The Signs of the Times
November 18, 1897
Farewell Words—Words of Comfort
While he was still among them, Christ sought to give to his disciples all the encouragement possible; for they were to be sorely tried. “Let not your heart be troubled,” he said, “ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.... Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world can not receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” ST November 18, 1897, par. 1
Christ himself was the truth. The world would not listen to his pleadings. They would not accept him as their guide; therefore they could not discern unseen things; spiritual things were unknown to them. But his disciples had discerned in him the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and his promise to them was that they should have his abiding presence. They should have an experimental knowledge of the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. He who had begun a good work in them would perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ. ST November 18, 1897, par. 2
The thought that their Teacher was going to leave them filled the disciples with sorrow; but Christ comforted them with the assurance that he was coming again to take them to the place he would prepare for them. He assured them that if he went not away, he could not provide them with an advocate; that if they only knew of the blessings that were to come because of his departure, they would not mourn; they would rejoice in the presence of the Holy Spirit, who was to be with them always. He told them that if he went not away, they could not do a greater work; but that, deprived of his personal presence, by faith they would see and know him, and by continuance in his love, by showing their appreciation of the truth in revealing to others what the truth is, by obeying his commandments and bearing a living, vital testimony, by doing his work that he would leave in their hands, carrying it forward to completion, they would become representatives of himself. ST November 18, 1897, par. 3
“I will not leave you comfortless,” Christ continued; “I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me; because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” ST November 18, 1897, par. 4
Importance of Obedience
Christ attaches a weight of importance to the obedience of his people to the commandments of God. They are to have an intelligent knowledge of them, and bring them into their daily life. But man can keep the commandments of God only as he is in Christ, and Christ in him. And while he is in Christ, having light on his commandments, it is not possible for him to disregard the least of them. None will keep the law of God unless they love Him who is the only-begotten of the Father. And, none the less surely, if they love him, will they express that love by steadfast, willing obedience. And all who love Christ will be loved of the Father, and he will manifest himself to them. In all their emergencies and perplexities they will have a helper in God. ST November 18, 1897, par. 5
But it was difficult even for the disciples to understand the words of Christ. That Christ should manifest himself to them, and yet be invisible to the world, was a mystery to them. They could not understand the words of Christ in a spiritual sense. They were thinking of the outward, visible manifestation. They could not take in the fact that they could have the presence of Christ with them, and yet he be unseen by the world. They had yet to learn that the inward spiritual life, all fragrant with the obedience of love, would give them the spiritual power they needed. ST November 18, 1897, par. 6
“Lord, how is it,” questioned one of the disciples, “that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, 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. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings; and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” ST November 18, 1897, par. 7
Enlightenment by the Spirit
Christ had sought to make the lessons which they did not understand as clear as possible to their befogged minds. But they had failed to understand them. Now he declared that the time was not far distant when every word which they could not grasp would be clearly comprehended as living truth. No more, he says, will you say, I can not comprehend. No longer will you see through a glass darkly. You shall comprehend with all saints what is the length and breadth and depth and height of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. Your Teacher, ascended to heaven, will advocate the cause of all who believe in him. He will plead that spiritual power may be given to you, that in the strength of One mightier than all the enemies of God and man, you may be able to overcome your spiritual foes. He asks you to trust in him, and commit yourself into his keeping. ST November 18, 1897, par. 8
The promise of the Comforter presented a rich truth to the disciples. It assured them that they should not lose their faith under the most trying circumstances. The Holy Spirit, sent in the name of Christ, was to be their Guide, teaching them all things, and bringing all things to their remembrance. This comforter was to be the representative of Christ their Advocate, who is constantly pleading in behalf of the fallen race. ST November 18, 1897, par. 9
He who knows the end from the beginning had provided for the attack of Satanic agencies; and he will fulfill his Word to the faithful in every age. That Word is sure and steadfast; not one jot or tittle of it can fail. The Holy Spirit is constantly at work, teaching, reminding, testifying, coming to the soul as a divine comforter, and convincing of sin as an appointed judge and guide. If men will keep under the protection of God, he will be to them as an impregnable fortress. He will give evidence that his Word can never fail. He will prove a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn; as the Sun of Righteousness he will arise with healing in his beams. ST November 18, 1897, par. 10
Mrs. E. G. White