1. How did the Son of God come into the world?
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law…” Gal. 4:4.
Christ existed before he was sent to this earth as the Son of God in heaven, but for our redemption, as a part of the great plan of salvation, he was born of a woman and placed under the law that men are governed by.
2. What kind of flesh did he wear upon himself?
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh…” Rom. 8:3.
The Law of God is perfect and it is a faithful reprover of sin – it points men where they have transgressed the divine requirements. But in and of itself the Law does not have the power to save. For this reason, God sent his Son to give men a perfect example of the fulfillment of the Law of God and tread the pathway for them to follow. In his blameless, sinless life as a man, Christ proved that man can indeed keep the Law of God through faith and be strengthened by the power of God to obey his perfect will.
3. Why did he appear at that time in human flesh?
“For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us…” 1 John 1:2.
Jesus came in our human flesh to reveal to us the Father – to show us his goodness, his benevolence and his infinite love towards us, that our hearts might be won to him and redeemed for eternal life.
4. What new connection was revealed through this in the world?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:1, 14.
A ladder was placed between heaven and earth, just as in Jacob’s dream, and this ladder is Jesus Christ. He came to connect heaven to our dark world and restore the communion with the Father that we lost. By his human nature, he embraced humanity, and by his divine nature, he got hold of the Infinite One on his eternal throne. Thus he reunited man and his God, through his blood, making a propitiation for our sin in breaking the great moral standard of righteousness – the holy Law of God. In this way, he made it possible for us to become sons of God and co-heirs with Christ of the heavenly things.
5. Whose presence was revealed to men?
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matt. 1:23.
The presence of God was brought to this earth, and his power was made manifest in the life of Christ.
6. What promise did Jesus give to his disciples?
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matt. 28:20.
Christ promised them that we would never leave them, that even after he would ascend, he would continue being with them by His gracious Spirit.
7. Whom did the Father desire to send as his successor?
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever…” John 14:16.
The Father was to send the Comforter which would be with the disciples after ascension, and to all those who would believe in the ages to the end of the world.
8. Who was to be the comforter according to his own explanation?
“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.” “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:26, 17.
The Comforter is the Spirit of Truth. Of this Spirit, the disciples were told that he “dwelleth with you”, at the time of speaking. And that he “shall be in you”, after the ascension. The one who was dwelling with them at that time was Jesus. And Jesus gave them the solemn promise that he would not leave them comfortless, but that he would come again, as their comforter, to be with them. This happened at Pentecost when Jesus poured out his Spirit on the disciples and gave them the power to preach the gospel mightily.
9. What did the coming of the Comforter mean to them?
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:18.
The coming of the Comforter would bring them the personal presence of Jesus – their loving Friend whom they so much desired to have with them. They were so reluctant to have him go, but after he would be glorified in heaven and send his Spirit to them, and thus he would be even closer to them, even in them, by the indwelling of his divine Spirit.
10. How was their communion with Christ to be formed?
“Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” John 14:19.
Through his life of intercession in heaven as our high priest before the Father, Christ makes it possible for us to be reconciled with God and cleansed from our unrighteousness. And while this work was going on in heaven on their behalf, they were to see him by faith, by partaking of his Spirit here on earth.
11. What threefold union is created in this way?
“At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” John 14:20.
By Christ’s ministration in the sanctuary above, we are connected with the Father, and we are made subjects of the heavenly kingdom. Furthermore, Jesus is not only to live with us, but also to live in us by his Spirit, and thus conform us fully to his perfect will. This is how the union of the divine and human is formed and man is made a partaker of the divine life.
12. Who desires to manifest himself to the believer individually?
“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.” John 14:21.
Christ is to be made manifest to us. And he has promised that he will manifest himself to the believer individually, to reveal himself to the believer, as a close Friend talks with his friend and communes with him personally. Thus we would have our unique experience with Christ, different than that of any other, and we would be able to sing the song of our deliverance that no other would be able to sing.
13. What would be the difference between this manifestation of Christ and his first coming?
“Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” John 14:22.
When Christ came to this earth the first time, people were able to see him, in his human body. After his ascension, however, he would be with his disciples in another way (and thus he calls it “another comforter”), and that is by his Spirit. And why did he call his own Spirit “another comforter”? Because what the disciples needed most at the time of parting, was comfort and assurance that they would not be left alone. And this is what Jesus promised to give them – the very thing they needed most. Thus he was that other comforter, which would be a help to them in times of distress and anguish and give them present hope, connecting them to their Savior who was ministering above on behalf of them.
14. What inward presence are those who love Christ to sustain?
“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.” John 14:23.
The inward presence of the Father and the Son is to be with the believer, thus making their abode with him. They are to dwell in the Christian, and their love would overflow and be a stream of benevolence in their lives to all with whom they would come in contact.
15. What experience does Christ desire for all believers?
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” John 17:20, 21.
Christ desires that we would be in Them – the Father and the Son, that we may be a witness to all nations of the transforming power of the gospel in the lives of men.
16. What guarantees that this experience can be ours individually?
“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3.
That which the apostles had seen and heard – the living words of Jesus – testify that the believers’ fellowship is with the Father and his Son.
17. What does the earthly life of Christ offer to us?
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps…” 1 Peter 2:21.
The earthly life of Christ offers us a perfect example that we are to follow. Thus we are told that we are to walk in his footsteps. He trod the thorny pathway before us, and he evidenced in his life that it is possible to live without sin, in complete obedience to the Law of God. And he is to be our Pattern, in obedience and service, until we are finally reunited to share his glory.
18. How is Christ going to become our strength to follow his example?
“I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.
“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Cor. 1:23, 24.
Christ is the power of God to those who believe. And by living in his follower, he imparts that strength that is needed to overcome sin and live by faith in him.
19. What are we to cling to, through this means?
“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:6.
We are to cling to Christ, our only hope of reconciliation to God and salvation. He is the vine that would give us the nourishment to be able to live and bear fruit. Of ourselves, we can do nothing. But if we abide in him, as the branch abides in the vain, we will bear much fruit.
20. Who lives in us?
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” 2 Cor. 6:16.
God and Christ are to dwell in us. God is to be our God, taking the first place in our honor and affection, and Christ is to be our personal Savior, our close Friend, and Helper in our daily lives.
21. Whom do we walk in?
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him…” Col. 2:6.
We are to walk in Jesus, to retreat from our daily duties and seek him, to talk to him in prayer, to pour out our hearts to him, sharing with him our sorrows and trials, and dwelling on his example of self-sacrifice. Thus we will be transformed into his likeness, and be made partakers of his nature. And this union of the human and the divine will be seen outwardly in our lives, as we will follow in his footsteps and manifest his benevolent qualities. We will be made one with him, and whenever people will look at us, they will see Jesus in us.
Notes:
1. The Comforter
When examining Christ’s statements in John Chapter 14, it is important to take note of the words “I” and “Me”. Thus his statement “I will come to you” in verse 18 is his own explanation of verse 16, regarding the promise about the coming of the Comforter. His words, “I in you” (verse 20) are the explanation of his statements regarding the Comforter in verse 17. Christ’s expression “You see me” in verse 18 is fulfilled when he manifests himself through his spirit – in verse 21.
2. Inward communion. In his human nature, Christ was limited and he could not be in every place personally. Therefore it was altogether for the good of his disciples that he should go to the Father and send his Spirit to be with his disciples on the earth.
3. The promised presence of the Comforter
In all ages and all places, in all difficulties and sorrows, when the prospects of the future are gloomy and discouraging when we feel alone, the Comforter is sent to us in response to the prayer of faith. Our situation may be separating us from any earthly joy, but no circumstance can separate us from the heavenly Comforter. Wherever we live, wherever we may go, Christ’s Spirit is constantly by our side, to help us, strengthen us, and encourage us.