SECTION LXVII.

THE LAST SUPPER-PROMISE OF THE COMFORTER.

JOHN xiv. 15—31.

"IF ye love Me, keep My commandments. And

I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever."

Our Lord had sought to cheer the disciples by putting before them the prospect of His return, and the certainty of future reunion with Him in the heavenly mansions, but there was still no doubt present to their minds the dreary period of intervening years which they would have to get through. What were they to do? how carry on their work, weak as they even now felt themselves, and yet He spoke of. them doing great works greater than He had done? How could that be? Without Him would they not be utterly weak-then would not their faith dwindle, their hopes sicken, their love grow chill, till at length the past would appear to them a beautiful dream, and the future a vague peradventure. it would have been so, no doubt, if they had been left to themselves. If Christianity had been trusted merely to the memory of man, from age to age, the colours would have become fainter and fainter; instead of which we thankfully see that, like all God's mercies, it is new every morning, more vividly true,. more bright and harmonious in colour, as the world's history unfolds before us. And the reason is, that the

Well,

administration of the Gospel is committed not merely to a written record, but to a living Spirit, and that no less than the Holy Spirit of God.

This Spirit was to be to the apostles another Comforter-an ever-present abiding Counsellor, Teacher, and Friend. He is described as "the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him." The world could only appreciate something tangible, visible, whereas this Presence would only be discernible by hearts in unison with it. "But ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

Yet a

but

As

The Lord then reverts for a moment to His own return, which was still doubtless the most interesting subject to the disciples. "I will not leave you comfortless," orphans-"I will come to you. little while, and the world seeth Me no more; ye see Me; because I live, ye shall live also." the death of Christ is the death of sinful human nature, so the risen life of Christ is the life of regenerate human nature. "Much more," says St. Paul, "shall we be saved by His life,"—" that life in which He carries on His intercession, communication of the Holy Spirit, individual protection and guidance, and final redemption of the body by resurrection."*

"At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you." They should have at that day-after the Resurrection-clearer perceptions of the close union and sympathy be

* Dr. Vaughan-The Epistle to the Romans.

"He

tween the Father, the Son, and the Church. that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself unto him." Loving obedience, bringing a man into sympathy with God and Christ, would be the key to this hallowed inter

course.

"Judas saith unto Him, not Iscariot"-(this was Judas the brother of James)-"Lord, how is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" He was perplexed that the manifestation of Christ, which he was probably expecting as something which was to shine upon the world, and convert them at once to the Gospel, should be spoken of as something of this private, confidential nature. "Jesus answered and said unto him"-repeating rather than explaining what must indeed be felt, to be understood-" if a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him. He that loveth Me not"-this is the case of the world-"keepeth not My sayings: and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent Me." So by their estrangement from Him, being estranged from the Father also, they would be unsusceptible of Divine manifestation.

"These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you." He had given them intimations of these truths, but they should have fuller instruction in them. "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He

shall teach you all things"-all necessary things"and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." A most important promise to the fulfilment of which we probably owe the precious heritage of our Saviour's spoken words.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you”—the peace which I experience "not as the world giveth"-mere selfish indifference-"give Iunto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved Me"-unselfishly-" ye would rejoice"for My sake" because I said, I go unto the Father; for My Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe"-and not be scared as at something for which you were wholly unprepared. "Hereafter I will not talk much with you”—this would be their last opportunity for conversation-" for the prince of this world"-the ruler and instigator of wicked men-" cometh, and hath nothing in Me"-no power over Me but what I give him—" that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave the command'ment, even so do I." Christ's submission to the intrigues of Satan, and the violence of his servants, was the great proof of His perfect sympathy with the mind and will of God.

"I

SECTION LXVIII.

THE LAST SUPPER-CHRIST THE TRUE VINE.

JOHN XV. I—II,

AM the true Vine, and my Father is the
Husbandman."

At the close of the foregoing chapter, the Lord is represented as saying, "Arise, let us go hence;" and, as there is evidently a break in the conversation, it may be that it was at this time that they sung the hymn as related by St. Matthew (xxxvi. 30), and also by St. Mark (xiv. 26).

What induced the little company to delay leaving the house at this time we cannot say. Probably the discovery that the night was not so far advanced as had been thought, and the streets less quiet than was desirable. At any rate, the Lord took the opportunity of adding yet a little more to the instruction and consolation of His followers.

Perhaps something in the psalm which they had sung might call up that image so frequent in the psalms and prophets, a community represented by a Vine. Thus, in Ps. lxxx. 8-19, "Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt," &c. This, or some similar association our Lord seems to have had in

view when He says, "I am the true Vine." All previous illustrations had been but imperfect embodiments of the true meaning. His connexion with the redeemed is the genuine counterpart to the familiar figure.