‏ John 14

* Christ comforts his disciples. (1-11) He further comforts his

disciples. (12-17) He still further comforts his disciples.

(18-31)

1-11 Here are three words, upon any of which stress may be

laid. Upon the word troubled. Be not cast down and disquieted.

The word heart. Let your heart be kept with full trust in God.

The word your. However others are overwhelmed with the sorrows

of this present time, be not you so. Christ's disciples, more

than others, should keep their minds quiet, when everything else

is unquiet. Here is the remedy against this trouble of mind,

"Believe." By believing in Christ as the Mediator between God

and man, we gain comfort. The happiness of heaven is spoken of

as in a father's house. There are many mansions, for there are

many sons to be brought to glory. Mansions are lasting

dwellings. Christ will be the Finisher of that of which he is

the Author or Beginner; if he have prepared the place for us, he

will prepare us for it. Christ is the sinner's Way to the Father

and to heaven, in his person as God manifest in the flesh, in

his atoning sacrifice, and as our Advocate. He is the Truth, as

fulfilling all the prophecies of a Saviour; believing which,

sinners come by him the Way. He is the Life, by whose

life-giving Spirit the dead in sin are quickened. Nor can any

man draw nigh God as a Father, who is not quickened by Him as

the Life, and taught by Him as the Truth, to come by Him as the

Way. By Christ, as the Way, our prayers go to God, and his

blessings come to us; this is the Way that leads to rest, the

good old Way. He is the Resurrection and the Life. All that saw

Christ by faith, saw the Father in Him. In the light of Christ's

doctrine, they saw God as the Father of lights; and in Christ's

miracles, they saw God as the God of power. The holiness of God

shone in the spotless purity of Christ's life. We are to believe

the revelation of God to man in Christ; for the works of the

Redeemer show forth his own glory, and God in him. 12-17 Whatever we ask in Christ's name, that shall be for our

good, and suitable to our state, he shall give it to us. To ask

in Christ's name, is to plead his merit and intercession, and to

depend upon that plea. The gift of the Spirit is a fruit of

Christ's mediation, bought by his merit, and received by his

intercession. The word used here, signifies an advocate,

counsellor, monitor, and comforter. He would abide with the

disciples to the end of time; his gifts and graces would

encourage their hearts. The expressions used here and elsewhere,

plainly denote a person, and the office itself includes all the

Divine perfections. The gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed upon

the disciples of Christ, and not on the world. This is the

favour God bears to his chosen. As the source of holiness and

happiness, the Holy Spirit will abide with every believer for

ever. 18-24 Christ promises that he would continue his care of his

disciples. I will not leave you orphans, or fatherless, for

though I leave you, yet I leave you this comfort, I will come to

you. I will come speedily to you at my resurrection. I will come

daily to you in my Spirit; in the tokens of his love, and visits

of his grace. I will come certainly at the end of time. Those

only that see Christ with an eye of faith, shall see him for

ever: the world sees him no more till his second coming; but his

disciples have communion with him in his absence. These

mysteries will be fully known in heaven. It is a further act of

grace, that they should know it, and have the comfort of it.

Having Christ's commands, we must keep them. And having them in

our heads, we must keep them in our hearts and lives. The surest

evidence of our love to Christ is, obedience to the laws of

Christ. There are spiritual tokens of Christ and his love given

to all believers. Where sincere love to Christ is in the heart,

there will be obedience. Love will be a commanding, constraining

principle; and where love is, duty follows from a principle of

gratitude. God will not only love obedient believers, but he

will take pleasure in loving them, will rest in love to them. He

will be with them as his home. These privileges are confined to

those whose faith worketh by love, and whose love to Jesus leads

them to keep his commandments. Such are partakers of the Holy

Spirit's new-creating grace. 25-27 Would we know these things for our good, we must pray

for, and depend on the teaching of the Holy Ghost; thus the

words of Jesus will be brought to our remembrance, and many

difficulties be cleared up which are not plain to others. To all

the saints, the Spirit of grace is given to be a remembrancer,

and to him, by faith and prayer, we should commit the keeping of

what we hear and know. Peace is put for all good, and Christ has

left us all that is really and truly good, all the promised

good; peace of mind from our justification before God. This

Christ calls his peace, for he is himself our Peace. The peace

of God widely differs from that of Pharisees or hypocrites, as

is shown by its humbling and holy effects. 28-31 Christ raises the expectations of his disciples to

something beyond what they thought was their greatest happiness.

His time was now short, he therefore spake largely to them. When

we come to be sick, and to die, we may not be capable of talking

much to those about us; such good counsel as we have to give,

let us give while in health. Observe the prospect Christ had of

an approaching conflict, not only with men, but with the powers

of darkness. Satan has something in us to perplex us with, for

we have all sinned; but when he would disturb Christ, he found

nothing sinful to help him. The best evidence of our love to the

Father is, our doing as he has commanded us. Let us rejoice in

the Saviour's victories over Satan the prince of this world. Let

us copy the example of his love and obedience.