John 17:13 And now come I to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I. CHRIST IS THE AUTHOR AND ORIGINAL OF THE JOY OF HIS PEOPLE. 1. As He is their Prophet to instruct them. The state of ignorance is a state of darkness. And that is an uncomfortable state, full of fear, and sorrow. But when Christ comes with light He gives joy (Psalm 97:11). 2. As He is their King to rule them (Psalm 149:2). (1) As He subdues their enemies, and gives them peace (Luke 1:75). (2) As He gives them His Spirit. The Spirit is the Comforter (Acts 13:52; Galatians 5:22). (3) As He dispenses rewards (Luke 6:23; Matthew 25:21). 3. As He is their Priest. (1) To sacrifice. For by this means He satisfies the justice of His Father for them, He frees them from the guilt of all their sins and reconcileth them to God (Luke 2:10). (2) To intercede. Therefore in the text, He gives them as it were a taste of His future intercession, that thereby they might guess what He would do when He was come to heaven. 4. Uses. Is Christ the Author and the Fountain of the joy of His people — (1) Then they that are out of Christ can have no true and solid joy, because they are divided from the fountain of it (James 5:1). There is no peace, and consequently no joy to wicked men. (2) Then fetch your joy and comfort thence. Drink you out of the Fountain, and not out of broken cisterns. II. CHRIST WOULD HAVE HIS PEOPLE TO BE FULL OF HOLY JOY. 1. This He has made sufficiently to appear — (1) By publishing the gospel, which as it is a gospel of salvation, so of consolation (Luke 2:10; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:17). (2) By giving precious promises, and sealing them with His own blood (Hebrews 9:16; Hebrews 6:18). (3) By giving glorious ordinances. For ordinances are not for our profit only, but are for our comfort too (Psalm 27:4; Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 15:16; Isaiah 12:3). (4) By giving clear discoveries of Himself (Acts 2:28). (5) By sending the Comforter. (6) By giving deliverance (Isaiah 66:5). (7) By purchasing heaven. 2. But wherefore will He have it to be so? (1) Out of self-respect, because by reason of the nearness of His union His joy is theirs, and theirs His (2 Thessalonians 1:12; Zephaniah 3:17). (2) To recompense them for sorrow (Matthew 5:4; 2 Corinthians 1:5; Psalm 126:1.;6; John 16.-20; Isaiah 61:3; Isaiah 35.). (3) That they may be large in duty. Sorrow is a kinder straightening the heart (2 Corinthians 2:4). But holy joy dilates the heart, and consequently doth not only make it fit for duty, but it makes it to exceed in every service that is suitable to joy. 3. Use. Is it so that Jesus Christ would have His people full of holy joy? (1) Then it serves to censure those who seek to hinder the joy of Christ's people, and to embitter all their comfort with spiteful molestations. (2) Then it taxes those who waste away themselves in heaviness and discontent. Consider what the will of Christ is, and let Him have His will in this business; use all means possible to have your hearts brimfull of holy joy. (a) Be studious in the Word of Christ (Psalm 19:8; Romans 15:4). (b) Employ your serious thoughts upon that delicious place where there is fulness of all joy and pleasures for evermore (Romans 4:4). (3) Take heed that neither sin nor Satan steal away this jewel from you, which is the legacy that Christ bequeathed you when He was even about to leave this world. But first be sure the joy you have be Christ's joy, the joy which He works by His Spirit (Galatians 5:22); so there is another kind that is a fruit and effect of the flesh (James 4:16). III. THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF HIS INTERCESSION FOR THEM IS ONE ESPECIAL MEANS TO FILL THEM FULL OF THIS JOY. It is a means to comfort them exceedingly. In reference — 1. To all the oppositions of their enemies, whether without them or within them. 2. To all the accusations that are laid against us at the bar of God's justice (1 John 2:2). 3. To the many weaknesses and imperfections of our own prayers. 4. To the defects of all our graces. 5. It assures us of His dear love to us, and His tender care of us. (G. Newton.) Parallel Verses KJV: And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. |
    |