The Introduction John 16

Next Part The Necessity of Christ's Departure. John 16:5-7

Back to Writings on different Topics

THE WITNESS.

"If ye abide in Me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" — John 15:7, 8.

Would'st thou a witness for thy Saviour be,

In word and life, to men on every hand,

While passing through a dark and dreary land;

Then hear the Master's word, 'Abide in Me,

And ever let My words abide in thee.'

Thus walking in the sunshine of His face,

Show forth the beauty of His lowly grace;

That others, in the daily round may see,

In one who treads in peace the pilgrim way,

Some heavenly fruit brought forth from day to day:

That from the fulness of thy life may flow

Love, kindness, humbleness of mind,

That thou, in passing through this world may show

The loveliness of Christ before mankind.

In meditating upon the last words of the Lord Jesus, recorded in John 13 to 16, we must ever remember that the Lord has in view the preparation of His own to bear witness to Himself in the place of His rejection, during the time of His absence. For the accomplishment of this great end we have seen, in the former discourses, the necessity for having our feet washed (John 13), our hearts comforted and linked with divine Persons (John 14), and our lives setting forth the character of Christ while our lips are opened to witness for Christ (John 15). Finally, in this last discourse, our minds are instructed so that we may render intelligent service, and not be stumbled by the treatment we may receive at the hands of a religious, but Christ-rejecting, world.

Instruction in the mind of Christ is the great underlying object of this last discourse. In the service of the Lord there may be much zeal yet not according to knowledge, and hence little result and much disappointment. How important then to have the mind of the Lord.

The instruction of the discourse is presented in the following order: — Firstly, we are forewarned as to the treatment that will be meted out by the religious world to those who bear witness to Christ (John 16:1-4).

Secondly, we learn that in order to be intelligent in the mind of Christ, it is necessary that Christ should go to the Father and that the Comforter should come (John 16:5-7).

Thirdly, when the Spirit comes, believers will be instructed in the true character of this present evil world (John 16:8-11). Fourthly, by the Holy Spirit believers are led into the knowledge of another world — the world to come (John 15:12-15). Lastly, believers are instructed as to the true character of the new day about to dawn (John 16:16-33).