"It Is Expedient For You"           

John 16:7

 

     Our Lord had just told his disciples that he must suffer, die, rise from the dead and ascend back to his Father in heaven, that there he would prepare a place for them, and that at the time appointed he would come again to receive them unto himself. Then he assured them that upon his ascension back into heaven he would send the Comforter,the Holy Spirit,to minister to them.

     These things are all recorded in John 13, 14, and 15. They should have flooded the disciples' hearts with joy. The disciples should have been full of questions about these great, mysterious and wonderful things. In- stead,sorrow filled their hearts. Then the Savior spoke to quieten their fears and show them the necessity of his going away, his death upon the cross, resurrection, ascension and heavenly exaltation.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."

     Pause a moment and learn a lesson - Those things that appear to be most grievous in their experience are often most expedient in their end. Thank God that he does not deal with us according to the folly of our own wills, but graciously gives us what he knows is good for us!

     An expedience is that which is, being constrained by necessity,the best course to follow.Our Lord,in this place, is essentially saying, "It is both necessary and good for you that I should suffer, die, rise from the dead, and go back to my Father in heaven."

     The expedience should be obvious - Had he not gone away, had he not suffered and died as our Substitute upon the cursed tree and ascended back to heaven, we could not have been saved. (1.) He could not have finished the work which he had come to do (Heb. 10:5-10). (2.) God could not be just and yet justify them that believe (Rom. 3:24-26). (3.) There would have been no atonement for sin (Heb. 9:22). (4.) We could never have obtained the forgiveness of sin, reconciliation to God, peace, pardon and righteousness (Col. 1:20-22). (5.) We would have no Forerunner, High Priest and Advocate in heaven (I John 2:1-2). (6.) There would have been no way of access to God for guilty sinners (Heb. 10:19). (7.) Christ could never have saved his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21).

 

Don Fortner