The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 303

he Will! never but in one spot of ee.rth-Pe.lestin-nd never out of it, We rovern Pe.leFtinc e.s the home of our Lord, bnt we must rise e.bove the mere sentiment of local R~FO<'iatio~ in the _exJ:l8rience of communion with e.n everywbere-_prosent Lord, (3) Mere contact with Clir1~t m the flesh would he.ve no ncceese.rily se.vmg efficacy, The Jews were not con"'erted by seeing him in the flesh. (3) Practical conclusions, (a) Let us roj0ice in our Lord's exe.lte.tion. (b) Let us guard against the worship of the outward. (c) Let us lee.rn the.t the Lord never takes e.we.y one blessing but he leaves a greater in iti; place. lI. THE EFFEOTI! OF THE SrraIT's COMING. " And when ho is come, ho will convince the world of Fin, of righteousness, and of judgment." 1, The Spirit will cor1vict the worul of the sin of "'nbelwf. "Because they believe not on me." The sin of the Jews was essentially unbelief; for (1) they withstood all the evidence of ancient prophecy; (2) they withstood the evidence of his remarkable life, (3) his remarkable discourses, (4) bis remarkable miracles. 2. He will convict the world of righteousness. "Because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more." (1) His sufferings and death were the pathway by which he returned to bis Father. (2) By righteousness our Lord under• stands, not the mere justice of his cause, but the righteousness which ho wrought out in his atoning death for his people. He regards his death as the true righteousness of his people. His incarnation and death were designed to bring in this everlasting righteous• ness. 3. Be will convict the world of joogment. "Because the prince of this world is judged." (1) He does not refer to any judgment on Satan for his primordial fall, nor for his deceptive temptations so fatally exercised against man. (2) He refers to the subver• sion of Satan's empire, to the abrogation of his usurped rights over man. The death of Christ effected this result in the following way. (a) As sin was put away by the sacrifice of himself (Heb. iL 26), the supreme Judge discharged the guilty. (b) The accuser of the brethren could not demand their condemnation (Rom. viii. 1). (c) Christ broke the power of death "by destroying him that had.the power of death" (Heb,_ii 14). T'ers. 12-15.-.The Spirifs offia i.s not confine,d to the conviction of the world. It has relation to the needs of the Church as well as the world. L OuB Louo's CONSIDERATION FOB 'l'HE SPIRITUAL INCAPACITY OP ms DISCIPLES, "I have yet many things to say to yon, but' ye cannot bear them now." 1. He had ol,ready told them many things which they comd hardly t1,nderstand. 'l'he communica• tions of his truth were the marks of his loving confidence (eh. :xv. 15). 2. Other truths were yet to be imparted, which, in the present staQe of their spiritwl, growth, would be qu,it,e t1,ninteUi,gibl,e. 'l'hey were the truths concerning his incarnation and death, the relation of grace to the La.w, the inclusion of the Gentiles in the kingdom of God, the final apostasy, the destiny of the Church till its end. 3. It is a mark of our Lord'• wisdom and tenderness to adapt his lessons to the growing capacity of his disciples. II. TI!E OFFICE OF THE HoLY SPmrr. 1. His personal g"'idance. "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into a.11 the truth." (1) The Spirit is a. Divine Person, not a mere influence or energy of God. (2) He gives expression to the truth ; for he is "the Spirit of truth." (3) He is the Guide to Zion's travellers, leading them past the byways of error and the quagmires of subtle deception, till he places them in the land of truth. (4) This truth is not all truth abstractly, but "all the truth" concerning Christ's Person, work, and kingdom. 2. The test of his trU8 guida11a. "For he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he shall announce to you things to come." (1) His teaching is not self• originated, like that of S:itan (eh. viii 44). He shares in the intellectual fellowship of the Father and the Son, is initiated into the Divine scheme of salvation, and is thus enabled to make known the revelation which" God gave to Jesus Christ" (Rev. i. 1). (2) His teacLing lifts apostolic icspiration above the region of mere spiritual illumina-- tion enjoyed by all saints. It was an instruction as to things not yet disclosed or known on earth (ver. 12). (3) His teaching lifts the veil of the future, (a) The things to come are the destiny of the Church till its final consummation, (b) The Holy Spirit thus declares beforehand the inspiration of the Epistles and the .Apocafypse, Ill. '!'HE GLOB.ll"ICA.TION OP CHBIST THE DEFINITE WOBK OP THE 8PIBIT, "lie shall glorify me : for he shall take of what is wine, and shall show it unto you." l, Mark tllll interrel,ation of the Divine Per,0111, The Son glorifies the Father; the llh, xvi. 1-33.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 8[:J