Homilist John 13:1-19 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world to the Father… I. THE EXISTING IGNORANCE OF THE GOOD. There is much that the best man does not know. 1. In nature. How little does the most scientific man know of the substances, lives, laws, operations, extent of the universe. How deeply did Newton feel his ignorance. 2. In moral government. The reasons for the introduction of sin, the suffering of innocence, the prosperity of the wicked, the tardy march of Christianity, are wrapt in obscurity. 3. The Divine revelation. What Peter said of Paul's epistles we feel to be true of the whole book — difficulties we cannot remove, doctrines that transcend our intelligence. 4. In his own experience. Why should he be dealt with as he is? Why such alternations of joy and sorrow, friendship and bereavement, health and sickness? Why such conflicting elements in his nature? II. THE APPROACHING KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOOD. Christ's words imply that there is a hereafter, and that this hereafter will be a sphere of knowledge. 1. There will be sufficient time for knowing. What ages of study await us! 2. Sufficient facilities for knowing. All existing obstructions removed, and the immeasurable field of truth wide open under a never clouded or setting sun. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. |
    |