The Comfort Chapter
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
How wonderful it is that our Lord Jesus Christ could give forth such words of comfort in the hour when He, Himself, was hastening on toward the anguish of Gethsemane and the Cross. Yet so it was.
Having taken the bread and blessed it, and having taken the cup and given thanks, Jesus said to the disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me." Then, with these words spoken there fell from His lips words of the most blessed comfort and cheer which could be given to the troubled disciples.
God is called, "The God of all comfort." This name of God suggests that God alone can comfort, because all comfort comes from Him, "the God of ALL comfort"; it also suggests that God can comfort us in any and every stress, because all comfort is in Him.
The first chapter of Second Corinthians suggests the following:
1. God comforts in all our tribulation. To all saints is given this statement, "In the world ye shall have tribulation." However, in the world we also have comfort in tribulation because He is with us.
2. God comforts us in any trouble. It matters not how dark the day may be, it matters not what troubles fall to me,
"There's One above me, who e'er doth love me,
I know He lives to intercede."
So it is, as our sufferings for Christ abound, our consolations in Him also abound.
Paul had, himself, suffered so much, and had been so pressed out of measure that he had even despaired of life; yet God had come to his rescue and had delivered him from so great a death.
3. God comforts us when cast down (2 Corinthians 7:6). When Paul had come into Macedonia he had found no rest for his flesh, while to the contrary he was troubled on every side. Yet, he was not in despair. Without were fightings, within were fears, neverthless "God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us." This was Paul's word. In fact Paul said: "I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation."
4. God comforts us in that others are comforted (2 Corinthians 7:13). Here is something so unselfish that we read the words in amazement. The Apostle was himself comforted because the Corinthians had been comforted of God.
Paul joyed, also, because his comrade, Titus, was made to joy. Let us ever cultivate this spirit, a spirit not only to joy in our own things, but also to joy in the things of others. Let us be glad when others are made glad.
Paul went farther. He said, "I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved."
5. The final call to comfort. In 2 Corinthians 13:11 the Apostle closes the Second Epistle to the Corinthians with the words: "Finally brethren, farewell. * * Be of good comfort." Just a few words of admonition follow, then his message from God closes.
Remember, then, as you study this Epistle, that while there is much of correction and of warning found in it, there is a superabounding expression of love and comfort.
Shall we not follow this method to always scatter sunshine mid the shadows, and comforting care mid the sentences of correction.
I. THE COMFORT OF FAITH (John 14:1)
As Jesus Christ stood that day among His troubled disciples, He sought to comfort them concerning His going away. He knew that they would, naturally, be at a loss without Him; He knew that they would be tested to the limit by Satan. Thus it was that he sought to strengthen them and to encourage their hearts.
His first word of comfort was a call to their unwavering faith. He said, "Ye believe in God, believe also in Me."
1. Faith is the Christian's safeguard against discouragement and fear. We remember the words of the Lord, "Be not afraid, only believe."
When the disciples were afraid of the storm, as Christ slept in the boat, He said, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?"
Unbelief is black with cringing fright; faith is bouyant with unwavering confidence.
2. Faith carries the Christian through each conflict with the enemy. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Faith is the shield that quenches all of the fiery darts of the wicked one.
No marvel that Christ said, "Believe in Me." Had unbelief crept in as to the person, or the saving work of Christ, the disciples would be left as ships adrift in a storm tossed sea. They had been without any fortitude to stand against the foes of their souls.
3. Faith is not alone in the Father; it is also in Christ. To believe in the Father is to believe in the Son. To reject the One is to reject the Other. Jesus the Lord knew and taught that no one could come to the Father but by Him. He knew that he who had seen the Son had seen the Father. He knew that He spoke the words of the Father, and wrought the works of the Father. He knew that He was the Father's sin-offering. Therefore He said, "Ye believe in God, believe also in Me."
It is only he who believes in Christ who has eternal life.
II. THE COMFORT OF THE MANY MANSIONS (John 14:2)
The hope of future obtainment is always a great incentive to any undertaking. In the Christian life this hope is a strong factor in the realm of every hour of testing; it is a comfort in every trial.
The present may be filled with sorrow and with struggle, with conflict and with care, however, what does it matter if the future is full of glory and of grace?
Christ said, "Ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."
1. As a comfort to the disciples as He went away, Christ gave the words: "In My Father's House are many mansions." These mansions although far away, and unseen to mortal eyes, were just as real as things seen, for the Lord added, "If it were not so, I would have told you."
It was under the inspiration of this comfort that the song was written,
"A tent or a cottage, why should I care?
They're building a palace for me over there!
Though exiled from home, yet, still I may sing:
All glory to God, I'm a child of the King."
2. As a comfort Christ also gave the words: "I go to prepare a place for you." This last statement means much to saints. It assures us that there are not only mansions in Heaven, but they are ours, for us.
The abiding places in the glory are not alone for our eyes to behold, they are for our hearts to appropriate. They are places for us to dwell. Praise God, for such a prospect!
We may assure our hearts of the grandeur of our future mansions, because they are prepared by the Lord Himself. When we consider that He who made the earth and all things therein, for us to enjoy; is likewise making our eternal homes, we know that what lies ahead of us will be passingly beautiful and filled with glory.
III. THE COMFORT OF THE LORD'S RETURN (John 14:3)
We now come to something better than many abiding places, better than mansions, better than gold He is more than all.
1. He is coming again. This is that Blessed Hope spoken of in Titus 2:11-13. This hope is our comfort. When Paul was writing to the Thessalonians he told, in the Spirit, of how the Lord would descend from Heaven with a shout, of how the dead in Christ would be caught up, and then he said, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
2. He is coming to receive us unto Himself. Think of it! We shall be with Him, we shall see Him.
Thus, we admit the joy of being with loved ones gone before, of being housed in the mansions of the skies, yet, withal, we confess that our supreme joy will be Christ Himself, and the Father.
3. He is coming that we may be with Him where He is. In the prayer of Christ that followed His Words of comfort and inspiration, Christ said, "Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory."
Thus we get a new and deeper meaning to the promise, "That where I am, there ye may be also." We will not only see His glory, but we shall share it.
We are not alone the heir of God, but we are joint-heirs with Christ. We shall inherit all things. His will be ours; ours wall be His.
Once more, we lay aside the glory, His glory, our glory, and revel in the words That they may "be with Me where I am." With Him, forever with the Lord. No more of separation, no more of loneliness with Him evermore.
IV. THE COMFORT OF THE WAY (John 14:6)
After all what is the value of the many mansions, if we, a poor sinful race of men, are shut out by our iniquity? It is here that the Lord is gracious. He said, "Whither I go ye know, and the way ye know."
Thomas saith unto Him, "We know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?" Jesus quickly replied, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh to the Father but by Me."
1. Apart from Christ, the Way, there is no hope, no comfort concerning the future. It was for this cause that Christ came down to earth. He came to lay the bridge that spans earth to Heaven. He came that He might bear our sins and take them away, making us the righteousness of God in Him. He is our peace, our redemption, our glorification.
2. With Christ we have entrance into Heaven and unto the Father. Jacob saw a ladder reaching from earth to Heaven. Christ is that ladder. John saw a vision of innumerable multitudes in the glory. Of them the angel said, "These are they which * * have washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night."
Yes, it is the way of the Cross that leads home. Christ is that Way. He is the Truth that points out the Way. He is the Life that makes possible the Way.
In His First Coming He came to prepare us for the place, in His present work in Heaven, He is preparing the place for us; when He comes again He will take us to the place prepared.
Praise God, it is all fixed! We, who were sinners, walking in the lusts of the flesh and dead in trespasses, are quickened, born anew; we are raised to walk in our newness of life; and soon we shall be translated to the skies above to meet the Lord in the air. Hallelujah!
V. THE COMFORT OF PRAYER (John 14:13)
The Lord Jesus, having given us the comfort of faith, of the many mansions, of the WAY; now chooses to give us the comfort of present hour prayer. He said: "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My Name, I will do it."
1. Prayer is the channel that keeps us in touch with the Father and the Son while we are absent from Him in the flesh. He is away, far away; yet we may fellowship with Him, feel His presence with us, and hear His voice as we move on our earthward way.
An unspeakable comfort is this. There is never a day so dreary, and never a night so dark, but He is there.
There is one who walks beside me in the way,
And He turns my darkness into brightest day,
He's my Saviour all Divine,
I am His and He is mine,
So I sing to Him my happy soulful lay.
2. Prayer is the channel that brings us help in every time of need. We have Him, but we also have His aid. He says, "I will do it." He sees us, knows our need, and comes to our rescue. What we ask He does. His ear is open to the cry of those who put their trust in Him. His eye runs throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in behalf of all of those whose hearts are perfect toward Him.
3. His answers to our prayers are circumscribed to but one condition, we must ask in His Name. If we plead His Name, we plead in line with His power to help, and with His willingness to help. The people who know His Name will be strong to do exploits. The people who plead His Name will approach God on a basis of assured acceptance. Prayers will not be amiss, nor go astray when they are offered in His Name.
VI. THE COMFORT OF THE HOLY GHOST (John 14:16)
The comforts multiply. The earth life of the believer, during the absence of the Lord would be difficult indeed, were it not for the group of comforts that our Saviour vouchsafes to us.
Here is one of the chief comforts. "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever." "He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
1. Christ was a Comforter, the Holy Ghost is Another Comforter. The word is Paracletos one at your side. In this sense He is with us. Christ, however, added, "He shall be in you." With us and in us blessed Comforter.
2. Christ was with us but for a while, the Another Comforter shall be with us forever. He is here for the whole age. He came to abide with us.
Thus, we see that the disciples and the saints of the days of the first church, have no advantage over those of us who live in the end times.
The same Spirit is here now who was here then. He is the same in every sense of that word. The same in all His attributes, all His Word, and all His work. What He was then, He is now. What He did then He can do now.
Did He teach the disciples of yore? He teaches us now. Did He empower them? He empowers us. Did He glorify Christ? He still glorifies Christ. Did He convict the world of sin? He continues to convict the world of sin.
3. Christ was a Saviour to those who would believe, the Holy Spirit is a Paraclete only to those who are saved. The world received not Christ, the world receives not the Holy Spirit. He is the holy Guest of believers, not of unbelievers. He teaches saints, not sinners. He abides with God's own, not with those who are not His own.
"If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." The Spirit indwells all believers; He fills those who yield to Him and obey Him.
VII. THE COMFORT OF ASSURED LIFE (John 14:19)
Our verse reads: "Because I live, ye shall live also." The Lord Jesus places His life as surety for ours. As long as He lives we also live.
1. We know that Christ lives. He came in fashion as a man, and humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. As He was buried all hope left the disciples. They thought that it was He who would deliver Israel, but when He was dead, and buried, their hope died and was buried with Him.
However, death could not hold Him. It was impossible. He came forth from the dead. He lives. In His resurrection the eleven found new hope. In fact they were begotten again to a lively hope, as Peter afterward declared.
Christ lives the conqueror of death and of hell. He holds the keys of death and hell in His hands. He has ascended up on high, and He sits at the right hand of the Father.
2. We know that we, too, shall live. His life is ours. He leads us in the train of His triumph.
Thank God, "Our life is hid with Christ in God."
Here is the result, "When Christ who is our life, shall appear, then shall [we] also appear with Him in glory."
Thank God again. There is not one who can destroy God's elect. Being saved by His Blood we are kept secure in His life. If we are saved we are safe.
Who can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus? Our hope is builded on a Rock, unbreakable, unsinkable. We shall live.
Job said, "I know that my Redeemer liveth." Knowing that he knew that he too should live. He said, "And that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." Shall we know less than Job knew?
Let the worms destroy this body, yet in our flesh shall we see God, whom we shall see for ourselves, and not another.
AN ILLUSTRATION
Mrs. Farningham, the English poetess, tells a pretty story of an old woman who was a "shut-in." She received a visit one Sunday evening from a bright young man, who was inclined to be cynical, and look on the critical, dark side of everything. The good woman did not like this, and, suddenly turning on him, she said: "John, I wish you would be a Zion!" "A Zion?" "Yes; 'O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain,' you know," "Ah! I wish I had any good tidings to bring you, but I haven't." "I have some for you," she said, and she laid her hand reverently on the Bible as she quoted, "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to [him] that [hath] no might He increaseth strength." "Don't you call these good tidings?" "Yes, I do," he said, wishing that he could realize them as she did. "John, don't be a wet blanket; speak comfortably. That is what everybody wants. You know very well that there is more happiness in the world than sorrow; there are more bright days than dull ones. Don't get into a habit of despondency. You are kind and generous, I know, and you have such a chance to cheer people up. You can do it if you like. Do like!" "Well, old friend," the young fellow said, "you have given me a rare lesson, and I will pass it on to others. In any case, I am glad to find you calm and happy even toward the end. Your room is not a palace, but your face brightens it, and it is a 'help to my little faith to find you with so much light at eventide." Then he added, merrily, "I feel as if I had been scolded, but will try to be a better boy." "Not better, but happier, John. Don't you think it was to more than one Prophet that the words came 'Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God'?