3 service. And these things will they do unto you, because they 4 have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the 5 beginning because I was with you. But now I go my way to him that sent me, and none of you asketh me, Whither goest 6 thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow 7 hath filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him 8 unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of 9 sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they his course, instead of being carried away headlong by his raging passions and bitter prejudices. Persecutions have taught us one lesson we should remember, viz. that we must not only obey conscience, but enlighten it; that we must not only act for the glory of God, but ask ourselves what is for his glory. 3. Because they have not known, &c. Jesus here assigns the reason of their bad conduct. They did not understand the character and purposes of the Father in sending his Son. "Ignorance of the benevolence of God, and of the philanthropy of Christ, is the grand fountain whence all religious persecution and intolerance proceed.' 4. Ye may remember. When the disciples had passed through the exciting scenes of their Master's death, resurrection, ascension, and the descent of the Spirit, and, upon looking back, saw how exactly he had predicted all, they would be confirmed in their belief of his divine authority. These things I said not, &c. He had given them but few intimations heretofore in respect to their trials, as the disciples of a rejected and crucified Master; but he now opens to them a full view of the future, in order that they might be prepared to meet the worst. While he was with them, he turned their minds chiefly to other topics; but now, on the point of leaving them, he unburdens his whole soul in regard to their duties and dangers. 5, 6. None of you asketh me, &c. They had asked him before, chap. xiv. 5, 8, 22, various questions, but now they were so engrossed in their sorrow at bidding him farewell, that they did not inquire of him, whither he was going. He would urge them not to give way to their grief, but to retain their self-possession, and converse with him in regard to his departure, and the important office about to devolve upon them. 7. He consoles them by the thought, that his departure was the condition, on which the new and enlightening influence would come to them from the Father. I will send him. Since the advocate or teacher will not appear till I go away, it will be as if 1 personally sent it, though in reality it will descend at the bidding of the Father. It is often necessary that our hopes should be cut off, and our friends go away to the silent realms of the dead, in order that religion, the great comforter, may come and find a welcome in our hearts. 8-11. Reprove. Or, convict, or, convince, or, give proof to. — Of sin. believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, 10 and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this 11 world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye 12 cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is 13 come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he 14 Jesus mentions three things in particular, in respect to which the descent of the Holy Spirit would work a change in the convictions of men. As an advocate, he would summon the world to trial on these points. The first was the sin of rejecting Jesus; for they would hereafter be more sensibly impressed with the truth of his Messiahship. See Acts ii. 41.-Of righteousness, &c. i. e. the righteousness of his cause; the justice of his claims; for he was going to the Father, and though they saw him no more, his very death, resurrection, and the attendant signs, would convince multitudes that he was the Son of God, and would furnish the apostles, after the coming of the Spirit, with an irresistible demonstration, in their preaching, of his divine authority. Of judgment. Or, condemnation, to come on the Jews and all others who rejected his offers of salvation. Chap. xii. 31.The prince of this world is judged. Or, condemned. The conduct of the Jews and Romans in putting Jesus to death, would be condemned. The severest judgments would descend on Jerusalem. Vast changes were already casting their shadows before them, and soon that religion would be planted upon an immovable basis, which, in its progress and issue, would cast out the prince of this world, the power of evil, and enthrone him to reign, whose right it is to reign, over the hearts and lives of men. 12. I have yet many things, &c. There were still many subjects, as the abrogation of the ceremonial law, the spirituality of the new dispensation, the admission of the Gentiles to its privileges, &c., which the disciples could not yet bear, or comprehend. This is a very important verse, as showing that Jesus adapted his instructions to the state of mind in his followers. In truth, one of the wonderful features of his character as a teacher, was the exquisite fitness and timeliness of his sayings to occasions, places, and persons. His words were "like apples of gold in pictures of silver." He always hit the mark at which he aimed, and if the proper effect did not follow, it was the fault, not of the teacher, but the taught. In order to do the most good, it behoves the parent in his family, the teacher in his school, and the pastor in his pulpit, to study adaptation in subject, style, and manner; else they may be guilty of the incongruity of giving milk to strong men, and meat to babes. 13. All truth. In the original, all the truth, or, the whole truth, i. e. which was necessary for them in preaching the gospel. The Spirit would enlighten them upon points, in which Jesus had necessarily left them in ignorance. Of himself, i. e. of his own power or authority; an express disclaimer of the Spirit being personally God, as distinguished from the Father. On the contrary, it was an influence derived from the Father and dependent on him, communicating his will, and announcing things to come. 14, 15. Glorify me. The descent that opportunity might be afforded for the gift of the Spirit to illumine his apostles. Some, however, deem the second clause and again, &c. 15 shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take 16 of mine, and shall show it unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see me and again, a little while and ye shall see me, 17 because I go to the Father. Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, 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? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? 19 we cannot tell what he saith. Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: 20 and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned 21 into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she of the Spirit increased the honor and glory of Jesus, by vindicating his high authority and promoting his interests. Receive of mine, i. e. of what may be termed mine, as it peculiarly concerns me and my religion. All things are mine. Such is the union between my Father and me, in affection and design, that it is no presumption in me to call his mine, and mine his, especially in reference to the establishment and spread of my gospel. Chap. xvii. 10. Therefore said I, &c. He gives a reason for what he had said, viz. that since all things that the Father hath in respect to Christianity were his, so perfect was their harmony of purpose, he might, with perfect propriety, speak of the Spirit as taking of his, and imparting it to the disciples. 16. He here speaks of the three great coming events: - 1. when they would not see him, in allusion to his approaching death; 2. when they would see him again, i. e. for a short time after his resurrection; and, 3. of his ascension, or that he rose from the dead to go unto the Father, so 28 VOL. II. - as referring not to his personal presence with his disciples after his resurrection, but to the gift of the Holy Spirit, and his presence with them in the power of his religion. 17-19. Saddened and alarmed, the little group anxiously whisper from one to another, and inquire what could be the meaning of words so full of mystery and fear. The perfect naturalness of this scene; the awe and timidity resting on the minds of the disciples; their desire, yet their fear, to ask their Master what was his meaning, ought not to escape our notice. Cannot tell. English idiom for, cannot understand. - 20, 21. Jesus assures them, introducing his declaration with the solemn formulary, verily, verily, that although they would be called to weep and lament at his death, while the world or his enemies exulted over it, yet their grief would soon give way to joy at his resurrection; and he remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I 22 will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall 23 ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall 24 receive, that your joy may be full. These things have I 25 spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I 26 say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the 27 Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Fa- 28 ther, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and illustrates this sudden change from deep anguish and sorrow to gladness, by referring to a common event in life, in which this contrast of feeling was strongly marked.-Man. Human being of either sex. 22. See you again. In reference to his interviews with them after his resurrection. Your joy no man taketh from you. It will suffer no farther interruption. 23, 24. În that day Or, then, meaning the time after his ascension. -Ask me nothing, &c. Hitherto they had resorted to him for light and guidance, but now he directs them to make their requests to God in his name, for the Father would grant their petitions. He here, as elsewhere, commands religious worship and supplication to be addressed to the Supreme Being alone. Such was his own practice, and such should be the custom of all his followers.-Asked nothing in my name. They had not addressed their prayers to the Father through him as the Mediator, while he was personally present with them, but they were to do it after his ascension. Or, according to Cappe, "hitherto you have wrought no miracles by my direction and impulse, but the time is coming when you will be moved to ask the most astonishing favors of the Father, and they will be granted, and your joy and triumph will be carried to their greatest height." 25. In proverbs. Or, parables, figurative and enigmatical sayings. -1 shall show you plainly of the Father. Or, I shall instruct you in a clearer manner in relation to the character and designs of God, by the agency of the Spirit. Compare ver. 7. ; 26-28. 1 say not unto you, &c. A Hebrew comparison. It was not his object here to say, that he would not pray or intercede for them; but he says, leaving out of sight the consideration of my praying for you, you should regard God himself as loving you, on account of your affection and faith towards me, and as ready to answer your prayers. I came forth from the Father, &c. Chap. xiii. 3, and note. The declarations he now makes, are so plain and distinct, that they explain to the disciples the difficulty under which they labored in ver. 17, 18 31 32 29 go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now 30 speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not 33 alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world. 29, 30. No proverb. Margin reads, no parable.—Knowest all things, &c. Universal terms like this are always to be qualified, according to the circumstances of the case. What led the disciples suddenly to express their confidence in the knowledge and wisdom of Jesus, appears to have been the declaration, so clear and summary, of ver. 28, joined, no doubt, with the general insight into their doubts and difficulties, which they felt that he exhibited throughout his discourse. 31, 32. He reminds them that their faith was about to be put to a severe proof, and that the critical moment had now almost arrived.- To his own, i. e. to his home. After the seizure of Jesus, the apostles dispersed and left him, except Peter and John; and after his death, they went back to their homes and occupations. Luke xxiv. 13; John xxi. 3.—I am not alone, &c. He was sustained and cheered by the conscious presence and sympathy of the Father, through all his lonely trials and friendless hours. When man proved false, he turned to God, ever near and ever faithful. When the world frowned coldly and darkly upon him, he took refuge in the generous bosom of Heaven, and found peace and strength. It is a support to all in trial, and loneliness, and pain, to feel that we are not, cannot be alone, but that a gracious Parent is nigh, who hears our sighs and counts our tears, helps our infirmities and lightens our burdens, and gives strength according to our day. How dreadful to suffer, and mourn, and die, without feeling underneath us the everlasting arms of our Father! 33. That in me ye might have peace. He now states the object of his discourse to be, to impart consolation and peace to them under their impending trials. In the world, &c. Though they would have trouble and suffering for their lot in the world, yet they were to draw courage from their Master, who had risen superior to the temptations and persecutions of life, and would conquer its greatest evils, plucking from death its sting, and its victory from the grave. Martin Luther, in a letter to Melancthon, said, in reference to this verse, "Such a saying as this is worthy to be carried from Rome to Jerusalem on our knees." Upon reviewing this valedictory discourse of Jesus to his disciples, we may take notice that there is a regular succession of topics, though not the formality of set divisions. In chap. xiv. he would console them by the assurance, that he was their Forerunner into life and blessedness; that there was the closest connexion be |