Quiet Talks by Samuel Dickey: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks on Life After Death: 20. The Betrayal-Night Talk

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

Quiet Talks by Samuel Dickey: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks on Life After Death: 20. The Betrayal-Night Talk



TOPIC: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks on Life After Death (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 20. The Betrayal-Night Talk

Other Subjects in this Topic:

The Betrayal-Night Talk

The Betrayal-night talk, between Jesus and the inner circle, has some clear explicit bits (John 13-17). Jesus' intimate, John, says plainly that Jesus knew that the time had now come for him to leave this world and go back up home to the father (Joh_13:1).

After Judas his gone out, in spite of the utmost to keep him in, Jesus talks about His Father's house, evidently up in another world. He was going there now soon. But in this going away from them He was thinking and planning about them. He was going on their behalf. He was going so as to get a place ready for them to come to.

Then He would come back and take them up with Himself. And so they would all be together again up in the Father's house, gathered about the old home fireside. Could there be a simpler, more realistic picture of life after death, the real life after the abnormal break of death (Joh_14:1-3).

Then when things aren't quite plain to their groping minds he goes on to explain that He's made an arrangement for the in-between time before this plan had worked out. He would send some One else, like Himself, who-would come and stay with them. And He, this coming One, would be everything He Himself had been to them, and immensely more. It is striking that the Holy Spirit here in us, and with us, is clearest evidence about this whole question we are talking over (Joh_14:16-26).

That quiet peace in your heart, that hunger to be pure, that prayer tug, all this sort of thing tells of the Spirit's presence within. And it tells too, that that loved one gone from us here, is now up in His presence, face to face, in full enjoyment of the real, griefless life up there.

And then the great simple talk with the Father under the full mellow moon — could any thing make the other world, the reality of the Father, and of things up there, could any thing make these stand out more realistically and dramatically, and satisfyingly (John 17)?

The words to the poor thief, hanging by Jesus' side on Calvary, must have come with a peculiar comfort to that man (Luk_23:39-43). "Today, thou shalt be with me in Paradise" The word Paradise clearly stands for some desirable blissful place. Jesus Himself would go there at His death.

He would go there at once on leaving the earth. The thief would be with Him. They would be alive, and together in this place of enjoyment. This man would be with Jesus because of his attitude toward Jesus, his touch of heart with Him.

That attitude was one of recognition of Jesus as "Lord." There was acceptance of Him as Master. This was a radical change from his early life. It was a penitential change. The prayerful mood was in control now. And there was positive certainty that it would be so "thou shalt."

The Love Chapter of First Corinthians has a bit of contrast between our understanding of things now, and as it will be at some future time (1Co_13:9-12 paraphrased). There is a time coming when prophecy shall be done away, for it will all have been fulfilled; speaking in various tongues shall cease, for there will be one tongue common to all; and the pain-

ful acquiring of knowledge shall be a thing past because we shall know fully, and learn easily. At present we see as something is reflected in a piece of polished steel, or in a mirror, indistinctly, as though through a cloud. But then face-to-face, that is my face, your face, to Jesus' face (Compare Exo_33:11). Now we know only in part; but then we shall know fully even as now we are fully known. When that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away, or swallowed up, the less in the greater, the thin line of light in the noon shining.