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Came in the flesh — that is the outward, material fact. He is here in the Spirit — that is the inward, spiritual reality.

I. CHRIST'S LITTLE WHILE.

1. His visible appearance on earth was only for a "little while." Yet how much has been crowded into it. Example; teaching; miracle; suffering. All this helps us to understand His mission, and especially to realize to ourselves His abiding spiritual presence. He is still with us, the very Christ that He was.

2. When Jesus spoke these words there was but a very "little while" left. Only the death scene, and the forty days in the Resurrection body. But these also help us to realize the spiritual presence of Christ, as we can know it; especially do we get suggestions from the Resurrection time.

II. THE WORLD'S BLINDNESS. What report can the "world" give of Christ? "He was a good Man, an original Teacher, But He offended the religion and society leaders of His day, and they secured His crucifixion." The world testifies that He was dead and buried; but the world resists the bare ideas of His Resurrection or spiritual life. How little the world knows, or can conceive, of the "coming, the indwelling of the Holy Ghost." So Christ is lost as an actual power in life.

III. THE DISCIPLES' VISION. "Ye see Me." That is, "Ye do constantly see Me." If they had seen Christ truly while He was here on earth, then they would find they never lost the sight of Him. Because, during His earthly life, His real presence with the disciples had been presence to heart, not to eye.

1. Christ never goes out of disciples' thought or heart.

2. Christ never ceases to be the disciple's Ruler and Referee.

3. The honour of Christ never ceases to be the disciple's sole aim.

4. The strength of Christ never ceases to be the soul's victory. The joy of Christian life depends on the clearness of our vision of this ever-present Christ.

(Weekly Pulpit.)

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KJV: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

WEB: I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.