviour of the past and present will be thoso of the future, and he who prepared for us homes and fliends on our entrance to this world, shall meet us with even more surprising and congenial preparations on our entrance into other scenes. 'fhe departures of dear friends by death,- to faith, are only apparent and temporary; they are only removed from the cold- and dnmp •kitchens of earth to the grand drawing-rooms in OUT Father's house. Death does not really separate the possessors of faith, but leads them into a more permanent and closer union. With these elementB of comfort the heart is not only fortified against trouble, but filled with joy and ecstasy. • · ·• ·• · · LESSO~'"S. 1. The freedom of the heart from trouble depends upon its own state and action. With the heart we grieve, and with it we also believe. If the heart is idle and stagnant, it will be filled with trouble; but if active in faith in God and the Saviour, it will be filled with hope and joy. 2. The means of fortifying the heart aga.inat trorib-Z, a.re fl1ithin our rea.eh. The remedy for benrl;-trouble is ever at band. The ingredients of the Divine prescription might be difficult to procure, but they are e88Y and near. "Believe," etc. 3. To keep troubles out from the heart is far easier than to drive them out once they are in. Hence our Lord's special injunction is, "Let not your," etc. Prevention is ever better than cure, and the prevention of trouble ia the constant activity of the heart in a large and genuine faith in God and Christ.-B. 'I'. Vera. 8, 9.-The desi,red 'Vinon. We have here- I. A DITINE Vll!ION REQUESTED. " Show us the Father." This implies: 1. .A sptci11l wuion of God. (1) A _'11Urt~ial vision. ·Such as Moses wished when he prayed, "Show me thv glory," and such as Moses had when he saw that glory on tho mount. The request of Philip did not mean much more than this, although the language 'in· itself is capable of a wider and a higher meaning, and ultimately led to this; (::l) A vision ef God aa tbe Father. "Show us the Father." It ia not·" Show-us the Creator; the Governor, the Judge," but "the Father." How natural for an embodied spirit to wish an embodied representation of its Divine and invisible Parent! No view of God could be so charming and attractive as this. 2. That such a vision is the great wa.nt o/ man. (1) '!'his want is deeply felt. It is the deepest cry and the profoundest prayer·of-the human heart. The heart, in ~-pite of- ein and eKtrangement from God; has not lost all its BBpimtioos for the Divine, but the echo of-God's voice is still there, and the shadow of his image, and the moat plaintive wail of the heart is for a fuller knowledge and a clearer vision of the Father. The ritualism and idolatry of the world were it11 intenH OR, XIV, 1-31.] •.,'IIE GOSPEL Acconnnm TO ST. JOIIS.