THE WORLD SAW HIM NO MORE -- Monday:
"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." (John 14:19-20)
The evening of our Lord's betrayal was filled with significant things for the disciples. The evening began with Jesus washing their feet, showing them the role and value of washing one another's feet – helping to refresh and comfort one another (John 13:1-16). He revealed to them that He was going away (13:33). He gave them a "new commandment," breathing new life into the mandate to love one another (13:34-35). Jesus revealed that Peter would deny Him that very night (13:38). He provided a summary of what he was going to do – go away, prepare a place for them, and return to receive them to Himself (14:1-3). He unveiled His purpose to bring them to God, and how this could not be accomplished without Him (14:6).
Our Lord made known how the Holy Spirit would come to them, and what He would do (14:16-18; 15:26; 16:8-11,13-14). With firmness, yet gentleness, He spoke to them of abiding in Him and bearing fruit (15:1-8). The disciples heard how they were coming into a new era – they would no longer be called servants, but friends (15:15). In that capacity, the Lord would share with them the secrets of the Father, and they would become productive, yielding "much fruit" to the glory of the Father (15:16). What marvelous things occurred during that momentous evening.
Ponder what the Lord can unveil in a brief period of time! Behold what He showed His disciples in that single evening, and how it yielded a joyful crop throughout the remainder of their lives. Think how we are still gleaning from that field. What an abundance of spiritual seed was sown that night. Sometime later, the two on the road to Emmaus would receive a similar outpouring in a single evening (Lk 24:13-32). And this was all BEFORE Jesus was exalted to the right hand of God! What kind of gracious outpourings can be received by believers today, now that Jesus has been made "both Lord and Christ?" It is certainly worth pondering.
During that evening, the Lord revealed the world would not see Him again: "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more." The death and burial of Christ were the last exposure of Jesus to the world. The next one will be when He comes again, and "every eye shall see Him" (Rev 1:7). Jesus did appear to people after He rose again, but ONLY to His disciples, "not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God" (Acts 10:41). On one occasion, He even appeared to over five hundred people at once – but they were all "brethren" (1 Cor 15:6). The world's exposure to Jesus ended when He was laid in the tomb. However, when He rose from the dead, it began a time of revelation to His people.
We should not marvel if the world is unable to understand the things of God, salvation, or the Person of Christ. He has been withdrawn from their view, and thus they cannot take hold of Him. Only faith can grasp Him now, but it can surely do that, and with great effectiveness.
In fact, we can see more of, and hear more from, the Lord Jesus now, than the disciples could when He "dwelt among" them. More is to be experienced now that Jesus has ascended into heaven. More is to be comprehended than ever was possible before. Jesus did not end by saying the world would see Him no more. He added, "but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also." How much of Jesus have YOU seen?
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, open my eyes that I may not only behold wondrous things in Your law, but that I may see You more clearly through the Son.