Untitled Sermon (2)
Up to now they had been pampered, but in the future they were to face severe and hard battles. What would have become of them if they had not known that Christ, the guardian of their salvation, was in heaven? For going to the Father is nothing but being received into the heavenly glory so as to possess the highest authority. So this is offered to them as a solace and remedy for grief:
Here Christ reproves the apostles for two faults: they were too much attached to the visible presence of his flesh, and when this had been taken away they were overcome by grief (verse 6) and did not raise their eyes. The same thing happens to us, for we always restrict Christ to our senses, and then, if he does not appear as we desire, we make it a matter of despair.
It is the common fault and folly of melancholy Christians to dwell upon the dark side of the cloud, to meditate nothing but terror, and turn a deaf ear to the voice of joy and gladness. That which filled the disciples’ hearts with sorrow, and hindered the operation of the cordials Christ administered, was too great an affection to this present life. They were big with hopes of their Master’s external kingdom and glory, and that they should shine and reign with him: and now, instead of that, to hear of nothing but bonds and afflictions, this filled them with sorrow. Nothing is a greater prejudice to our joy in God than the love of the world; and the sorrow of the world, the consequence of it.