202. Tuesday after Third Sunday after Easter.
Lord Jesus, let thy word today kindle and
strengthen faith in thee in our hearts. Amen.
John 14, 7-13. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
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Here we again have the assurance from his own lips that he is true God, one with the Father. “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me.” How could he speak thus, were he not one with the Father, true and eternal God? If Jesus Christ be the truthful teacher, he just as certainly is the true God. For he declares it in language which admits of no dispute; and it must be true, or he would be a liar. But in the latter case, how could he at the same time be the greatest of the world’s wise teachers, as he is conceded to be even by the adherents of infidelity? And what explanation could be offered of the works which he did? How would you explain the wonders which he wrought in his disciples after his death and resurrection? It cannot be denied that his disciples, after his ascension, did works which are greater than all that he did in his state of humiliation. During his life on earth he went about in Judea, and healed the sick, and raised the dead, and preached the word of life. These were works which proved that he was in the Father, and the Father in him. But since that time he has, through his disciples, created the world anew, and changed the whole form of the earth. From his place at the right hand of the Father he has sent the Holy Ghost, and has equipped his witnesses with power and grace to convert thousands, nay countless souls, and rescue them from death and the devil. How could the poor, unlearned, terrified and timid disciples have accomplished such results, if he had remained dead, and they had been left dependent on their own resources? It is impossible. The existence of the church, the life that it has lived and the deeds that it has done, are so conclusive of the divinity and resurrection of Christ, that he must indeed be stone blind who does not see that Christ is the Son of God, and that he hears the prayers of the faithful. He says that himself will do whatsoever we shall ask of the Father in his name. Every word is evidence that he speaks in the consciousness of being one with the Father. — How blessed are we who have so great and mighty a Savior! He has given us glorious promises, and he is able to fulfill them. Away with unbelief, the accursed lie!
Lord Jesus, thou true God; give us grace to believe in thee, and to pray with all confidence, nothing doubting. Give us the assurance of the Spirit in our hearts, for thy name’s sake. Amen.
Approach, my soul, the mercy-seat,
Where Jesus answers prayer;
There humbly fall before his feet,
For none can perish there.
Thy promise is my only plea,
With this I venture nigh;
Thou callest burdened souls to thee,
And such, O Lord, am I.