The Promise Brought Joy to the Disciples’ Hearts—Men of All the Ages Have Rejoiced in the Hope—His Promise Can Not Fail—He Will Surely Come
By J. W. RICH
JESUS said, “If I go, . . . I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3. Jesus was here on the earth, a man among men, when He said these words, but He was soon to go away.
He was talking to the disciples, and through them to all His people who should live after them. He meant just what He said. His language was simple, but comprehensive. He knew all about the heart-aches and disappointments through which these men would be called to pass, and He knew, too, just what to say to encourage them, so that they would not become too weary by the way. This was characteristic of Him. He seemed always to anticipate the needs of those about Him, and knew just what to say and do to meet these needs.
Brought Gladness to Their Hearts
He saw the disciples sorrowing because He was going away. Nothing helped them so much as to be told that Jesus was coming again. To hear that from His own lips did them much good. He had never told them a falsehood. They had every confidence in His word, and here was His word, “I will come again.”
The disciples parted with Jesus with glad hearts even in that sorrowing hour. Their hopes had been kindled. He had told them that He was coming again. Their work seemed lighter to them now. They began to look to the future for that coming.
But that was not all. Jesus had told them to repeat to others what He had said to them. And they did so. It is true that not all to whom they told His words, believed them, and not all believe them now; but Jesus instructed the disciples to say that He was coming again, and through them He is saying it now. Reader, do you believe what Jesus told the disciples away back there?
These were not the only men to whom Jesus revealed the fact of His coming again. It must be that Abel had a knowledge of that truth; and we know that Enoch had positive evidence of it. Hear what is said of him: “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints.” Jude 14. You see that what Jesus told the disciples, was not a new truth. He had told Enoch all about it hundreds of years before, and through him many others had learned of it. You remember that Jesus and Enoch were great friends, so we are not surprised that Enoch knew of the Saviour’s intentions.
Even Job Knew It
Even Job, who had such a sad experience, knew about the return of Jesus. The record tells us that he was an upright man, “one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” Jesus told him of His future plans. You remember Job was an object of Satan’s hatred, and some close friendship talks must have taken place between Jesus and Job. Here is what Job says: “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: . . . whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.” Job 19:25, 27. It is no secret then, is it?
He told it to David, also, a man after His own heart; and David passed on the good news in Ps. 50:3.
He told Isaiah about it, and his hope in the return of Jesus led him to tell others, even us, so that we might know. Isa. 40:10.
Then, too, the angels know all about the plan; for when Jesus left the disciples, on His return to heaven, two angels came and told them just what Jesus had said a short time before,—that He was coming again. Acts 1:11.
Paul did not think very much of Jesus when the Master was here in person; but later he learned to love Him, and became a great friend of His. And naturally enough5Paul learned of the plan, and was very enthusiastic in making it known. He knew that Jesus had ascended to heaven. He had heard Peter and John tell about that, for they had witnessed it; and now Paul says, “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel.” Then he repeats what Jesus had told the disciples, and for the same reason,—to “comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thess. 4:16, 18. This message was given by Paul about A. D. 54.
Between forty and fifty years later, John wrote definitely about Jesus’ coming again. He did not forget, this time, what Jesus had told him. Those words were his hope. And he gives us a beautiful description of that event. We can not take time to speak of this just now.
The Hope of All the Ages
The coming of Jesus will be a remarkable event. Nothing like it has ever happened. It has been the hope of all the people of God through all the ages. They have looked forward to this event with expectancy. It is the culmination of their hopes, the end of their sorrows, the time of reward.
Jesus has revealed the knowledge of His coming to His friends of all times. He is revealing it to His friends to-day. He would like to see all appreciate His coming, and take time to reflect just what it means to each individually. A great many people are very busy these days making money, others are interested in other pursuits, and very nearly if not quite all their time is taken up with things less important than the coming of Jesus. He would be glad to have it otherwise. He yearns and works to have it otherwise. But He does not force Himself upon the attention of any.
One thing, however, is certain—Jesus is coming again. He has told us so. He is anxious to have us get ready to meet Him, but our failure to do so will not hinder His plan. He is coming. Heaven itself is pledged to that event, and we must accustom ourselves to that truth now.
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” “I will come again.”
