‘No Longer In The World’

’No Longer In The World’

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee.  Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

John 17:11

Christ had to come into the world in order to accomplish the redemptive purpose of God.  In order for the remainder of the redemptive purpose of God to come to pass, Christ had to leave the world.  As Christ continues His High Priestly Prayer, He articulates the fact that He will soon depart.  In our text for today, He says, ‘Now, I am no longer in the world.’  Within twenty-four hours of the time that He uttered these words, He would be in the tomb. After the appointed time, He would rise again and within days ascend to His Father.  By the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit would fill the disciples with such power that they would go forth over the whole of the ancient world teaching and preaching Jesus Christ.  Christ said that it was to our advantage that He go away.  He said, ‘Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away:  for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.’ Perhaps, we feel at times that we have missed out because of where we have landed in the timeline of history.  Perhaps, we feel as if our faith would be greater or our deeds more courageous if we could just have seen Christ.  Christ knows what will most successfully accomplish His purpose.  He has not left us comfortless, but sent the Holy Spirit to take the things of Christ and to show them unto us.  Today, let us rejoice that the Third Person of the Trinity is here to ever show us more of Christ, Who is ‘no longer in the world.’

Our Gracious Master and Our God,
we praise You, that You have sent unto us,
the promised Holy Ghost.
We rejoice that, in Your absence,
He continues to do His Christ-Revealing Work,
that we may know more of You.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning