April 05, 2005.
36. I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU AS ORPHANS. They had been awakened spiritually by the ministry and presence of the Lord Jesus. A constant and mature fellowship had developed as they associated with Jesus from day to day. A spiritual life style had been there delight and joy. Now, He was going to leave them. How troubled they must have been to experience all that they would have felt through the crucifixion of the Lord and His burial. However, He had promised that He would not leave them without a comforter and that He would come to them. John 14:18 Here again, the mystery of the Godhead comes into view. So perfect and absolute is the unity of that one who is called God, that the Triunity of His Person is represented by the presence of the either Father, the Son or the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that He would ask of the Father another comforter who would be with them continuously. The other comforter who would come was one like unto the one who was leaving. Greek, allos. Another of the same sort, or another like Himself. W. E. Vine. He who would come would not be Jesus but one who was so much a part of Jesus that Jesus could say. I will come to you. Aside from His physical presence, all that Jesus was to them would be met and made known in the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The same awesome presence which they had become accustomed to was now present, dwelling within them in the person of the Holy Spirit.
AN ASSOCIATION THAT IS OUT OF THIS WORLD. There is no unanimity, or absolute accord in all of the universe like that of the Godhead. Each member, designated by the titles to be Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They persistently maintain their unique identification as determined by the titles ascribed unto them. Jesus made it very plain that He was IN the Father. In this manner He illustrated the perfect association, the fellowship and unity which is made manifest in the Godhead. Not only was Jesus in the Father, but the Father was also resident within the Lord Jesus. Jesus does not identify Himself as the Father but honors the blessed relationship that exists in the Godhead. The words, the works that the Lord Jesus did in His sojourn here on earth were the words and the works of the Father. His motivation, the authority to do wonders and miracles came to Him from the Father who was resident within Him. These words of the Lord Jesus show us the submission that He manifest toward the Father. As a son, though equal to the Father He was willing to be obedient in all things. Therefore He urged His followers to acknowledge the fact that the Father dwelt in Him and that He was in the Father. John 14:10-11 The miracle of all this marvelous association is that we are invited to be a part of this precious union. Jesus prayed that His followers might be made one with the same alliance and complete concord that is found in the Godhead. John 17:21 Such undivided accord is that which will be found in the Bride of Christ. The church will one day, soon, awaken to all that has been prepared for those who love the Lord Jesus and will make the consecration which will result in perfect unity in the body of Christ.