John 14:18-20

1. We learn that Christ’s second coming is meant to be the special comfort of believers.
2. We learn that Christ’s life secures the life of His believing people.
3. We learn that full and perfect knowledge of divine things will never be attained by believers until the second advent.

"Let us settle it in our minds that all believers are comparatively orphans and children in their minority, until the second advent. Our best things are yet to come. Faith has yet to be exchanged for sight and hope for certain."

"Each child of God is invisibly linked to the throne of the Rock of Ages. When that throne can be shaken and not till then, we may despair. But Christ lives and we will live also."

"Raised from the dead, freed from the darkness of this world, no longer tempted by the devil and tried by the flesh, believers will see as they have been seen and know as they have been known. We will have light enough one day. What we do not know now, we will know then."

Questions:

1. Jesus promises that he will come for His people. Ryle argues this is referring not just to the 12 apostles but for all believers at all times. The question before us today, as we hear this afresh, is: are we looking forward to the return of Christ? Have we put this hope before us, right next to the atoning death and intercession of Christ?
2. Jesus declares that because He lives, we also, who are united to Him, live. This, Ryle tells us, should bring great comfort to the Christian! Christ Jesus has been raised and all Christians are united to Him are raised to newness of life and will be finally raised to be with Him forever. And this cannot change because Christ cannot change! Does this not give you hope today? Can we say this is the source of our strength for today and hope for tomorrow?
3. Jesus declares that at His second coming we will know the that He is in the Father, us in Him, and Him in us. This, as Ryle says, are mysterious truths now and there is much ignorance about them. He also ties this to the sad divisions within the church because as we see in part, we also misunderstand one another. Does that not excite you that all will be clear one day? Does that not produce in us a humility as we disagree with brothers and sisters on issues that have divided true Christians over the years?