The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 256

Ver. 19.-Separated, but not orpluutu!d. I. JESUS CONTINUALLY THOUGHTFUL FOB ms PEOPLE. These disciples could not for a moment place themselves in the present position of their Master. They knew not how be was feeling; they knew uot what mental agonies were impending for him. He, on the other hand, the nearer he drew to his own crowning tri1tls, the more he thought of all the terrible experiences of his disciples. Thus we see how entirely Divine Providence takos in all human needs. The time of desolation and perplexity for the disciples we.s really very short. It extended at the utmost from the arrest in Gethsemane to the morning of the resurrection. Theri separation was swallowed up in reunion, and it was made clearer and clearer to the di..ciples that visible communion, however sweet, was to melt away into an invisible communion, equally sweet and vastly more helpful. II. THE IIU'08SIBILITY OF ANY REAL SEPARATION BETWEEN JESUS AND ms PEOPLE. The degree of such a separa.ti.on is indicated by a very strong term. Much separation would be eXJli!gerated if it were e&lled orp11Q,nhood. Those are justly reckoned orphans who a.re bereft of their natural supports and defences. Orphans must be provided for. Those wh() have once tasted the good word of life in Christ Jesus cannot get anything to nourish and au,,,<TIOent life anywhere else. Hence we see the light in which Jesus looks upo11 such as are not yet in any living and abiding connection with himself. He looks on them as bemg unprovided for, in any true and proper manner. In comparison of auy real discipline a.nd preparation for the fnture, they are as the waifs and strays upon the streets, who grow up anyhow, and drift into a mnnhood of crime and misery. T1Jerc is such a thing as practical orphanhood, without any consciousness of it. It is surely the intent of the Father of J ~sus that we all should be his children; and if we cannot truly say," Our Father in heaven," what is that but practical orphanhood? . We have yet to find the fulness of sonship and brotherhood. It is possible-to have the most loving and sheltering of human parent.age and yet suffer as the worst of orphans. All other separations are to lose their sting and curse, because nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. ill TEII! ABIDING OOIOllJlllON IB Mil!Il!'ESTLY IN THE FULNES8 OP THE TRINITY. Je,;w; has said that 11.nother Paraclete will come, even the Spirit of the truth. Thus he seems to separate himself, begins to depart from his disciples, and as it were looks over his shoulder while he speaks. He had, indeed, to honour the Holy S1Jirit. As the Father had glorified the Son, saying, "This is my beloved Son; hear ye him;" so Jesus glorifies the Spirit, saying as it were, "This is my Spirit; bear ye him." But i=ed.iately the distinction is drawn, there has to be an implication of the unity. Those who had heard Jesus eay, "I a.nd the Father are one," must also be made to feel that Jesus and the Spirit a.re one. .And thus we are prepared for the undeniable and beautiful correspondence between the Gospels and the Epistles. The presence of Jesus is now universal as the air, a.nd yet only comprehended a.nd profited by when we have received the Holy Spirit. The Spirit reveals Jesus; does not bring the distant near, but simply lifts the hiding veil Thus the full Trinity is nearest to us of all things, if only we can be established in living connection with it.-Y. Vers. 22-24.- Wli.at makea the true m.anijeaf,al,i<>n posswle. I. TBE QUESTION OP JuDa, This question shows how much the disciples had yet to learn; for without doubt all shared the perplexity of the one. How one fll!lc!amenta.l error stops a true underst&nding of all the words of J esUB I In a sense, Jesus had bceo seen of all men who bad eyes to sec, but wha.t they had seeo had just been tho human form, 'l'hat on. xtv. 1--31.) TUE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN.