The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 357

markc>t, in the busy exchange and behind the counter, among the t'ironge or men. a. II was ,10t his w£sh that they Bhould be taken out of the troublesome and wicked world. 'l'his world WIL!l then, and is now, "11 world of great tribulation." Stlll it was not his wish to take his disciples from even this. Not that he took any pleasure In their pein-fa.r from it; he bore as much of it as he possibly could-but because he had greater regard for their eternal good even than for their temporal comforts. 'l'ribulation is the only way to life. This he bad himself; and the servant is not greater than his Lord, but must enter life in the 81\me way. 4. Christ reccgnius the Father's right to take them hence when he pleased. 'l'hey were his, and their lives absolutely at his disposal. The wc,rld cannot drive the Christian hence when it pleases, but when the Father pleases. When it appears to do so, it is only a servant, and acts by permission, The believer's life is not at the mercy of the world, but !4 &he mercy of the 1''ather. 6. While recognizing his right to take them hence, still it was not his wi,sh that they should be taken then, And why? (1) Because Ohrist had much to do on and in them in the world. They were not yet ready to depart. They had not yet completed their earthly education. They had not yet been in the schoo.l of the "Comforter." 'l'hey had made some progress, but very far from perfection. Much bad to be done with regard to their spiritual life which could not be so well done in any other state. This world was a furnace to purify them, and the great Refiner and Purifier saw that they were. not fit to be t.a.kcn out. (2) Because they had much to do for Christ and the world. The Father had given them to Jesus for a special work-to be witnesses of his life, death, resurrection, and ascension, and to publish the story of his love and the facts of his earthly history to the ends of the earth. 'l'his must be done before they could be honourably t.a.ken home. They could serve the Master and their generation better here than elsewhere. (3) The new earth and its King could not afford to lose them yet. The wicked world wished to drive them hence; but it knew not what was best for its good, and it was under the control of infinite benevolence. The farmer, in disposing of his corn, must take care of some for seed. Heaven must not take the disciples away, else what will the world do for seed, Jesus for labourers, the gospel for tongues to publish it, and the Gentiles for salvation? They were more needed now on earth than in heaven. Heaven conld do for some time without them. The golden harps could afford to wait; but the world could not afford to wait long for the water of life. The earth could not afford more than to give Jesus back at once, and he could do more good there through his Spirit than here; could send supplies down from above to his friend~, and open fire frcm the heavenly batteries on the foe. The disciples could better attack him from this side, so as to place him between two fires, etc. ; cause him to surrender his captivee by the thousands. Not one of them could now be missed. Each one had a special duty, and was specially trained for it, and the departure of even one would be R loss to the world and to Jesus. IL THE AFP'IRMATIVE PART OF THE PRAYER. "That thou shouldest keep," etc; 1. The evil which is in the world is recognized. " Keep them from the evil "-the evil one. There are in this world many wicked men and wicked spirits, but there is one standing alone in wickedness, and in opposition to goodness, to God and man. He has 6Ucceeded to attract a large"following of the same character as himself; but he keeps ahead of them all in wickedness, and the eye of Christ could single him out among the black throng, and point to him as the evil one, or the· evil, thing. As the.r~ is an evil one, there is an evil thing, an evil principle, power, and influence. The evil assumes many forms. The form in which it was most dangerous to the disciples now was apostasy from Christ, and this is the only form in which it can really conquer. It is fully recognized aod revealed by Christ in all its forms, magnitude, and danger. 2. A distint:tion is made betwe,en the world and tlte em?,, It is not the world as such is evil; Lut evil is in the world. The world does not make men evil, but men make the world. 'l'here is in the world an evil one and an evil thing, which prostitute its h~ly and good laws and forces to 8Ilf1Wer their ends. No one h~ the fever of i!in, by ?ontact with the objects of nature. No one was morally contammated. by fellowship with the sun and stare. No one WW! corrupted by listening to the blackbird's song or the nightingale's warble. The world as such is in sympathy w!t~ go~ and against evil, "!:<'or the whole creation groanetb," etc. 3. To keep the diaciples in the world from tJ.e eva u preferable to taking them at once out of it. ,;1) 'l'his plan recognizes thtJ OH, xvn. 1-26.] 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN.