The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 304

Spirit glori8ee the Son, 2. The method of glO'T'iflcation wa,q by the 1TV1,nijestati011, nj lhe trutli. 3. Our Lord has a full conscioUBness of the greatness of his Person and hi1 truth. "All that tho Father hath is mine: therefore said I, he shall take of mine, and eho.lJ show it unto you." It has been well eaid, "There is nothinb Christian thnt is not Divine, nothing Divine which is not Christian." 4. The persmality q/ the Holy Spirit is set forth in the use of IKE1vos in relation to one described by a neuter noun all through this discourse. Vere. 16-22.-The depai·ture of JesUB, with its experiences of BO'T'row and joy to the disciples. They were soon to stand in a new relation to Christ. I. THE DEPARTURE AND THE RETURN OF CHRIST, "A little while, and ye shall see me no more: then a little while more, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father." 1. Our Lord foresees and declares his de,1th as almost at hand. That woulcl for the time sever him from the sight of his disciples. 2. llefO'T'esees anrl declares his return, which would have three stages. (1) At his resurrection; (2) at Pentecost; (3) at the day of judgment. His ascension to the Father would restore him spiritually to his disciples through the work of the Holy Spirit. II. THE PERPLEXED AND SORROWFUL CURIOSITY OF THE fflSCJIPLES. They could not understand his words.·· 1. J/ he were going to f<nmd an ea1·1hty kingdom, why should he depart P 2. If not, why should he return 1 Ill. OUR Loan's SATIBFAOTION OF THEIR OUBIOSITY. 1. He gives them a last proof of his omniscience; for "Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him.n 2. His explanation turns upon the various emotions that un,7,l be excited in their breast.~ b'IJ his departure ancl his return. (1) His death will be the signal for great sorrow. "Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice : and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." (a) The condition of the scattered disciples after his death, and the tears of Mary Magdalene, explain the first statement. (JJ) That death, however, would be a source of joy to the world, which had triumphed in the riddance of earth of a dangerous Teacher. (2) His return will be the signal for great joy. (a) The grief would be short, like the sufferings of a woman in travail. (b) The joy which would follow would spring out of the grief. (c) The joy would touch the deepest springs of the heart. "Aud your heart shall rejoice." ( d) It would be beyond the power of man to check or destroy it. "And your joy no man taketh from you." Vars. 23-30.-The consequences of Christ's ascension to the Father. I. Fcrr.."ifESs OP' KNOWLEDGE. "And in that day ye shall no more question me in anything." 1. Our Lord was always ready, in the days of his flesh, to answer the questions of his disciples. Yet their questions often showed (1) ignorance, (2) curiosity, (3) and often perverse- ness of understanding. 2. Hereafter there would be no need/or further questioning; for the Holy Spirit would solve all their difficulties. II. FuLNESS OF POWER. "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my Name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full." The power of prayer would give them a participation in omnipotence it.self. 1. The apostles could not pray in Christ's Name while he was still with them in the flesh. They had often prayed to him, but never in his Name. 2. His return to heaven would restO'T'e the broken link between earth ancl heaven. The way would be henceforth and for ever open for the downpouring of heavenly blessing. 3. The command of Jesus-" asl.: "-(1) implies that the Lord is always at hand ; (2) that the praying is to be continuous ( ..lT•i'T•). 4. The ultimate result of the prayer. " That your joy may be made full." There is no spiritual joy apart from the exercise of spiritual prayer. Ill. 'l'HE OLEABER REVELATION WILL LEAD TO GREATER CONFIDENCE IN PBAYEB. 1. Jesus had hitherto imparted much knowledge by proverbs, on account of the weakness of their receptive capacity. 2. Hereafter the Spirit would impart truth in all its plain- ness. The clearer insight cam.e to the disciples after Pentecost. 3. The truth was mainly concerning their relation to the Father as his adopted cliildren. 4. The-ir con- fidence would rest, not upon his own intercession so much as upon their ditect connection with the Fu.ther. (1) He does not repudiate his intercessorsbip ou their bclrnlf, though he snys, "I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father about you." (u) It is a 314 ':rHE GOSPEL AOOORDTNG TO S'l', JOttN. (err. xvi. 1-88,