The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 253

must be choson. l!'or that way we are respo<:iaible; none can compel us to take evnn one stop in lt. And what that way shall be depends on where we want to get. Those who want to be with Jesus hereafter must be with him here. And those who want to be with the Father hereafter, having knowledge of him, and receivincr of hie fulness, can only gain this through Jesus. There is no other name given whc;eby men are to be sBved. No one else hos a sure ancl certain path into the foture. In Jesns there is a provision, the very negled of which only sets in a mo3t melancholy light the various provisions which men make for the life of time. Men who can walk diligently enough in the way of ordinary industry, in the way of frugality, in the way of intellectual activity, yet stumble and retreat at once when the Way Christ Jesus is put before them. II. THE TRUTH. How much useless disputing, bow many weary doubts, are saved to those who can put a real faith in Jesus I Everything practical and possible is known by knowing him. Truth is a very large word, but all that it suggests is amply compre- hended in Jesus. In Jesus only do we find the real, tbe abiding,and tbat which can never be shaken. How simplified our inquiries become the moment we can rest in the all- sufficiency of Jesus I "Where is Jesus?" not "What is true?" becomes the ma.in question then. .All that lies outside of his intent and his support is seen to be but as a passing dream. All investigation of the problems of the universe is in vain a.part from him. All phenomena.I realities, all hurnan sciences, only fiud out their use as thoy become subordinate to the truth as it ill in Jesus. ill. THE LIFE. Jesus becomes the Existence of the believer. In him he lives and moves and has his being. Through Jesus we a.re born a.gain into newness of life, and being born a.gain, we find in Jesus the atmosphere, the nourishment, and a.II the ministering associations of our new life. We need all the energy and perennial freshness of his own vitality; and if we truly have Jesus, whatever we may lack, we shall not lock life.-Y. Ver, 9.-Acquaintance and yet ignorance. I. PHILIP'S ACQUAINTANCE WITH JEsus. Philip would have spoken with the utmost sincerity and not without justification if he had said that certa.inly:he knew Jesus. In Betha.hara beyond Jordan he had heard the voice, «Follow me," and he had followed wherever he was allowed to follow. In a certain sense it was perfectly true that Philip knew Jesus. In the darkness he woul<l have recognized the Master's· voice and even his footsteps. In that which is the mere surface of humanity the knowledge was ample enough, but the moment Jesus seeks the depths, Philip's knowledge fails him. Philip says, "Show us the Father," in the simplicity of most utter and guileless ignorance. He is looking on the very thing he wants to see; and yet knows·it riot. II. How FAR .ARE WE Il!OLINED TO MAKE PHILIP'S BEQUEST? If it were possible for Philip to do so, we may be sure he would press on us the need of ma.king this request. So far as we can judge, he WRS a man who delighted in bringing others to Jesus. Philip hims~lf came to make the request because so very often he ha.<l heard Jesus speak concerning the Father. According to Jesus, so much depended upon the Father, and the Father hatl a right to ask so much. How, for instance, could the dis- ciple pray, "Our Father which art in heaven," as a real prayer unless first of all the Father had been shown to him? Philip must often have usetl the wortls of the Lord's Prayer. And yet here is proof of how little he had entered into the meaning. After the Father hatl been shown to Philip, only then would he begin to feel how great a thing true prayer is. There would be in it a. power and a gladness It never ha<l before. Thus it is clear we all need to have the Father shown to us. Not a.II our regularity ill prayer and not a.II our importunity can bring down on us the highest blessings, if we know not to whom we a.re praying. Successful asking, successful seeking, successful knocking, implies that we ask from the right person, seek in the right place, and knock at the right door. 111. How FAB ARE WE EXPOSED TO THE ANSWER OF JESUS? The word of Jesus, be it observed, is not a word of blame. 'l'he natural man is not to be blamed that he cannot 'see what is only to be seen by the spiritual man. The answer is rather mea.ut to make ploin to us very important truth. 1. How easy it is to /~ink we know Jesus I Know a.bout him, at least. .And it is easy to know a great tleal, Ill a cert,un way. 2. 262 'l'HE GOSPEL AOOORDING '1'0 BT. JOHN, [ea, xiv. 1-31,