OUR BIBLE CLASS.
"And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are One."—John xvii. 22.
"The glory of the Lord endureth for ever"; and in this sublime prayer Jesus speaks of the glory that He had with His Father before the world began, and asks that He may be glorified in finishing His saving work.
But what is the "glory" spoken of in our text? Two thoughts must guide us to its meaning—first, the Father had given it to His Son; secondly, Jesus had given it to His disciples.
Christ is God, and, as God, is, and ever must be, glorious. But this glory was not given Him; it was His own. Christ is the one Mediator between God and men—the only Way to heaven and happiness—the all-sufficient and only Saviour of sinners, who redeemed them by His blood, and saves them by His life. But His glory, as Mediator and Saviour, He will not give to another. He received it, and is crowned with it, alone.
Yet He says, "I have given My disciples"—"the men Thou gavest out of the world"—"the glory Thou hast given Me." He is the Truth. His words were always divinely full of heavenly meaning. Let us try by other Scriptures to understand this one.
In Isaiah xl. 10, we read, "Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand"—or will come as a Mighty One—"behold, His reward is with Him, and the recompense of His work [see margin] is before Him." In Hebrews xii. 2, we are told that, "for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down," now and for ever, "at the right hand of God." This recompense, this joy, is Christ's glory. And what is it? In one word, it is salvation—the satisfaction, the honour, and delight, of rescuing, and eternally enriching, the people whom He loved from eternity, and will for ever love. As Cowper sweetly sings—
"Of all the crowns Jehovah wears,
Salvation is His dearest claim;
That gracious sound well-pleased He hears,
And owns Emmanuel for His name."
In this—His joy, His glory—He makes His people share here in this world, and in this present time—
"Before they reach the heavenly fields,
Or tread the golden streets."
They are interested in His salvation, and on this word we may reflect a little, for "interest" has a two-fold meaning. It means, benefit or profit; and it also means, friendly, loving concern for a person or an object. If I am interested in a paying business, I share in its profits, and am benefited by it; but I am interested in many things that bring me no money, and I gladly give them all the help I can, because I long for their success and prosperity.
And in this double way believers are interested in Christ's salvation. They are for ever benefited by it. His death secures their endless life; His sorrow yields them joy and peace; and His poverty has made them rich for evermore. "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift," is the glad cry of all who know that this precious salvation is their own.
Then comes the other form of interest—loving, prayerful desire that Christ may be glorified; that "the kingdom of God may come"; that sinners may be brought to the Saviour. The burdened heart, longing for peace, may be too full of its own sorrows to think much of others; but the forgiven child of God, rejoicing in Jesus as his own dear, almighty Friend, says, or desires to say—
"Now will I tell to sinners round
What a dear Saviour I have found;
I'll point to His redeeming blood,
And say, 'Behold the way to God!'"
Thus the apostles laboured to carry the Gospel wherever they could travel, though, by so doing, they were exposed to persecution, suffering, and death. But they longed to spread the joyful news abroad, and to be the means of leading their hearers to Jesus; and when they "saw the grace of God," they were glad with an unspeakable joy. And, so far as we are animated with Christ's spirit, we, too, shall seek after the same blessed results.
And Jesus has given His glory to His people that they may all be united together, even as He and His Father are One—one in heart, and mind, and aims.
We hear a great deal just now about the "unity of Christendom," or the "Christian world," and some would like to blend the Greek and Roman with the English Church. Now, what sort of union would that be? Others do not go quite so far, and yet they would unite together a variety of creeds and people by dropping every important difference, and giving up whatever was not generally acceptable. But let us never forget that there can be no Christian union without Christ; no holy unity unless founded on God's Word. Gas jets affixed in a certain way to our ceilings are called "sun-lights." They are only artificial lights, after all; and whatever name it may assume, unless Christ is the Centre of unity, the union is not Christian, for "if any one have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." But union to and in Christ is very real and true even now, and those who follow Jesus can hold sweet intercourse together in this world. "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."
We are, at best, imperfect in the present state. We know but in part. Our love is often cold, and sin still dwells in the heart; but in the glory that is yet to come, we, if we are His, shall know, even as we have been known of Him. Perfect love will cast out all distance and coldness, and perfect holiness will possess every saved one.
"Beloved," wrote the same Apostle who recorded the Saviour's prayer, "now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." May this glorious prospect be ours, through His grace.
Our next subject will be, Matthew vi. 22, 23—Mental Eyes: Darkened and Illuminated.
Yours affectionately,
H. S. L.