The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-14
The BOOK OF JOHN.
CHAPTER XIV.
BY Mr.. A. ID. Gray, Cashier Santa Fe
Railway Company, Topeka.


Questions on the chapters read
this week will be answered at the
| First Baptist church Sunday night
by the pastor, Rev. Robert Gordon.)
The fourteenth chapter of John, to-
| gether with the thirteenth and fiji
| teenth, may be called the upper
room chapters and record the final
utterances of Jesus to his disciples
before his arrest and crucifixion. No
doubt Jesus had held many intimate
| interviews with them during the
| three years in which they had been
| together But on this occasion his
words are characterized by an I'M
usual tenderness and solicitude to
meet their special need. The dis
! ciples were sorrowfuI, and it was not
| strange, for they have just been told
| that one of their number would be-
| tray their loved Master and one
| should deny him. Jesus sought to
prepare their minds for his impend
ing separation. Although he was al
ready in the shadow of imminent
death, it is noticeable that Jesus is
wholly unmindful of himself. All his
thought is fixed on his disciples and
their future. Let not your heart
be troubled" He seeks to show them
that though he is about to leave them,
yet the separation will not be final;
that after His death He will still be
with them in a more vital relation
ship than when in the flesh. 1t was
needful that He go away, but He
would come again and be with them
and in them with a spiritual presence
and power that should lead them
to higher achievements and a more
exalted service. Greater works"
would be performed by them when
they had received the full endow-
ment of his spirit. The beginnings
of the Kingdom of God on earth, the
marvellous extension of the influence
of the Gospel through all the ages, the
story of the Acts, will show how this
far reaching program was inaugural
ed. Many high thoughts and great
ideas are foreshadowed in this chap
ter as Jesus spoke comfort and direc-
ton to his sOrroWing friends in that
quiet upper room AS the scene is
recalled, notice the personal aspect
of the occasion. How deeply personal
and sympathetic was the relation eX-
listing between Jesus and those men
who had been his associates, whom |
he called his friends, and into whose |
hands He was about to commit His |
great spiritual enterprise. The dis |
ciples on their part had a strong per-
sonal love and loyalty to Jesus. His |
appeal to them had been purely |
personal one Their follow me" had /
come to them individually. And so |
must the appeal come to men to- |
day. The world is learning anew the +
of the personality of
Jesus. While ecclesiastical dogmaS
and systems of theology have large
ly lost their meaning to the modern
man, the personality of Jesus as por-
trayed in the Gospels is acquiring a
fresh loyalty and homage. This is a
vital fact: If Christianity means any
thing it means a personal relationship
to a personal Christ. Just to the
extent that this is realized will our
religion be effective. AS Jesus called
his disciples friends, so men today
may become His friends and even
His intimate associates.
In our chapter He says to His dis
ciples, IF a man love Me he will
keep My words and My Father will
love him and we will come unto him
and make our abode with him" If
we are willing, it is possible to ac-
-uaIize this blessed condition. DR..
Bushnell experienced it's realization
when he said that he was better ac-
Iuainted with Jesus Christ than with
my man in Hartford. Only in the
of this fellowship does hui
nan life find its true interpretation
is highest rewards.
(Read the entire chapter today.)