John 14:28-29 You have heard how I said to you, I go away, and come again to you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said… Note the view which Christ had of His death. "I go." 1. Whence? From the world. 2. Whither? To the Father, not to destruction, eternal solitude, nor to fellowship with minor souls. 3. How? Not driven. Other men are sent to the grave; Christ freely went. The general truths of the text are these: — I. THAT GENUINE LOVE REJOICES IN THE HAPPINESS OF ITS OBJECT. We find illustrations of this in — 1. Creation. Love made the universe in order to diffuse happiness. 2. Christ's mission. Christ came to make happy the objects of infinite love. 3. Christian labour. Happiness is the end of all church work. II. THAT THE HAPPINESS OF MEN DEPENDS UPON FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER. 1. Happiness is in love. 2. The love, to produce happiness, must be directed to the Father. His perfection delights in it; His goodness reciprocates it. 3. Love for the Father yearns for fellowship with Him. Love always craves the presence of its object. III. THAT DEATH INTRODUCES THE GOOD INTO A SPECIALLY CLOSE FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER. There were obstructions to the fellowship of the Man Christ Jesus with the Father. 1. The body with its infirmities. 2. The sinful world. 3. The influence of principalities and powers of darkness. These interfere with the fellowship of good men and God, and in addition they have what Christ had not. (1) Worldly cares. (2) Inward depravity. (3) Corrupt habits.At death, however, all these are removed, and the soul of the good man goes into the immediate presence of God. We need not, then, sorrow for the departed good. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. |
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