Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Though the world would no longer see Him in bodily form after His death and ascension, His disciples would still see Him by faith through a spiritual revelation of His presence that the world cannot receive. He would not leave them as orphans or comfortless, but would come to them and remain with them by the Holy Spirit, the other Comforter who dwells with them and shall be in them forever. Because He lives, His followers shall live also, for His living life is the ground, source and guarantee of theirs, joining them to Him now and for eternity so that even though they die they will live with Him. That life is shared through vital union with Him, as the branch abides in the vine, seen in those who love Him by keeping His commandments and receiving His words into the heart to obey them in Christlike love and unselfish service. Trusted and pleaded in prayer, the promise gives strong consolation, courage and calm confidence amid trial, sorrow and conflict, and gives hope beyond the grave of being raised at the last day to eternal life with Him in His kingdom.
Historical Setting and Wording
These were farewell words spoken in the upper chamber after Judas had left, when Jesus was alone with the eleven, looking upon them with divine love and the tenderest sympathy. He was about to speak of His approaching separation, but first pointed them to the great object of His mission, rejoicing that all His humiliation and suffering would glorify the Father's name, so that their hearts would not be troubled. This instruction of John 14 was given in the upper chamber before He led them out through the city toward the Mount of Olives, where He then gave the teaching of the true vine.
He spoke while facing shame, reproach, false accusation and suffering from sinful men, bearing the sins of the world with a cruel death just before Him. His aim was to comfort the disciples in their hour of great disappointment when all would forsake Him, leaving them a rich legacy of comfort and courage near the close of His earthly ministry. That instruction before He was separated from them and would no longer be their visible counselor prepared them to do their work through dependence on divine power. It was given to strengthen them for future difficulties and to assure them that He would not leave them in ignorance of His purposes.
The verse belongs to one connected teaching about Christ in John 13 through 17, with John 14 joined to John 15, John 16 and John 17. It belongs to His words of encouragement and hope in John 14 through 16, spoken knowing the trials His church would face through unconverted believers, to impart courage to stand fast in the most trying hour and to bring strength and assurance to the true believer as long as time shall last. Though He knew the terrible ordeal of betrayal, scourging and death awaiting Him, His thoughts were not of Himself but were comfort and consolation to strengthen the disciples to endure without failing when their faith and courage would be severely tried. The words are so simple that even children may understand them, yet they were contrary to the wishes and desires of the disciples, who could not comprehend them.
They mean just what they say and are God's plain will for His people to be worked out in practical life. They specify duties given by Christ as Substitute and Surety that cannot be neglected while time is given to unimportant matters and things of eternal consequence scarcely arrest attention. John 13 through 17 must be carefully studied and earnestly practiced by those who honor God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, rather than left unheeded amid harmful, self-assured talk and judging of others. When that instruction in John 14 is lived it cures dissension and seeking the highest place, answers Christ's prayer just before His betrayal and crucifixion, and brings unity with one another and with Christ and love that withstands Satan's determined attacks. That lived unity gives strength instead of weakness and enables standing the test in the shaking time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken.
The chapter is full of instruction for Christ's followers, especially presenting Jesus as living to intercede for them. The verse stands with Christ's farewell assurance that His going away is to prepare mansions and that He will come again to receive His followers to Himself where He is, revealing the love of God which passes knowledge and calling believers to expect His soon coming. These are precious lessons about bringing God's comfort and grace which children of God who minister to others should learn and repeatedly remember. Those who minister in word and doctrine are acquainted with present truth in this verse, with the privilege of believing every word of it and living it out before fellow ministers, which requires conversion to understand and do its genuine missionary work.
World and Disciples Seeing
After a little while the world sees Him no more in bodily form after His departure and death and ascension, while His disciples still see Him by faith through spiritual revelation of His presence. This seeing is a spiritual manifestation and not the outward visible appearing the disciples first expected, pointing to a knowledge of Christ and salvation by the Spirit that the world cannot receive because spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Although the world no longer sees Him in person, His followers behold Him by faith as they grasp His promises, and because He lives they shall live also, His continuing life being the ground and basis of their life and hope. It is His pledged word to those standing under His banner that they will not be left comfortless.
The verse makes a plain distinction between the world and His followers. The world does not see or know Him because, absorbed in earthly gain, it feels no need of Him, seeks perishable earthly things, fills the mind with selfish thoughts of worldly advantage and money, does not see riches that cannot be taken away or its great need of a Redeemer, does not pray, and puts Christ out of life as much as possible. Believers see Him because He lives and they shall live also, for He is with them to enlighten their minds, lead them to call upon Him, hear their prayers, purify their hearts, and be beheld as the Way, the Truth and the Life. Those who follow Him do not walk according to the ways of the world and are not conformed to it, but ask God for Christ's sake for help and receive it, are enlightened and gifted to discern His matchless love and wonderful charms, and never feel lonely or comfortless.
The promise not to leave them comfortless but to come to them was fulfilled when He came to the disciples after His humiliation and death, showing Himself alive to them after His resurrection because He would live again. Even when He is absent from them after His ascension, their relation to Him continues as that of a child to its parent with the same loving interest He had while with them, distinct from the world, and by faith they may still see and know Him. Their seeing Him removes doubt and darkness and reveals the complete and lasting union between Him and the Father, giving precious assurance of eternal life and securing their life by His living life. He manifests Himself to believers who gather at the communion table in faith to remember Him, His words and His requirements, and who seek to put away selfishness and love of supremacy.
The promise was given not only to the first disciples after their sore trial but continues to the present and applies to all to the end of time who meet His conditions. Deprived of His visible presence, they continue their work as His representatives, strengthened by His abiding presence and knowing His presence by faith. His life sustains their life and hope, and this continuing relationship is connected with the Comforter's presence.
Coming and Comforter Presence
Though the world would soon see Him no more, His followers would still see Him, for because He lives they too shall live, and this belongs to His promise of the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who dwells with them and shall be in them and abide forever. He will not leave them orphans or without comfort but will come to them and remain with them, though absent in person and unseen by the world, and His life is the ground of their life and His coming to dwell in them gives the promise its setting. The world cannot receive that Spirit because it neither sees nor knows Him, but they know Him because He dwells with them, and they shall know that He is in the Father and they are in Him and He is in them. The promise is given on condition of loving Him by keeping His commandments, including the binding claims of God's law, and being doers of the Word, which proves belief in the Word; to those who so love Him He makes Himself known, and received in this way the promise gives strong consolation and confidence to lay hold on everlasting life.
He was going to the Father as Advocate to plead their cause and place His virtues to their account, yet He would not leave them comfortless but would come to them by the other Comforter. He is known even then as Friend at Court pleading at the Father's throne in their behalf, while the Holy Spirit sent in His name as His representative and as Advocate pleading for the fallen race teaches all things and brings His teaching to remembrance, pleading that spiritual power be given to overcome spiritual foes by One mightier than all the enemies of God and man. The manifestation promised is spiritual, not the outward visible appearing the disciples first expected and could not understand, and the inward spiritual life fragrant with the obedience of love gives the spiritual power needed for sore trial so that faith will not be lost under the most trying circumstances. Enlightened by the Holy Spirit the disciples understood this with assurance, were comforted that their past unbelief was forgiven, and were made bold to confess His name before the world.
Although soon no longer present in bodily form, He is still seen by faith through spiritual revelations of His presence, and this assures life and gives comfort and ground for sharing the good news of the crucified and risen Saviour. His followers are to trust His word and know that He is present with them, especially when troubled, rather than depending on other people for counsel or support. To those who receive Him He is everything, their comfort, safety and health, acquainted with all their peculiar weaknesses, wants and griefs, sustaining them under opposition from the world. They are to represent His character and continue His works, asking in His name so that the Father may be glorified.
Life Grounded in Living Christ
Because he lives, his followers shall live also, and his life is the ground, source, guarantee, assurance and security of their life and hope. Though they may die, his life is in them and they will live with him, joined to him in the present and continuing in unity with him for eternity. His promise to come to them and dwell in them gives this promise its setting, and assures them they are not left comfortless after the world no longer sees him.
He is alive as the resurrection and the life, risen from Joseph's tomb and triumphantly declaring over the tomb that because he lives believers will live also. He is not a dead shrouded Saviour sealed in the tomb but a living Saviour and Friend at Court ever living to make intercession, on whom they can depend for comfort and peace. His resurrection is the assurance of their salvation and brings life and immortality, giving sure hope of victory and eternal life despite hardship. That living hope forbids mourning as without hope or as hopeless and helpless, forbids giving way to despair under any circumstances, calls for grateful joy and singing, and holds the soul like a sure tried anchor so that believing brings seeing the glory of God.
His death as ransom for every son and daughter of Adam made this life possible, for he laid aside royal status and took humanity so they might have life measuring with the life of God. That death made atonement and paid the redemption price without which no one could be saved, and his living work in heaven ensures his death and resurrection bring life and immortality. Standing at the Father's right hand as High Priest and Advocate, his prevailing intercession takes away sins, keeps the obedient from falling, and gives power to become sons of God. Through faith applying the blood of the spotless Lamb to the heart, those who receive him in faith, repentance and conversion are enabled to share the divine nature and escape the world's corruption, with his merits and not human ability as their hope, and his life and character to be represented in them as they are prepared for heaven.
The promise gives hope beyond the grave to aged people facing death and to all who receive him as personal Saviour, that though laid in the grave they will live again when he calls them from the dust at his appearing. At the last day he will raise them as part of himself, with life united to his forever, gathered from scattering to live with him in the city of God and in his kingdom and enjoy eternal life with him. He himself is the light and life and joy of his people, openly revealed when he appears to be glorified in his saints and admired in all who believe. Therefore believers press forward rather than stopping to mourn those who sleep in Jesus, holding to his life for strength against trial and discouragement.
This living assurance is like the bow encircling the throne, a constant assurance in a deceptive world that Jesus lives. Without a glimpse above and beyond the clouds to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, believers facing mocking deceiving appearances like the apples of Sodom with double-dealing and duplicity would be downcast, but the bow of promise makes every moment precious and weighty with eternal consequences. It is expressed as the believer's confidence, My Redeemer liveth, and because he lives, I shall live also. His living presence assures them they are not abandoned even amid suffering, fear, weakness, debilitation, darkness and spiritual gloom, giving joy and confidence in his care and strength to lean heavily on the divine arm without discouragement, trusting that upheld by God they will not faint nor fall.
Union Obedience and New Life
Believers live because they are made part of His life and share it through vital union, receiving His words into the heart and putting them into practice, and this union produces obedience with Christlike love, tenderness, compassion and unselfish care. As the branch must become part of the living vine and abide in it to bear fruit, so vital connection with Christ is a positive necessity for spiritual life and for doing what is acceptable to God, with Him living in them and them living in Him. When the heart is joined to infinite love and the life is knit by hidden links to the life of Jesus and hid with Christ in God, the person lives by His life, letting God manage the life, having natural and hereditary traits cut away, looking steadfastly to Jesus to catch His spirit and cherish Christlike character. That abiding reconciles the human will to God's will and produces love for brethren that, revealed in the home, bursts its bonds to become a working power in the church and neighborhood and extends to community and nations, binding workers in closest holy union by the golden chain of love as evidence that God sent His Son. So united, with interests bound to His and seeking the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they are kept by faith in God's power while the living risen Saviour pleads for them at the Father's right hand, and their meekness, affection, tenderness and sympathy are recognized by all, with words from the good treasure of the heart that strengthen, help, bless and win others.
Seeing Him is joined to loving Him by having His commandments after hearing them presented concerning the perpetuity of God's law and keeping them in the light given, and they will know He is in the Father, they are in Him, and He is in them. To those who love Him by obedience He promises another Comforter to abide forever, even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it does not see or know Him but they know because He dwells with them and shall be in them, and He will not leave them comfortless but will come to them. His presence is manifested to those who love Him and keep His commandments, and the promise belongs to those working together with God to represent Christ's character on condition of believing His words and being doers of the Word, which proves belief. By obedience to the living principles of God's law and active service they become one with Christ, share the divine nature, and live in heaven's atmosphere, with strong consolation and confidence to lay hold on everlasting life and to claim the everlasting life promised to those who trust His word.
Though dead in trespasses and sins, sinners are made spiritually alive through His grace and pardon, passing from death to life into a new life that is true and strong, expressed in new duties and good works. This quickening is not produced by human goodness and all credit belongs to God, but is received by clinging faith in the crucified and risen Sin-bearer, Substitute and Surety, with genuine conversion joining the heart to Jesus and keeping the believer by God's power through faith unto salvation. It is worked in the present life by His Spirit as a continual moral reviving and progression of holiness, awakening from the slumber of sin into newness of life, making a glorious victorious life possible through obedience and trust with God as strength through trials until the crown of glory. Christ became one with humanity so humanity could be one with Him in spirit and life, and through obedience to His word His life in raising people from the dead becomes theirs, partaking of that divine principle pledging the resurrection to eternal life, since there is power in His blood to remove sin so the poor trembling sinner as a prisoner of hope today may take hold of His strength and make peace with God.
The promise is to be believed personally, grasped by living faith that takes hold of Him and grasps infinite power through His Word as Helper and God, and rejoiced in rather than distrusting God or doubting that He will receive and forgive. Life is not gained through personal merit but through the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour alone, received by looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith, and living the life of faith here brings living with Him in His kingdom, receiving the exceeding eternal weight of glory as heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance. Such living faith works by love and purifies the soul, providing the grace that makes people pure, holy and obedient, and is necessary for spiritual growth and for believing fully in Christ as personal Saviour. Looking to Him gives mightiest power to stand fast unmovable and abound in the work of the Lord, so the tempted soul anchored in Christ becomes a partaker of the divine nature, not driven on the rocks or drawn into the whirlpool amid raging temptation but outriding the storm, rather than living by feeling.
Courage Comfort and Practice
The promise gives strong consolation and confidence to lay hold on everlasting life, bringing comfort, hope and assurance in discouragement, sorrow and the unseen conflict with the world. Trusted, consecrated and pleaded in prayer, it assures God's presence to do what He has promised when believers bring their needs to Him. Those in agreement with God can claim it and triumph, with hope and confidence to resist Satan and overcome through Christ rather than dwelling on weakness and helplessness. It brings calm confidence amid Satan's assaults and the advance of evil, and courage to face danger without fainting, because He died, rose, lives forever and intercedes, with trials bringing believers nearer the completion of the warfare.
Because He has overcome the world, believers can be of good cheer in the warfare of good against evil and Satanic instrumentalities. Unseen heavenly agencies fight their battles with them and the Holy Spirit helps them, as they cooperate by consecration to God's service. They are to fight manfully in the battle of the Lord in the presence of the heavenly universe, advancing heavenward with the eye fixed on the crown of life and the hands employed in saving those ready to perish, assured of receiving immortality and a crown that brightens through eternal ages. His life in the soul keeps it from being overcome through disappointment, trial and even death, and His living presence sustains the tried and tempted by continual care for those who trust and obey. Bearing His cross lifts believers from earthly things into communion with God, where they claim personally that because their Redeemer lives they too will live.
He is the Restorer of diseased mind and body, imparting His own living life to those who see and believe. Healing comes from God alone, not from dependence on human beings, so the sick are to look from the human to the divine and behold Christ, who made the mind and knows what the mind needs and can save to the uttermost all who come to Him. Faith and confidence in Him as the true Physician bring relief to the mind and often health to the body. That life is received by faith in Christ as Restorer, by cooperating with Him, by obeying the laws of health, by avoiding self-indulgence, and by striving to perfect holiness in the fear of God. Presenting Christ in this way to the sick, with sympathy and care, imparts power and strength from above, which is the true science of healing for body and soul.
Those who see Him by living faith and abide in Him receive power to work miracles for His glory. Although the world no longer sees Him in bodily form, disciples still see Him by faith through spiritual revelation of His presence, and His life assures them that they too will live. Deprived of His visible presence they continue their work as His representatives, strengthened by His abiding presence. The promise gives assurance of His help and victory as they remain faithful to baptismal vows and unite by faith with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is to be trusted and its light shared with others, as ground for proclaiming the crucified and risen Saviour.
The verse is to be opened and read when in trouble and difficulty and hardly knowing what to do. It is to be read at family worship in words young minds can comprehend, believed as the Word of God, laid hold of and presented to the members of the family, giving peace and hope and rejoicing even when discouraged and disheartened. Fathers, mothers and children are to study it through the week and live it out by glorifying God in every way possible, denying self and following Him as life and joy. It brings the great peace of God into the mind, proves true that God will not leave His people comfortless, and leads children to speak of the kindness and love of Jesus. Drawing near to God brings His drawing near, for He moves toward those who take a step toward Jesus.
It calls for bold yet humble confession that the Lord is helper, for standing unmoved in steadfastness with life hidden with Christ in God. It forbids dishonoring God with words of discouragement, unbelief and distrust, requiring the door closed to distrust and opened wide to faith. Believers are to talk faith in order to have faith and be confirmed in faith, receiving Christ as personal friend and heavenly guest in the soul temple. So they roll back despondency and gloom, triumphing daily in the Lord with melody in the heart, acknowledging the heavenly treasure and everlasting portion as sure through His atonement and righteousness. Thereby they aid others to see God as their only help and flee for refuge to Christ.
Though the world would no longer see Him in bodily form after His death and ascension, His disciples would still see Him by faith through a spiritual revelation of His presence that the world cannot receive.
He would not leave them as orphans or comfortless, but would come to them and remain with them by the Holy Spirit, the other Comforter who dwells with them and shall be in them forever.
Because He lives, His followers shall live also, for His living life is the ground, source and guarantee of theirs, joining them to Him now and for eternity so that even though they die they will live with Him.
That life is shared through vital union with Him, as the branch abides in the vine, seen in those who love Him by keeping His commandments and receiving His words into the heart to obey them in Christlike love and unselfish service.
Trusted and pleaded in prayer, the promise gives strong consolation, courage and calm confidence amid trial, sorrow and conflict, and gives hope beyond the grave of being raised at the last day to eternal life with Him in His kingdom.
Historical Setting and Wording
These were farewell words spoken in the upper chamber after Judas had left, when Jesus was alone with the eleven, looking upon them with divine love and the tenderest sympathy. He was about to speak of His approaching separation, but first pointed them to the great object of His mission, rejoicing that all His humiliation and suffering would glorify the Father's name, so that their hearts would not be troubled. This instruction of John 14 was given in the upper chamber before He led them out through the city toward the Mount of Olives, where He then gave the teaching of the true vine.
He spoke while facing shame, reproach, false accusation and suffering from sinful men, bearing the sins of the world with a cruel death just before Him. His aim was to comfort the disciples in their hour of great disappointment when all would forsake Him, leaving them a rich legacy of comfort and courage near the close of His earthly ministry. That instruction before He was separated from them and would no longer be their visible counselor prepared them to do their work through dependence on divine power. It was given to strengthen them for future difficulties and to assure them that He would not leave them in ignorance of His purposes.
The verse belongs to one connected teaching about Christ in John 13 through 17, with John 14 joined to John 15, John 16 and John 17. It belongs to His words of encouragement and hope in John 14 through 16, spoken knowing the trials His church would face through unconverted believers, to impart courage to stand fast in the most trying hour and to bring strength and assurance to the true believer as long as time shall last. Though He knew the terrible ordeal of betrayal, scourging and death awaiting Him, His thoughts were not of Himself but were comfort and consolation to strengthen the disciples to endure without failing when their faith and courage would be severely tried. The words are so simple that even children may understand them, yet they were contrary to the wishes and desires of the disciples, who could not comprehend them.
They mean just what they say and are God's plain will for His people to be worked out in practical life. They specify duties given by Christ as Substitute and Surety that cannot be neglected while time is given to unimportant matters and things of eternal consequence scarcely arrest attention. John 13 through 17 must be carefully studied and earnestly practiced by those who honor God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, rather than left unheeded amid harmful, self-assured talk and judging of others. When that instruction in John 14 is lived it cures dissension and seeking the highest place, answers Christ's prayer just before His betrayal and crucifixion, and brings unity with one another and with Christ and love that withstands Satan's determined attacks. That lived unity gives strength instead of weakness and enables standing the test in the shaking time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken.
The chapter is full of instruction for Christ's followers, especially presenting Jesus as living to intercede for them. The verse stands with Christ's farewell assurance that His going away is to prepare mansions and that He will come again to receive His followers to Himself where He is, revealing the love of God which passes knowledge and calling believers to expect His soon coming. These are precious lessons about bringing God's comfort and grace which children of God who minister to others should learn and repeatedly remember. Those who minister in word and doctrine are acquainted with present truth in this verse, with the privilege of believing every word of it and living it out before fellow ministers, which requires conversion to understand and do its genuine missionary work.
World and Disciples Seeing
After a little while the world sees Him no more in bodily form after His departure and death and ascension, while His disciples still see Him by faith through spiritual revelation of His presence. This seeing is a spiritual manifestation and not the outward visible appearing the disciples first expected, pointing to a knowledge of Christ and salvation by the Spirit that the world cannot receive because spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Although the world no longer sees Him in person, His followers behold Him by faith as they grasp His promises, and because He lives they shall live also, His continuing life being the ground and basis of their life and hope. It is His pledged word to those standing under His banner that they will not be left comfortless.
The verse makes a plain distinction between the world and His followers. The world does not see or know Him because, absorbed in earthly gain, it feels no need of Him, seeks perishable earthly things, fills the mind with selfish thoughts of worldly advantage and money, does not see riches that cannot be taken away or its great need of a Redeemer, does not pray, and puts Christ out of life as much as possible. Believers see Him because He lives and they shall live also, for He is with them to enlighten their minds, lead them to call upon Him, hear their prayers, purify their hearts, and be beheld as the Way, the Truth and the Life. Those who follow Him do not walk according to the ways of the world and are not conformed to it, but ask God for Christ's sake for help and receive it, are enlightened and gifted to discern His matchless love and wonderful charms, and never feel lonely or comfortless.
The promise not to leave them comfortless but to come to them was fulfilled when He came to the disciples after His humiliation and death, showing Himself alive to them after His resurrection because He would live again. Even when He is absent from them after His ascension, their relation to Him continues as that of a child to its parent with the same loving interest He had while with them, distinct from the world, and by faith they may still see and know Him. Their seeing Him removes doubt and darkness and reveals the complete and lasting union between Him and the Father, giving precious assurance of eternal life and securing their life by His living life. He manifests Himself to believers who gather at the communion table in faith to remember Him, His words and His requirements, and who seek to put away selfishness and love of supremacy.
The promise was given not only to the first disciples after their sore trial but continues to the present and applies to all to the end of time who meet His conditions. Deprived of His visible presence, they continue their work as His representatives, strengthened by His abiding presence and knowing His presence by faith. His life sustains their life and hope, and this continuing relationship is connected with the Comforter's presence.
Coming and Comforter Presence
Though the world would soon see Him no more, His followers would still see Him, for because He lives they too shall live, and this belongs to His promise of the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who dwells with them and shall be in them and abide forever. He will not leave them orphans or without comfort but will come to them and remain with them, though absent in person and unseen by the world, and His life is the ground of their life and His coming to dwell in them gives the promise its setting. The world cannot receive that Spirit because it neither sees nor knows Him, but they know Him because He dwells with them, and they shall know that He is in the Father and they are in Him and He is in them. The promise is given on condition of loving Him by keeping His commandments, including the binding claims of God's law, and being doers of the Word, which proves belief in the Word; to those who so love Him He makes Himself known, and received in this way the promise gives strong consolation and confidence to lay hold on everlasting life.
He was going to the Father as Advocate to plead their cause and place His virtues to their account, yet He would not leave them comfortless but would come to them by the other Comforter. He is known even then as Friend at Court pleading at the Father's throne in their behalf, while the Holy Spirit sent in His name as His representative and as Advocate pleading for the fallen race teaches all things and brings His teaching to remembrance, pleading that spiritual power be given to overcome spiritual foes by One mightier than all the enemies of God and man. The manifestation promised is spiritual, not the outward visible appearing the disciples first expected and could not understand, and the inward spiritual life fragrant with the obedience of love gives the spiritual power needed for sore trial so that faith will not be lost under the most trying circumstances. Enlightened by the Holy Spirit the disciples understood this with assurance, were comforted that their past unbelief was forgiven, and were made bold to confess His name before the world.
Although soon no longer present in bodily form, He is still seen by faith through spiritual revelations of His presence, and this assures life and gives comfort and ground for sharing the good news of the crucified and risen Saviour. His followers are to trust His word and know that He is present with them, especially when troubled, rather than depending on other people for counsel or support. To those who receive Him He is everything, their comfort, safety and health, acquainted with all their peculiar weaknesses, wants and griefs, sustaining them under opposition from the world. They are to represent His character and continue His works, asking in His name so that the Father may be glorified.
Life Grounded in Living Christ
Because he lives, his followers shall live also, and his life is the ground, source, guarantee, assurance and security of their life and hope. Though they may die, his life is in them and they will live with him, joined to him in the present and continuing in unity with him for eternity. His promise to come to them and dwell in them gives this promise its setting, and assures them they are not left comfortless after the world no longer sees him.
He is alive as the resurrection and the life, risen from Joseph's tomb and triumphantly declaring over the tomb that because he lives believers will live also. He is not a dead shrouded Saviour sealed in the tomb but a living Saviour and Friend at Court ever living to make intercession, on whom they can depend for comfort and peace. His resurrection is the assurance of their salvation and brings life and immortality, giving sure hope of victory and eternal life despite hardship. That living hope forbids mourning as without hope or as hopeless and helpless, forbids giving way to despair under any circumstances, calls for grateful joy and singing, and holds the soul like a sure tried anchor so that believing brings seeing the glory of God.
His death as ransom for every son and daughter of Adam made this life possible, for he laid aside royal status and took humanity so they might have life measuring with the life of God. That death made atonement and paid the redemption price without which no one could be saved, and his living work in heaven ensures his death and resurrection bring life and immortality. Standing at the Father's right hand as High Priest and Advocate, his prevailing intercession takes away sins, keeps the obedient from falling, and gives power to become sons of God. Through faith applying the blood of the spotless Lamb to the heart, those who receive him in faith, repentance and conversion are enabled to share the divine nature and escape the world's corruption, with his merits and not human ability as their hope, and his life and character to be represented in them as they are prepared for heaven.
The promise gives hope beyond the grave to aged people facing death and to all who receive him as personal Saviour, that though laid in the grave they will live again when he calls them from the dust at his appearing. At the last day he will raise them as part of himself, with life united to his forever, gathered from scattering to live with him in the city of God and in his kingdom and enjoy eternal life with him. He himself is the light and life and joy of his people, openly revealed when he appears to be glorified in his saints and admired in all who believe. Therefore believers press forward rather than stopping to mourn those who sleep in Jesus, holding to his life for strength against trial and discouragement.
This living assurance is like the bow encircling the throne, a constant assurance in a deceptive world that Jesus lives. Without a glimpse above and beyond the clouds to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, believers facing mocking deceiving appearances like the apples of Sodom with double-dealing and duplicity would be downcast, but the bow of promise makes every moment precious and weighty with eternal consequences. It is expressed as the believer's confidence, My Redeemer liveth, and because he lives, I shall live also. His living presence assures them they are not abandoned even amid suffering, fear, weakness, debilitation, darkness and spiritual gloom, giving joy and confidence in his care and strength to lean heavily on the divine arm without discouragement, trusting that upheld by God they will not faint nor fall.
Union Obedience and New Life
Believers live because they are made part of His life and share it through vital union, receiving His words into the heart and putting them into practice, and this union produces obedience with Christlike love, tenderness, compassion and unselfish care. As the branch must become part of the living vine and abide in it to bear fruit, so vital connection with Christ is a positive necessity for spiritual life and for doing what is acceptable to God, with Him living in them and them living in Him. When the heart is joined to infinite love and the life is knit by hidden links to the life of Jesus and hid with Christ in God, the person lives by His life, letting God manage the life, having natural and hereditary traits cut away, looking steadfastly to Jesus to catch His spirit and cherish Christlike character. That abiding reconciles the human will to God's will and produces love for brethren that, revealed in the home, bursts its bonds to become a working power in the church and neighborhood and extends to community and nations, binding workers in closest holy union by the golden chain of love as evidence that God sent His Son. So united, with interests bound to His and seeking the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they are kept by faith in God's power while the living risen Saviour pleads for them at the Father's right hand, and their meekness, affection, tenderness and sympathy are recognized by all, with words from the good treasure of the heart that strengthen, help, bless and win others.
Seeing Him is joined to loving Him by having His commandments after hearing them presented concerning the perpetuity of God's law and keeping them in the light given, and they will know He is in the Father, they are in Him, and He is in them. To those who love Him by obedience He promises another Comforter to abide forever, even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it does not see or know Him but they know because He dwells with them and shall be in them, and He will not leave them comfortless but will come to them. His presence is manifested to those who love Him and keep His commandments, and the promise belongs to those working together with God to represent Christ's character on condition of believing His words and being doers of the Word, which proves belief. By obedience to the living principles of God's law and active service they become one with Christ, share the divine nature, and live in heaven's atmosphere, with strong consolation and confidence to lay hold on everlasting life and to claim the everlasting life promised to those who trust His word.
Though dead in trespasses and sins, sinners are made spiritually alive through His grace and pardon, passing from death to life into a new life that is true and strong, expressed in new duties and good works. This quickening is not produced by human goodness and all credit belongs to God, but is received by clinging faith in the crucified and risen Sin-bearer, Substitute and Surety, with genuine conversion joining the heart to Jesus and keeping the believer by God's power through faith unto salvation. It is worked in the present life by His Spirit as a continual moral reviving and progression of holiness, awakening from the slumber of sin into newness of life, making a glorious victorious life possible through obedience and trust with God as strength through trials until the crown of glory. Christ became one with humanity so humanity could be one with Him in spirit and life, and through obedience to His word His life in raising people from the dead becomes theirs, partaking of that divine principle pledging the resurrection to eternal life, since there is power in His blood to remove sin so the poor trembling sinner as a prisoner of hope today may take hold of His strength and make peace with God.
The promise is to be believed personally, grasped by living faith that takes hold of Him and grasps infinite power through His Word as Helper and God, and rejoiced in rather than distrusting God or doubting that He will receive and forgive. Life is not gained through personal merit but through the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour alone, received by looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith, and living the life of faith here brings living with Him in His kingdom, receiving the exceeding eternal weight of glory as heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance. Such living faith works by love and purifies the soul, providing the grace that makes people pure, holy and obedient, and is necessary for spiritual growth and for believing fully in Christ as personal Saviour. Looking to Him gives mightiest power to stand fast unmovable and abound in the work of the Lord, so the tempted soul anchored in Christ becomes a partaker of the divine nature, not driven on the rocks or drawn into the whirlpool amid raging temptation but outriding the storm, rather than living by feeling.
Courage Comfort and Practice
The promise gives strong consolation and confidence to lay hold on everlasting life, bringing comfort, hope and assurance in discouragement, sorrow and the unseen conflict with the world. Trusted, consecrated and pleaded in prayer, it assures God's presence to do what He has promised when believers bring their needs to Him. Those in agreement with God can claim it and triumph, with hope and confidence to resist Satan and overcome through Christ rather than dwelling on weakness and helplessness. It brings calm confidence amid Satan's assaults and the advance of evil, and courage to face danger without fainting, because He died, rose, lives forever and intercedes, with trials bringing believers nearer the completion of the warfare.
Because He has overcome the world, believers can be of good cheer in the warfare of good against evil and Satanic instrumentalities. Unseen heavenly agencies fight their battles with them and the Holy Spirit helps them, as they cooperate by consecration to God's service. They are to fight manfully in the battle of the Lord in the presence of the heavenly universe, advancing heavenward with the eye fixed on the crown of life and the hands employed in saving those ready to perish, assured of receiving immortality and a crown that brightens through eternal ages. His life in the soul keeps it from being overcome through disappointment, trial and even death, and His living presence sustains the tried and tempted by continual care for those who trust and obey. Bearing His cross lifts believers from earthly things into communion with God, where they claim personally that because their Redeemer lives they too will live.
He is the Restorer of diseased mind and body, imparting His own living life to those who see and believe. Healing comes from God alone, not from dependence on human beings, so the sick are to look from the human to the divine and behold Christ, who made the mind and knows what the mind needs and can save to the uttermost all who come to Him. Faith and confidence in Him as the true Physician bring relief to the mind and often health to the body. That life is received by faith in Christ as Restorer, by cooperating with Him, by obeying the laws of health, by avoiding self-indulgence, and by striving to perfect holiness in the fear of God. Presenting Christ in this way to the sick, with sympathy and care, imparts power and strength from above, which is the true science of healing for body and soul.
Those who see Him by living faith and abide in Him receive power to work miracles for His glory. Although the world no longer sees Him in bodily form, disciples still see Him by faith through spiritual revelation of His presence, and His life assures them that they too will live. Deprived of His visible presence they continue their work as His representatives, strengthened by His abiding presence. The promise gives assurance of His help and victory as they remain faithful to baptismal vows and unite by faith with Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is to be trusted and its light shared with others, as ground for proclaiming the crucified and risen Saviour.
The verse is to be opened and read when in trouble and difficulty and hardly knowing what to do. It is to be read at family worship in words young minds can comprehend, believed as the Word of God, laid hold of and presented to the members of the family, giving peace and hope and rejoicing even when discouraged and disheartened. Fathers, mothers and children are to study it through the week and live it out by glorifying God in every way possible, denying self and following Him as life and joy. It brings the great peace of God into the mind, proves true that God will not leave His people comfortless, and leads children to speak of the kindness and love of Jesus. Drawing near to God brings His drawing near, for He moves toward those who take a step toward Jesus.
It calls for bold yet humble confession that the Lord is helper, for standing unmoved in steadfastness with life hidden with Christ in God. It forbids dishonoring God with words of discouragement, unbelief and distrust, requiring the door closed to distrust and opened wide to faith. Believers are to talk faith in order to have faith and be confirmed in faith, receiving Christ as personal friend and heavenly guest in the soul temple. So they roll back despondency and gloom, triumphing daily in the Lord with melody in the heart, acknowledging the heavenly treasure and everlasting portion as sure through His atonement and righteousness. Thereby they aid others to see God as their only help and flee for refuge to Christ.