Sunday School Lessons

OCTOBER 7, 2018

SORROW TURNED TO JOY

INTRODUCTION:
1. Not all of Christ’s sayings were understood by His disciples, and it is safe to say that none of His sayings were thoroughly understood by them, for there are many depths in them that they had no line to fathom.
2. In the passage before us we are told this directly and distinctly – “What is this that he saith? We cannot tell what he saith.” (Verses 17, 18)
a) None ever spoke so plainly as Jesus, and none were ever so thoroughly accustomed to His style of teaching as the Apostles, yet even they did not always take in their Master’s meaning.
b) Surely we should not be surprised if we cannot always interpret His words. However, we thank God that there are many saying of our Lord which no honest mind can fail to understand.
3. Spiritual discernment is necessary in order to rightly understand divine truth (I Cor. 2:14). Therefore, even though we realize that to some of Jesus’ sayings their eyes were holden so that truths clearly spoken were hid from them for the time (Luke 9:45; 24:16), full knowledge awaited the sending of the Holy Spirit. (Ch. 14:26)
4. Let us thank God for the light that we have, and not doubt that to him that hath, more shall be given.

I. OBSERVE THE PRESENT INABILITY OF THE DISCIPLES TO GRASP THE COMFORT THEIR LORD DESIGNED FOR THEM. (VERSES 16-19)

A. THEY SHOULD SHORTLY LOSE HIS VISIBLE, EARTHLY PRESENCE, AS HE WAS RETURNING TO THE FATHER. (VERSE 16a)
1. Their Master/Teacher would no longer be with them in bodily form.
2. At His ascension He removed Himself, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Although they looked stedfastly after Him, they saw Him no more. (Acts 1:9, 10; II Cor. 5:16)

B. THEY SHOULD SOON SEE HIM AGAIN. (VERSE 16b)
1. They should therefore sorrow not as those that have no hope. (I Thess. 4:13)
2. His farewell was not a final farewell.
a) In a very little while they would see Him on the day of His resurrection (Luke 24:30ff), and during the forty days between His resurrection and ascension. (I cor. 15:5-7; John 21:1, 14; Acts 1:3)
b) They would see Him in the pouring out of the Spirit, soon after His ascension. This appearance was of course, not bodily, neither was it transient, but it gave them much clearer insight into Christ and His Gospel, scattering the mist of ignorance they had been in.
c) They would in a little while see Him at His second coming, when He shall come in the clouds and every eye shall see Him.

C. HE ASSIGNS THE REASON WHY THEY WOULD SEE HIM NO MORE FOR A WHILE, BUT SHOULD, WITHOUT FAIL, SEE HIM AGAIN. “BECAUSE I GO TO THE FATHER.”
1. He must leave for a while, because He was called to the upper world to conduct His and their business at the Father’s right hand.
2. They would surely see Him again, for once His mediatorial work was completed, the Father would not detain Him. (Ch. 14:3)

D. THE DISCIPLES’ PERPLEXITY OVER THIS SAYING DREW FURTHER EXPLICATION FROM THEIR LORD AND MASTER. (VERSES 17-19)
1. Verse 17 reveals that they were puzzled about each part of the saying. “A little while and ye shall not see me; and again, a little while and ye shall see me; and, because I go to the Father?”
a) Their lack of understanding was not for want of being told. He had told them that He was going to be killed, and that in three days He would rise again. (Matt. 16:21; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22)
b) It seems that it is His death and resurrection that He is particularly speaking of when He says “a little while and ye shall not see me” and “a little while and he shall see me.” Before the day was ended He would die, and they would not see Him; but in three days He would rise from the dead, and they would see Him.
c) Yet, His saying “and, because I go to the Father,” seems to include His ascension as well, and thus we too long for His soon appearing, when our sorrows will come to an end forever. (Psa. 30:15)
2. Jesus gave further explanation because He knew they were desirous to ask. (Verse 19)
a) They were whispering among themselves, but apparently too bashful to ask. (Verse 18)
b) Their gracious Lord, knowing what they had need of before (or even without) their asking, answered them.
3. He did not explain His words, of not seeing and seeing, but rather by their sorrowing and rejoicing. We commonly measure things by the way they affect us. (Verse 20) Matthew Henry notes that “believers have joy or sorrow according as they have or have not a sight of Christ and the tokens of his presence with them.”

II. THESE WORDS OF CHRIST CANNOT BE CONFINED TO THE SINGLE POINT OF HIS APPROACHING DEATH AND RESURRECTION. (VERSES 20-24) “Like many of our Lord’s sayings on the last evening of His earthly ministry, His words here seem to extend over the whole period of time between His first and second advents.” – J. C. Ryle. This view is shared by many good Bible expositors.

A. CHRIST’S ABSENCE FROM THE EARTH WILL BE A TIME OF SORROW TO BELIEVERS, BUT OF JOY TO THE WORLD. “Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice.”
1. Certainly it is true that Christ’s going away was a time of great sadness for His disciples, while it was a time of rejoicing for those who put Him to death.
a) The disciples would mourn their loss while His enemies would celebrate their victory.
b) Many wept at the scene, but others sitting down watched Him there, and soldiers gambled for His garment. The disciples saw in Christ’s death their hopes dashed, while the Jewish leaders rejoiced that this threat to their power was removed.
2. Christ’s personal absence must needs be a sorrow to all true believers. “The children of the Bridechamber cannot but fast when the Bridegroom is taken from them.”
a) There is something in the hearts of even the most eminent saints that will never be fully satisfied as long as they are on earth and Christ is in heaven.
(1) Faith is not sight.
(2) Hope is not reality.
(3) Reading and hearing are not beholding.
(4) Praying is not the same as speaking face to face.
b) So long as we dwell in these bodies of corruption, and see through a glass darkly, we will long to see Him face to face. How many of our great hymns writers have expressed this longing!
3. Yet, this same personal absence of Christ is no cause of sorrow to the children of the world.
a) The longer Christ keeps away from this earth and lets them alone, the better they will be pleased.
b) His absence causes them no pain; their so-called happiness is complete without Him.
c) What a fearful waking up there will be by and by.

B. CHRIST’S PERSONAL RETURN SHALL BE A SOURCE OF BOUNDLESS JOY TO HIS BELIEVING PEOPLE. (VERSES 21, 22)
1. The spiritual mourning shall be soon turned to eternal rejoicing.
a) When Christ comes believers shall come into their eternal state, and so shall they ever be with the Lord.
b) The world, at the same time, goes away with all the mirth; and their laughter is turned to unspeakable, unending pain and bitterness.
2. He likens it to a woman who gives birth to a child (The word may mean ‘son’ or ‘daughter’).
a) The labor and pain, “sorrow” (Gen. 3:16), endures until the baby is born, and she looks in its face, and holds it in her arms. Then the exceeding joy completely blots out the pain and sorrow.
b) So it is with the believer’s present sorrow. “One glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase.” This is how Jesus applies the parable. (Verse 22)
3. The second advent of Christ is the one grand object on which our Lord teaches believers to fix their eyes. We ought always to be looking for and loving His appearing. (II Pet. 3:12; II Tim. 4:8)

C. WHILE CHRIST IS ABSENT, BELIEVERS MUST ASK MUCH OF HIM IN PRAYER. (VERSE 23, 24)
1. It is written, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name, ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
a) It appears that up to this time they had not realized their Master’s full divinity; certainly not that He was the one Mediator between God and man, in whose name they were to offer their prayers to God.
b) Here they are told that henceforth they are to ask in His name.
2. We cannot doubt that our Lord would have all his people in every age to know that the secret of comfort during His absence is to be instant in prayer.
a) Though we cannot see Him bodily, He does see us, and we can talk with Him any time, any place.
b) His promise is to us as well, “Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
3. Of all of our Christian privileges there is none to which there is such abounding encouragement as prayer.
a) It is a duty that concerns all, and is the need of all. High and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, all must pray.
b) It is a duty which suits all to which all are accountable. All cannot read, or hear, or speak, but all who have the spirit of adoption can cry with the heart, “Abba Father!”
c) It is, above all, a duty in which everything depends on the heart and motive within. Our words may be feeble, ill-chosen, and unworthy to be written down, but if the heart be right, it matters not. He that sits in heaven can understand them perfectly.
4. If we know these things, happy are we if we do them. Let us be much in prayer. Faithful is He that promised.

SEPTEMBER 16 / SEPTEMBER 23, 2018

THE EXPEDIENCE OF CHRIST’S LEAVING

INTRODUCTION:
1. Christ had just before spoken to His disciples about how the world would hate them for His name’s sake. Because He had chosen them out of the world to be His sent ones, they should expect no better treatment than He had received. He then spoke of the effectual provision that was made for their comfort and provision under such difficult circumstances, namely the Holy Spirit. (Ch. 15:18-27)
2. With respect to what He had just spoken, the opening verses of this chapter contain three remarkable statements.
a) One is a prophecy as to the nature and extent of the hatred and persecution they should expect from the world. “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”
b) Another is His explanation for why He delivered such a prophecy about hatred and excommunication and martyrdom. “I have spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.” Nothing is so dangerous to us as to indulge false expectations.
c) One other is the reason He gives why it was expedient for Him to go away from them, “If I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you.”
3. Regarding that third utterance, they would actually find that, as much as the idea of His leaving crushed them, it would not be a loss, but a gain. His bodily absence would be more useful that His presence.
4. In this passage our Lord keeps to His former pattern. First, He speaks wounding words that bring sorrow (Verses 1-6); then He follows with healing words to comfort them in their troubles. (Verses 7-15)I.

THE NOTICE HE GIVES OF THE TROUBLES THAT LAY AHEAD. (VERSES 1-6)

A. FIRST, JESUS GIVES THE REASON WHY HE ALARMED THEM WITH THE EXPECTATION OF TROUBLE. (VERSE 1)
1. He wisely prepared His disciples for what they should expect to encounter. False expectations can be a great stumbling block. (Jer. 8:15)
2. Like a wise Commander, He did not conceal from His soldiers the nature of the campaigns that they were beginning.
3. To count the cost is of the first duties that ought to be pressed upon those setting out to follow Christ. It is no kindness to paint a rosy picture for beginners, and hide the truth that “through much tribulation we must enter…”(Luke 14:27-33; Acts 14:22)

B. HE FORETELLS PARTICULARLY WHAT THEY MUST SUFFER. (VERSE 2)
1. So far from receiving them and their message, the Jews would excommunicate them from their religious assemblies.
2. How true the prediction turned out to be! Like every other word of prophecy, it was fulfilled to the letter.
3. The Book of Acts shows us how the unbelieving Jews persecuted the early church mercilessly, even killing many Christians.
4. They did this in God’s name, thinking they did God service. (Acts 8:1; 9:1; 26:9, 11)
a) Let us not be surprised to hear of Christians being persecuted, even today.
b) Let us never forget that religious earnestness is no proof of godliness. (Rom. 10:2, 3)
(1) In the name of God religious leaders put the Son of God to death. (Acts 2:22, 23)
(2) In the name of God the Jews tried to destroy the Church of God. (Acts 9:1, 2)

C. HE GIVES THE REAL REASON FOR THE WORLD’S HATRED AND RAGE AGAINST THEM. (VS. 3)
1. The enmity was not because of any harm done them by the Apostles, but because they did not know God.
2. Many that pretend to know God are wretchedly ignorant of Him. (Hos. 8:1-3)
3. Those that are ignorant of Christ and dishonor Him cannot have any right knowledge of God. (John 5:23)
4. Those are very ignorant indeed of God who think it is acceptable to persecute good people. Christ came not into the world to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. (Luke 9:56)

D. HE TELLS THEM WHY HE GAVE NOTICE OF THIS NOW AND WHY NOT SOONER. (VERSE 4)
1. It was not to discourage them, or add to their present sorrow, or to alert them so that they might avoid it, but so that when the time should come (and it would surely come), they may remember.
2. When trials come it is helpful to remember that our Lord has told us to expect them. (I Pet. 4:12)
3. When troubles come they are less grievous when we remember that Christ foresaw them, foretold them, and we need not look upon them as a wrong to us.

E. HE EXPRESSES A VERY LOVING CONCERN FOR THE PRESENT SADNESS OF THE DISCIPLES OVER WHAT HE HAD SAID TO THEM. (VERSES 5, 6)
1. “Now, I go my way to Him that sent me, and none of you asketh me, whither goest thou?” (Verse 5)
a) These words seem to convey a reproof to the disciples for not inquiring more earnestly about the heavenly home to which their Master was going. (Ch. 14:2, 3)
b) Peter had actually said, “Whither goest thou?” (John 13:36), but the disciples were all so completely taken up with the fact of His going, that they received no comfort from where He was going.
c) There was great comfort to be had in the knowledge of where He was going, and the nature of His going, but being consumed with the thought of His leaving, they failed to receive it.
2. They were too intent upon the occasion of their grief. (Verse 6)
a) Christ had said enough to fill them with joy. (Ch. 14:28; 15:11)
b) But, they were so full of sorrow that there was no room for joy.
c) Let us not become so overcome with present sorrows that we are deaf to the voice of joy that calls us to rejoice in things eternal.
d) Their sorrow was, after all, because of the temporal loss of Christ’s bodily presence; and likely also because of vanishing hopes for an earthly temporal kingdom.

II. WORDS OF COMFORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT ADMINISTERED FOR THEIR SUPPORT. (VSES. 7-15) The surest word of comfort and encouragement for troubled hearts is the Promises of the Holy Spirit, Who is the Comforter, and all-sufficient Spirit of Christ.

A. THE FIRST SETTLING WORD IS THAT CHRIST’S DEPARTURE WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO THE COMFORTER’S COMING. (VERSE 7)
1. It was expedient for them that Christ should go away.
a) This showed them how absurd their sorrow was. His leaving was not only good for Him, but expedient for them.
b) Many things seem grievous to us that are really expedient for us.
c) Jesus always is for that which is most expedient for us, whether we think so or not. He sends us what is best for us.
2. It was expedient because it was in order to the sending of the Holy Spirit.
a) It is clearly laid down that the Holy Spirit’s coming down with power and influence and grace was the thing dependent on our Lord’s dying, rising again, and ascending into heaven. It is part of the eternal covenant of man’s salvation that the Son should be incarnate, die, and rise again, and that in consequence, the Holy Spirit should be poured out with almighty power and influence extending worldwide.
b) The invisible universal presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church is better than the visible bodily presence of Christ with the Church. Christ’s body can be in but one place. The Holy Spirit can be everywhere at once. Whatever the disciples might think, it was far better for Christ to go to heaven and sit down at the Father’s right hand as our Great High Priest and send down the Holy Spirit to be with His Church until He comes again.

B. THE SENDING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO THE CARRYING OUT OF CHRIST’S INTERESTS ON EARTH. (VERSES 8-11)
1. See here what the office of the Spirit is, and on what errand He came. (Verse 8)
a) He reproves (convinces) the world of sin.
b) He convinces of righteousness.
c) He convinces of judgment to come.
2. That He does this in the case of each individual sinner that is brought to Christ in salvation is surely true.
a) He convinces of sin and reproves the sinner. He brings conviction of sin. (This is a law term and speaks of summing up the evidence and settling the matter in a clear and true light.)
b) He convinces of righteousness, both the sinner’s need of righteousness, and of the righteousness of Christ, his only hope.
c) He convinces that there is a judgment to come, when we will stand before God and give an account.
3. That this work of the Holy Spirit has a much larger application is most certain. What happened on the day of Pentecost and what things were frequently done in the Acts of the Apostles show a peculiar restraining, irresistible power accompanying the work that the unbelieving Jews were not able to withstand. Nor is that all, He shall not stop until every mouth is stopped, and the whole world becomes guilty before God.
4. See what He shall convince the world of and why.
a) “…of SIN, because they believe not on me.” The Holy Spirit shall convince the world of sin by obliging Christ’s rejectors to see, though too late, that in not believing on Him they made an enormous mistake. He shall make them feel the awful woe of this great sin.
b) “…of RIGHTEOUSNESS, because I go to my Father and ye see me no more.”
(1) We may understand this of Christ’s personal righteousness. The Holy Spirit will convince the world after Christ is gone back to the Father, that He was a righteous man. (Luke 23:47) His enemies put Him under the worst character, but He is justified in the Spirit. (I Tim. 3:16)
(2) Or we may understand this of the righteousness communicated to us by the Holy Spirit in justification and salvation; that everlasting righteousness which Messiah was to bring. (Dan. 9:24) It was hard to establish this righteousness with them that went about to establish their own (Rom. 10:3), but the Spirit will do it. Christ’s ascension is the great argument proper to convince men of this righteousness. “I go to my Father,” and as evidence of My welcome with Him, “you shall see me no more.”
c) “…of JUDGMENT, because the prince of this world is judged.” That all judgment is committed to Christ is declared in the fact that the prince of the world (Satan) is judged. Christ has broken the serpent’s head, destroyed him that had the power of death, and spoiled principalities. This being so, it is certain that all of Christ’s enemies, all who are of Satan’s kingdom will surely be judged as well.

C. THE SENDING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS OF UNSPEAKABLE ADVANTAGE TO THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST. (VERSES 12-15)
1. The “Spirit of Truth” would enable them to receive and understand truths that they were not as yet (without Him)able to hear. (Verses 12, 13)
2. The blessed Holy Spirit would be for the glory of Christ in His coming. (Verses 14, 15)
a) In His sending,
b) In His person,
c) In His witness, and
d) In His gifts to the Church.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

THE HATRED OF THE WORLD

INTRODUCTION:
1. In our last lesson, Jesus pressed it upon His disciples to love one another and to continue in the close communion that had been their comfort all the while that they had been together, knowing that they would be tempted to grow strange one to another after He was gone from them. (Verses 9-17)
2. In this lesson they are reminded of yet another important reason why they must abide in His love and continue in close communion with one another, namely, the hatred of the world. The love of the brethren is especially sweet when the world is spewing out its hatred toward us.
3. Here Jesus discourses concerning hatred, which is the character and disposition of the devil’s kingdom; as love, which distinguishes and characterizes the kingdom of Christ.
4. Christ will speak first about the hateful opposition which His church and His Gospel and those who preach it shall meet with in the world. He will then speak of the effectual provision that was made for their comfort and support, namely, the Holy Spirit.

I. FIRST HE SPEAKS OF THE HATRED OF THE WORLD AND THOSE WHO ARE TARGETS OF ITS HATRED. (VERSES 18-25)

A. WHO THEY ARE IN WHOM THIS HATRED IS FOUND. (VERSE 18)
1. The world; the children of the world are contrasted with the children of God.
2. Those who are in the interest of the god of this world, whose image they bear, and whose will they are subject to. (John 8:44)
3. All, whether Jews or Gentiles, who would not harken to His call and come into His church, thus separating themselves from the world.
4. Their number are many, an overwhelming majority of mankind, who are untied against Christ. (Psa. 83:5)
5. They are “men of the world,” wholly devoted to this world and the things of it, and not thinking of another world.
6. They are haters of Christians, but they are not hated by Christians. (Matt. 5:44)

B. WHO THEY ARE AGAINST WHOM THIS HATRED IS LEVELED. (VERSES 19-25)
1. The world hates Christ’s disciples. “The world hateth you.” (Verse 19)
a) This hatred was to be expected. (Verse 18; I John 3:13)
b) Observe the contiguity of this with His recent kind words.
(1) He had appointed them their work, but here tells them of the hardships they must be prepared for.
(2) He charged them to love one another, for surely the world would hate them.
c) Observe what this hatred includes. (Verse 20)
(1) Enmity, for sake of Christ.
(2) Persecution. (II Tim. 3:12)
(3) Rejection of their message.
d) Observe the cause of the world’s hatred.
(1) They do not belong to it. (Verse 19)
(2) They do belong to Christ. (Verse 21; I Pet. 4:14)
(3) The world’s ignorance of God. “Because they know not Him that sent me.”
a) They know not God.
b) They know not His Gospel purpose. “…Him that sent me.”
c) See Psa. 14:4)
2. The world hates Christ Himself. (Verse 18)
a) This He inserts to mitigate the trouble of His followers, and to make it less strange and less grievous.
(1) This may be read as expressing his superiority. “You know that it hated me your first,” (your chief, your captain).
(2) If the Master, the founder of our religion met with so much hatred and opposition and suffering, His loyal followers should expect no better. (Verse 20; Matt. 10:24)
(3) Jesus predicts their persecution based on His own, because, if His sayings drew the world’s hatred, they would be also saying the same thing.
(4) He then adds a word respecting those who would “keep their sayings.” Though they would be few, yet there would be some who would believe.
(5) Some give another sense to this, making it to mean, if they have lain in wait for My sayings, with a design to ensnare Me, they will likewise lie in wait for your sayings in order to entangle you.
b) To aggravate the wickedness of this unbelieving world, He adds two of the greatest reasons imaginable why they should love Him.
(1) First, His words were such as merited their love. (Verse 22)
a) Had He not spoken such sweet words of love, and invited them to receive pardon and life everlasting, they would not have had occasion to demonstrate such unwarranted and unreasonable hatred.
b) The wonderful advantage of hearing the Gospel also exposes one to the greatest danger. Not only do ungodly men reject the Gospel, but they often develop a bitter hatred for it.
c) It had been better for them never to have heard it at all than that it should be “a savor of death” to them. (II Cor. 2:15, 16)
d) But, having heard, they are inexcusable. “Having no cloak for their sin,” in the day of judgement they shall be speechless.
(2) Secondly, His works were such as merited their love, as well as His words. (Verse 24)
a) Had Christ works not been such clear proof that His words were true, they might have had some excuse for their unbelief and enmity, but He did many mighty works before their eyes, that no other man did or could have done.
b) As the Creator demonstrates His power and Godhead by His works (Rom. 1:20) so does the Redeemer. His wondrous works prove that He is sent of God. (I John 3:2) Having witnessed His miracles, His mercies, His works of grace, their sin and unbelief was totally incredible.
(3) The works of Christ enhance the guilt of the sinner’s infidelity and enmity to the last degree of wickedness and absurdity.
c) The unwarranted hatred of Christ’s enemies was itself proof that He was the true Messiah, in that the Scriptures had predicted it. (Verse 25)
(1) “They hated me without a cause.” This, David spoke of himself as a type of Christ. (Psa. 35:19; 69:4)
(2) Note, those who hate Christ, hate Him without a cause, but worse still, they hate Him who has given them every reason to love Him.
3. In Christ the world hates God Himself.
a) This is twice said here.
(1) “He that hateth me, hateth my Father also.” (Verse 23)
(2) “Now have they both seen and hated me and my Father.” (Verse 24; Ch. 14:9)
b) There are those who hate God notwithstanding the goodness of His character and the bounty of His providence. They are enraged at His justice, and angered at His dominion, and would gladly break His bands asunder.
c) Hatred of Christ is adjudged hatred of God, for Christ is in His very person; the express image of the Father. (Heb. 1:1-3)
d) There are many who think to honor God while demonstrating a practical hatred of Christ, but that is not possible. (John 5:23)
e) Let us be sure that all sinners are at enmity with God, and there can be no hope of reconciliation except through faith in Jesus Christ. (Rom. 8:7-10; II Cor. 5:18; I John 2:1, 2)

II. SECONDLY, HE SPEAKS OF THE EFFECTUAL PROVISION THAT WAS MADE FOR THEIR COMFORT AND SUPPORT IN THIS HATE-FILLED WORLD. (VERSES 26, 27) Christ having spoken of the great opposition which His Gospel was likely to meet with in the world, and the persecutions and hardships that the preachers of it would face, here intimates what effectual provision was made for their support and comfort.

A. IT IS HERE PROMISED THAT THE BLESSED HOLY SPIRIT WILL MAINTAIN THE CAUSE OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD, NOTWITHSTANDING THE OPPOSITION. (VERSE 26)
1. “The Comforter,” He is called, that is “The Advocate.”
2. Here is an account of Him in His essence, or rather His subsistence.
a) He is “the Spirit of Truth who proceedeth from the Father.”
(1) He is spoken of as a distinct Person, not a property merely, but a Person under the proper name of the Spirit, and proper title of the Spirit of Truth. As One given to testify, this is a fit title.
(2) He is a Divine Person, that “proceedeth from the Father.” He is therefore the everlasting Spirit. He is that Spirit of God that was the Divine Agent in Creation (Gen. 1:2), and that breathed life into man, the creature. (Gen. 2:7)
(3) He proceeded from the Father and the Son, for He is called the Spirit of the Son, (Gal. 4:6) and the Son is here said to have sent Him.
b) In His mission, He comes in a more plentiful effusion of His gifts, graces, and powers than had ever yet been.
c) When He was sent by the Father and the Son, He came in demonstration of His power and gifts on the Day of Pentecost. (Ch. 14:16; Acts 1:8; 2:1ff)
d) So does He continue with His Church to this day, and shall be with us unto the end. Let us pray for greater demonstrations and manifestations of His power and gifts with us.

B. IT IS HERE PROMISED THAT THE APOSTLES ALSO, BY THE SPIRIT’S ASSISTANCE, SHOULD HAVE THE HONOR OF BEING CHRIST’S WITNESSES. (VERSE 27; ISA. 43:10)
1. They were appointed to this work. Notice, “He (the Spirit) shall testify of me.” (Verse 26c); “and ye also shall bear witness.” (Verse 27a)
2. They were qualified to be witnesses. Notice, “You have been with me from the beginning.”
a) They had heard His public preaching, and had the privilege of private communion with Him. (Verse 15)
b) We have great reason to receive the witness which the Apostles gave of Christ. (II Pet. 1:16; I John 1:1-3)
3. Those are best able to bear witness for Christ that have themselves come to know Him, and who live in communion with Him.
a) In order to testify of Christ one must first have a testimony.
b) Those who have a testimony will surely be happy to share it with others.

AUGUST 19, 2018

LOVE AND COMMUNION

INTRODUCTION:
1. Having comforted His disciples in Chapter fourteen, our Lord in this and the following chapter proceeded to press upon them certain instruction that in light of His going away they must heed.
2. Last week we considered the first of these important instructions. By means of the parable of the Vine and the Branches, He stressed the absolute necessity of their abiding in Him as their only source of life and fruitfulness. (Verses 1-8)
3. In the passage now before us, He presses it upon them to love one another and to keep up that communion that had been their comfort all the while that they were together, knowing that they would be tempted to grow strange one to another after He was gone from them.

I. FIRST, THEY WERE TO ABIDE IN HIS LOVE. (VERSES 9-11) The word rendered “continue” here in Verse 9 isthe same that is rendered “abide” in Verse 4.

A. NOTE THE DEPTH AND MAGNITUDE OF OUR LORD’S LOVE TO HIS PEOPLE. “AS THE FATHER HATH LOVED ME.”
1. We cannot form an adequate idea of the love of the Father toward the Son. The feeling of one eternal Person in the trinity toward another Person is too high for us.
2. Yet, such is the love of Christ toward those who believe in Him. It is a vast, wide, deep, unmeasurable love that passes knowledge, and can never be fully comprehended. (Eph. 3:17-19)
3. Jesus was, as Mediator, the Son of the Father’s love. He loved Him and gave all things into His hands.
4. When Christ was entering upon His suffering He comforted Himself with this, that His Father loved Him. Even when it pleased the Father to bruise Him, He abode in the Father’s love.

B. CONCERNING HIS OWN LOVE TO HIS DISCIPLES, THE PATTERN WAS THE FATHER’S LOVE TO HIM. “AS THE FATHER HATH LOVED ME, SO HAVE I LOVED YOU.”
1. Notice the expression of the condescending grace of Christ.
a) As the Father loved Him, who was most worthy, He loved them who were most unworthy.
b) The Father loved Him as His Son, and He loved them as His children.
c) The Father gave all things into His hands, so with Himself, He freely giveth us all things.
2. Notice also, as Mediator and the great trustee of Divine grace, which He had not for Himself, but for the benefit of those for whom He was entrusted, He transmits it to them.
a) The Father was well pleased with Him that He might also be well pleased with us in Him.
b) The Father loved Him, so that in the Beloved He might make us accepted. (Eph. 1:6)

C. IN HIS LOVE THEY ARE INSTRUCTED TO CONTINUE, THAT IS, TO ABIDE. “CONTINUE YE IN MY LOVE.”
1. Before this He said, “Abide in me, and I in you.” Though it is not in our power either to be joined to Christ the True Vine, or to abide there, it is nonetheless our duty to do so.
2. Though Christ’s love is freely bestowed, and we cannot be separated from it, still it is our solemn duty to abide in His love, allowing nothing to tempt our souls away from Him.
3. The disciples were to go out in service to Christ and literally hazard their lives for His sake, but, He says, “Continue ye in my love.” We must allow nothing to quench our love for Christ. (Jude 21)

D. OBEDIENCE WILL BE THE BEST EVIDENCE OF THE CONSTANCY OF THEIR LOVE. (VERSE 10)
1. Observe here the promise: “Ye shall abide in my love.”
a) As a dwelling place;
b) As a resting place;
c) As a shelter, stronghold of safety.
2. Observe the condition of the promise: “If ye keep my commandments.”
a) They were to keep their Master’s commandments themselves.
b) They were to keep them as trustees, and deliver them to others, to teach all things that Christ had commanded. (Matt. 28:20)
3. To induce them to keep His commandments, He urges His own example. “Even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”
a) This statement is one which we can never fully grasp. Christ kept His Father’s commandments perfectly, while we can only keep them imperfectly.
b) In this, as in everything else, our Lord’s example is set forth as that which we must strive to follow, and not always with sensible satisfaction.

E. TO CONTINUE IN CHRIST’S LOVE IS TO CONTINUE IN HIS JOY. (VERSE 11)
1. Jesus here gives two reasons for all the things in this discourse to his disciples.
a) One was that His joy might remain (abide) in them; that they might share in their Master’s joy in their salvation and redemption.
b) The other was that their own individual joy might be filled up and perfected.
2. Two joys are named.
a) One is that special joy mentioned in Heb. 12:2, which our Lord feels in the redemption of His people.
b) The other is that joy which His people feel from a sense of Christ’s love to them.
3. It is the mark of a prosperous Christian to rejoice in those things in which Christ rejoices, and to thereby have their own inward happiness increased.

II. SECONDLY, THEY WERE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER EVEN AS CHRIST LOVED THEM. (VERSES 12-17)

A. CHRIST’S LOVE FOR THEM WAS TRULY GREAT. (VERSE 13) “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS…”
1. The greatness of His love for them is seen is that He laid down His life for them. (Verse 13; John 10:11, 17, 18; Eph. 5:25)
2. The love of Christ for His own is seen as greater still, in that, “…while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8); “…when we were enemies.” (Rom. 5:10)
3. This highest proof of love, i.e. laying down one’s own life for a friend in order to save his life, is the degree of love that He required of them. (See I John 3:16)

B. CHRIST’S LOVE FOR THEM IS SEEN IN THAT HE TOOK THEM INTO A COVENANT OF FRIENDSHIP WITH HIMSELF. (VERSES 14, 15)
1. These verses are closely connected to the preceding one: “You are my friends for whom I lay down my life, if you do whatever things I command you.”
a) We are not to assume that we are Christ’s friends if we do not habitually practice His commands. (Verse 14)
b) It is very noteworthy how frequently our Lord returns to this great principle, that obedience is the test of vital Christianity, and doing is the real mark of saving faith.
c) Those who talk a good religion while they live in disobedience to Christ’s plain commandments are deceiving themselves. (James 1:22)
2. Those who are obedient servants are admitted and advanced to the dignity and honor of Christ’s friends.
a) All of Christ’s servants are espoused as His friends. What an honor!!
b) He visits them, converses with them, bears with them, is afflicted with them in their afflictions, takes pleasure in their prosperity, pleads on their behalf, and takes care of all their interests. He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother.
c) He does not call them servants, though they call Him Master and Lord. Let this be to us an example in humility, that we not be as lords, insisting upon all occasions on authority and superiority.

C. CHRIST’S LOVE FOR HIS DISCIPLES IS SEEN IN THAT HE FREELY COMMUNICATED HIS THOUGHTS TO THEM. (VERSE 15b) “FOR ALL THINGS THAT I HAVE HEARD OF MY FATHER, I HAVE MADE KNOWN UNTO YOU.”
1. As to the secret things of God, there are many things which we must be content not to know. (Deut. 29:29)
2. But, as to the revealed will of God, Jesus Christ has faithfully handed to us what He received of the Father. (Ch. 1:18; Matt. 11:27)
3. The great things relating to man’s redemption Christ declared to His disciples, that they might declare them to others. They were the men of His counsel. (Matt. 13:11)

D. CHRIST’S LOVE FOR HIS DISCIPLES IS SEEN IN THAT HE CHOSE AND ORDAINED THEM TO BE PRIME INSTRUMENTS OF HIS GLORY IN THE WORLD. (VERSE 16)
1. His love to them appeared in their election.
a) First in their election to salvation.
b) Second in their election to apostleship.
(1) Why were they admitted to such an intimacy with Him, employed in such an embassy for Him, and enduedwith such power from on high? It was not owing to their goodness in choosing Him for their Master, but to His favor and grace in choosing them.
(2) It is fit that Christ should have the choosing of His own ministers. Both in salvation and ministry, our choices are predicated on His first having chosen us.
(3) Our love for Christ is also because He first loved us. (John 4:19)
2. His love to them appeared in their ordination. “I have ordained you.”
a) He put them into the ministry. (I Tim. 1:12)
b) He crowned them with this high honor
c) It was a mighty confidence that He placed in them when He made them His ambassadors to negotiate the affairs of His Kingdom.
d) The treasure of the Gospel was committed to them.
(1) First, that it might be propagated, that it should go forth and bring forth fruit.
(2) Second, that it should be perpetuated – that the fruit should remain.
3. His love to them appeared in the interest they had at the Throne of Grace. “Whatsoever you shall ask of the Father, in my name He will give it you.”
a) We have a God to go to in prayer who is a Father. Jesus said, “My Father and your Father…”
b) We have a good and powerful Name in which to come to God.
c) An answer of peace if promised to us when we so come to Him.

E. THE DISCIPLES’ LOVE TO ONE ANOTHER IS ENJOINED AS AN EVIDENCE OF THEIR LOVE TO CHRIST, AND A GRATEFUL RETURN FOR HIS LOVE TO THEM. (VERSE 17)
1. We must keep His commandments, and this is His commandment, that we love one another. (Verse 12, 17)
a) It is recommended by Christ’s pattern. (Verse 12)
b) It is commanded by Christ’s precept. (Verse 17)
2. It seems that this was His most urgent commandment, a most necessary injunction.
a) In Verse 12 He says, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another.”
b) In Verse 17 He says, “these things I command you, that ye love one another,” as if everything else was for sake of this one thing.
c) Surely brotherly love must continue. (Heb. 13:1)