John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. This does not mean — 1. That He cared nothing for the world. There are men so utterly selfish, and absorbed with their own concerns that in a sense they may be said to be "not of the world." They care nothing for it. But Christ was intensely interested in the men about Him. "He went about doing good." 2. That He did not appreciate the natural blessings of the world. There are austere souls who are "not of the world" in this sense: its innocent amusements they regard with a pietistic horror; they have a superstitious fear of eating and drinking lest they should give their body an advantage over their soul. But Christ came "eating and drinking." What is the world? It is — I. PRACTICALLY ATHEISTIC. It is "without God." Not theoretically, for the laws of the mind render Atheism as a conviction an impossibility. But practically men have been "without God" ever since the Fall, His presence is not acknowledged, nor His will consulted, practically, and were it assured to-day that no God existed, its life would remain unaltered. Christ was intensely theistic. The Father filled His own horizon, and was never out of His mind. The moment the soul feels God to be in the world, the world assumes a new form. II. PRACTICALLY MATERIALISTIC. Men ever since the Fall "judge," "walk," "live" after the flesh. Christ was intensely spiritual. Men are carnally minded. 1. Their pleasures are material. "What shall we eat, what shall we drink?" Christ's pleasures were spiritual," I have meat to eat that ye know not of." 2. Their honours are material. The highest honour is an earthly crown; the highest victories those of the sword. Christ's kingdom was not of this world. He did not war after the flesh; His empire was Spirit; His weapons truth; His legions saints and angels. III. PRACTICALLY SELFISH. Every man seeks His own. There are as many interests in the world as men; hence the collisions, domestic, social, ecclesiastical, natural. Christ was love, and pleased not Himself. Conclusion: The subject furnishes — 1. A test of genuine Christianity. A true Christian is like Christ. 2. A guide to man's grand interest — which is to get out of the moral spirit of the world, which is the Babylon of the soul. "Arise ye, and depart," &c. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.WEB: They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. |
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