The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 348

for Christinn unity. •• That the world may know that thou hast sent me." 3. Th" answer to liis prayers/or the disciples is guaranteed by a threefold claim. (1) They wore the Father'd; he could not, therefore, but provide for hie own children. (2) 'l'hey were Christ's, by gift of the Father ; therefore the Father might be expected to watch over his own gift. (3) Christ was glorified in his disciples. "I have been glorified in them," (a) in their grace (b) and in their glory. IV. THE DANGERS TO WHI0H THE DISCIPLES WOULD BE EXPOSED, "And f am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee." 1. Ghrist thinks of his departure as all but already accomplished. (1) He had no more to do in this world but die. (2) His departure would leave the clisciples without his personal sup- port. (3) Yet be suggests that he has much to do in heaven: (a) by sending bis Spirit; (b) by interceding for his people; (e) by preparing a place for them; (d) by triumphing over all his enemies. 2. The world i8 always a place of d=ger to the dis- ciples. (1) By its open hostility; (2) by its threefold solicitations: (a) the lust of the flesh, (b) the lust of the eye, (e) and the pride of life. V. Ou& LORD'S ENTREATY FOR THE PRESERVATION 011' HIS DISCIPLES. "Holy Father, keep through thine own Name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we a,e." 1. The term of address suggests the thought of the petition. The name, "Holy Father,n suggests at once the filial relationship and the consecration which mark off our separation from the world. 2. It i8 the Father who will maintain, this continued separation. (1) The perseverance of the saints is the fruit of Christ's prayer. (2) It is effected through the Almighty power of the Father, guarding bis saints and strengthening them against temptations. (3) We are strong, therefore, not in ourselves, but in God. (4) We ought, therefore, to have constant recourse to his "Name," which, as the revelation of the Divine character, is" the enclosing wall, as it were, of the sacred region in which they are kept." 3. 'l'he end of this Divine keeping is the unity :of the disciples in estrangement from the world. "That they may be one, as we are." (1) Christian unity is im1>ortant (a) for growth in grace, (b) for comfort, (c) for the furtherance of. the gospel. (2) It is hindered (a) by carnal pride, (b) by selfish interests, (c) by intellectual restlessness, (d) by the diversity of human temperaments. (3) It ought to be an earnest subject of prayer to God (a) that man may attain to a union like that between the Father and the Son; (b) that God may be thus abun- dantly glorified; (c) that the world may be thus attracted to Christ by the visible one- ness and love of his disciples. Vere. 12, 13.-0hrist's petition for his disciples supported by various considerations. He looks back upon the work he bad already done, and sees that it must henceforth be taken up by a different agency. I. THOSE WHO ARE TO BE BAVED ARE COMMITTED TO CHRIST'S KEEPING. " While I was with them in the world, I kept them myself in thy Name. I have watched over those whom thou hast given me.n 1. Believers cannot keep themselves. 2. Christ takes them wholly in charge for safe keeping. 3. They are kept, (1) not from suffering, (2) nor from all sin, (3) but from periijhing everlastingly. "Not one of them is lost." (a) Christ has an individual care of believers. (b) 'l'he loss of a single believer would be (11) a dishonour to Christ, (/3) and would weaken the comfort and confidence of his people. (c) Christ keeps them "in the Name" of the Father, out of love and duty to him. 4. Judas-" the son of perdition "--prepares himself for his own foreseen ruin. (1) He was not included among those whom the Father had given to the Son. (~) Jesus discharges himself from all responsibility in relation to Judas. (3) The fall of the traitor had its place in the scheme of Divine provision (eh. xii. 38; Ps. xli. 9). It was foretold in Scripture. IL '!'HE OWECT OF OUR LORD IN THIS PRAYER FOB THE DISCIPLES. "And now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselveR." 1. His pray11r was offered up that their joy should not be diminished by his approaching departure, but rather increased by the coming of the Oomfort11r. (1) Christ is the Author of joy. "My joy." (2) He dispenses it (a) by gracious ordinances, (b) by cheering promises, (c) by the witness of the Comforter. 2. The importance and necessity of this joy. (1) Christ gives it as a. mark of his fellow-feeling-as One who was himself "anointed with the oil of gladness above hi~ 358 THE GOSPEL ACOORDING TO ST. JOHN. [oH. xvu.1-20.