Homiletic Magazine John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world comes, and has nothing in me. Christ thus closed the conversation to intimate to His disciples — I. THE VALUE OF WHAT HE HAD SPOON IN THE PAST. 1. As their rule of life. "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." 2. As teaching them to draw instruction from every source. 3. As being the means of life. II. THE NEED OF CONCENTRATION IN AN APPROACHING CONFLICT. a time of peace was followed by a time of trial. Christ was ready for it, and concentrated every faculty for a final struggle with the devil, who was worsted by Him in the wilderness, and left Him then for a season. II. THAT THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF FREEDOM FROM THE CONDEMNATION OF SIN GIVES THE GREATEST POWER TO WITHSTAND THE ASSAULTS OF SATAN. There was no ledge in Christ on which the devil could stand, nothing at which he could clutch. Our weaknesses Satan knows too well. He has something in us. But we may rejoice in freedom from condemnation. Doubt as to this is what Satan loves to take hold of; and it is frequently a sincere Christian's weakest point — IV. THAT HE HAS RESOLVED TO MAINTAIN PURITY. "Shall have." Christ had no doubt about the issue: nor need there be any in those whom Christ upholds. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Against the Church the gates of hell shall not prevail. V. THAT THE DISCIPLES MIGHT LEARN MORE FROM SEEING THAN HEARING. It is not what a man says, but what he does, that influences others. Christ has said: "Whosoever taketh not up his cross," etc. Did He shrink from taking it up Himself? Christ ceases to talk, and allows His life to speak. VI. CHRIST'S SORROW THAT HIS INTERCOURSE WITH HIS DISCIPLES HAD TO BE INTERRUPTED. All are subject to all sorts of interruptions here. We must be prepared for breaks in life, gaps in the family, vacant chairs. Still we may, with Christ, take up the joyful life. Death possesses nothing permanent in us. (Homiletic Magazine.) Parallel Verses KJV: Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.WEB: I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me. |
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