September 16
The Gains of Christ's Absence
In the Hour of Silence'It is expedient for you that I go away.'—John 16:7.
IT is expedient for me, it is my great gain and blessedness, that my Lord has gone away, hard as I find it to credit the surprising truth.
Three benefits, the Heidelberg Catechism assures me, I receive from Christ's Ascension—
"That He is my Advocate in the presence of His Father": that is one. Such a Friend I have in the court of the King of kings, an Intercessor who ever lives, a Petitioner who never fails.
"Day and night our Jesus makes no pause, Pleads His own fulfilment of all laws, Veils with His perfections mortal flaws, Clears the culprit, pleads the desperate cause, Plucks the dead from death's devouring jaws, And the worm that gnaws."
"That I have my own flesh in heaven, as a sure pledge that He, who is the Head, will also take me, one of His members, up to Himself": that is another good treasure and boon. "We two are so joined" that, where He is to-day, I shall be to-morrow with Him.
"That He sends me His Spirit, by whose power I seek those things which are above": there is the third beatitude which the Ascension brings me. He has received gifts for me, and, most of all, the supreme gift of the Holy Ghost. He sheds Him down on me; and then I, who am feeble, become as David, and can do valiantly.
Thus it is indeed best for me that the clouds have received my Redeemer, and are keeping Him until the time of the restitution of all things. I need the Christ of the glory as well as the Christ of the humiliation.