So in His great intercessory prayer for His disciples Christ
from the love of Christ—could not rob them of their God, nor of their treasure in heaven.
7. CHRIST'S PRAYER FOR Our Joy
So in His great intercessory prayer for His disciples Christ says, "And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in them" (fohn xvit. 13). He pleads what a satisfaction it would be to them to know themselves safe, and what a satisfaction it would be to Him to see them easy.
Christ earnestly deserved the fullness of the joy of His disciples; for it is His will that they should rejoice ever more. He was leaving them in tears and troubles, and yet took effectual care to fulfil their joy. When they thought their joy in Him was brought to an end, then was it advanced nearer to perfection than ever it had been, and they were fuller of it. We are here taught: (a) To found our joy in Christ. It is my joy—joy of my giving, or, rather, joy that I am the maker of. Christ is a Christian's joy, his chief joy. Joy in the world is withering with it; joy in Christ is everlasting, like Him.
(6) To build up our joy with diligence. For this is the duty as well as the privilege of all true believers. No part of the Christian hope is pressed upon us more earnestly (Phil. iii. 1, iv. 4).
(c) To atm at the perfection of this joy, that we may have it fulfilled in us, for this is what Christ would have.
For these purposes Christ solemnly committed His disciples to His Father's care and keeping, and took them for witnesses that He did so. "These things I speak in the world", while I am yet with them in the world. His intercession in heaven for their preservation would have been as effectual in itself; but saying this in the world would be a greater satisfaction and encouragement to them and would enable them to rejoice in tribulation. Christ has not only treasured up comforts for His people in providing for their future welfare but has given out comforts to them and said that which will be for their present satisfaction. He condescended in the presence of His disciples to publish His last will and testament, and (which many a testator is shy of) lets them know what legacies He had left them, and how well they were secured, that they might have strong consolation. Christ's intercession for us is enough to