"PART WITH ME" (John 13:8).

(Continued from page 162.)

Another* has defined fellowship as "Common thoughts together; common feelings, affections, objects; one heart, one mind;" and in our previous paper we have seen how blessed and complete is the believer's association with the Lord in death and resurrection. * J. N. D.*

For the proof of the nature and character of divine fellowship it would be difficult to turn to a more expressive portion than from the 13th to the end of the 17th chapter of John. In verse 8 of chapter 13 the Lord expresses the necessity of His priestly service, that His own might be kept in unclouded communion with Himself. To have "part with Him" where He was going, there must be the constant removal of defilement contracted in passing through this sinful world. This service of love, carried on by the "washing of water by the Word" (Eph. 5:26), was symbolized when the Lord stooped to
wash His disciples' feet. Peter only saw in that lovely, lowly service, the Lord's self-abnegation; hence his objection, "Thou shalt never wash my feet;" but when the Lord replied, "If I wash thee not thou hast no part with Me," Peter, in ignorant affection said, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands, and my head." There was indeed, and is, necessity for the latter ere the former can be known. But Peter (and every believer since that day) had been already "washed all over," viz., cleansed from iniquity; and the love that served past need remains unchanged to the end (ch. 13:1), ensuing to the objects of that love, the continuous service of the Lord as our High Priest.

Beautifully illustrative of Christian communion was John's position at the supper table:"Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples whom Jesus loved" (ver. 23). Communion is the privilege of every Christian, but it is the "longing soul" that is satisfied, and the "hungry" are filled with good things (Ps. 107:9). It is in the conscious knowledge of the greatness of this love that the heart is happy, at rest, and at home in His company, knowing it is His delight to have us there. Thus, with confidence the head can lean on Jesus' breast in the enjoyment of His unfathomable grace.

Wonderful as this is, it is by no means all; for in the confidence that love begets, the soul is led on to understand the Father's appreciation of, and delight in, the Son:"The Father loveth the Son," and that Son is "the only begotten One in the bosom of the Father," and has declared Him.

Thus, as we appropriate the place the Lord would have us take, resting on His bosom, we learn the Father's love and grace, and begin to taste what soon we shall more perfectly know in communion with the Lord, the delight of the Father in the Son, and the Son's delight in the Father.

Words that are unexplainable in any other connection will find their solution in this way-words grouped together in these chapters (13 to 17). In verse 31 (ch. 13), for instance, the Lord says:"Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; and if God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him." What a wonderful circle of eternal glory is here! What depth of divine love! By the Spirit we are introduced into this communion, to understand the perfect oneness existing between God the Father, in all that He is, and the Son of Man who here on earth could say that God had been glorified in Him; and then as a blessed consequence, "God shall also glorify Him in Himself, and shall straightway glorify Him." This surely is not only by investiture of His acquired rights and titles as "Son of Man," but beyond all official glory, whether in heaven or earth, there assuredly lay that which was ever His personally. Hence, "God shall glorify Him in Himself."

That wonderful utterance of the 17th chapter flows out of these eternal counsels:"And now, Father, glorify Me with thine own self, with the glory I had with Thee, before the world was," and this expressed desire is founded on the attendant fact, "I have glorified Thee on the earth, I have finished the work Thou gavest Me to do."

Such was this glorious Person, who is before us in this wonderful group of chapters which gives us the extent and meaning of "Part with Me." Into this circle of divine counsels and affections we are led by the Holy Spirit, as witnesses and sharers in the joy of Christ, our souls finding rest and satisfaction in being there, where He is.

Another side of this "Part with Me," is disclosed when one of the twelve asked, "How is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us and not unto the world?" His answer was, "If a man love Me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Thus this wonderful fellowship in life with the Father and the Son is complete, and though not manifested to the world, is real and vital.

Added to all this personal glory, the Lord Jesus said to them, when going away, "All things that the Father hath are mine," and then tells them of the coming of the Spirit and His mission:"He shall take of mine, and show it unto you."

Are we able to bear these divine communications? Of ourselves surely we could have no competency, but Scripture assures us we can both comprehend and enjoy them:"God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God;" and again, blessed and wonderful fact, "We have received the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."

As objects of the Father's heart, in whom the Son finds His delight, it is ours to have "part with Christ" in all that He has entered into, and what is yet to be manifested. By the ministrations of His grace, and the walk of the Holy Spirit, this wonderful link with heaven is manifested, and intercourse by faith enjoyed between the Father and the Son and His people here on earth, though not of the world. It is thus He can say, "Ye in Me and I in you." How close the bond, how sweet the fellowship! Into this illimitable circle of divine love, we have been introduced; the soul is maintained in it by the "Spirit's power, and established in the intelligence of what is really eternal life. "This is life eternal, that they may know Thee, the only true God (the Father), and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." J. W. H. N.

(To be continued, D.V.)
"WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME"