So Jesus came to
them. But many would not believe he was the son of God, for they
knew God so little that they did not see how like he was to his
Father. Others, who were more like God themselves, and so knew God
better, did think him the son of God, though they were not pleased
that he did not make more show. His object was, not to rule over
them, but to make them know, and trust, and obey his Father, who was
everything to him. Now when anyone died, his friends were so
miserable over him that they hardly thought about God, and took no
comfort from him. They said the dead man would rise again at the
last day, but that was so far off, the dead was gone to such a
distance, that they did not care for that. Jesus wanted to make them
know and feel that the dead were alive all the time, and could not
be far away, seeing they were all with God in whom we live; that
they had not lost them though they could not see them, for they were
quite within his reach--as much so as ever; that they were just as
safe with, and as well looked after by his father and their father,
as they had ever been in all their lives. It was no doubt a
dreadful-looking thing to have them put in a hole, and waste away to
dust, but they were not therefore gone out--they were only gone in!
To teach them all this he did not say much, but just called one or
two of them back for a while.
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