Neill: have we not the same promise?

Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Meditation:
    Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
    —John 16:19-22 (NIV)
Quotation:
    It was on the last night of His life, when His enemies were all around Him, that He spoke to His disciples of the joy that no man taketh away. Read again the story of His Passion: Jesus is seen throughout as calm, quiet, and confident. His last word is, “Father, into Thy hands I commit my spirit.” Someone may say, “Yes, but He knew that He was going to rise from the dead.” But have we not the same promise for ourselves? [Continued tomorrow]
    ... Stephen Neill (1900-1984), The Christian Character, London: Lutterworth Press, 1955, p. 33 (see the book)
    See also John 16:19-22; Luke 23:46; John 5:25; 6:40; 16:33; 1 Cor. 6:14; Phil. 3:10-11; 1 Thess. 4:14-16; 2 Tim. 1:10; Heb. 12:2
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your people trust Your promise. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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