The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 361

being. We find ouMelves here inseparably connected with a place, We m1tke montnl and ~pirit,nRI excursions even to the infinite and illimitable, but still we find our c0n~c,iousnees connectl'd with a place. Loc111ity enters Into all our notions of all finito <'Xi~tcnces. They are, and they are somewhere. (2) Thie Is suggested by the facts of mcmy being fl.ow in heaven in thei,r bod,i,es, and of the general, resurrection of the body at the ln..•t day. Enooh, Elias, our blessed Lord, and doubtless many more, arc now !hero in their bodies. And we are taught that there will be a general resurrection of the hody at the last day. It may be said that the resurroction-body will be spiritual. Ye~, but spiritual not as distinguished from material, but from carnal and corrupt. In the light. of the great fact.s of existence with which we are familiar, there le nothing unreasonable nor impossible in the doctrine of t.he resurrection. But, on the supposi- tion that the body is to lo~ entirely its m11terialncss, it seems indeed unreasonable and altogether unnece~~ary, and we ask what is the use of it at nil? And we cannot soe how a being who has lived, thought, felt, and acted in a material organization, could keep his identity in any state of existence entirely apart from such an organization. And if the resurrection-body will be in any way material, then it must have a material locality, and heaven must be a place. (3) 'l'his is plainly taught in the Word of God. It is taught in these words. And heaven is generally spoken of in Scripture as a special place. As a city, the new and heavenly Jerusalem. Christ speo.ks of it as his Father's house, where there are many mansions. "I go and prepare a place for you." So that the conclusions of reason aud the teachings of revelation point to the same fact. 2. It i.• a rxa,ce where Jesus is and the redeemed will be. " Where I am," etc. If so, we conclude: (1) That it is a most glorious plare. It is the habitation of the only begotten Son of God, the express Image of his Person, whose glory on the mount trans- figured his bnman nature, and transformed the mount into a scene of Divine majesty. 'l'be place where he dwells must be unspeakably grand. The house must be worthy of the tenant, and the palace of the great King. (2) That it must be a 'Very ea:tensive pla~. To contain the host.s of angels which ever attend upon bit! Person, and the innumerable mnltitude of the redeemed-those given him by the Father, who shall be wfth him-such a vast throng requires a vast place. Although spiritual bodies doubtless will not require RR much room as when in their crude and gross form, yet the place must be vast. (3) That it is a place where the Redeemer and the redeemed enjoy the dose.stfellowship. "That where I am," etc. With regard to believers on earth, the Saviour is physically invisible and absent; this is a hindrance to complete fellowship. But in heaven the Saviour and the saved will be locally and physically together, occupying the same nbode, which will make the fellowship between them perfect. 3. It u a place the chi.ef glory of which is Jesus. In itself, it.a occupations and surround- ings, it must be specially glorious; but its chief glory is Christ. As the place where he is, it is most attractive even to those who know most about it. Few, if any, knew as much of itB local j!;lories as Paul ; but he had a desire to depart, .1ot to be in heaven as snch., but to be with Christ. The chief inhabitants of a place form its chief attractions. Wicked people wonld soon turn heaven into bell, whilst good people would soon turn hell into heaven. People make a place, and not a place the people. The characters of heaven are all attractive, but Jesus is the chief one. 4. It is a place where (Jhritrfs glory wul be fully seen. (1) His mediatorial glory. "The glory which thou hast given me." The glory of his Divine-human Person; the glory of his sur- roundings; the homage paid him at home; the glory of his complete victories and self-sacrifice; his glory in the redeemed, in their individual perfection, and in their perfect unity. (2) This glory can aloM be fully seen in heaven. The glory of his Divinity, separately considered, can be seen everywhere in the works of his power; but Lis mediatorial glory can alone be fully seen where he is, and not where he is not. To see this he must be personally seen and be locally near. (3) This glory will be fully •~en in heamm by the re,deemed. "That they may see my glory." This is the purpose of his present will, that they may be in a position to see it fully, see it directly. The vision will be perfect, although gradual. Eternity will be fully occupied in its manifestation, and will not be a moment too long. It will be the reward of their service and the perfection of their knowledge and felicity. Jl. THE WILL OF JESUS WITH BEGABD TO BEitIEVERS IN RELATION TO HEAVEN. 1. In ite e.:DJ"re&Bion. " Father, I will," etc. ]le no longer prays, bnt wills. ]le l!ad rraye~, tiiT. :xvrt. 1-20.] 'l't1E GOSPEf, ACCORD1NG TO S'i'. JOHN.