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Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
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Matthew Henry |
J O H N.
CHAP. XII.
It was a melancholy account which we had in the close of the foregoing
chapter of the dishonour done to our Lord Jesus, when the scribes and
Pharisees proclaimed him a traitor to their church, and put upon him
all the marks of ignominy they could: but the story of this chapter
balances that, by giving us an account of the honour done to the
Redeemer, notwithstanding all that reproach thrown upon him. Thus the
one was set over against the other. Let us see what honours were heaped
on the head of the Lord Jesus, even in the depths of his humiliation.
I. Mary did him honour, by anointing his feet at the supper in Bethany,
II. The common people did him honour, with their acclamations of joy,
when he rode in triumph into Jerusalem,
III. The Greeks did him honour, by enquiring after him with a longing
desire to see him,
IV. God the Father did him honour, by a voice from heaven, bearing
testimony to him,
V. He had honour done him by the Old Testament prophets, who foretold
the infidelity of those that heard the report of him,
VI. He had honour done him by some of the chief rulers, whose
consciences witnessed for him, though they had not courage to own it,
VII. He claimed honour to himself, by asserting his divine mission, and
the account he gave of his errand into the world,
| Mary Anoints Christ’s Feet; Hypocrisy of Judas; Indignation of the Chief Priests. |
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1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany,
where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the
dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus
was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly,
and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair:
and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s
son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and
given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he
was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying
hath she kept this.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not
always.
9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and
they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see
Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus
also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away,
and believed on Jesus.
In these verses we have,
I. The kind visit our Lord Jesus paid to his friends at Bethany,
v. 1.
He came up out of the country, six days before the passover, and
took up at Bethany, a town which, according to the computation of our
metropolis, lay so near Jerusalem as to be within the bills of
mortality. He lodged here with his friend Lazarus, whom he had lately
raised from the dead. His coming to Bethany now may be
considered,
1. As a preface to the passover he intended to celebrate, to which
reference is made in assigning the date of his coming: Six days
before the passover. Devout men set time apart before, to prepare
themselves for that solemnity, and thus it became our Lord Jesus to
fulfil all righteousness. Thus he has set us an example of
solemn self-sequestration, before the solemnities of the gospel
passover; let us hear the voice crying, Prepare ye the way of the
Lord.
2. As a voluntary exposing of himself to the fury of his enemies; now
that his hour was at hand he came within their reach, and freely
offered himself to them, though he had shown them how easily he could
evade all their snares. Note,
(1.) Our Lord Jesus was voluntary in his sufferings; his life was not
forced from him, but resigned: Lo, I come. As the
strength of his persecutors could not overpower him, so their subtlety
could not surprise him, but he died because he would.
(2.) As there is a time when we are allowed to shift for our own
preservation, so there is a time when we are called to hazard our lives
in the cause of God, as St. Paul, when he went bound in the Spirit
to Jerusalem.
3. As an instance of his kindness to his friends at Bethany, whom he
loved, and from whom he was shortly to be taken away. This was a
farewell visit; he came to take leave of them, and to leave with them
words of comfort against the day of trial that was approaching. Note,
Though Christ depart for a time from his people, he will give them
intimations that he departs in love, and not in anger. Bethany is here
described to be the town where Lazarus was, whom he raised from the
dead. The miracle wrought here put a new honour upon the place, and
made it remarkable. Christ came hither to observe what improvement was
made of this miracle; for where Christ works wonders, and shows signal
favours, he looks after them, to see whether the intention of them be
answered. Where he has sown plentifully, he observes whether it comes
up again.
II. The kind entertainment which his friends there gave him:
They made him a supper
(v. 2),
a great supper, a feast. It is queried whether this was the same with
that which is recorded,
&c., in the house of Simon. Most commentators think it was; for the
substance of the story and many of the circumstances agree; but that
comes in after what was said two days before the passover,
whereas this was done six days before; nor is it likely that
Martha should serve in any house but her own; and therefore I incline
with Dr. Lightfoot to think them different: that in Matthew on the
third day of the passover week, but this the seventh day of the week
before, being the Jewish sabbath, the night before he rode in triumph
into Jerusalem; that in the house of Simon; this of Lazarus. These two
being the most public and solemn entertainments given him in Bethany,
Mary probably graced them both with this token of her respect;
and what she left of her ointment this first time, when she
spent but a pound of it
(v. 3),
she used that second time, when she poured it all out,
Mark xiv. 3.
Let us see the account of this entertainment.
1. They made him a supper; for with them, ordinarily, supper was
the best meal. This they did in token of their respect and gratitude,
for a feast is made for friendship; and that they might have an
opportunity of free and pleasant conversation with him, for a feast is
made for fellowship. Perhaps it is in allusion to this and the
like entertainments given to Christ in the days of his flesh that he
promises, to such as open the door of their hearts to him, that he will
sup with them,
Rev. iii. 20.
2. Martha served; she herself waited at table, in token of her
great respect to the Master. Though a person of some quality, she did
not think it below her to serve, when Christ sat at meat; nor
should we think it a dishonour or disparagement to us to stoop to any
service whereby Christ may be honoured. Christ had formerly reproved
Martha for being troubled with much serving. But she did not
therefore leave off serving, as some, who, when they are reproved for
one extreme, peevishly run into another; no, still she served;
not as then at a distance, but within hearing of Christ’s
gracious words, reckoning those happy who, as the queen of Sheba said
concerning Solomon’s servants, stood continually before him, to hear
his wisdom; better be a waiter at Christ’s table than a
guest at the table of a prince.
3. Lazarus was one of those that sat at meat. It proved the
truth of his resurrection, as it did of Christ’s, that there were those
who did eat and drink with him,
Acts x. 41.
Lazarus did not retire into a wilderness after his resurrection,
as if, when he had made a visit to the other world, he must ever after
be a hermit in this; no, he conversed familiarly with people, as others
did. He sat at meat, as a monument of the miracle Christ had
wrought. Those whom Christ has raised up to a spiritual life are
made to sit together with him. See
III. The particular respect which Mary showed him, above the rest, in
anointing his feet with sweet ointment,
v. 3.
She had a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, which
probably she had by her for her own use; but the death and resurrection
of her brother had quite weaned her from the use of all such things,
and with this she anointed the feet of Jesus, and, as a further
token of her reverence for him and negligence of herself, she wiped
them with her hair, and this was taken notice of by all that were
present, for the house was filled with the odour of the
ointment. See
1. Doubtless she intended this as a token of her love to Christ, who
had given real tokens of his love to her and her family; and thus she
studies what she shall render. Now by this her love to Christ appears
to have been,
(1.) A generous love; so far from sparing necessary charges in
his service, she is as ingenious to create an occasion of
expense in religion as most are to avoid it. If she had any thing more
valuable than another, that must be brought out for the honour of
Christ. Note, Those who love Christ truly love him so much better than
this world as to be willing to lay out the best they have for him.
(2.) A condescending love; she not only bestowed her ointment
upon Christ, but with her own hands poured it upon him, which she might
have ordered one of her servants to have done; nay, she did not, as
usual, anoint his head with it, but his feet. True love,
as it does not spare charges, so it does not spare pains, in honouring
Christ. Considering what Christ has done and suffered for us, we are
very ungrateful if we think any service too hard to do, or too mean to
stoop to, whereby he may really be glorified.
(3.) A believing love; there was faith working by this love,
faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed, who, being
both priest and king, was anointed as Aaron and David were. Note,
God’s Anointed should be our Anointed. Has God poured on
him the oil of gladness above his fellows? Let us pour on him the
ointment of our best affections above all competitors. By consenting to
Christ as our king, we must comply with God’s designs,
appointing him our head whom he has appointed,
2. The filling of the house with the pleasant odour of the
ointment may intimate to us,
(1.) That those who entertain Christ in their hearts and houses bring a
sweet odour into them; Christ’s presence brings with it an ointment and
perfume which rejoice the heart.
(2.) Honours done to Christ are comforts to all his friends and
followers; they are to God and good men an offering of a
sweet-smelling savour.
IV. Judas’s dislike of Mary’s compliment, or token of her respect to
Christ,
where observe,
1. The person that carped at it was Judas, one of his disciples;
not one of their nature, but only one of their number. It is possible
for the worst of men to lurk under the disguise of the best profession;
and there are many who pretend to stand in relation to Christ who
really have no kindness for him. Judas was an apostle, a preacher of
the gospel, and yet one that discouraged and checked this instance of
pious affection and devotion. Note, It is sad to see the life of
religion and holy zeal frowned upon and discountenanced by such as are
bound by their office to assist and encourage it. But this was he that
should betray Christ. Note, Coldness of love to Christ, and a
secret contempt of serious piety, when they appear in professors of
religion, are sad presages of a final apostasy. Hypocrites, by less
instances of worldliness, discover themselves to be ready for a
compliance with greater temptations.
2. The pretence with which he covered his dislike
(v. 5):
“Why was not this ointment, since it was designed for a pious
use, sold for three hundred pence” (8l. 10s. of our
money), “and given to the poor?”
(1.) Here is a foul iniquity gilded over with a specious and plausible
pretence, for Satan transforms himself into an angel of light.
(2.) Here is worldly wisdom passing a censure upon pious zeal, as
guilty of imprudence and mismanagement. Those who value themselves upon
their secular policy, and undervalue others for their serious
piety, have more in them of the spirit of Judas than they would be
thought to have.
(3.) Here is charity to the poor made a colour for opposing a piece of
piety to Christ, and secretly made a cloak for covetousness. Many
excuse themselves from laying out in charity under pretence of
laying up for charity: whereas, if the clouds be full of rain,
they will empty themselves. Judas asked, Why was it not given
to the poor? To which it is easy to answer, Because it was better
bestowed upon the Lord Jesus. Note, We must not conclude that those do
no acceptable piece of service who do not do it in our way, and just as
we would have them; as if every thing must be adjudged imprudent and
unfit which does not take its measures from us and our sentiments.
Proud men think all ill-advised who do not advise with them.
3. The detection and discovery of Judas’s hypocrisy herein,
v. 6.
Here is the evangelist’s remark upon it, by the direction of him who
searches the heart: This he said, not that he cared for the
poor, as he pretended, but because he was a thief, and had the
bag.
(1.) It did not come from a principle of charity: Not that he cared
for the poor. He had no compassion towards them, no concern for
them: what were the poor to him any further than he might serve his own
ends by being overseer of the poor? Thus some warmly contend for the
power of the church, as others for its purity, when
perhaps it may be said, Not that they care for the church; it is all
one to them whether its true interest sink or swim, but under
the pretence of this they are advancing themselves. Simeon and Levi
pretended zeal for circumcision, not that they cared for the
seal of the covenant, any more than Jehu for the Lord of hosts, when he
said, Come see my zeal.
(2.) It did come from a principle of covetousness. The truth of the
matter was, this ointment being designed for his Master, he would
rather have had it in money, to be put in the common stock with which
he was entrusted, and then he knew what to do with it. Observe,
[1.] Judas was treasurer of Christ’s household, whence some think he
was called Iscariot, the bag-bearer. First, See what
estate Jesus and his disciples had to live upon. It was but
little; they had neither farms nor merchandise, neither barns
nor storehouses, only a bag; or, as some think the word
signifies, a box, or coffer, wherein they kept just
enough for their subsistence, giving the overplus, if any were, to the
poor; this they carried about with them, wherever they went. Omnia
mea mecum porto–I carry all my property about me. This bag was
supplied by the contributions of good people, and the Master and his
disciples had all in common; let this lessen our esteem of
worldly wealth, and deaden us to the punctilios of state and ceremony,
and reconcile us to a mean and despicable way of living, if this be our
lot, that it was our Master’s lot; for our sakes he became poor.
Secondly, See who was the steward of the little they had; it
was Judas, he was purse-bearer. It was his office to receive and pay,
and we do not find that he gave any account what markets he made. He
was appointed to this office, either,
1. Because he was the least and lowest of all the disciples; it was not
Peter nor John that was made steward (though it was a place of trust
and profit), but Judas, the meanest of them. Note, Secular employments,
as they are a digression, so they are a degradation to a minister of
the gospel; see
The prime-ministers of state in Christ’s kingdom refused to be
concerned in the revenue,
2. Because he was desirous of the place. He loved in his heart to be
fingering money, and therefore had the moneybag committed to him,
either,
(1.) As a kindness, to please him, and thereby oblige him to be true to
his Master. Subjects are sometimes disaffected to the government
because disappointed of their preferment; but Judas had no cause to
complain of this; the bag he chose, and the bag he had. Or,
(2.) In judgment upon him, to punish him for his secret wickedness;
that was put into his hands which would be a snare and trap to him.
Note, Strong inclinations to sin within are often justly punished with
strong temptations to sin without. We have little reason to be fond of
the bag, or proud of it, for at the best we are but stewards of it; and
it was Judas, one of an ill character, and born to be hanged (pardon
the expression), that was steward of the bag. The prosperity of
fools destroys them.
[2.] Being trusted with the bag, he was a thief, that is, he had
a thievish disposition. The reigning love of money is
heart-theft as much as anger and revenge are
heart-murder. Or perhaps he had been really guilty of embezzling
his Master’s stores, and converting to his own use what was given to
the public stock. And some conjecture that he was now contriving to
fill his pockets, and then run away and leave his Master, having heard
him speak so much of troubles approaching, to which he could by no
means reconcile himself. Note, Those to whom the management and
disposal of public money is committed have need to be governed by
steady principles of justice and honesty, that no blot cleave to their
hands; for though some make a jest of cheating the government, or the
church, or the country, if cheating be thieving, and,
communities being more considerable than particular persons, if robbing
them be the greater sin, the guilt of theft and the portion of thieves
will be found no jesting matter. Judas, who had betrayed his trust,
soon after betrayed his Master.
V. Christ’s justification of what Mary did
(v. 7, 8):
Let her alone. Hereby he intimated his acceptance of her
kindness (though he was perfectly mortified to all the delights of
sense, yet, as it was a token of her goodwill, he signified himself
well-pleased with it), and his care that she should not be molested in
it: Pardon her, so it may be read; “excuse her this once, if it
be an error it is an error of her love.” Note, Christ would not have
those censured nor discouraged who sincerely design to please him,
though in their honest endeavours there be not all the discretion that
may be,
Though we would not do as they do, yet let them alone. For
Mary’s justification,
1. Christ puts a favourable construction upon what she did, which those
that condemned it were not aware of: Against the day of my burying
she has kept this. Or, She has reserved this for the day of my
embalming; so Dr. Hammond. “You do not grudge the ointment used for
the embalming of your dead friends, nor say that it should be sold, and
given to the poor. Now this anointing either was so intended, or
at least may be so interpreted; for the day of my burying is now
at hand, and she has anointed a body that is already as good as
dead.” Note,
(1.) Our Lord Jesus thought much and often of his own death and burial;
it would be good for us to do so too.
(2.) Providence does often so open a door of opportunity to good
Christians, and the Spirit of grace does so open their hearts, that the
expressions of their pious zeal prove to be more seasonable, and
more beautiful, than any foresight of their own could make them.
(3.) The grace of Christ puts kind comments upon the pious words and
actions of good people, and not only makes the best of what is amiss,
but makes the most of what is good.
2. He gives a sufficient answer to Judas’s objection,
v. 8.
(1.) It is so ordered in the kingdom of Providence that the poor we
have always with us, some or other that are proper objects of
charity
(Deut. xv. 11);
such there will be as long as there are in this lapsed state of mankind
so much folly and so much affliction.
(2.) It is so ordered in the kingdom of grace that the church should
not always have the bodily presence of Jesus Christ: “Me you have
not always, but only nor for a little time.” Note, We need wisdom,
when two duties come in competition, to know which to give the
preference to, which must be determined by the circumstances.
Opportunities are to be improved, and those opportunities first and
most vigorously which are likely to be of the shortest continuance, and
which we see most speedily hastening away. That good duty which may be
done at any time ought to give way to that which cannot be done
but just now.
VI. The public notice which was taken of our Lord Jesus here at this
supper in Bethany
(v. 9):
Much people of the Jews knew that he was there, for he was the
talk of the town, and they came flocking thither; the more
because he had lately absconded, and now broke out as the sun from
behind a dark cloud.
1. They came to see Jesus, whose name was very much magnified, and made
considerable by the late miracle he had wrought in raising Lazarus.
They came, not to hear him, but to gratify their curiosity with a sight
of him here at Bethany, fearing he would not appear publicly, as he
used to do, this passover. They came, not to seize him, or inform
against him, though the government had prosecuted him to an outlawry,
but to see him and show him respect. Note, There are some in whose
affections Christ will have an interest, in spite of all the attempts
of his enemies to misrepresent him. It being known where Christ was,
multitudes came to him. Note, Where the king is there is the court;
where Christ is there will the gathering of the people be,
Luke xvii. 37.
2. They came to see Lazarus and Christ together, which was a very
inviting sight. Some came for the confirmation of their faith in
Christ, to have the story perhaps from Lazarus’s own mouth. Others came
only for the gratifying of their curiosity, that they might say they
had seen a man who had been dead and buried, and yet lived again; so
that Lazarus served for a show, these holy-days, to those who,
like the Athenians, spent their time in telling and hearing new things.
Perhaps some came to put curious questions to Lazarus about the state
of the dead, to ask what news from the other world; we ourselves have
sometimes said, it may be, We would have gone a great way for one
hour’s discourse with Lazarus. But if any came on this errand it is
probable that Lazarus was silent, and gave them no account of his
voyage; at least, the scripture is silent, and gives us no account of
it; and we must not covet to be wise above what is written. But our
Lord Jesus was present, who was a much fitter person for them to apply
to than Lazarus; for if we hear not Moses and the prophets, Christ and
the apostles, if we heed not what they tell us concerning another
world, neither should we be persuaded though Lazarus rose from the
dead. We have a more sure word of prophecy.
VII. The indignation of the chief priests at the growing interest of
our Lord Jesus, and their plot to crush it
(v. 10, 11):
They consulted (or decreed) how they might put Lazarus also
to death, because that by reason of him (of what was done to
him, not of any thing he said or did) many of the Jews went away,
and believed on Jesus. Here observe,
1. How vain and unsuccessful their attempts against Christ had hitherto
been. They had done all they could to alienate the people from him, and
exasperate them against him, and yet many of the Jews, their
neighbours, their creatures, their admirers, were so overcome by the
convincing evidence of Christ’s miracles that they went away
from the interest and party of the priests, went off from obedience to
their tyranny, and believed on Jesus; and it was by reason of
Lazarus; his resurrection put life into their faith, and convinced them
that this Jesus was undoubtedly the Messiah, and had life in himself,
and power to give life. This miracle confirmed them in the belief of
his other miracles, which they had heard he wrought in Galilee: what
was impossible to him that could raise the dead?
2. How absurd and unreasonable this day’s vote was–that Lazarus must
be put to death. This is an instance of the most brutish rage that
could be; they were like a wild bull in a net, full of fury, and
laying about them without any consideration. It was a sign that they
neither feared God nor regarded man. For,
(1.) If they had feared God, they would not have done such an act of
defiance to him. God will have Lazarus to live by miracle, and they
will have him to die by malice. They cry, Away with such a fellow,
it is not fit he should live, when God had so lately sent him back
to the earth, declaring it highly fit he should live; what was this but
walking contrary to God? They would put Lazarus to death, and
challenge almighty power to raise him again, as if they could contend
with God, and try titles with the King of kings. Who has the keys of
death and the grave, he or they? O cæca malitia! Christus qui
suscitare potuit mortuum, non possit occisum.–Blind malice, to suppose
that Christ, who could raise one that had died a natural death, could
not raise one that had been slain!–Augustine in loc. Lazarus is
singled out to be the object of their special hatred, because God has
distinguished him by the tokens of his peculiar love, as if they had
made a league offensive and defensive with death and hell, and resolved
to be severe upon all deserters. One would think that they should
rather have consulted how they might have joined in friendship with
Lazarus and his family, and by their mediation have reconciled
themselves to this Jesus whom they had persecuted; but the god of this
world had blinded their minds.
(2.) If they had regarded man, they would not have done such an act of
injustice to Lazarus, an innocent man, to whose charge they could not
pretend to lay any crime. What bands are strong enough to hold those
who can so easily break through the most sacred ties of common justice,
and violate the maxims which even nature itself teaches? But the
support of their own tyranny and superstition was thought sufficient,
as in the church of Rome, not only to justify, but to consecrate the
greatest villanies, and make them meritorious.
| Christ’s Entrance into Jerusalem |
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12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast,
when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and
cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in
the name of the Lord.
14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it
is written,
15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting
on an ass’s colt.
16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but
when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things
were written of him, and that they had done these things unto
him.
17 The people therefore that was with him when he called
Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare
record.
18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard
that he had done this miracle.
19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye
how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
This story of Christ’s riding in triumph to Jerusalem is recorded by
all the evangelists, as worthy of special remark; and in it we may
observe,
I. The respect that was paid to our Lord Jesus by the common people,
where we are told,
1. Who they were that paid him this respect: much people,
ochlos polys—a great crowd of those that came up
to the feast; not the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but the country people
that came from remote parts to worship at the feast; the nearer the
temple of the Lord, the further from the Lord of the temple. They were
such as came up to the feast.
(1.) Perhaps they had been Christ’s hearers in the country, and great
admirers of him there, and therefore were forward to testify their
respect to him at Jerusalem, where they knew he had many enemies. Note,
Those that have a true value and veneration for Christ will neither be
ashamed nor afraid to own him before men in any instance whereby they
may do him honour.
(2.) Perhaps they were those more devout Jews that came up to
the feast some time before, to purify themselves, that were more
inclined to religion than their neighbours, and these were they that
were so forward to honour Christ. Note, The more regard men have to
God and religion in general, the better disposed they will be to
entertain Christ and his religion, which is not destructive but
perfective of all previous discoveries and institutions. They were not
the rulers, nor the great men, that went out to meet Christ, but the
commonalty; some would have called them a mob, a rabble: but Christ has
chosen the weak and foolish things
(1 Cor. i. 27),
and is honoured more by the multitude than by the magnificence of his
followers; for he values men by their souls, not their names and titles
of honour.
2. On what occasion they did it: They heard that Jesus was coming to
Jerusalem. They had enquired for him
Will he not come up to the feast? And now they hear he is
coming; for none that seek Christ seek in vain. Now when they heard he
was coming, they bestirred themselves, to give him an agreeable
reception. Note, Tidings of the approach of Christ and his kingdom
should awaken us to consider what is the work of the day, that it may
be done in the day. Israel must prepare to meet their God
(Amos iv. 12),
and the virgins to meet the bridegroom.
3. In what way they expressed their respect; they had not the keys of
the city to present to him, nor the sword nor mace to carry before him,
none of the city music to compliment him with, but such as they had
they gave him; and even this despicable crowd was a faint resemblance
of that glorious company which John saw before the throne, and
before the Lamb,
Rev. vii. 9, 10.
Though these were not before the throne, they were before the Lamb, the
paschal Lamb, who now, according to the usual ceremony, four days
before the feast, was set apart to be sacrificed for us. There it is
said of that celestial choir,
(1.) That they had palms in their hands, and so had these branches
of palm-trees. The palm-tree has ever been an emblem of victory and
triumph; Cicero calls one that had won many prizes plurimarum
palmarum homo–a man of many palms. Christ was now by his death to
conquer principalities and powers, and therefore it was fit that he
should have the victor’s palm borne before him; though he was but
girding on the harness, yet he could boast as though he had put it off.
But this was not all; the carrying of palm-branches was part of the
ceremony of the feast of tabernacles
(Lev. xxiii. 40; Neh. viii. 15),
and their using this expression of joy in the welcome given to our Lord
Jesus intimates that all the feasts pointed at his gospel, had their
accomplishment in it, and particularly that of the feast of
tabernacles,
(2.) That they cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our
God
(Rev. vii. 10);
so did these here, they shouted before him, as is usual in popular
welcomes, Hosanna, blessed is the king of Israel, that comes in the
name of the Lord; and hosanna signifies salvation. It
is quoted from
See how well acquainted these common people were with the scripture,
and how pertinently they apply it to the Messiah. High thoughts of
Christ will be best expressed in scripture-words. Now in their
acclamations,
[1.] They acknowledge our Lord Jesus to be the king of Israel, that
comes in the name of the Lord. Though he went now in poverty and
disgrace, yet, contrary to the notions their scribes had given them of
the Messiah, they own him to be a king, which bespeaks both his dignity
and honour, which we must adore; and his dominion and power, to which
we must submit. They own him to be, First, A rightful king,
coming in the name of the Lord
(Ps. ii. 6),
sent of God, not only as a prophet, but as a king. Secondly,
The promised and long-expected king, Messiah the prince, for he is
king of Israel. According to the light they had, they proclaimed
him king of Israel in the streets of Jerusalem; and, they themselves
being Israelites, hereby they avouched him for their king.
[2.] They heartily wish well to his kingdom, which is the meaning of
hosanna; let the king of Israel prosper, as when Solomon was crowned
they cried, God save king Solomon,
1 Kings i. 39.
In crying hosanna they prayed for three things:–First, That his
kingdom might come, in the light and knowledge of it, and in the power
and efficacy of it. God speed the gospel plough. Secondly, That
it might conquer, and be victorious over all opposition,
Thirdly, That it might continue. Hosanna is, Let the king
live for ever; though his kingdom may be disturbed, let it never be
destroyed,
[3.] They bid him welcome into Jerusalem: “Welcome is he that
cometh; we are heartily glad to see him; come in thou blessed of
the Lord; and well may we attend with our blessings him who meets
us with his.” This welcome is like that
Lift up your heads, O ye gates. Thus we must every one of us bid
Christ welcome into our hearts, that is, we must praise him, and be
well pleased in him. As we should be highly pleased with the being and
attributes of God, and his relation to us, so we should be with the
person and offices of the Lord Jesus, and his meditation between us and
God. Faith saith, Blessed is he that cometh.
II. The posture Christ puts himself into for receiving the respect that
was paid him
(v. 14):
When he had found, or procured, a young ass, he sat
thereon. It was but a poor sort of figure he made, he alone upon an
ass, and a crowd of people about him shouting Hosanna.
1. This was much more of state than he used to take; he used to travel
on foot, but now was mounted. Though his followers should be willing to
take up with mean things, and not affect any thing that looks like
grandeur, yet they are allowed to use the service of the inferior
creatures, according as God in his providence gives particular
possession of those things over which, by his covenant with Noah and
his sons, he has given to man a general dominion.
2. Yet it was much less of state than the great ones of the world
usually take. If he would have made a public entry, according to the
state of a man of high degree, he should have rode in a chariot like
that of Solomon’s
with pillars of silver, the bottom of gold, and the
covering of purple; but, if we judge according to the fashion of
this world, to be introduced thus was rather a disparagement than any
honour to the king of Israel, for it seemed as if he would look great,
and knew not how. His kingdom was not of this world, and therefore came
not with outward pomp. He was now humbling himself, but in his exalted
state John sees him in a vision on a white horse, with a bow and a
crown.
III. The fulfilling of the scripture in this: As it is written, Fear
not, daughter of Sion,
v. 15.
This is quoted from
To him bore all the prophets witness, and particularly to this
concerning him.
1. It was foretold that Zion’s king should come, should come thus,
sitting on an ass’s colt; even this minute circumstance was
foretold, and Christ took care it should be punctually fulfilled. Note,
(1.) Christ is Zion’s king; the holy hill of Zion was of old destined
to be the metropolis or royal city of the Messiah.
(2.) Zion’s king does and will look after her, and come to her; though
for a short time he retires, in due time he returns.
(3.) Though he comes but slowly (an ass is slow-paced), yet he comes
surely, and with such expressions of humility and condescension as
greatly encourage the addresses and expectations of his loyal subjects.
Humble supplicants may reach to speak with him. If this be a
discouragement to Zion, that her king appears in no greater state or
strength, let her know that though he comes to her riding on an ass’s
colt, yet he goes forth against her enemies riding on the heavens
for her help,
Deut. xxxiii. 26.
2. The daughter of Zion is therefore called upon to behold her
king, to take notice of him and his approaches; behold and wonder,
for he comes with observation, though not with outward show,
Fear not. In the prophecy, Zion is told to rejoice greatly, and
to shout, but here it is rendered, Fear not. Unbelieving fears
are enemies to spiritual joys; if they be cured, if they be conquered,
joy will come of course; Christ comes to his people to silence
their fears. If the case be so that we cannot reach to the exultations
of joy, yet we should labour to get from under the oppressions of fear.
Rejoice greatly; at least, fear not.
IV. The remark made by the evangelist respecting the disciples
(v. 16):
They understood not at first why Christ did this, and how the
scripture was fulfilled; but when Jesus was glorified, and
thereupon the Spirit poured out, then they remembered that these
things were written of him in the Old Testament, and that they and
others had, in pursuance thereof, done these things to him.
1. See here the imperfection of the disciples in their infant state;
even they understood not these things at first. They did not
consider, when they fetched the ass and set him thereon, that they were
performing the ceremony of the inauguration of Zion’s king. Now
observe,
(1.) The scripture is often fulfilled by the agency of those who have
not themselves an eye to the scripture in what they do,
(2.) There are many excellent things, both in the word and providence
of God, which the disciples themselves do not at first understand: not
at their first acquaintance with the things of God, while they see
men as trees walking; not at the first proposal of the things to
their view and consideration. That which afterwards is clear was at
first dark and doubtful.
(3.) It well becomes the disciples of Christ, when they are grown up to
maturity in knowledge, frequently to reflect upon the follies and
weaknesses of their first beginning, that free grace may have the glory
of their proficiency, and they may have compassion on the ignorant.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child.
2. See here the improvement of the disciples in their adult state.
Though they had been children, they were not always so, but went on to
perfection. Observe,
(1.) When they understood it: When Jesus was glorified; for,
[1.] Till then they did not rightly apprehend the nature of his
kingdom, but expected it to appear in external pomp and power, and
therefore knew not how to apply the scriptures which spoke of it to so
mean an appearance. Note, The right understanding of the spiritual
nature of Christ’s kingdom, of its powers, glories, and victories,
would prevent our misinterpreting and misapplying the scriptures that
speak of it.
[2.] Till then the Spirit was not poured out, who was to lead them into
all truth. Note, The disciples of Christ are enabled to understand the
scriptures by the same Spirit that indited the scriptures. The
spirit of revelation is to all the saints a spirit of
wisdom,
Eph. i. 17, 18.
(2.) How they understood it; they compared the prophecy with the event,
and put them together, that they might mutually receive light from each
other, and so they came to understand both: Then remembered they
that these things were written of him by the prophets, consonant to
which they were done to him. Note, Such an admirable harmony there is
between the word and works of God that the remembrance of what is
written will enable us to understand what is done, and the observation
of what is done will help us to understand what is written. As we
have heard, so have we seen. The scripture is every day
fulfilling.
V. The reason which induced the people to pay this respect to our Lord
Jesus upon his coming into Jerusalem, though the government was so much
set against him. It was because of the illustrious miracle he had
lately wrought in raising Lazarus.
1. See here what account and what assurance they had of this miracle;
no doubt, the city rang of it, the report of it was in all people’s
mouths. But those who considered it as a proof of Christ’s mission, and
a ground of their faith in him, that they might be well satisfied of
the matter of fact, traced the report to those who were eye-witnesses
of it, that they might know the certainty of it by the utmost
evidence the thing was capable of: The people therefore that
stood by when he called Lazarus out of his grave, being found
out and examined, bore record,
v. 17.
They unanimously averred the thing to be true, beyond dispute or
contradiction, and were ready, if called to it, to depose it upon oath,
for so much is implied in the word Emartyrei. Note, The
truth of Christ’s miracles was evidenced by incontestable proofs. It is
probable that those who had seen this miracle did not only assert it to
those who asked them, but published it unasked, that this might add to
the triumphs of this solemn day; and Christ’s coming in now from
Bethany, where it was done, would put them in mind of it. Note, Those
who wish well to Christ’s kingdom should be forward to proclaim what
they know that may redound to his honour.
2. What improvement they made of it, and what influence it had upon
them
(v. 18):
For this cause, as much as any other, the people met him.
(1.) Some, out of curiosity, were desirous to see one that had done
such a wonderful work. Many a good sermon he had preached in Jerusalem,
which drew not such crowds after him as this one miracle did. But,
(2.) Others, out of conscience, studied to do him honour, as one sent
of God. This miracle was reserved for one of the last, that it might
confirm those which went before, and might gain him this honour just
before his sufferings; Christ’s works were all not only well
done
but well timed.
VI. The indignation of the Pharisees at all this; some of them,
probably, saw, and they all soon heard of, Christ’s public entry. The
committee appointed to find out expedients to crush him thought they
had gained their point when he had retired unto privacy, and that he
would soon be forgotten in Jerusalem, but they now rage and fret when
they see they imagined but a vain thing.
1. They own that they had got no ground against him; it was plainly to
be perceived that they prevailed nothing. They could not, with
all their insinuations, alienate the people’s affections from him, nor
with their menaces restrain them from showing their affection to him.
Note, Those who oppose Christ, and fight against his kingdom, will be
made to perceive that they prevail nothing. God will accomplish his own
purposes in spite of them, and the little efforts of their impotent
malice. You prevail nothing, ouk opheleite—you
profit nothing. Note, There is nothing got by opposing Christ.
2. They own that he had got ground: The world is gone after
him; there is a vast crowd attending him, a world of people:
an hyperbole common in most languages. Yet here, like Caiaphas, ere
they were aware, they prophesied that the world would go after
him; some of all sorts, some from all parts; nations shall be
discipled. But to what intent was this said?
(1.) Thus they express their own vexation at the growth of his
interest; their envy makes them fret. If the horn of the righteous
be exalted with honour, the wicked see it, and are grieved
considering how great these Pharisees were, and what abundance of
respect was paid them, one would think they needed not grudge Christ so
inconsiderable a piece of honour as was now done him; but proud men
would monopolize honour, and have none share with them, like Haman.
(2.) Thus they excite themselves and one another, to a more vigorous
carrying on of the war against Christ. As if they should say, “Dallying
and delaying thus will never do. We must take some other and more
effectual course, to put a stop to this infection; it is time to try
our utmost skill and force, before the grievance grows past redress.”
Thus the enemies of religion are made more resolute and active by being
baffled; and shall its friends be disheartened with every
disappointment, who know its cause is righteous and will at last be
victorious?
| Certain Greeks Desire to See Jesus; The Recompence of Christ’s Servants. |
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20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to
worship at the feast:
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of
Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and
Philip tell Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the
Son of man should be glorified.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall
into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it
bringeth forth much fruit.
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth
his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am,
there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will
my Father honour.
Honour is here paid to Christ by certain Greeks that enquired or him
with respect. We are not told what day of Christ’s last week this was,
probably not the same day he rode into Jerusalem (for that day was
taken up in public work), but a day or two after.
I. We are told who they were that paid this honour to our Lord Jesus:
Certain Greeks among the people who came up to worship at the
feast,
v. 20.
Some think they were Jews of the dispersion, some of the twelve
tribes that were scattered among the Gentiles, and were called
Greeks, Hellenist Jews; but others think they were Gentiles,
those whom they called proselytes of the gate, such as the
eunuch and Cornelius. Pure natural religion met with the best
assistance among the Jews, and therefore those among the Gentiles who
were piously inclined joined with them in their solemn meetings, as far
as was allowed them. There were devout worshippers of the true God even
among those that were strangers to the commonwealth of Israel. It was
in the latter ages of the Jewish church that there was this flocking of
the Gentiles to the temple at Jerusalem,–a happy presage of the taking
down of the partition-wall between Jews and Gentiles. The forbidding of
the priests to accept of any oblation or sacrifice from a Gentile
(which was done by Eleazar the son of Ananias, the high priest),
Josephus says, was one of those things that brought the Romans upon
them, War 2. 409-410. Though these Greeks, if uncircumcised, were
not admitted to eat the passover, yet they came to worship at the
feast. We must thankfully use the privileges we have, though there
may be others from which we are shut out.
II. What was the honour they paid him: they desired to be acquainted
with him,
Having come to worship at the feast, they desired to make the best use
they could of their time, and therefore applied to Philip, desiring
that he would put them in a way to get some personal converse with the
Lord Jesus.
1. Having a desire to see Christ, they were industrious in the use of
proper means. They did not conclude it impossible, because he was so
much crowded, to get to speak with him, nor rest in bare wishes, but
resolved to try what could be done. Note, Those that would have the
knowledge of Christ must seek it.
2. They made their application to Philip, one of his disciples. Some
think that they had acquaintance with him formerly, and that they lived
near Bethsaida in Galilee of the Gentiles; and then it teaches us that
we should improve our acquaintance with good people, for our increase
in the knowledge of Christ. It is good to know those who know the Lord.
But if these Greeks had been near Galilee it is probable that they
would have attended Christ there, where he mostly resided; therefore I
think that they applied to him only because they saw him a close
follower of Christ, and he was the first they could get to speak with.
It was an instance of the veneration they had for Christ that they made
an interest with one of his disciples for an opportunity to converse
with him, a sign that they looked upon him as some great one, though he
appeared mean. Those that would see Jesus by faith now that he is in
heaven must apply to his ministers, whom he had appointed for this
purpose, to guide poor souls in their enquiries after him. Paul must
send for Ananias, and Cornelius for Peter. The bringing of these Greeks
to the knowledge of Christ by the means of Philip signified the agency
of the apostles, and the use made of their ministry in the conversion
of the Gentiles to the faith and the discipling of the nations.
3. Their address to Philip was in short this: Sir, we would see
Jesus. They gave him a title of respect, as one worthy of honour,
because he was in relation to Christ. Their business is, they would
see Jesus; not only see his face, that they might be able to
say, when they came home, they had seen one that was so much talked of
(it is probable they had seen him when he appeared publicly); but they
would have some free conversation with him, and be taught by him, for
which it was no easy thing to find him at leisure, his hands were so
full of public work. Now that they were come to worship at the feast,
they would see Jesus. Note, In our attendance upon holy ordinances, and
particularly the gospel passover, the great desire of our souls should
be to see Jesus; to have our acquaintance with him increased, our
dependence on him encouraged, our conformity to him carried on; to see
him as ours, to keep up communion with him, and derive communications
of grace from him: we miss of our end in coming if we do not see Jesus.
4. Here is the report which Philip made of this to his Master,
He tells Andrew, who was of Bethsaida likewise, and was a senior
fellow in the college of the apostles, contemporary with Peter, and
consults him what was to be done, whether he thought the motion would
be acceptable or no, because Christ had sometimes said that he was
not sent but to the house of Israel. They agree that it must be
made; but then he would have Andrew go along with him, remembering the
favourable acceptance Christ had promised them, in case two of them
should agree touching any thing they should ask,
Matt. xviii. 19.
Note, Christ’s ministers should be helpful to one another and concur in
helping souls to Christ: Two are better than one. It should seem
that Andrew and Philip brought this message to Christ when he was
teaching in public, for we read
(v. 29)
of the people that stood by; but he was seldom alone.
III. Christ’s acceptance of this honour paid him, signified by what he
said to the people hereupon,
&c., where he foretels both the honour which he himself should have in
being followed
and the honour which those should have that followed him,
This was intended for the direction and encouragement of these Greeks,
and all others that desired acquaintance with him.
1. He foresees that plentiful harvest, in the conversion of the
Gentiles, of which this was as it were the first-fruits,
Christ said to the two disciples who spoke a good word for these
Greeks, but doubted whether they should speed or no, The hour is
come when the Son of Man shall be glorified, by the accession of
the Gentiles to the church, and in order to that he must be rejected of
the Jews. Observe,
(1.) The end designed hereby, and that is the glorifying of the
Redeemer: “And is it so? Do the Gentiles begin to enquire after me?
Does the morning-star appear to them? and that blessed
say-spring, which knows its place and time too, does that begin
to take hold of the ends of the earth? Then the hour is come for
the glorifying of the Son of man.” This was no surprise to
Christ, but a paradox to those about him. Note,
[1.] The calling, the effectual calling, of the Gentiles into the
church of God greatly redounded to the glory of the Son of man. The
multiplying of the redeemed was the magnifying of the Redeemer.
[2.] there was a time, a set time, an hour, a certain hour, for the
glorifying of the Son of man, which did come at last, when the days of
his humiliation were numbered and finished, and he speaks of the
approach of it with exultation and triumph: The hour is
come.
(2.) The strange way in which this end was to be attained, and that was
by the death of Christ, intimated in that similitude
(v. 24):
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, you to whom I have spoken of my
death and sufferings, except a corn of wheat fall not only
to, but into, the ground, and die, and be buried
and lost, it abideth alone, and you never see any more of it;
but if it die according to the course of nature (otherwise it
would be a miracle) it bringeth forth much fruit, God giving to
every seed its own body.” Christ is the corn of wheat, the most
valuable and useful grain. Now here is,
[1.] The necessity of Christ’s humiliation intimated. He would never
have been the living quickening head and root of the church if he had
not descended from heaven to this accursed earth and ascended from
earth to the accursed tree, and so accomplished our redemption. He must
pour out his soul unto death, else he cannot divide a portion
with the great,
Isa. liii. 12.
He shall have a seed given him, but he must shed his blood to purchase
them and purify, must win them and wear them. It was necessary likewise
as a qualification for that glory which he was to have by the accession
of multitudes to his church; for if he had not by his sufferings made
satisfaction for sin, and so brought in an everlasting righteousness,
he would not have been sufficiently provided for the entertainment of
those that should come to him, and therefore must abide
alone.
[2.] The advantage of Christ’s humiliation illustrated. He fell to
the ground in his incarnation, seemed to be buried alive in this
earth, so much was his glory veiled; but this was not all: he
died. This immortal seed submitted to the laws of mortality, he lay
in the grave like seed under the clods; but as the seed comes up again
green, and fresh, and flourishing, and with a great increase, so one
dying Christ gathered to himself thousands of living Christians, and he
became their root. The salvation of souls hitherto, and henceforward
to the end of time, is all owing to the dying of this corn of
wheat. Hereby the Father and the Son are glorified, the church is
replenished, the mystical body is kept up, and will at length be
completed; and, when time shall be no more, the Captain of our
salvation, bringing many sons to glory by the virtue of his
death, and being so made perfect by sufferings, shall be celebrated for
ever with the admiring praises of saints and angels,
2. He foretels and promises an abundant recompence to those who should
cordially embrace him and his gospel and interest, and should make it
appear that they do so by their faithfulness in suffering for him or in
serving him.
(1.) In suffering for him
(v. 25):
He that loves his life better than Christ shall lose it;
but he that hates his life in this world, and prefers the favour
of God and an interest in Christ before it, shall keep it unto life
eternal. This doctrine Christ much insisted on, it being the great
design of his religion to wean us from this world, by setting before us
another world.
[1.] See here the fatal consequences of an inordinate love of life;
many a man hugs himself to death, and loses his life by over-loving it.
He that so loves his animal life as to indulge his appetite, and make
provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof, shall
thereby shorten his days, shall lose the life he is so fond of, and
another infinitely better. He that is so much in love with the life of
the body, and the ornaments and delights of it, as, for fear of
exposing it or them, to deny Christ, he shall lose it, that is, lose a
real happiness in the other world, while he thinks to secure an
imaginary one in this. Skin for skin a man may give for his
life, and make a good bargain, but he that gives his soul, his God, his
heaven, for it, buys life too dear, and is guilty of the folly of him
who sold a birth-right for a mess of pottage.
[2.] See also the blessed recompence of a holy contempt of life. He
that so hates the life of the body as to venture it for the preserving
of the life of his soul shall find both, with unspeakable advantage, in
eternal life. Note, First, It is required of the disciples of
Christ that they hate their life in this world; a life in this
world supposes a life in the other world, and this is hated when it is
loved less than that. Our life in this world includes all the
enjoyments of our present state, riches, honours, pleasures, and long
life in the possession of them; these we must hate, that is, despise
them as vain and insufficient to make us happy, dread the temptations
that are in them, and cheerfully part with them whenever they come in
competition with the service of Christ,
Rev. xii. 11.
See here much of the power of godliness–that it conquers the
strongest natural affections; and much of the mystery of
godliness–that it is the greatest wisdom, and yet makes men hate
their own lives. Secondly, Those who, in love to Christ, hate
their own lives in this world, shall be abundantly recompensed in the
resurrection of the just. He that hateth his life shall keep it;
he puts it into the hands of one that will keep it to life
eternal, and restore it with as great an improvement as the
heavenly life can make of the earthly one.
(2.) In serving him
(v. 26):
If any man profess to serve me, let him follow me,
as a servant follows his master; and where I am, ekei kai
ho diakonos ho emos estai–there let my servant be; so
some read it, as part of the duty, there let him be, to attend upon me;
we read it as part of the promise, there shall he be in
happiness with me. And, lest this should seem a small matter, he adds,
If any man serve me, him will my Father honour; and that is
enough, more than enough. The Greeks desired to see Jesus
(v. 21),
but Christ lets them know that it was not enough to see him, they must
serve him. He did not come into the world, to be a show for us
to gaze at, but a king to be ruled by. And he says this for the
encouragement of those who enquired after him to become his servants.
In taking servants it is usual to fix both the work and the wages;
Christ does both here.
[1.] Here is the work which Christ expects from his servants; and it is
very easy and reasonable, and such as becomes them.
First, Let them attend their Master’s movements: If any man
serve me, let him follow me. Christians must follow Christ, follow
his methods and prescriptions, do the things that he says,
follow his example and pattern, walk as he also walked, follow
his conduct by his providence and Spirit. We must go whither he leads
us, and in the way he leads us; must follow the Lamb whithersoever he
goes before us. “If any man serve me, if he put himself into that
relation to me, let him apply himself to the business of my service,
and be always ready at my call.” Or, “If any man do indeed serve me,
let him make an open and public profession of his relation to me, by
following me, as the servant owns his Master by following him in the
streets.”
Secondly, Let them attend their Master’s repose: Where I am,
there let my servant be, to wait upon me. Christ is where his
church is, in the assemblies of his saints, where his ordinances are
administered; and there let his servants be, to present
themselves before him, and receive instructions from him. Or, “Where I
am to be in heaven, whither I am now going, there let the thoughts and
affections of my servants be, there let their conversation be, where
Christ sitteth.”
[2.] Here are the wages which Christ promises to his servants; and they
are very rich and noble.
First, They shall be happy with him: Where I am, there shall
also my servant be. To be with him, when he was here in poverty and
disgrace, would seem but poor preferment, and therefore, doubtless, he
means being with him in paradise, sitting with him at his table above,
on his throne there; it is the happiness of heaven to be with Christ
there,
Christ speaks of heaven’s happiness as if he were already in it: Where
I am; because he was sure of it, and near to it, and it was
still upon his heart, and in his eye. And the same joy
and glory which he thought recompence enough for all his services and
sufferings are proposed to his servants as the recompence of theirs.
Those that follow him in the way shall be with him in the end.
Secondly, They shall be honoured by his Father; he will make
them amends for all their pains and loss, by conferring an honour upon
them, such as becomes a great God to give, but far beyond what such
worthless worms of the earth could expect to receive. The rewarder is
God himself, who takes the services done to the Lord Jesus as done to
himself. The reward is honour, true lasting honour, the highest honour;
it is the honour that comes from God. It is said
He that waits on his Master (humbly and diligently) shall be
honoured. Those that wait on Christ God will put honour upon, such
as will be taken notice of another day, though now under a veil. Those
that serve Christ must humble themselves, and are commonly vilified by
the world, in recompence of both which they shall be exalted in due
time.
Thus far Christ’s discourse has reference to those Greeks who desired
to see him, encouraging them to serve him. What became of those
Greeks we are not told, but are willing to hope that those who thus
asked the way to heaven with their faces thitherward, found it, and
walked in it.
| The Divine Attestation to Christ; Christ’s Discourse with the People. |
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27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save
me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from
heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify
it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said
that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me,
but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of
this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men
unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that
Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must
be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light
with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon
you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he
goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be
the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed,
and did hide himself from them.
Honour is here done to Christ by his Father in a voice from heaven,
occasioned by the following part of his discourse, and which gave
occasion to a further conference with the people. In these verses we
have,
I. Christ’s address to his Father, upon occasion of the trouble which
seized his spirit at this time: Now is my soul troubled,
v. 27.
A strange word to come from Christ’s mouth, and at this time
surprising, for it comes in the midst of divers pleasing prospects, in
which, one would think, he should have said, Now is my soul
pleased. Note, Trouble of soul sometimes follows after great
enlargements of spirit. In this world of mixture and change we must
expect damps upon our joy, and the highest degree of comfort to be the
next degree to trouble. When Paul had been in the third heavens, he had
a thorn in the flesh. Observe,
1. Christ’s dread of his approaching sufferings: Now is my soul
troubled. Now the black and dismal scene began, now were the first
throes of the travail of his soul, now his agony began, his soul
began to be exceedingly sorrowful. Note,
(1.) The sin of our soul was the trouble of Christ’s soul, when he
undertook to redeem and save us, and to make his soul an offering for
our sin.
(2.) The trouble of his soul was designed to ease the trouble of our
souls; for, after this, he said to his disciples
(ch. xiv. 1),
“Let not your hearts be troubled; why should yours be troubled
and mine too?” Our Lord Jesus went on cheerfully in his work, in
prospect of the joy set before him, and yet submitted to a trouble of
soul. Holy mourning is consistent with spiritual joy, and the way to
eternal joy. Christ was now troubled, now in sorrow, now in
fear, now for a season; but it would not be so always, it would not be
so long. The same is the comfort of Christians in their troubles; they
are but for a moment, and will be turned into joy.
2. The strait he seems to be in hereupon, intimated in those words,
And what shall I say? This does not imply his consulting with
any other, as if he needed advice, but considering with himself what
was fit to be said now. When our souls are troubled we must take heed
of speaking unadvisedly, but debate with ourselves what we shall say.
Christ speaks like one at a loss, as if what he should choose he wot
not. There was a struggle between the work he had taken upon him, which
required sufferings, and the nature he had taken upon him, which
dreaded them; between these two he here pauses with, What shall I
say? He looked, and there was none to help, which put him to
a stand. Calvin observes this as a great instance of Christ’s
humiliation, that he should speak thus like one at a loss. Quo se
magis exinanivit gloriæ Dominus, eo luculentius habemus erga nos
amoris specimen–The more entirely the Lord of glory emptied himself,
the brighter is the proof of the love he bore us. Thus he was in
all points tempted like as we are, to encourage us, when we know
not what to do, to direct our eyes to him.
3. His prayer to God in this strait: Father, save me from this
hour, ek tes oras tautes—out of this hour,
praying, not so much that it might not come as that he might be brought
through it. Save me from this hour; this was the language of
innocent nature, and its feelings poured forth in prayer. Note, It is
the duty and interest of troubled souls to have recourse to God by
faithful and fervent prayer, and in prayer to eye him as a Father.
Christ was voluntary in his sufferings, and yet prayed to be saved from
them. Note, Prayer against a trouble may very well consist with
patience under it and submission to the will of God in it. Observe, He
calls his suffering this hour, meaning the expected events of
the time now at hand. Hereby he intimates that the time of his
suffering was,
(1.) A set time, set to an hour, and he knew it. It was said twice
before that his hour was not yet come, but it was now so near that he
might say it was come.
(2.) A short time. An hour is soon over, so were Christ’s sufferings;
he could see through them to the joy set before him.
4. His acquiescence in his Father’s will, notwithstanding. He presently
corrects himself, and, as it were, recalls what he had said: But for
this cause came I to this hour. Innocent nature got the first word,
but divine wisdom and love got the last. Note, those who would proceed
regularly must go upon second thoughts. The complainant speaks first;
but, if we would judge righteously, we must hear the other side. With
the second thought he checked himself: For this cause came I to this
hour; he does not silence himself with this, that he could not
avoid it, there was no remedy; but satisfies himself with this, that he
would not avoid it, for it was pursuant to his own voluntary
engagement, and was to be the crown of his whole undertaking; should he
now fly off, this would frustrate all that had been done hitherto.
Reference is here had to the divine counsels concerning his sufferings,
by virtue of which it behoved him thus to submit and suffer. Note, This
should reconcile us to the darkest hours of our lives, that we were all
along designed for them; see
5. His regard to his Father’s honour herein. Upon the withdrawing of
his former petition, he presents another, which he will abide by:
Father, glorify thy name, to the same purport with Father,
thy will be done; for God’s will is for his own glory. This
expresses more than barely a submission to the will of God; it is a
consecration of his sufferings to the glory of God. It was a
mediatorial word, and was spoken by him as our surety, who had
undertaken to satisfy divine justice for our sin. The wrong which by
sin we have done to God is in his glory, his declarative glory; for in
nothing else are we capable of doing him injury. We were never able to
make him satisfaction for this wrong done him, nor any creature for us;
nothing therefore remained but that God should get him honour upon us
in our utter ruin. Here therefore our Lord Jesus interposed, undertook
to satisfy God’s injured honour, and he did it by his humiliation; he
denied himself in, and divested himself of, the honours due to the Son
of God incarnate, and submitted to the greatest reproach. Now here he
makes a tender of this satisfaction as an equivalent: “Father,
glorify thy name; let thy justice be honoured upon the sacrifice,
not upon the sinner; let the debt be levied upon me, I am solvent, the
principal is not.” Thus he restored that which he took not
away.
II. The Father’s answer to this address; for he heard him always, and
does still. Observe,
1. How this answer was given. By a voice from heaven. The Jews speak
much of a Bath-kôl–the daughter of a voice, as one of
those divers manners by which God in time past spoke to the prophets;
but we do not find any instance of his speaking thus to any but to our
Lord Jesus; it was an honour reserved for him
and here, probably, this audible voice was introduced by some visible
appearance, either of light or darkness, for both have been used as
vehicles of the divine glory.
2. What the answer was. It was an express return to that petition,
Father, glorify thy name: I have glorified it already, and I
will glorify it yet again. When we pray as we are taught, Our
Father, hallowed be thy name, this is a comfort to us, that is it
an answered prayer; answered to Christ here, and in him to all true
believers.
(1.) The name of God had been glorified in the life of Christ, in his
doctrine and miracles, and all the examples he gave of holiness and
goodness.
(2.) It should be further glorified in the death and sufferings of
Christ. His wisdom and power, his justice and holiness, his truth and
goodness, were greatly glorified; the demands of a broken law were
fully answered; the affront done to God’s government satisfied for; and
God accepted the satisfaction, and declared himself well pleased. What
God has done for the glorifying of his own name is an encouragement to
us to expect what he will yet further do. He that has secured the
interests of his own glory will still secure them.
III. The opinion of the standers-by concerning this voice,
We may hope there were some among them whose minds were so well
prepared to receive a divine revelation that they understood what was
said and bore record of it. But notice is here taken of the perverse
suggestion of the multitude: some of them said that it
thundered: others, who took notice that there was plainly an
articulate intelligible voice, said that certainly an angel spoke to
him. Now this shows,
1. That it was a real thing, even in the judgment of those that were
not at all well affected to him.
2. That they were loth to admit so plain a proof of Christ’s divine
mission. They would rather say that it was this, or that, or any
thing, than that God spoke to him in answer to his prayer; and yet, if
it thundered with articulate sounds (as
was not that God’s voice? Or, if angels spoke to him, are not they
God’s messengers? But thus God speaks once, yea twice, and man
perceives it not.
IV. The account which our Saviour himself gives of this voice.
1. Why it was sent
(v. 30):
“It came not because of me, not merely for my encouragement and
satisfaction” (then it might have been whispered in his ear privately),
“but for your sakes.”
(1.) “That all you who heard it may believe that the Father hath
sent me.” What is said from heaven concerning our Lord Jesus, and
the glorifying of the Father in him, is said for our sakes, that we may
be brought to submit to him and rest upon him.
(2.) “That you my disciples, who are to follow me in sufferings, may
therein be comforted with the same comforts that carry me on.” Let this
encourage them to part with life itself for his sake, if they be called
to it, that it will redound to the honour of God. Note, The promises
and supports granted to our Lord Jesus in his sufferings were intended
for our sakes. For our sakes he sanctified himself, and
comforted himself.
2. What was the meaning of it. He that lay in the Father’s bosom knew
his voice, and what was the meaning of it; and two things God intended
when he said that he would glorify his own name:—
(1.) That by the death of Christ Satan should be conquered
(v. 31):
Now is the judgment. He speaks with a divine exultation and
triumph. “Now the year of my redeemed is come, and the time prefixed
for breaking the serpent’s head, and giving a total rent to the powers
of darkness; now for that glorious achievement: now, now, that
great work is to be done which has been so long thought of in the
divine counsels, so long talked of in the written word, which has been
so much the hope of saints and the dread of devils.” The matter of the
triumph is,
[1.] That now is the judgment of the world;
krisis, take it as a medical term: “Now is the
crisis of this world.” The sick and diseased world is now upon
the turning point; this is the critical day upon which the trembling
scale will turn for life or death, to all mankind; all that are not
recovered by this will be left helpless and hopeless. Or, rather, it is
a law term, as we take it: “Now, judgment is entered, in order to the
taking out of execution against the prince of this world.” Note, The
death of Christ was the judgment of this world. First, It is a
judgment of discovery and distinction–judicium discretionis; so
Austin. Now is the trial of this world, for men shall have their
character according as the cross of Christ is to them; to some it is
foolishness and a stumbling-block, to others it is the wisdom and power
of God; of which there was a figure in the two thieves that were
crucified with him. By this men are judged, what they think of the
death of Christ. Secondly, It is a judgment of favour and
absolution to the chosen ones that are in the world. Christ upon the
cross interposed between a righteous God and a guilty world as a
sacrifice for sin and a surety for sinners, so that when he was judged,
and iniquity laid upon him, and he was wounded for our
transgressions, it was as it were the judgment of this world, for an
everlasting righteousness was thereby brought in, not for Jews only,
but the whole world,
Thirdly, It is a judgment of condemnation given against the
powers of darkness; see
Judgment is put for vindication and deliverance, the asserting of an
invaded right. At the death of Christ there was a famous trial between
Christ and Satan, the serpent and the promised seed; the trial was for
the world, and the lordship of it; the devil had long borne sway among
the children of men, time out of mind; he now pleads prescription,
grounding his claim also upon the forfeiture incurred by sin. We find
him willing to have come to a composition
he would have given the kingdoms of this world to Christ, provided he
would hold them by, from, and under him. But Christ would try it out
with; by dying he takes off the forfeiture to divine justice, and then
fairly disputes the title, and recovers it in the court of heaven.
Satan’s dominion is declared to be a usurpation, and the world adjudged
to the Lord Jesus as his right,
The judgment of this world is, that it belongs to Christ, and not to
Satan; to Christ therefore let us all atturn tenants.
[2.] That now is the prince of this world cast out. First, It is
the devil that is here called the prince of this world, because
he rules over the men of the world by the things of the world; he is
the ruler of the darkness of this world, that is, of this dark
world, of those in it that walk in darkness,
2 Cor. iv. 4; Eph. iv. 12.
Secondly, He is said to be cast out, to be now
cast out; for, whatever had been done hitherto towards the weakening of
the devil’s kingdom was done in the virtue of a Christ to come, and
therefore is said to be done now. Christ, reconciling the world
to God by the merit of his death, broke the power of death, and cast
out Satan as a destroyer; Christ, reducing the world to God by the
doctrine of his cross, broke the power of sin, and cast out Satan as a
deceiver. The bruising of his heel was the breaking of the serpent’s
head,
When his oracles were silenced, his temples forsaken, his idols
famished, and the kingdoms of the world became Christ’s kingdoms, then
was the prince of the world cast out, as appears by comparing
this with John’s vision
where it is said to be done by the blood of the Lamb. Christ’s
frequent casting of devils out of the bodies of people was an
indication of the great design of his whole undertaking. Observe, With
what assurance Christ here speaks of the victory over Satan; it is as
good as done, and even when he yields to death he triumphs over it.
(2.) That by the death of Christ souls should be converted, and this
would be the casting out of Satan
(v. 32):
If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.
Here observe two things:–
[1.] The great design of our Lord Jesus, which was to draw all men
to him, not the Jews only, who had been long in a profession a
people near to God, but the Gentiles also, who had been afar
off; for he was to be the desire of all nations
(Hag. ii. 7),
and to him must the gathering of the people be. That which his
enemies dreaded was that the world would go after him; and he would
draw them to him, notwithstanding their opposition. Observe here how
Christ himself is all in all in the conversion of a soul. First,
It is Christ that draws: I will draw. It is sometimes ascribed
to the Father
(ch. vi. 44),
but here to the Son, who is the arm of the Lord. He does not
drive by force, but draws with the cords of a man
draws as the loadstone; the soul is made willing, but it is in a
day of power. Secondly, It is to Christ that we are drawn: “I
will draw them to me as the centre of their unity.” The soul that was
at a distance from Christ is brought into an acquaintance with him, he
that was shy and distrustful of him is brought to love him and trust in
him,–drawn up to his terms, into his arms. Christ was now going to
heaven, and he would draw men’s hearts to him thither.
[2.] The strange method he took to accomplish his design by being
lifted up from the earth. What he meant by this, to prevent
mistake, we are told
(v. 33):
This he spoke signifying by what death he should die, the death
of the cross, though they had designed and attempted to stone him to
death. He that was crucified was first nailed to the cross, and then
lifted up upon it. He was lifted up as a spectacle to the world;
lifted up between heaven and earth, as unworthy of either; yet the word
here used signifies an honourable advancement, ean
hypsotho—If I be exalted; he reckoned his sufferings
his honour. Whatever death we die, if we die in Christ we shall be
lifted up out of this dungeon, this den of lions, into the regions of
light and love. We should learn of our Master to speak of dying with a
holy pleasantness, and to say, “We shall then be lifted up.” Now
Christ’s drawing all men to him followed his being lifted up from
the earth. First, It followed after it in time. The great increase
of the church was after the death of Christ; while Christ lived, we
read of thousands at a sermon miraculously fed, but after his death we
read of thousands at a sermon added to the church. Israel began to
multiply in Egypt after the death of Joseph. Secondly, It
followed upon it as a blessed consequence of it. Note, There is a
powerful virtue and efficacy in the death of Christ to draw souls to
him. The cross of Christ, though to some a stumbling-stone, is
to others a loadstone. Some make it an allusion to the drawing
of fish into a net; the lifting up of Christ was as the spreading of
the net
or to the setting up of a standard, which draws soldiers together; or,
rather, it refers to the lifting up of the brazen serpent in the
wilderness, which drew all those to it who were stung with fiery
serpents, as soon as ever it was known that it was lifted up, and there
was healing virtue in it. O what flocking was there to it! So there was
to Christ, when salvation through him was preached to all nations; see
Perhaps it has some reference to the posture in which Christ was
crucified, with his arms stretched out, to invite all to him, and
embrace all that come. Those that put Christ to that ignominious death
thought thereby to drive all men from him; but the devil was outshot in
his own bow. Out of the eater came forth meat.
V. The people’s exception against what he said, and their cavil at it,
Though they had heard the voice from heaven, and the gracious words
that proceeded out of his mouth, yet they object, and pick quarrels
with him. Christ had called himself the Son of man
(v. 23),
which they knew to be one of the titles of the Messiah,
He had also said that the Son of man must be lifted up, which
they understood of his dying, and probably he explained himself so, and
some think he repeated what he said to Nicodemus
(ch. iii. 14),
So must the Son of man be lifted up. Now against this,
1. They alleged those scriptures of the Old Testament which speak of
the perpetuity of the Messiah, that he should be so far from being cut
off in the midst of his days that he should be a priest for ever
(Ps. cx. 4),
and a king for ever
&c.), that he should have length of days for ever and ever, and
his years as many generations
from all which they inferred that the Messiah should not die. Thus
great knowledge in the letter of the scripture, if the heart be
unsanctified, is capable of being abused to serve the cause of
infidelity, and to fight against Christianity with its own weapons.
Their perverseness in opposing this to what Jesus had said will appear
if we consider,
(1.) That, when they vouched the scripture to prove that the Messiah
abideth for ever, they took no notice of those texts which speak
of the Messiah’s death and sufferings: they had heard out of the law
that Messiah abideth for ever; and had they never heard out of
the law that Messiah should be cut off
(Dan. ix. 26),
and that he should pour out his soul unto death
and particularly that his hands and feet should be pierced? Why
then do they make so strange of the lifting up of the Son of
man? Note, We often run into great mistakes, and then defend them
with scripture arguments, by putting those things asunder which God in
his word has put together, and opposing one truth under pretence of
supporting another. We have heard out of the gospel that which exalts
free grace, we have heard also that which enjoins duty, and we just
cordially embrace both, and not separate them, nor set them at
variance.
(2.) That, when they opposed what Christ said concerning the sufferings
of the Son of man, they took no notice of what he had said concerning
his glory and exaltation. They had heard out of the law that Christ
abideth for ever; and had they not heard our Lord Jesus say that he
should be glorified, that he should bring forth much fruit, and draw
all men to him? Had he not just now promised immortal honours to his
followers, which supposed his abiding for ever? But this they
overlooked. Thus unfair disputants oppose some parts of the opinion of
an adversary, to which, if they would but take it entire, they could
not but subscribe; and in the doctrine of Christ there are paradoxes,
which to men of corrupt minds are stones of stumbling–as Christ
crucified, and yet glorified; lifted up from the earth,
and yet drawing all men to him.
2. They asked hereupon, Who is the Son of man? This they asked,
not with a desire to be instructed, but tauntingly and insultingly, as
if now they had baffled him, and run him down. “Thou sayest, The Son
of man must die; we have proved the Messiah must not, and where is
then thy Messiahship? This Son of man, as thou callest thyself, cannot
be the Messiah, thou must therefore think of something else to pretend
to.” Now that which prejudiced them against Christ was his meanness and
poverty; they would rather have no Christ than a suffering one.
VI. What Christ said to this exception, or rather what he said upon
it. The objection was a perfect cavil; they might, if they pleased,
answer it themselves: man dies, and yet is immortal, and abideth for
ever, so the Son of man. Therefore, instead of answering these
fools according to their folly, he gives them a serious caution to take
heed of trifling away the day of their opportunities in such vain and
fruitless cavils as these
(v. 35, 36):
“Yet a little while, and but a little while, is the light
with you; therefore be wise for yourselves, and walk while you
have the light.“
1. In general, we may observe here,
(1.) The concern Christ has for the souls of men, and his desire of
their welfare. With what tenderness does he here admonish those to look
well to themselves who were contriving ill against him! Even when he
endured the contradiction of sinners, he sought their
conversion. See
(2.) The method he takes with these objectors, with meekness
instructing those that opposed themselves,
2 Tim. ii. 25.
Were but men’s consciences awakened with a due concern about their
everlasting state, and did they consider how little time they have to
spend, and none to spare, they would not waste precious thoughts and
time in trifling cavils.
2. Particularly we have here,
(1.) The advantage they enjoyed in having Christ and his gospel among
them, with the shortness and uncertainty of their enjoyment of it:
Yet a little while is the light with you. Christ is this light;
and some of the ancients suggest that, in calling himself the light, he
gives a tacit answer to their objection. His dying upon the cross was
as consistent with his abiding for ever as the setting of the
sun every night is with his perpetuity. The duration of Christ’s
kingdom is compared to that of the sun and moon,
Ps. lxxii. 17; lxxxix. 36, 37.
The ordinances of heaven are unchangeably fixed, and yet the sun and
moon set and are eclipsed; so Christ the Sun of righteousness abides
for ever, and yet was eclipsed by his sufferings, and was but a little
while within our horizon. Now,
[1.] The Jews at this time had the light with them; they had
Christ’s bodily presence, heard his preaching, saw his miracles. The
scripture is to us a light shining in a dark place.
[2.] It was to be but a little while with them; Christ would shortly
leave them, their visible church state would soon after be dissolved
and the kingdom of God taken from them, and blindness and hardness
would happen unto Israel. Note, It is good for us all to consider what
a little while we are to have the light with us. Time is short, and
perhaps opportunity not so long. The candlestick may be removed; at
least, we must be removed shortly. Yet a little while is the light of
life with us; yet a little while is the light of the gospel with us,
the day of grace, the means of grace, the Spirit of grace, yet a very
little while.
(2.) The warning given them to make the best of this privilege while
they enjoyed it, because of the danger they were in of losing it:
Walk while you have the light; as travellers who make the best
of their way forward, that they may not be benighted in their journey,
because travelling in the night is uncomfortable and unsafe. “Come,”
say they, “let us mend our pace, and get forward, while we have
day-light.” Thus wise should we be for our souls who are journeying
towards eternity. Note,
[1.] It is our business to walk, to press forward towards heaven, and
to get nearer to it by being made fitter for it. Our life is but a day,
and we have a day’s journey to go.
[2.] The best time of walking is while we have the light. The day is
the proper season for work, as the night is for rest. The proper time
for getting grace is when we have the word of grace preached to us, and
the Spirit of grace striving with us, and therefore then is the time to
be busy.
[3.] We are highly concerned thus to improve our opportunities, for
fear lest our day be finished before we have finished our day’s work
and our day’s journey: “Lest darkness come upon you, lest you
lose your opportunities, and can neither recover them nor despatch the
business you have to do without them.” Then darkness comes, that
is, such an utter incapacity to make sure the great salvation as
renders the state of the careless sinner quite deplorable; so that, if
his work be undone then, it is likely to be undone for ever.
(3.) The sad condition of those who have sinned away the gospel, and
are come to the period of their day of grace. They walk in
darkness, and know neither where they go, nor whither
they go; neither the way they are walking in, nor the end they are
walking towards. He that is destitute of the light of the gospel, and
is not acquainted with its discoveries and directions, wanders
endlessly in mistakes and errors, and a thousand crooked paths, and is
not aware of it. Set aside the instructions of the Christian doctrine,
and we know little of the difference between good and evil. He is going
to destruction, and knows not his danger, for he is either sleeping or
dancing at the pit’s brink.
(4.) The great duty and interest of every one of us inferred from all
this
(v. 36):
While you have light, believe in the light. The Jews had now
Christ’s presence with them, let them improve it; afterwards they had
the first offers of the gospel made to them by the apostles wherever
they came; now this is an admonition to them not to out-stand their
market, but to accept the offer when it was made to them: the same
Christ saith to all who enjoy the gospel. Note,
[1.] It is the duty of every one of us to believe in the gospel
light, to receive it as a divine light, to subscribe to the truths
it discovers, for it is a light to our eyes, and to follow its
guidance, for it is a light to our feet. Christ is the light, and we
must believe in him as he is revealed to us; as a true light that will
not deceive us, a sure light that will not misguide us.
[2.] We are concerned to do this while we have the light, to lay hold
on Christ while we have the gospel to show us the way to him and direct
us in that way.
[3.] Those that believe in the light shall be the children of
light; they shall be owned as Christians, who are called
children of light
and of the day,
Those that have God for their Father are children of light, for God is
light; they are born from above, and heirs of heaven, and children of
light, for heaven is light.
VII. Christ’s retiring from them, hereupon: These things spoke
Jesus, and said no more at this time, but left this to their
consideration, and departed, and did hide himself from them. And
this he did,
1. For their conviction and awakening. If they will not regard what he
hath said, he will have nothing more to say to them. They are joined
to their infidelity, as Ephraim to idols; let them alone. Note,
Christ justly removes the means of grace from those that quarrel with
him, and hides his face from a froward generation,
Deut. xxxii. 20.
2. For his own preservation. He hid himself from their rage and fury,
retreating, it is probable, to Bethany, where he lodged. By this it
appears that what he said irritated and exasperated them, and they were
made worse by that which should have made them better.
| The Unbelief of the People. |
|
|
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet
they believed not on him:
38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled,
which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom
hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said
again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that
they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with
their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake
of him.
We have here the honour done to our Lord Jesus by the Old-Testament
prophets, who foretold and lamented the infidelity of the many that
believed not on him. It was indeed a dishonour and grief to Christ that
his doctrine met with so little acceptance and so much opposition; but
this takes off the wonder and reproach, makes the offence of it
to cease, and made it no disappointment to Christ, that herein the
scriptures were fulfilled. Two things are here said concerning this
untractable people, and both were foretold by the evangelical prophet
Isaiah, that they did not believe, and that they could
not believe.
I. They did not believe
(v. 37):
Though he had done so many miracles before them, which, one
would think, should have convinced them, yet they believed not, but
opposed him. Observe,
1. The abundance of the means of conviction which Christ afforded them:
He did miracles, so many miracles; tosauta semeia
signifying both so many and so great. This refers to all the miracles
he had wrought formerly; nay, the blind and lame now came to him into
the temple, and he healed them,
His miracles were the great proof of his mission, and on the evidence
of them he relied. Two things concerning them he here insists upon:–
(1.) The number of them; they were many,–various and of divers
kinds; numerous and often repeated; and every new miracle confirmed the
reality of all that went before. The multitude of his miracles was not
only a proof of his unexhausted power, but gave the greater opportunity
to examine them; and, if there had been a cheat in them, it was morally
impossible but that in some or other of them it would have been
discovered; and, being all miracles of mercy, the more there
were the more good was done.
(2.) The notoriety of them. He wrought these miracles before
them, not at a distance, not in a corner, but before many
witnesses, appearing to their own eyes.
2. The inefficacy of these means: Yet they believed not on him.
They could not gainsay the premises, and yet would not grant the
conclusion. Note, The most plentiful and powerful means of conviction
will not of themselves work faith in the depraved prejudiced hearts of
men. These saw, and yet believed not.
3. The fulfilling of the scripture in this
(v. 38):
That the saying of Esaias might be fulfilled. Not that these
infidel Jews designed the fulfilling of the scripture (they rather
fancied those scriptures which speak of the church’s best sons to be
fulfilled in themselves), but the event exactly answered the
prediction, so that (ut for ita ut) this saying of Esaias was
fulfilled. The more improbable any event is, the more does a divine
foresight appear in the prediction of it. One could not have imagined
that the kingdom of the Messiah, supported with such pregnant proofs,
should have met with so much opposition among the Jews, and therefore
their unbelief is called a marvellous work, and a wonder,
Isa. xxix. 14.
Christ himself marvelled at it, but it was what Isaiah foretold
(Isa. liii. 1),
and now it is accomplished. Observe,
(1.) The gospel is here called their report: Who has believed,
te akon hemon—our hearing, which we have heard
from God, and which you have heard from us. Our report is the report
that we bring, like the report of a matter of fact, or the report of a
solemn resolution in the senate.
(2.) It is foretold that a few comparatively of those to whom this
report is brought will be persuaded to give credit to it. Many hear it,
but few heed it and embrace it: Who hath believed it? Here and
there one, but none to speak of; not the wise, not the noble; it is to
them but a report which wants confirmation.
(3.) It is spoken of as a thing to be greatly lamented that so few
believe the report of the gospel. Lord is here prefixed from the
LXX., but is not in the Hebrew, and intimates a sorrowful account
brought to God by the messengers of the cold entertainment which they
and their report had; as the servant came, and showed his lord all
these things,
Luke xiv. 21.
(4.) The reason why men believe not the report of the gospel is because
the arm of the Lord is not revealed to them, that is,
because they do not acquaint themselves with, and submit themselves to,
the grace of God; they do not experimentally know the virtue and
fellowship of Christ’s death and resurrection, in which the arm of the
Lord is revealed. They saw Christ’s miracles, but did not see the
arm of the Lord revealed in them.
II. They could not believe, and therefore they could not
because Esaias said, He hath blinded their eyes. This is a hard
saying, who can explain it? We are sure that God is infinitely just and
merciful, and therefore we cannot think there is in any such an
impotency to good, resulting from the counsels of God, as lays them
under a fatal necessity of being evil. God dams none by mere
sovereignty; yet it is said, They could not believe. St. Austin,
coming in course to the exposition of these words, expresses himself
with a holy fear of entering upon an enquiry into this mystery.
Justa sunt judicia ejus, sed occulta–His judgments are just, but
hidden.
1. They could not believe, that is, they would not; they
were obstinately resolved in their infidelity; thus Chrysostom and
Austin incline to understand it; and the former gives divers instances
of scripture of the putting of an impotency to signify the invincible
refusal of the will, as
They could not speak peaceably to him. And
This is a moral impotency, like that of one that is accustomed
to do evil,
But,
2. They could not because Esaias had said, He hath blinded their
eyes. Here the difficulty increases; it is certain that God is not
the author of sin, and yet,
(1.) There is a righteous hand of God sometimes to be acknowledged in
the blindness and obstinacy of those who persist in impenitency and
unbelief, by which they are justly punished for their former resistance
of the divine light and rebellion against the divine law. If God
withhold abused grace, and give men over to indulged lusts,–if he
permit the evil spirit to do his work on those that resisted the good
Spirit,–and if in his providence he lay stumbling-blocks in the way of
sinners, which confirm their prejudices, then he blinds their
eyes, and hardens their hearts, and these are spiritual
judgments, like the giving up of idolatrous Gentiles to vile
affections, and degenerate Christians to strong delusions.
Observe the method of conversion implied here, and the steps taken in
it.
[1.] Sinners are brought to see with their eyes, to discern the
reality of divine things and to have some knowledge of them.
[2.] To understand with their heart, to apply these things to
themselves; not only to assent and approve, but to consent and accept.
[3.] To be converted, and effectually turned from sin to Christ,
from the world and the flesh to God, as their felicity and portion.
[4.] Then God will heal them, will justify and sanctify them;
will pardon their sins, which are as bleeding wounds, and
mortify their corruptions, which are as lurking diseases. Now when God
denies his grace nothing of this is done; the alienation of the mind
from, and its aversion to, God and the divine life, grow into a rooted
and invincible antipathy, and so the case becomes desperate.
(2.) Judicial blindness and hardness are in the word of God threatened
against those who wilfully persist in wickedness, and were particularly
foretold concerning the Jewish church and nation. Known unto God are
all his works, and all ours too. Christ knew before who would betray
him, and spoke of it,
This is a confirmation of the truth of scripture prophecies, and thus
even the unbelief of the Jews may help to strengthen our faith. It is
also intended for caution to particular persons, to beware lest that
come upon them which was spoken of in the prophets,
Acts xiii. 40.
(3.) What God has foretold will certainly come to pass, and so, by a
necessary consequence, in order of arguing, it might be said that
therefore they could not believe, because God by the
prophets had foretold they would not; for such is the knowledge of God
that he cannot be deceived in what he foresees, and such his truth that
he cannot deceive in what he foretels, so that the scripture cannot be
broken. Yet be it observed that the prophecy did not name particular
persons; so that it might not be said, “Therefore such a one and such a
one could not believe, because Esaias had said so and so;” but it
pointed at the body of the Jewish nation, which would persist in their
infidelity till their cities were wasted without inhabitants, as it
follows
yet still reserving a remnant
(v. 13,
in it shall be a tenth), which reserve was sufficient to keep a
door of hope open to particular persons; for each one might say, Why
may not I be of that remnant?
Lastly, The evangelist, having quoted the prophecy, shows
(v. 41)
that it was intended to look further than the prophet’s own days, and
that its principal reference was to the days of the Messiah: These
things said Esaias when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.
1. We read in the prophecy that this was said to Esaias,
But here we are told that it was said by him to the purpose. For
nothing was said by him as a prophet which was not first said to him;
nor was any thing said to him which was not afterwards said by him to
those to whom he was sent. See
2. The vision which the prophet there had of the glory of God is
here said to be his seeing the glory of Jesus Christ: He saw
his glory. Jesus Christ therefore is equal in power and glory with
the Father, and his praises are equally celebrated. Christ had a glory
before the foundation of the world, and Esaias saw this.
3. It is said that the prophet there spoke of him. It seems to
have been spoken of the prophet himself (for to him the commission and
instructions were there given), and yet it is here said to be spoken of
Christ, for as all the prophets testified of him so they all typified
him. This they spoke of him, that as to many his coming would be not
only fruitless, but fatal, a savour of death unto death. It might be
objected against his doctrine, If it was from heaven, why did not the
Jews believe it? But this is an answer to it; it was not for want of
evidence, but because their heart was made fat, and their
ears were heavy. It was spoken of Christ, that he should be
glorified in the ruin of an unbelieving multitude, as well as in the
salvation of a distinguished remnant.
| The Cowardice of the Rulers. |
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|
42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on
him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him,
lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of
God.
Some honour was done to Christ by these rulers: for they believed on
him, were convinced that he was sent of God, and received his
doctrine as divine; but they did not do him honour enough, for they had
not courage to own their faith in him. Many professed more kindness
for Christ than really they had; these had more kindness for him than
they were willing to profess. See here what a struggle was in these
rulers between their convictions and their corruptions.
I. See the power of the word in the convictions that many of them were
under, who did not wilfully shut their eyes against the light. They
believed on him as Nicodemus, received him as a teacher come
from God. Note, The truth of the gospel has perhaps a better interest
in the consciences of men than we are aware of. Many cannot but approve
of that in their hearts which yet outwardly they are shy of. Perhaps
these chief rulers were true believers, though very weak, and
their faith like smoking flax. Note, It may be, there are more good
people than we think there are. Elijah thought he was left alone, when
God had seven thousand faithful worshippers in Israel. Some are really
better than they seem to be. Their faults are known, but their
repentance is not; a man’s goodness may be concealed by a
culpable yet pardonable weakness, which he himself truly repents
of. The kingdom of God comes not in all with a like
observation; nor have all who are good the same faculty of
appearing to be so.
II. See the power of the world in the smothering of these convictions.
They believed in Christ, but because of the Pharisees, who had it in
their power to do them a diskindness, they durst not confess him for
fear of being excommunicated. Observe here,
1. Wherein they failed and were defective; They did not confess
Christ. Note, There is cause to question the sincerity of that faith
which is either afraid or ashamed to show itself; for those who believe
with the heart ought to confess with the mouth,
Rom. x. 9.
2. What they feared: being put out of the synagogue, which they
thought would be a disgrace and damage to them; as if it would do them
any harm to be expelled from a synagogue that had made itself a
synagogue of Satan, and from which God was departing.
3. What was at the bottom of this fear: They loved the praise of
men, chose it as a more valuable good, and pursued it as a more
desirable end, than the praise of God; which was an implicit
idolatry, like that
of worshipping and serving the creature more than the Creator.
They set these two in the scale one against the other, and, having
weighed them, they proceeded accordingly.
(1.) They set the praise of men in one scale, and considered how good
it was to give praise to men, and to pay a deference to the opinion of
the Pharisees, and receive praise from men, to be commended by the
chief priests and applauded by the people as good sons of the church,
the Jewish church; and they would not confess Christ, lest they should
thereby derogate from the reputation of the Pharisees, and forfeit
their own, and thus hinder their own preferment. And, besides, the
followers of Christ were put into an ill name, and were looked
upon with contempt, which those who had been used to honour could not
bear. Yet perhaps if they had known one another’s minds they would have
had more courage; but each one thought that if he should declare
himself in favour of Christ he should stand alone, and have nobody to
back him; whereas, if any one had had resolution to break the
ice, he would have had more seconds than he thought of.
(2.) They put the praise of God in the other scale. They were sensible
that by confessing Christ they should both give praise to God, and have
praise from God, that he would be pleased with them, and say, Well
done; but,
(3.) They gave the preference to the praise of men, and this turned the
scale; sense prevailed above faith, and represented it as more
desirable to stand right in the opinion of the Pharisees than to be
accepted of God. Note, Love of the praise of men is a very great
prejudice to the power and practice of religion and godliness. Many
come short of the glory of God by having a regard to the applause of
men, and a value for that. Love of the praise of men, as a by-end in
that which is good, will make a man a hypocrite when religion is in
fashion and credit is to be got by it; and love of the praise of men,
as a base principle in that which is evil, will make a man an apostate
when religion is in disgrace, and credit is to be lost for it, as here.
See
| Christ’s Last Discourse with the Jews. |
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|
44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not
on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth
on me should not abide in darkness.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him
not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one
that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall
judge him in the last day.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent
me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I
should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting:
whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so
I speak.
We have here the honour Christ not assumed, but asserted, to himself,
in the account he gave of his mission and his errand into the world.
Probably this discourse was not at the same time with that before
(for them he departed,
v. 36),
but some time after, when he made another public appearance; and, as
this evangelist records it, it was Christ’s farewell sermon to the
Jews, and his last public discourse; all that follows was private with
his disciples. Now observe how our Lord Jesus delivered this parting
word: he cried and said. Doth not wisdom cry
cry without?
Prov. i. 20.
The raising of his voice and crying intimate,
1. His boldness in speaking. Though they had not courage openly to
profess faith in his doctrine, he had courage openly to publish it; if
they were ashamed of it, he was not, but set his face as a flint,
2. His earnestness in speaking. He cried as one that was serious and
importunate, and in good earnest in what he said, and was willing to
impart to them, not only the gospel of God, but even his own
soul.
3. It denotes his desire that all might take notice of it. This being
the last time of the publication of his gospel by himself in person, he
makes proclamation, “Whoever will hear me, let them come now.” Now what
is the conclusion of the whole matter, this closing summary of all
Christ’s discourses? It is much like that of Moses
See, I have set before you life and death. So Christ here takes
leave of the temple, with a solemn declaration of three things:–
I. The privileges and dignities of those that believe; this gives great
encouragement to us to believe in Christ and to profess that faith. It
is a thing of such a nature that we need not be shy either of doing it
or of owning it; for,
1. By believing in Christ we are brought into an honourable
acquaintance with God
(v. 44, 45):
He that believes on me, and so sees me, believes on him that
sent me, and so sees him. He that believes on Christ,
(1.) He does not believe in a mere man, such a one as he seemed to be,
and was generally taken to be, but he believes in one that is the Son
of God and equal in power and glory with the Father. Or rather,
(2.) His faith does not terminate in Christ, but through him it is
carried out to the Father, that sent him, to whom, as our end, we come
by Christ as our way. The doctrine of Christ is believed and received
as the truth of God. The rest of a believing soul is in God through
Christ as Mediator; for its resignation to Christ is in order to being
presented to God. Christianity is made up, not of philosophy nor
politics, but pure divinity. This is illustrated,
He that sees me (which is the same with believing in him,
for faith is the eye of the soul) sees him that sent me; in
getting an acquaintance with Christ, we come to the knowledge of God.
For,
[1.] God makes himself known in the face of Christ
(2 Cor. iv. 6),
who is the express image of his person,
[2.] All that have a believing sight of Christ are led by him to the
knowledge of God, whom Christ has revealed to us by his word and
Spirit. Christ, as God, was the image of his Father’s person; but
Christ, as Mediator, was his Father’s representative in his relation to
man, the divine light, law, and love, being communicated to us in and
through him; so that in seeing him (that is, in eying him as our
Saviour, Prince, and Lord, in the right of redemption), we see and eye
the Father as our owner, ruler, and benefactor, in the right of
creation: for God is pleased to deal with fallen man by proxy.
2. We are hereby brought into a comfortable enjoyment of ourselves
(v. 46):
I am come a light into the world, that whoever believes in me,
Jew or Gentile, should not abide in darkness. Observe,
(1.) The character of Christ: I am come a light into the world,
to be a light to it. This implies that he had a being, and a being as
light, before he came into the world, as the sun is before it rises;
the prophets and apostles were made lights to the world, but it was
Christ only that came a light into this world, having before been a
glorious light in the upper world,
(2.) The comfort of Christians: They do not abide in darkness.
[1.] They do not continue in that dark condition in which they were by
nature; they are light in the Lord. They are without any true
comfort, or joy, or hope, but do not continue in that condition; light
is sown for them.
[2.] Whatever darkness of affliction, disquietment, or fear, they may
afterwards be in, provision is made that they may not long abide in it.
[3.] They are delivered from that darkness which is perpetual, and
which abideth for ever, that utter darkness where there is not
the least gleam of light nor hope of it.
II. The peril and danger of those that believe not, which gives fair
warning to take heed of persisting in unbelief
(v. 47, 48):
“If any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not, not
I only, or not now, lest I should be looked upon as unfair in being
judge in my own cause; yet let not infidelity think therefore to go
unpunished, though I judge him not, there is one that judgeth
him.” So that we have here the doom of unbelief. Observe,
1. Who they are whose unbelief is here condemned: those who hear
Christ’s words and yet believe them not. Those shall not be
condemned for their infidelity that never had, nor could have, the
gospel; every man shall be judged according to the dispensation of
light he was under: Those that have sinned without law shall be
judged without law. But those that have heard, or might have heard,
and would not, lie open to this doom.
2. What is the constructive malignity of their unbelief: not receiving
Christ’s word; it is interpreted
(v. 48)
a rejecting of Christ, ho atheton eme. It denotes
a rejection with scorn and contempt. Where the banner of the gospel is
displayed, no neutrality is admitted; every man is either a subject or
an enemy.
3. The wonderful patience and forbearance of our Lord Jesus, exercised
towards those who slighted him when he was come here upon earth: I
judge him not, not now. Note, Christ was not quick or hasty to take
advantage against those who refused the first offers of his grace, but
continued waiting to be gracious. He did not strike those dumb or dead
who contradicted him, never made intercession against Israel, as Elias
did; though he had authority to judge, he suspended the execution of
it, because he had work of another nature to do first, and that was to
save the world.
(1.) To save effectually those that were given him before he came to
judge the degenerate body of mankind.
(2.) To offer salvation to all the world, and thus far to save them
that it is their own fault if they be not saved. He was to put away sin
by the sacrifice of himself. Now the executing of the power of a judge
was not congruous with that undertaking,
In his humiliation his judgment was taken away, it was suspended
for a time.
4. The certain and unavoidable judgment of unbelievers at the great
day, the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God:
unbelief will certainly be a damning sin. Some think when Christ saith,
I judge no man, he means that they are condemned already.
There needs no process, they are self-judged; no execution, they
are self-ruined; judgment goes against them of course,
Christ needs not appear against them as their accuser, they are
miserable if he do not appear for them as their advocate; however, he
tells them plainly when and where they will be reckoned with.
(1.) There is one that judgeth them. Nothing is more dreadful
than abused patience, and grace trampled on; though for awhile mercy
rejoiceth against judgment, yet there will be judgment without
mercy.
(2.) Their final judgment is reserved to the last day; to that
day of judgment Christ here binds over all unbelievers, to answer then
for all the contempts they have put upon him. Divine justice has
appointed a day, and adjourns the sentence to that day, as
(3.) The word of Christ will judge them then: The words that I have
spoken, how light soever you have made of them, the same shall
judge the unbeliever in the last day; as the apostles, the
preachers of Christ’s word, are said to judge,
Christ’s words will judge unbelievers two ways:–
[1.] As the evidence of their crime, they will convict them. Every
word Christ spoke, every sermon, every argument, every kind offer, will
be produced as a testimony against those who slighted all he said.
[2.] As the rule of their doom, they will condemn them; they shall be
judged according to the tenour of that covenant which Christ procured
and published. That word of Christ, He that believes not shall be
damned, will judge all unbelievers to eternal ruin; and there are
many such like words.
III. A solemn declaration of the authority Christ had to demand our
faith, and require us to receive his doctrine upon pain of damnation,
where observe,
1. The commission which our Lord Jesus received from the Father to
deliver his doctrine to the world
(v. 49):
I have not spoken myself, as a mere man, much less as a common
man; but the Father gave me a commandment what I should say.
This is the same with what he said
My doctrine is,
(1.) Not mine, for I have not spoken of myself. Christ,
as Son of man, did not speak that which was of human contrivance
or composure; as Son of God, he did not act separately, or by himself
alone, but what he said was the result of the counsels of peace; as
Mediator, his coming into the world was voluntary, and with his full
consent, but not arbitrary, and of his own head. But,
(2.) It was his that sent him. God the Father gave him,
[1.] His commission. God sent him as his agent and plenipotentiary, to
concert matters between him and man, to set a treaty of peace on foot,
and to settle the articles.
[2.] His instructions, here called a commandment, for they were
like those given to an ambassador, directing him not only what he may
say, but what he must say. The messenger of the covenant was entrusted
with an errand which he must deliver. Note, Our Lord Jesus learned
obedience himself, before he taught it to us, though he was a Son.
The Lord God commanded the first Adam, and he by his
disobedience ruined us; he commanded the second Adam, and he by his
obedience saved us. God commanded him what he should say and
what he should speak, two words signifying the same thing, to
denote that every word was divine. The Old-Testament prophets sometimes
spoke of themselves; but Christ spoke by the Spirit at all times. Some
make this distinction: He was directed what he should say in his set
sermons, and what he should speak in his familiar discourses. Others
this: He was directed what he should say in his preaching now, and what
he should speak in his judging at the last day; for he had commission
and instruction for both.
2. The scope, design, and tendency of this commission: I know that
his commandment is life everlasting,
v. 50.
The commission given to Christ had a reference to the everlasting state
of the children of men, and was in order to their everlasting life and
happiness in that state: the instructions given to Christ as a prophet
were to reveal eternal life
(1 John v. 11);
the power, given to Christ as a king was to give eternal life,
Thus the command given him was life everlasting. This Christ says he
knew: “I know it is so,” which intimates how cheerfully and with what
assurance Christ pursued his undertaking, knowing very well that he
went upon a good errand, and that which would bring forth fruit unto
life eternal. It intimates likewise how justly those will perish who
reject Christ and his word. Those who disobey Christ despise
everlasting life, and renounce it; so that not only Christ’s words will
judge them, but even their own; so shall their doom be, themselves have
decided it; and who can except against it?
3. Christ’s exact observance of the commission and instructions given
him, and his steady acting in pursuance of them: Whatsoever I
speak, it is as the Father said unto me. Christ was
intimately acquainted with the counsels of God, and was faithful in
discovering so much of them to the children of men as it was agreed
should be discovered, and kept back nothing that was profitable.
As the faithful witness delivers souls, so did he, and spoke the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Note,
(1.) This is a great encouragement to faith; the sayings of Christ,
rightly understood, are what we may venture our souls upon.
(2.) It is a great example of obedience. Christ said as he was bidden,
and so must we, communicated what the Father had said to him, and so
must we. See
In the midst of all the respect paid to him, this is the honour he
values himself upon, that what the Father had said to him that he
spoke, and in the manner as he was directed so he spoke. This was his
glory, that, as a Son, he was faithful to him that appointed him; and,
by an unfeigned belief of every word of Christ, and an entire
subjection of soul to it, we must give him the glory due to his
name.
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