The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 353

I. Tm: PUBI'ORT OF THE Lono's PETITION ON BEHALF OF RIB PBOPLB. 1. 'l'he nature of this blessing ~ought: consecration, or sanc~ification. It is a real and not a forme.l ?oliness, 11,Jtogcther distinct from and superior to the merely ceremonial purity which 1s so often regarded by the professedly religious as of supreme importance. It is con- secration of the spirit, the centre of the nature, the spring of the outer life. It is devotion to the eervioe and glory of God himself. It consists in a distinction from the sinful world. 2. The desirableness of this blessing. Its absence is the cause of the wretchedness and degradation which curse human society, where sin re.gee unchecked. Holinel!S is the ultimate end for which revelation has been bestowed, and especially the end for which all the provisions of the Christian economy have been introduced. 'l'he pardon of sin is but a rne1ms to an end, e.nd that end is the assimilation of the human character to the moral likeness of the e.11-holy God. Let it be considered the.t the holiness of his people was an object so precious and desirable in the esteem of our Divine High Priest, that for the sake of it he submitted to assume the form of a servant, and to die the death of the malefactor. Il. THE M:BANS DY WRICH TRE LORD SOUGHT TRE ANSWER TO HIS PETITION. 1. Remark the identity of God's Word with truth. We must not confine the e.pplice.tion of the word to Holy Scripture, nor must we ta.ke it as equivalent to the personal Christ. Every manifestation of the Divine thought e.nd will is the Word of God. Yet revelation, as usually understood, is emphatically this. God's Word is truth; for his knowledge admits of no limitation or imperfection; his righteousness forbids the possibility of deception; his benevolecce delights in the instruction of his intelligent creatures. 2. The truth which is God's Word is the chosen instrument for producing human rui.nctity. This it does by revealing to me.n his evil life and ill deserts, by awakening the conscience of sin; by informing us of the holiness of the supreme Ruler; by presenting in Christ a flawless Example of moral excellence; by securing to t.he faithful forgiveness of sins through the redemption by Jesus Christ; by offering the influences of the Spirit of holiness e.s the only Agent in producing a result so diffi- cult and yet so glorious ; by bringing to bear upon the human heart the highest, purest, and most effectual motives-motives sufficient to enkindle aspirations towards holiness, and sufficient to induce to the employment of all those means by which alone the greatest of all blessings me.y, with Divine help, be secured e.nd enjoyed.-T. Vers. 20, 21.--Comprehensive intercession. Human selfishness, narrowness, and hope- lessness me.y well be rebuked by the breadth e.nd brightness of this prayer. The lµgh Priest pleads for his people, e.nd in so doing sweeps the horizon of time, sounds the depths of human need, and grasps the invisible aim of the universe, the yet unrealized purpose of God himself. L Tm: EXTENBIVB Bill'GE OF CHBIST'& INTERCEBSION. At the very time when those nearest to him were a.bout to be exposed to great danger, the Lord Jesus, without for- getting these, directed the gaze of his mind over a wide field of vision, e.nd included in his comprehensive intercession e.11 who in coming ages should believe on him through his apostles' witness. This marvellous sweep of high-priestly regard and interest is testimony to: L Christ's Divine foresight. He beheld in prophetic vision the martyrs and confessors, the missionaries and bishops, the scholars and preachers, the pure and lowly in prive.t.e life, who should attach themselves to his doctrine and to ~is Church A.B in an instant and at a glance, Christ 1mmmoned before his eyes and hlB heart the vast multitude who should constitute the Church militant through long millenniums to come; and he prayed {or alL 2. Christ's Divine claim. In realizin~ the objects of his intercession, the liiuh Priest regarded all a.a personally related to himself. Those for whom he pleaded w:re those who should believe on him. This fact is implicit witness to his high claims. Who but he could so rank mankind? 3. Christ's wide sympathy and benevolence. The.t such e. Leader e.nd Master should plead for his adherents, his friends, and the promulgators of his faith seems nat~al ; ~mmon e.ffe~tio!1 see1I1s to account for this. But how vast was the love apparent 10 this prayer, which mcluded within its scope the myriads who were yet to come into existence I But his whole Church was dear to his Divine and tender hea.rt. lL TRE OO!iCENTRATED PURPORT OF CBBIST'B INTEROEBBION. Doubtless the sama ;m,yer which was offered for the twelve was offered for a.II subsequent disciples, that all cs. xvrr. 1-26.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 365