Now, my reader, from all these words of Jesus, can we come to any other conclusion than this — that the millennium cannot possibly take place before the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven; until then wars, tumults, on Judah days of vengeance; on all nations distress. Read, then, carefully the solemn warning, 34-36, “Take heed to yourselves.” O, do not be deceived by the cry of peace and safety. “For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the earth.” Ah, you see that professor going to the world’s concert, or to the world’s feast, to eat and to drink with the drunkard. There goes another with anxious brow and keen, piercing eye, grasping at the world’s deceitful wealth. Ah, these, and thousands more, are saying in their hearts, “My Lord delayeth His coming.” “Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Ver. 36).
You may have observed, that all the words of Jesus so far, have reference to this earth, or His coming again to this earth. Jerusalem in Judea has been the center of His instruction. This was suited to the nation in the midst of which these prophecies were delivered.
We now turn to an entirely new subject. (John 14:2-3). I say new subject, for I am not aware of a single verse, from Genesis to this very passage, where this wondrous fact had ever been fully revealed. We forget this when reading these divine words of comfort. Every hope in the disciples around the blessed Lord, in this night of sorrow, was centered in Jerusalem, as the place of His reign. But now, His last words having been spoken to the nation in John 12, He unbosoms the secrets of His heart, for the comfort of His chosen few, during this time, or period, when He should have left them in the world alone. John 13 unfolds the tender grace of our High Priest on high. In the east it is customary for one servant to hold the basin, and for another to pour the water. But Jesus did not ask Peter to hold the basin, and John to pour the water. No, the precious Lord did it all: He took the towel, He took the basin, He poured the water, He washed their feet. O! that we better knew that tender heart. Cheer up, my drooping brother Christian; it was Jesus’ work alone to atone for sins on Calvary. It is Jesus’ work alone, as thy Great High Priest, to keep thy feet clean. Worthy alone art Thou, O Lamb of God. Thou art the author and the finisher of my salvation.
My reader, art thou a believer? Then thou art justified from all things through the precious blood of Christ, clean every whit. Then do not forget He lives to keep thee clean.
Then, in John 14, the precious Lord can hide from His loved ones no longer the amazing secret — “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” Of course, this was so new, they could not make out either whither He went, or the way. They had heard of the future glory of Jerusalem; but mansions in the Father’s house on high, and a place prepared for them! What, poor sinful fishermen to have a place with God the Father! O, amazing grace! Man, through sin, lost the garden of God; but Jesus was about to give His heart’s blood, that He might bring us to God Himself in heavenly glory. And mark the certainty. As surely as He has died and risen again, and gone to the Father’s house to prepare a place for us, even so sure is it, that He will come again and receive us unto Himself. Ah, what would the soldier give, in the midst of the battle’s roar, to have the certainty of reaching the home he loves – or the mariner in the midst of the raging storm? What comfort, then, these words of Jesus give! However fierce the conflict – however dark and loud the roaring tempest, the blest home of His presence is sure. O, think of this, ye tried and desolate ones – ye fellow-believers, who are widows, or orphans, in a cold world! O, cheer up, ye afflicted ones! A little while: your home is certain. Is Christ your portion now? Then your home, sweet home in His presence, is most blessedly certain. “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Think not when ye see Him, to meet an angry Judge. He who hath loved you and washed you in His own blood, comes to receive you to Himself. He says, That where I am, there ye may be also.” Perhaps you say, That may be true to them who deserve it. Did those who sat and heard these new words of wondrous grace deserve it? Ah! full well did He know. Yea, this wondrous disclosure of eternal love, was reserved to the very night on which they all forsook Him and fled. The Lord deepen in our souls the sense of this untold grace!
(To be continued). (Continued from page 84).