ought the long-expected time had arrived when He would
manifest Himself to the world as the Messiah. "This is the beginning
of the Messianic reign," said each apostle in his secret heart, as the
great procession passed over the shoulder of Olivet; and each began to
wonder what special post would be allotted to him in the new empire
that seemed so close at hand. These nascent hopes, however, had been
rudely dissipated by our Lord's declaration that the world was to see
Him no more, accompanied by the promise, "But ye see Me."

The apostles therefore were inclined to think that in some special form
the manifestations of His grace and glory would be confined to them.
Hence Jude's question, "What is come to pass, Master, that Thou wilt
manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" Jesus answered in
effect, "Think not that thou and thy fellows are to have the exclusive
right of beholding and communing with Me. What I offer to you is open
to all who believe, love, and obey. The gate which I throw open shall
stand wide for all who choose to enter. The veil shall be rent, that
any who fulfill the spiritual conditions may see the light, and hear
the voice, and stand in the inner court. If a _man_ love Me . . ."
Note those emphatic words, "a man,"--any man; thou and I.

I. THE DIVINE IMMANENCE.--"We will make our abode." The word "abode"
is here a translation of the Greek word which is rendered "mansions" in
a former part of this chapter. "We will make our _mansion_ with Him."
God is willing to become the mansion of the soul that believes in
Christ, but asks in return that such a one should prepare a
guest-chamber, and become a mansion in which He may dwell. As He
steals with noiseless tread into the loving, believing heart, I hear
Him say, "This is My rest forever; here will I dwell, for I have
desired it."

(1) _It is the Immanence of the Father._--Consider who this is of whom
the Saviour speaks. The infinite God! Time with all its ages is but
the flash of a moment in His eternity! Space, "beyond the soar of
angel wings," is but a corner in His dwelling-place; matter, with its
ponderous mass, but the light dust that will not affect the level of
the scale! The mighty sun, which is the centre of all worlds, but a
mote floating in the beam of His being! All the gathered wisdom of
man, stored in the libraries of the world, but as a glow-worm's spark
compared with the meridian light of His wisdom! O souls of