I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work. (5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
I beg the Reader to pause over these verses, and mark some of the great things contained in them. First, observe, how sweetly Jesus speaks in his Mediator-character and office, of doing the works of Him that sent him. Mark the Lord's duty to his Father, and his love to his people, in this zeal of his heart. Secondly, mark no less, the Father's love to the Church, in thus giving, and sending, his dear Son, that the whole body might live, in, by, and through Him. And here before you go further, look at that sweet Scripture in further proof, 1 John 4:10. Thirdly, connect what the Lord Jesus here saith, with what he elsewhere added, upon the subject of doing his Father's work. I have (said Jesus) glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. John 17:4. Reader! pause over these very very blessed words. There can be none more blessed upon earth; no, nor in heaven. Redemption-work is finished. The Church of Christ is saved. Jehovah is glorified. And none but Christ could ever assume such language. No angel of light; no, nor all the creation of God, can use such words. For though they all set forth God's glory, in being the works of his hands; yet no act of theirs, truly and strictly speaking, can add an atom to render God more glorious. Sooner might we increase the sun's brightness by the light of the candle, or swell the ocean by our tears; than we can bring in a greater revenue of glory to the Lord by anything of ours. But the God-Man Christ Jesus hath added to that glory of Jehovah which alone is capable of being exalted, in the manifestation of all that is communicable, to his intellectual creation, Precious Lord Jesus! truly didst thou say in those blessed words: As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. And far better would it be that the sun of this lower world should be extinguished from the heavens, than that Christ the Sun of righteousness, should cease to be the light and 1ife of his Church!