27 The Claim

The Claim The heart of the believer finds its center and its home in Christ. It wishes to be wholly taken up with Christ, and to be always with Christ. And the heart of Jesus seems to find its center and home in his people; therefore he has promised to be always with them, and has provided to have them forever with himself. The presence of Christ is our Heaven; and to be surrounded with his people is real happiness to him. Hence he prays for them, "Father, I will that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:24). The Request: "Father, I will that they be with me." What manner of address is this? How different is . . .
that of Abraham, the friend of God;
that of David, the man after God’s own heart;
that of Daniel, the man greatly beloved; or
that of Solomon, the wisest of men! They never said, "I will," but implored blessings in the deepest humility and self-abasement. They never sought such a blessing, nor pleaded in such a way.

It was the request of a SON — the Son of God. He was inspired with conscious dignity. He realized his near relationship to God. He was sensible . . .
of the merit of his work and sacrifice;
of the honor he would bring to God, and
the glory he would throw around the divine government. As a Son, he addressed his Father. As a Son, he opened his whole heart to his Father. As a Son, he spoke to his Father in a way in which none but himself could be justified in speaking.

It was the request of a SAVIOR:
a Savior who had engaged in the everlasting covenant to save his people from their sins;
a Savior who had undertaken to meet all the demands of justice, to magnify the holy law, and to bring eternal honor to his Father in their salvation;
a Savior whose heart’s love was set upon his people; who felt that he could not do too much for them, or ask too great things on their behalf.

It was the request of a SOVEREIGN. With kingly dignity he speaks, and a kingly request he presents — for great things, with the greatest freedom and the strongest confidence, he asks: "I will that they be with me where I am." In this request, we see authority and love blended. He asks as for a right. He asks in loving words. He asks for what would do honor to his authority, and at the same time gratify his love. He expresses strong, earnest desire. The request is for all saints. Not for patriarchs, or prophets, or apostles, as such: not for the great, the gifted, or the extensively useful, as such — but for . . .
all whom the Father had given him;
every one whose name was in his book of life;
every one for whom he laid down his life;
every one who believed on his name.

Yes — for the least, the weakest, the poorest, the most despised. Every child in his family, he would have with him. Every lamb of his flock, he would meet at home. He would give eternal life to as many as the Father had given him. His request was a noble one; it comprises all that we could possibly desire. It was that we might be with him. Nothing was nearer to his heart — and nothing is nearer to ours. To have Christ with us now, reconciles us to any place, and makes us happy in any circumstances. To be with Christ — will be enough to satisfy us throughout eternity. No matter where we are, if Christ is not there, we could not be happy.

If God were to fit up a world on purpose for us, and lavish on it his immense wealth, and display in it his boundless wisdom — it might gratify us for a time; but if Christ were not there, it would not satisfy us very long. Our love is not set on place, possessions, or any circumstances — but on Christ; and without Christ, our happiness never could be perfect. His loving heart longs to have us with him! And our heart’s desire and prayer to God is, that we may be with him. But he not only requests that we might be with him — but with him to behold his glory. Not his essential glory, as God; but his acquired glory, as the Savior of his people. This will be to see . . .
the largeness of God’s heart,
the immensity of his wealth,
his delight in his Son, and
his estimate of the value of his sacrifice and death.

What will that glory be! What an inheritance! What a city! What robes of glory! What a crown! What a scepter! What a retinue! O the grandeur, the magnificence, the dignity conferred on Immanuel! And we shall see it all, share it all, and enjoy it all! He wishes us to behold it, that we may enjoy it. And we shall enjoy it forever. Our love to him, will make us enjoy it. The thought that he acquired it by dying for us, will make us enjoy it. Our participation in it, will make us enjoy it.

We shall be with him; we shall behold his glory; we shall enjoy the blissful sight; and we shall be like him forever! Not his equal in dignity and honor — we do not even wish for this; but . . .
like him — holy;
like him — happy;
like him — glorious;
and holy, happy, and glorious forever! The Argument Urging the Request: "For you loved me before the foundation of the world." He does not plead our love to God, our love to himself, or our love to each other. Jesus was loved as the Son of God, the Mediator, the Head of his body, the Church — with the highest, greatest love of God from all eternity. Because so loved, and on account of his great work — a special glory was given to him. In this special glory, he wishes us to share. He asks this favor of the Father on the ground of his great love to him. Love thinks nothing too great or too good to confer on its object; Jesus knew this. The love that was in his heart toward his people prompts, him to ask the greatest conceivable gift of his Father for them; and to ask it for them on the ground of his love to him.

Oh, wondrous love of Jesus to his people! Oh, wondrous love of the Father to his Son! Yes, as surely as the Father loves his Son, as surely as he loved him before the foundation of the world — so surely shall we be with him where he is, to behold his glory. Wherever Jesus may be, in Heaven or earth — there we shall be. Whatever glory Jesus may receive and wear — we shall behold it. And for all that Jesus is, for all that Jesus has — we shall be the better.

Gracious Redeemer, you have exhausted our desires, you have comprehended all our wishes, in this request of yours. All we can say is, "Be it unto us according to your Word!"

Jesus came where we are, to our homes. He came and dwelt among us. How did we treat him? Did we prepare a magnificent palace for his reception, and surround him with luxury and plenty? No; at his birth we could afford him no better chamber than a stable, no better bed than a feeding trough. We treated him first with coldness, then with contempt, and at last with the greatest cruelty.

He wishes us to go where he is, to his home. How will he treat us? Nothing will be considered as too great, too good, or too glorious for us! He will have us with him, near him, like him. He will glorify us with his own self, and fill us with unutterable joy and glory!

We have seen him in his humiliation — and he wishes us to see him in his glorification.

We have seen him as the Man of Sorrows — we shall behold him as the brightness of glory.

We have seen him in the feeding trough — we shall see him in his Father’s house.

We have seen him on the cross — and we shall behold him on his throne! Our eternal happiness will consist in our seeing, enjoying, and being like Christ. We have no conception of Heaven beyond this. We desire no Heaven but this. May I but see my Savior in his glory, may I but enjoy his presence and his love, and may I but be like him — and I have enough! Anywhere with Christ — I shall be happy. Anything with Christ — I shall enjoy. Let me but share with my Savior, and I ask, I desire no more.

Christ greatly delights in the company of his people. The language of his conduct seems to be — anywhere with them, anything with them. For them he could . . .
part with his glory,
leave his Father’s house,
become a homeless wanderer,
the prince of sufferers,
and accursed of God! For them he would live and labor;
for them he would suffer and die;
and for them he would request of his Father that they might be with him where he is, to behold his glory. Truly his delights are with the sons of men.

Ascertain what kind of a Heaven a man desires — and you will know what a man is. A sensualist will desire a sensual Heaven. Health, wealth, and freedom to enjoy himself — will satisfy a natural man. Not so with the soul that is born again. He pants for the spiritual, the pure, the glorious. If, therefore, we sigh for holiness — if we desire above all things to see Jesus, be with Jesus, and be like Jesus — we are unquestionably among the number of those for whom he prayed; and we shall be with him, where he is, to behold his glory. This prayer is for our consolation; but it is not our pattern. We must not pray thus. "I will," does not befit lips like ours. Jesus never prayed so when he prayed for himself: then he said, "Not my will — but may your be done." Our model is that which Jesus gave to his disciples, not this prayer which he offered for them.

O Savior, let me in solemn silence, muse on your wondrous love, and adore your glorious grace! Send the Holy Spirit to unfold the subject more fully to my mind, and to apply it with his own power to my heart. I want to realize the depth, the glory of your love. I want to drink into your spirit, and in all things to be like-minded with you. I want to be with you — let me therefore enjoy more of your presence on earth, to prepare me for your presence in Heaven.

O Jesus, it is my heart’s desire that you should be with me — unfolding your glory to me, and satisfying my soul with your presence. O visit me, visit me daily; or rather, come and dwell with me, that I may fix and feast my eye and heart upon you evermore!

Holy Spirit, as you love to honor and exalt the Lord Jesus — endear him to my heart more and more, until I am wholly taken up with him, until I am ravished with his love!