The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 322

the opposition of foes, Bnd especially the desertion of friends, were It nnt for the continued fellowship of the Father. And who can render such help and solace in the hour of trial as 11n able and a kind father? Jesus, the most lonely of human beings, especially now, wns yet not alone; deserted by the best human fellowship, he still enjoyed tho Divine, 11nd the human desertion made the Divine all the more precious and sweet, This was his support in trial, his light in darkness, and his safety from utter loneliness. He enjoyed the best and Divinest society. LEBBONB, 1. There was one thing which neither friends nor foes could do tlJ Jesus, viz. deprive him of Divine fellowship. From the greatest human lonelinegs he could say," I am not alone, because the Father is with me." Neither earth nor he11 can interfere with Divine fellowship with regard to Jesus or believers. 2. We shou,ld not be disappointed or despair if in the hour of trial we are deserted by the be.~t of friends. 'l'hink of Jesus. 3. Truefellowship with the Father by faith in C'hri-st can only preserve us from utter l()'ll,eliness. We can bear every loneliness but that in rela.tion to our Father. 4. When deserted by friends and by all, God comes nearest to us. The lea.qt of man the most of God, often; furthest from earth the nearest to heaven. 5. The fellowship Qf the Father will more than compensate for all the desertions of earth. One day in his courts is better than a thousand. 6. Let us cultivate the fellowship of (fhrist, especially in his loneliness, then we shall enjoy with him the fellowship of his Father. Let us prepare for human desertions, for they will certainly come; but let them come upon us in the best society-that of the Father. To be left alone by him is the most horrible loneliness, but his fellowship will be euflicient in all circumstances, even in death itself.-B. T. Ver. 33.-Jn (fhrist and in the world. Notice- I. THAT THE CHRISTIAN IN THE PRESENT STATE 19 BOTH IN THE WORLD AND IN CHRIST. 1. He is in the world. (l) He is in the material world. In virtue of his connection with the material world he is a man, and in it he finds the present essential sources and elements of his physical life. (2) He is in the social world. He is a member of society, and subject to its various laws, arrangements, relationships, and obligations. He eats his bread by the sweat of his brow. (3) He is in the wicked world, We mean that he Jives among wicked men; for the world in itself is good and beautifal, bnt there are in it many wicked inhabitants. As a subject, he may have a tyrannical sovereign. As a citizen, he may have oppressive and persecuting laws, which interfere with his rights as a man and as a Christian. As a. member of a. Church, he may have more than one Judas to deal with. The world is full of ignorance, carnality, selfishness, pride, hypocrisy, bigotry, and intolerance. He may have to do with men who deem it a sacred duty and a Divine service to take away his life. 2. He is also in CJhrist. He is united by faith to him. As his physical life is in the world, his spiritual life is in Christ. (1) As to its source and authorship. (2) As to its support. (3) As to its Example and Model. (4) As to itscontinuanceand safety. (5) Asto its present and final end. Be is in Christ, and Christ is in him. But although he is the world, the world is not in him. He is a mere pilgrim in the world ; his home is in Christ. 3. He is in the world and in Ohrist at the same time. He is a member of society and a member of Christ; a. citizen of earth and a. citizen of heaven; the subject of an earthly sovereign and a loyal subject of the King of kings; carries on business in this world and in another; deals with different men and perhaps different nations, and deals with angels and God; his feet walk this earth, and his conversation is in heaven at the same time. He is two, and yet one, He has physical and spiritual life, human and Divine nature, and has to do with two different spheres at the same moment. 4. He was in the world before he was in CJhrist, not, perhaps, in all its relationships, but he was certainly in the wicked w0Tl1', and the wicked worl\' to a more or less extent in him. From the world are all those who are in Christ. Sume of them were a.bout to pass out of the world when they passed by faith into Christ. A second birth presupposes a first, and the first is a. birth into the world, and the second into Christ. 6. He will be in Christ after he has left the world. If the world had him first, Christ will have him last. The world will soon expel him, but Christ never. The world shall ultimately pass away, but Christ shall remain. The world shall vanish, that Christ and all in him may appco.r and enjoy each other all the more. The Christian was born into the world  832 THE GOSPEL AOOORDJNG TO ST. JOHN. [oR, xvt.1-38.