29 The Final Purpose
The Final Purpose
Jesus is the great revealer of God. As our words reveal our thoughts, and the thoughts reveal the man — so Jesus, as The Word, reveals the thoughts of God, and by revealing his thoughts, reveals his nature. In nature we see the print of God’s foot — but in Jesus we see the revelation of his full person; and there is as much difference between seeing God in nature, and God in Jesus — as between seeing the foot-print of a man on the soft clay — and the whole man standing erect before you! This was a great part of the Savior’s work; as he says, "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:26). The Work Jesus Had Done: "I have declared to them Your name." A name is to distinguish — and God’s name distinguishes him from his creatures, and from all the false gods of the heathen world. His name teaches what he is in himself, what he is to his creatures in general, and to his saints in particular. His proclamation of his name to Moses was just adapted to meet the case of his Israel. He declared himself to be the self-existent, immutable, and covenant God of his people in general. He then particularized . . .
his mercy, which sympathizes with man’s misery;
his grace, as meeting man’s unworthiness;
his longsuffering, as affording hope to old and hardened sinners;
his abundance of goodness and truth, as suiting the poverty, ignorance, and fickleness of his people. So Jesus had declared, made known, or revealed . . .
God’s nature as spiritual,
his disposition as merciful, and
his purposes and designs as gracious.
Jesus had declared the name or title by which God would be known to his people — even that of Father.
It they had any needs — he assured them that their Father knew their needs.
If they prayed — he directed them to say, "Our Father."
If they looked forward to the end — he assured them that it was their Father’s good pleasure to give them the kingdom.
He taught them that God wished to be thought of as a Father, and to be addressed as a Father. He had so declared God’s name — as to produce veneration, confidence, and love. His greatness and holiness produced veneration;
his grace and faithfulness awakened confidence;
his mercy and compassion called forth their love.
"I have declared unto them your name." The Work He Intended to Do: "I will declare it." Jesus reveals God’s name gradually, clearly, and correctly. He had revealed much — but he intended to reveal more — and in his sufferings, death, and resurrection, he did so. There he showed . . .
what the justice of God was,
what the holiness of God was,
what the wrath of God against sin was,
and how faithful God was to his covenant engagements and to his Word.
Afterwards, by sending the Holy Spirit — he completed that manifestation of the divine name, which was intended for the present world. The revelation which Jesus makes is clear; he gives not only a clear statement of the truth — but he imparts light to the mind, so that in God’s light we see God’s name. The revelation when most incomplete, is correct so far as it goes; there is no mistake or misrepresentation. Though all may not be seen, what is seen is correct. One degree of knowledge, prepares us for a further revelation. We learn by degrees — and perhaps throughout eternity we shall be learning more and more of God, who is infinite, and be engaged taking into our minds more clear and full discoveries of his glorious nature and perfections! One favor is the pledge of another. One spiritual blessing never comes alone — or, if it comes alone, it is as the harbinger of another. When we receive one favor from God, we may cry out, "Call its name Gad, for a troop comes!" The Design with Which Jesus Reveals the Father: "That the love with which You loved Me — may be in them, and I in them" — that the Father’s love may be in his people. Love is the source, proof, and forerunner of all spiritual blessings! Was Hezekiah delivered from the pit of corruption? He says, "You have in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption." Is the Church sanctified and saved? It is because Jesus "loved it, and gave himself for it." Is the saint comforted? It is because God our Father has "loved us, and given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace." Are believers made kings and priests unto God, and raised to enjoy his presence and glory? It all flows from love; hence they sing, "Unto him who has loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God and his Father — to him be glory and dominion forever and ever! Amen."
Jesus desired not only that we may have spiritual blessings — but that the source and spring of them all, may be in us! "That the love with which you have loved me — may be in them." God’s love to us is astonishing; and the more we dwell upon it — the more astonishing it appears, so that we are often ready to cry out with the apostle, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"
God’s love is in Christ; Paul therefore calls it "the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." It is also in us; hence he says, "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given unto us." Jesus would have us possess the love of God in its great and glorious effects, as life, peace, courage, and conscious acceptance with God.
Christ would also dwell in us himself, as he adds, "And I in them." Jesus is not only for us — but in us — in us . . .
as a source of holiness, comfort, and strength;
as the hope of glory;
as the very life of our souls;
in us living, in us working, in us dwelling.
"Christ lives in me!" "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith."
Observe, Love is the fountain of all good — and union with Christ is the medium of its conveyance. Every blessing, favor, and benefit — flows to us from the free, sovereign, and eternal love of God; union with Christ directs the stream of that love into our souls — and on it float all divine blessings. O the importance of union with Christ! We cannot overestimate it. We cannot too highly appreciate it. May we live realizing that we are in Christ — and that Christ is in us! May our hearts be directed into the love of God — and may the love of God be directed into our hearts! This will make us at once . . .
holy, happy, and useful;
a credit to the gospel;
an honor to religion;
a comfort to the Church;
and a glory to God. The gospel is the means of . . .
revealing God,
kindling confidence in our hearts,
and conveying blessings to our souls. The gospel is a mirror in which God’s glory is seen.
Christ is the portrait by which God is represented. In Jesus, we behold as in a mirror, the glory of God. The knowledge of God is obtained . . .
by knowing Christ,
by looking to Christ, and
by close, personal, experimental dealings with Christ.
Through the knowledge of Christ — all necessary good things come into our possession. As Peter says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." Through the knowledge of Christ — we have confidence in God, and rejoice in hope of his glory.
We should study God’s name, as David did, who said, "My meditation of him shall be sweet; I will be glad in the Lord." We should make use of God’s name, and then we may say as Paul did, "If God is for us — who can be against us?" As John did, "We have known and believed the love which God has to us. God is love; and he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him." The best thing which Jesus desires for us — is more love and closer union. On these, his heart was set. For these, he poured out his soul. For these, he would exert his utmost influence. Shall not we, then, seek more love from God — so that we may love God more, and love the saints more? Shall we not seek to realize more and more that Jesus dwells in us, and that we dwell in him? We ought to be satisfied with nothing less. On this our hearts should be set — to this we should bend all the strength and desires of our soul.
O Holy Spirit, do you not shed abroad the love of God in the hearts of his people? Shed it abroad in mine, and shed it abroad copiously and constantly there, for it is a blessing of which I can never have too much! Do you not unite the soul to Jesus, and Jesus to the soul? Oh, allow me to experience more of the indwelling of Jesus in my soul — more close, intimate, and hallowing union to him, and fellowship and communion with him!
Reader! Have you accompanied me in my meditations on this sublime prayer of our adorable Savior? If so, let me ask: What evidence have you — that you are one for whom Jesus prayed? Have you been led to believe on him, through the word of his servants? Do you know anything experimentally of union to Christ, or communion with Christ? Do you ever enjoy the presence of Jesus, and is the presence of Jesus — the Heaven you long for? Is he precious to your soul — more precious than all things beside? Or are you ignorant of God as he is revealed in Jesus and by Jesus? Are you a stranger to the power of godliness, and the pleasure that flows from fellowship with him? If so, then be assured of one thing — that whatever you may enjoy, you are a stranger to true, solid, substantial happiness, while you are a stranger to the Lord Jesus.
I cannot, therefore, leave you until I exhort you to make sure work of the salvation of your soul. Nor would I leave you with this, if I knew that you had not found the Savior — but would most affectionately invite you to come to Jesus, and prove . . .
the truth of his Word,
the greatness of his love, and
the perfection of his glorious salvation!
Come to Jesus, if you have not. Come to Jesus at once. Jesus only, Jesus only can meet your case, and save your soul!