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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>J O H N.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XIV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter is a continuation of Christ's discourse with his disciples
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after supper. When he had convicted and discarded Judas, he set himself
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to comfort the rest, who were full of sorrow upon what he had said of
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leaving them, and a great many good words and comfortable words he here
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speaks to them. The discourse in interlocutory; as Peter in the
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foregoing chapter, so Thomas, and Philip, and Jude, in this interposed
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their thoughts upon what he said, according to the liberty he was
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pleased to allow them. Free conferences are as instructive as solemn
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speeches, and more so. The general scope of this chapter is in the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:1">first verse</A>;
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it is designed to keep trouble from their hearts; now in order to this
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they must believe: and let them consider,
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I. Heaven as their everlasting rest,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:2,3">ver. 2, 3</A>.
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II. Christ himself as their way,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:4-11">ver. 4-11</A>.
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III. The great power they shall be clothed with by the prevalency of
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their prayers,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:12-14">ver. 12-14</A>.
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IV. The coming of another comforter,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:15-17">ver. 15-17</A>.
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V. The fellowship and communion that should be between him and them
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after his departure,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:18-24">ver. 18-24</A>.
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VI. The instructions which the Holy Ghost should give them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:25,26">ver. 25, 26</A>.
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VII. The peace Christ bequeathed to them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:27">ver. 27</A>.
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VIII. Christ's own cheerfulness in his departure,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:28-31">ver. 28-31</A>.
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And this which he said to them is designed for the comfort of all his
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faithful followers.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Joh14_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh14_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh14_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Consolatory Discourse.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe
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also in me.
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2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if <I>it were</I> not
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<I>so,</I> I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
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3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,
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and receive you unto myself; that where I am, <I>there</I> ye may be
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also.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these verses we have,</P>
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<P>
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I. A general caution which Christ gives to his disciples against
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<I>trouble of heart</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
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<I>Let not your heart be troubled.</I> They now began to be troubled,
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were entering into this temptation. Now here see,</P>
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<P>
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1. How Christ took notice of it. Perhaps it was apparent in their
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looks; it was said
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+13:22"><I>ch.</I> xiii. 22</A>),
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<I>They looked one upon another</I> with anxiety and concern, and
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Christ looked upon them all, and observed it; at least, it was
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intelligible to the Lord Jesus, who is acquainted with all our secret
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undiscovered sorrows, with the wound that bleeds inwardly; he knows not
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only how we are afflicted, but how we stand affected under our
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afflictions, and how near they lie to our hearts; he takes cognizance
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of all the trouble which his people are at any time in danger of being
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overwhelmed with; <I>he knows our souls in adversity.</I> Many things
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concurred to trouble the disciples now.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) Christ had just told them of the unkindness he should receive from
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some of them, and this troubled them all. Peter, no doubt, looked very
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sorrowful upon what Christ said to him, and all the rest were sorry for
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him and for themselves too, not knowing whose turn it should be to be
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told next of some ill thing or other they should do. As to this, Christ
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comforts them; though a godly jealousy over ourselves is of great use
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to keep us humble and watchful, yet it must not prevail to the
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disquieting of our spirits and the damping of our holy joy.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) He had just told them of his own departure from them, that he
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should not only go away, but go away in a cloud of sufferings. They
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must shortly hear him loaded with reproaches, and these will be <I>as a
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sword in their bones;</I> they must see him barbarously abused and put
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to death, and this also will be a sword piercing <I>through their own
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souls,</I> for they had loved him, and chosen him, and left all to
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follow him. When we now look upon Christ pierced, we cannot but
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<I>mourn and be in bitterness,</I> though we see the glorious issue and
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fruit of it; much more grievous must the sight be to them, who could
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then look no further. If Christ depart from them
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[1.] They will think themselves shamefully disappointed; for they
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looked that this had been he that should have delivered Israel, and
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should have set upon his kingdom in secular power and glory, and, in
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expectation of this, had lost all to follow him. Now, if he leave the
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world in the same circumstances of meanness and poverty in which he had
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lived, and worse, they are quite defeated.
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[2.] They will think themselves sadly deserted and exposed. They knew
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by experience what little presence of mind they had in difficult
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emergencies, that they could count upon nothing but being ruined and
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run down if they part with their Master. Now, in reference to all
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these, <I>Let not your heart be troubled.</I> Here are three words,
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upon any of which the emphasis may significantly be laid.
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<I>First,</I> Upon the word <I>troubled,</I> <B> <I>me
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tarassestho</I></B>. Be not so troubled as to be put into a hurry and
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confusion, <I>like the troubled sea when</I> it cannot rest. He does
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not say, "Let not your hearts be sensible of the griefs, or sad because
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of them" but, "Be not ruffled and discomposed, be not cast down and
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disquieted,"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+42:5">Ps. xlii. 5</A>.
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<I>Secondly,</I> Upon the word <I>heart:</I> "Though the nation and
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city be troubled, though your little family and flock be troubled, yet
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<I>let not your heart be troubled.</I> Keep possession of your own
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souls when you can keep possession of nothing else." The heart is the
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main fort; whatever you do, keep trouble from this, keep this with
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<I>all diligence.</I> The spirit must <I>sustain the infirmity,</I>
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therefore, see that this be not <I>wounded. Thirdly,</I> Upon the word
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<I>your:</I> "You that are my disciples and followers, my redeemed,
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chosen, sanctified ones, however others are overwhelmed with the
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sorrows of this present time, be not you so, for you know better; let
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<I>the sinners in Zion</I> tremble, but let the <I>sons of Zion be
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joyful in their king.</I>" Herein Christ's disciples should <I>do more
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than others,</I> should keep their minds quiet, when every thing else
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is unquiet.</P>
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<P>
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2. The remedy he prescribes against this trouble of mind, which he saw
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ready to prevail over them; in general,
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<I>believe</I>--<B><I>pisteuete</I></B>.
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(1.) Some read it in both parts imperatively, "<I>Believe in God,</I>
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and his perfections and providence, <I>believe also in me,</I> and my
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mediation. Build with confidence upon the great acknowledged principles
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of natural religion: that there is a God, that he is most holy, wise,
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powerful, and good; that he is the governor of the world, and has the
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sovereign disposal of all events; and comfort yourselves likewise with
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the peculiar doctrines of that holy religion which I have taught you."
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But,
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(2.) We read the former as an acknowledgment that they did believe in
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God, for which he commends them: "But, if you would effectually provide
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against a stormy day, <I>believe also in me.</I>" Through Christ we are
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brought into covenant with God, and become interested in his favour and
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promise, which otherwise as sinners we must despair of, and the
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remembrance of God would have been our trouble; but, by believing in
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Christ as the Mediator between God and man, our belief in God becomes
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comfortable; and this is the will of God, that <I>all men should honour
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the Son as they honour the Father,</I> by believing in the Son as they
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believe in the Father. Those that rightly believe in God will believe
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in Jesus Christ, whom he has made known to them; and believing in God
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through Jesus Christ is an excellent means of keeping trouble from the
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heart. The joy of faith is the best remedy against the griefs of
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sense; it is a remedy with a promise annexed to it; <I>the just shall
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live by faith;</I> a remedy with a <I>probatum est</I> annexed to it.
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<I>I had fainted unless I had believed.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. Here is a particular direction to act faith upon the promise of
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eternal life,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:2,3"><I>v.</I> 2, 3</A>.
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He had directed them to trust to God, and to trust in him; but what
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must they trust God and Christ for? Trust them for a happiness to come
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when this body and this world shall be no more, and for a happiness to
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last as long as the immortal soul and the eternal world shall last. Now
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this is proposed as a sovereign cordial under all the troubles of this
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present time, to which there is that in the happiness of heaven which
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is admirably adapted and accommodated. The saints have encouraged
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themselves with this in their greatest extremities, <I>That heaven
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would make amends for all.</I> Let us see how this is suggested
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here.</P>
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<P>
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1. Believe and consider that really there is such a happiness: <I>In my
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Father's house there are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have
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told you,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) See under what notion the happiness of heaven is here represented:
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as <I>mansions,</I> many mansions in Christ's Father's house.
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[1.] Heaven is a house, not a tent or tabernacle; it is <I>a house not
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made with hands, eternal in the heavens.</I>
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[2.] It is a Father's house: <I>my Father's house;</I> and his Father
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is our Father, to whom he was now ascending; so that in right of their
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elder brother all true believers shall be welcome to that happiness as
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to their home. It is his house who is King of kings and Lord of lords,
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dwells in light, and inhabits eternity.
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[3.] There are <I>mansions</I> there; that is, <I>First,</I> Distinct
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dwellings, an apartment for each. Perhaps there is an allusion to the
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priests' chambers that were about the temple. In heaven there are
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accommodations for particular saints; though all shall be swallowed up
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in God, yet our individuality shall not be lost there; every Israelite
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had his lot in Canaan, and every elder <I>a seat,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+4:4">Rev. iv. 4</A>.
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<I>Secondly,</I> Durable dwellings. <B><I>Monai</I></B>, from
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<B><I>mneio</I></B>, <I>maneo, abiding places.</I> The house itself is
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lasting; our estate in it is not for a term of years, but a perpetuity.
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Here we are as in an inn; in heaven we shall gain a settlement. The
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disciples had quitted their houses to attend Christ, who had not where
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to lay his head, but the mansions in heaven will make them amends.
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[4.] There are <I>many</I> mansions, for there are many sons to be
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brought to glory, and Christ exactly knows their number, nor will be
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straitened for room by the coming of more company than he expects. He
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had told Peter that he should follow him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+13:36"><I>ch.</I> xiii. 36</A>),
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but let not the rest be discouraged, in heaven there are mansions for
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them <I>all. Rehoboth,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+26:22">Gen. xxvi. 22</A>.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) See what assurance we have of the reality of the happiness itself,
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and the sincerity of the proposal of it to us: "<I>If it were not so, I
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would have told you.</I> If you had deceived yourselves, when you
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quitted your livelihoods, and ventured your lives for me, in prospect
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of a happiness future and unseen, I would soon have undeceived you."
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The assurance is built,
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[1.] Upon the veracity of his word. It is implied, "If there were not
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such a happiness, valuable and attainable, I would not have told you
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that there was."
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[2.] Upon the sincerity of his affection to them. As he is true, and
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would not impose upon them himself, so he is kind, and would not suffer
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them to be imposed upon. If either there were no such mansions, or
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none designed for them, who had left all to follow him, he would have
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given them timely notice of the mistake, that they might have made an
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honourable retreat to the world again, and have made the best they
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could of it. Note, Christ's good-will to us is a great encouragement to
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our hope in him. He loves us too well, and means us too well, to
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disappoint the expectations of his own raising, or to leave those to be
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of all men most miserable who have been of him most observant.</P>
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<P>
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2. Believe and consider that the design of Christ's going away was to
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prepare a place in heaven for his disciples. "You are grieved to think
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of my going away, whereas I go on your errand, <I>as the forerunner; I
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am to enter for you.</I>" He went to prepare a place for us; that is,
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(1.) To take possession for us, as our advocate or attorney, and so to
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secure our title as indefeasible. Livery of seisin was given to Christ,
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for the use and behoof of all that should believe on him.
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(2.) To make provision for us as our friend and father. The happiness
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of heaven, though prepared <I>before the foundation of the world,</I>
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yet must be further fitted up for man in his fallen state. It
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consisting much in the presence of Christ there, it was therefore
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necessary that he should <I>go before,</I> to enter into that glory
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which his disciples were to share in. Heaven would be an <I>unready</I>
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place for a Christian if Christ were not there. He went to prepare a
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table for them, to prepare thrones for them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+22:30">Luke xxii. 30</A>.
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Thus Christ declares the fitness of heaven's happiness for the saints,
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for whom it is prepared.</P>
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<P>
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3. Believe and consider that <I>therefore</I> he would certainly come
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again in due time, to fetch them to that blessed place which he was now
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going to possess for himself and prepare for them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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"<I>If I go and prepare a place for you,</I> if this be the errand of
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my journey, you may be sure, when every thing is ready, <I>I will come
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again, and receive you to myself,</I> so that you shall follow me
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hereafter, <I>that where I am there you may be also.</I>" Now these are
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comfortable words indeed.
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(1.) That Jesus Christ will come again; <B><I>erchomai</I></B>--<I>I do
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come,</I> intimating the certainty of it, that he will come and that he
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is daily coming. We say, We are coming, when we are busy in preparing
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for our coming, and so he is; all he does has a reference and tendency
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to his second coming. Note, The belief of Christ's second coming, of
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which he has given us the assurance, is an excellent preservative
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against trouble of heart,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+4:5,Jam+5:8">Phil. iv. 5; James v. 8</A>.
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(2.) That he will come again to receive all his faithful followers to
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himself. He sends for them privately at death, and gathers them one by
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one; but they are to make their public entry in solemn state all
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together at the last day, and then Christ himself will come to receive
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them, to conduct them in the abundance of his grace, and to welcome
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them in the abundance of his love. He will hereby testify the utmost
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respect and endearment imaginable. The coming of Christ is in order to
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our <I>gathering together unto him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+2:1">2 Thess. ii. 1</A>.
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(3.) <I>That where he is there they shall be also.</I> This intimates,
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what many other scriptures declare, that the quintessence of heaven's
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happiness is being with Christ <I>there,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:24,Php+1:23,1Th+4:17"><I>ch.</I> xvii. 24;
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Phil. i. 23; 1 Thess. iv. 17</A>.
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Christ speaks of his being there as now present, <I>that where I
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am;</I> where I am to be shortly, where I am to be eternally; there you
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shall be shortly, there you shall be eternally: not only <I>there,</I>
|
|
in the same place; but <I>here,</I> in the same state: not only
|
|
spectators of his glory, as the three disciples on the mount, but
|
|
sharers in it.
|
|
|
|
(4.) That this may be inferred from his <I>going to prepare a place</I>
|
|
for us, for his preparations shall not be in vain. He will not build
|
|
and furnish lodgings, and let them stand empty. He will be the finisher
|
|
of that of which he is the author. If he has prepared the place for us,
|
|
he will prepare us for it, and in due time put us in possession of it.
|
|
As the resurrection of Christ is the assurance of our resurrection, so
|
|
his ascension, victory, and glory, are an assurance of ours.</P>
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|
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|
<A NAME="Joh14_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh14_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh14_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh14_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh14_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh14_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh14_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh14_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Consolatory Discourse.</I></FONT></TD>
|
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
|
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
|
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5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest;
|
|
and how can we know the way?
|
|
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
|
|
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
|
|
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and
|
|
from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
|
|
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it
|
|
sufficeth us.
|
|
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and
|
|
yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath
|
|
seen the Father; and how sayest thou <I>then,</I> Show us the Father?
|
|
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father
|
|
in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but
|
|
the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
|
|
11 Believe me that I <I>am</I> in the Father, and the Father in me:
|
|
or else believe me for the very works' sake.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Christ, having set the happiness of heaven before them as the end, here
|
|
shows them himself as the way to it, and tells them that they were
|
|
better acquainted both with the end they were to aim at and with the
|
|
way they were to walk in than they thought they were: <I>You know,</I>
|
|
that is,
|
|
|
|
1. "You may know; it is none of the <I>secret things</I> which belong
|
|
not to you, but one of the <I>things revealed;</I> you <I>need not
|
|
ascend into heaven,</I> nor <I>go down into the deep,</I> for <I>the
|
|
word is nigh you</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+10:6-8">Rom. x. 6-8</A>),
|
|
|
|
level to you."
|
|
|
|
2. "You do know; you know that which is the home and which is the way,
|
|
though perhaps not as the home and as the way. You have been told it,
|
|
and cannot but know, if you would recollect and consider it." Note,
|
|
Jesus Christ is willing to make the best of his people's knowledge,
|
|
though they are weak and defective in it. He knows the good that is in
|
|
them better than they do themselves, and is certain that they have that
|
|
knowledge, and faith, and love, of which they themselves are not
|
|
sensible, or not certain.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
This word of Christ gave occasion to two of his disciples to address
|
|
themselves to him, and he answers them both.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Thomas enquired concerning the way
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
without any apology for contradicting his Master.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He said, "<I>Lord, we know not whither thou goest,</I> to what place
|
|
or what state, <I>and how can we know the way</I> in which we must
|
|
follow thee? We can neither guess at it, nor enquire it out, but must
|
|
still be at a loss." Christ's testimony concerning their knowledge made
|
|
them more sensible of their ignorance, and more inquisitive after
|
|
further light. Thomas here shows more modesty than Peter, who thought
|
|
he could follow Christ now. Peter was the more solicitous to know
|
|
<I>whither Christ went.</I> Thomas here, though he complains that he
|
|
did not know this, yet seems more solicitous to know <I>the way.</I>
|
|
Now,
|
|
|
|
(1.) His confession of his ignorance was commendable enough. If good
|
|
men be in the dark, and know but in part, yet they are willing to own
|
|
their defects. But,
|
|
|
|
(2.) The cause of his ignorance was culpable. They knew not whither
|
|
Christ went, because they dreamed of a temporal kingdom in external
|
|
pomp and power, and doted upon this, notwithstanding what he had said
|
|
again and again to the contrary. Hence it was that, when Christ spoke
|
|
of going away and their following him, their fancy ran upon his going
|
|
to some remarkable city or other, Bethlehem, or Nazareth, or Capernaum,
|
|
or some of the cities of the Gentiles, as David to Hebron, there to be
|
|
anointed king, and <I>to restore the kingdom to Israel;</I> and which
|
|
way this place lay, where these castles in the air were to be built,
|
|
east, west, north, or south, they could not tell, and therefore knew
|
|
not the way. Thus still we think ourselves more in the dark than we
|
|
need be concerning the future state of the church, because we expect
|
|
its worldly prosperity, whereas it is spiritual advancement that the
|
|
promise points at. Had Thomas understood, as he might have done, that
|
|
Christ was going to the invisible world, the world of spirits, to which
|
|
spiritual things only have a reference, he would not have said,
|
|
<I>Lord, we do not know the way.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Now to this complaint of their ignorance, which included a desire
|
|
to be taught, Christ gives a full answer,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thomas had enquired both whither he went and what was the way, and
|
|
Christ answers both these enquiries and makes good what he had said,
|
|
that they would have needed no answer if they had understood themselves
|
|
aright; for they knew him, and he was the way; they knew the Father,
|
|
and he was the end; and therefore, <I>whither I go you know, and the
|
|
way you know.</I> Believe in God as the end, and in me as the way
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
and you do all you should do.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) He speaks of himself as the way,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
Dost thou <I>not know the way? I am the way,</I> and I only, for <I>no
|
|
man comes to the Father but by me.</I> Great things Christ here saith
|
|
of himself, showing us,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] The nature of his mediation: He is <I>the way, the truth, and the
|
|
life.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>First,</I> Let us consider these first distinctly.
|
|
|
|
1. Christ is <I>the way, the highway</I> spoken of,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:8">Isa. xxxv. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ was his own way, for by <I>his own blood he entered into the
|
|
holy place</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:12">Heb. ix. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
and he is our way, for we enter by him. By his doctrine and example he
|
|
teaches us our duty, by his merit and intercession he procures our
|
|
happiness, and so he is the way. In him God and man meet, and are
|
|
brought together. We could not get to the tree of life in the way of
|
|
innocency; but Christ is another way to it. By Christ, as the way an
|
|
intercourse is settled and kept up between heaven and earth; the angels
|
|
of God ascend and descend; our prayers go to God, and his blessings
|
|
come to us by him; this is <I>the way that leads to rest, the good old
|
|
way.</I> The disciples followed him, and Christ tells them that they
|
|
followed the road, and, while they continued following him, they would
|
|
never be out of their way.
|
|
|
|
2. He is <I>the truth.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) As truth is opposed to figure and shadow. Christ is the substance
|
|
of all the Old-Testament types, which are therefore said to be
|
|
<I>figures of the true,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:24">Heb. ix. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ is <I>the true manna</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+6:32"><I>ch.</I> vi. 32</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>the true tabernacle,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+8:2">Heb. viii. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) As truth is opposed to falsehood and error; the doctrine of Christ
|
|
is true doctrine. When we enquire for truth, we need learn no more than
|
|
<I>the truth as it is in Jesus.</I>
|
|
|
|
(3.) As truth is opposed to fallacy and deceit; he is true to all that
|
|
trust in him, as true as truth itself,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+1:20">2 Cor. i. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
3. He is <I>the life;</I> for we are <I>alive unto God</I> only in and
|
|
<I>through Jesus Christ,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+6:11">Rom. vi. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ formed in us is that to our souls which our souls are to our
|
|
bodies. Christ is <I>the resurrection and the life.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> Let us consider these jointly, and with reference to each
|
|
other. Christ is <I>the way, the truth, and the life;</I> that is,
|
|
|
|
1. He is the beginning, the middle, and the end. In him we must set
|
|
out, go on, and finish. As <I>the truth,</I> he is the guide of our
|
|
way; as <I>the life,</I> he is the end of it.
|
|
|
|
2. He is <I>the true and living way</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:20">Heb. x. 20</A>);
|
|
|
|
there are <I>truth and life</I> in the way, as well as at the end of
|
|
it.
|
|
|
|
3. He is <I>the true way to life,</I> the only true way; other ways may
|
|
seem right, but the end of them is <I>the way of death.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] The necessity of his mediation: <I>No man cometh to the Father but
|
|
by me.</I> Fallen man must come to God as a Judge, but cannot come to
|
|
him as a Father, otherwise than by Christ as Mediator. We cannot
|
|
perform the duty of coming to God, by repentance and the acts of
|
|
worship, without the Spirit and grace of Christ, nor obtain the
|
|
happiness of coming to God as our Father without his merit and
|
|
righteousness; he is the <I>high priest of our profession,</I> our
|
|
advocate.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He speaks of his Father as the end
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>If you had known me</I> aright, <I>you would have known my Father
|
|
also; and henceforth,</I> by the glory you have seen in me and the
|
|
doctrine you have heard from me, <I>you know him and have seen
|
|
him.</I>" Here is,
|
|
|
|
[1.] A tacit rebuke to them for their dulness and carelessness in not
|
|
acquainting themselves with Jesus Christ, though they had been his
|
|
constant followers and associates: <I>If you had known me--.</I> They
|
|
knew him, and yet did not know him so well as they might and should
|
|
have known him. They knew him to be the Christ, but did not follow on
|
|
to know God in him. Christ had said to the Jews
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+8:19"><I>ch.</I> viii. 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>If you had known me, you would have known my Father also;</I> and
|
|
here the same to his disciples; for it is hard to say which is more
|
|
strange, the wilful ignorance of those that are enemies to the light,
|
|
or the defects and mistakes of <I>the children of light,</I> that have
|
|
had such opportunities of knowledge. If they had known Christ aright,
|
|
they would have known that his kingdom is spiritual, and <I>not of this
|
|
world;</I> that <I>he came down from heaven,</I> and therefore must
|
|
return <I>to heaven;</I> and then they would have known his Father
|
|
also, would have known whither he designed to go, when he said, <I>I go
|
|
to the Father,</I> to a glory in the other world, not in this. If we
|
|
knew Christianity better, we should better know natural religion.
|
|
|
|
[2.] A favourable intimation that he was well satisfied concerning
|
|
their sincerity, notwithstanding the weakness of their understanding:
|
|
"<I>And henceforth,</I> from my giving you this hint, which will serve
|
|
as a key to all the instructions I have given you hitherto, let me tell
|
|
you, <I>you know him, and have seen him,</I> inasmuch as you know me,
|
|
and have seen me;" for in the face of Christ we see the glory of God,
|
|
as we see a father in his son that resembles him. Christ tells his
|
|
disciples that they were not so ignorant as they seemed to be; for,
|
|
though <I>little children,</I> yet they had known the Father,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+2:13">1 John ii. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, Many of the disciples of Christ have more knowledge and more
|
|
grace than they think they have, and Christ takes notice of, and is
|
|
well pleased with, that good in them which they themselves are not
|
|
aware of; for those that know God do not all at once know that they
|
|
know him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+2:3">1 John ii. 3</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Philip enquired concerning the Father
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
and Christ answered him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:9-11"><I>v.</I> 9-11</A>,
|
|
|
|
where observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Philip's request for some extraordinary discovery of the Father. He
|
|
was not so forward to speak as some others of them were, and yet, from
|
|
an earnest desire of further light, he cries out, <I>Show us the
|
|
Father.</I> Philip listened to what Christ said to Thomas, and fastened
|
|
upon the last words, <I>You have seen him.</I> "Nay," says Philip,
|
|
"that is what we want, that is what we would have: <I>Show us the
|
|
Father and it sufficeth us.</I>"
|
|
|
|
(1.) This supposes an earnest desire of acquaintance with God as a
|
|
Father. The petition is, "<I>Show us the Father;</I> give us to know
|
|
him in that relation to us;" and this he begs, not for himself only,
|
|
but for the rest of the disciples. The plea is, <I>It sufficeth us.</I>
|
|
He not only professes it himself, but will pass his word for his
|
|
fellow-disciples. Grant us but one sight of the Father, and we have
|
|
enough. Jansenius saith, "Though Philip did not mean it, yet the Holy
|
|
Ghost, by his mouth, designed here to teach us that the satisfaction
|
|
and happiness of a soul consist in the vision and fruition of God,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+16:11,17:15">Ps. xvi. 11; xvii. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
In the knowledge of God the understanding rests, and is at the summit
|
|
of its ambition; in the knowledge of God as our Father the soul is
|
|
satisfied; a sight of the Father is a heaven upon earth, fills us
|
|
<I>with joy unspeakable.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) As Philip speaks it here, it intimates that he was not satisfied
|
|
with such a discovery of the Father as Christ thought fit to give them,
|
|
but he would prescribe to him, and press upon him, something further
|
|
and no less than some visible appearance of <I>the glory of God,</I>
|
|
like that to Moses
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+33:22">Exod. xxxiii. 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
and to <I>the elders of Israel,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+24:9-11">Exod. xxiv. 9-11</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Let us see the Father with our bodily eyes, as we see thee, <I>and it
|
|
sufficeth us;</I> we will trouble thee with no more questions,
|
|
<I>Whither goest thou?</I>" And so it manifests not only the weakness
|
|
of his faith, but his ignorance of the gospel way of manifesting <I>the
|
|
Father,</I> which is spiritual, and not sensible. Such a sight of God,
|
|
he thinks, would <I>suffice</I> them, and yet those who did thus see
|
|
him were not <I>sufficed,</I> but soon <I>corrupted themselves, and
|
|
made a graven image.</I> Christ's institutions have provided better for
|
|
the confirmation of our faith than our own inventions would.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Christ's reply, referring him to the discoveries already made of the
|
|
Father,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:9-11"><I>v.</I> 9-11</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) He refers him to what he had seen,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
He upbraids him with his ignorance and inadvertency: "<I>Have I been so
|
|
long time with you,</I> now above three years intimately conversant
|
|
with you, <I>and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?</I> Now, <I>he
|
|
that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show
|
|
us the Father?</I> Wilt thou ask for that which thou hast already?" Now
|
|
here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] He reproves him for two things: <I>First,</I> For not improving
|
|
his acquaintance with Christ, as he might have done, to a clear and
|
|
distinct knowledge of him: "<I>Hast thou not known me, Philip,</I> whom
|
|
thou hast followed so long, and conversed with so much?" Philip, the
|
|
first day he came to him, declared that he knew him to be the Messiah
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:45"><I>ch.</I> i. 45</A>),
|
|
|
|
and yet to this day did <I>not know the Father</I> in him. Many that
|
|
have good knowledge in the scripture and divine things fall short of
|
|
the attainments justly expected from them, for want of compounding the
|
|
ideas they have, and going on to perfection. Many know Christ, who yet
|
|
do not know what they might know of him, nor see what they should see
|
|
in him. That which aggravated Philip's dulness was that he had so long
|
|
an opportunity of improvement: <I>I have been so long time with
|
|
thee.</I> Note, The longer we enjoy the means of knowledge and grace,
|
|
the more inexcusable we are if we be found defective in grace and
|
|
knowledge. Christ expects that our proficiency should be in some
|
|
measure according to our standing, that we should not be always babes.
|
|
Let us thus reason with ourselves: "Have I been so long a hearer of
|
|
sermons, a student in the scripture, a scholar in the school of Christ,
|
|
and yet so weak in <I>the knowledge of Christ,</I> and so unskilful in
|
|
<I>the word of righteousness?</I>" <I>Secondly,</I> He reproves him for
|
|
his infirmity in the prayer made, <I>Show us the Father.</I> Note,
|
|
Herein appears much of the weakness of Christ's disciples that they
|
|
<I>know not what to pray for as they ought</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:26">Rom. viii. 26</A>),
|
|
|
|
but often <I>ask amiss</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+4:3">Jam. iv. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
for that which either is not promised or is already bestowed in the
|
|
sense of the promise, as here.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] He instructs him, and gives him a maxim which not only in general
|
|
magnifies Christ and leads us to the knowledge of God in him, but
|
|
justifies what Christ had said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>You know the Father, and have seen him;</I> and answered what Philip
|
|
had asked, <I>Show us the Father.</I> Why, saith Christ, the difficulty
|
|
is soon over, for <I>he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.
|
|
First,</I> All that saw <I>Christ in the flesh</I> might <I>have seen
|
|
the Father</I> in him, if Satan had not <I>blinded their minds,</I> and
|
|
kept them from a sight of Christ, as <I>the image of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:4">2 Cor. iv. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> All that saw Christ by faith did <I>see the Father</I>
|
|
in him, though they were not suddenly aware that they did so. In the
|
|
light of Christ's doctrine they saw God as <I>the father of lights;</I>
|
|
in the miracles they saw God <I>as the God of power, the finger of
|
|
God.</I> The holiness of God shone in the spotless purity of Christ's
|
|
life, and his grace in all the acts of grace he did.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He refers him to what he had reason to believe
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in
|
|
me,</I> and therefore that in <I>seeing me</I> thou hast <I>seen the
|
|
Father?</I> Hast thou not believed this? If not, take my word for it,
|
|
and believe it now."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] See here what it is which we are to believe: <I>That I am in the
|
|
Father, and the Father in me;</I> that is, as he had said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+10:30"><I>ch.</I> x. 30</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>I and my Father are one.</I> He speaks of the Father and himself as
|
|
two persons, and yet so one as never any two were or can be. In knowing
|
|
Christ as <I>God of God, light of light, very God of very God,
|
|
begotten, not made,</I> and as <I>being of one substance with the
|
|
Father, by whom all things were made,</I> we know the Father; and in
|
|
seeing him thus we see the Father. In Christ we behold more of <I>the
|
|
glory of God</I> than Moses did at Mount Horeb.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] See here what inducements we have to believe this; and they are
|
|
two:--We must believe it, <I>First,</I> For his word's sake: <I>The
|
|
words that I speak to you, I speak not of myself.</I> See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:16"><I>ch.</I> vii. 16</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>My doctrine is not mine.</I> What he said seemed to them careless
|
|
as <I>the word of man,</I> speaking his own thought at his own
|
|
pleasure; but really it was the wisdom of God that indited it and the
|
|
will of God that enforced it. <I>He spoke not of himself</I> only, but
|
|
the mind of God according to the eternal counsels. <I>Secondly,</I> For
|
|
his works' sake: <I>The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth them;</I>
|
|
and therefore <I>believe me for their sake.</I> Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. The Father is said to <I>dwell</I> in him <B><I>ho en emoi
|
|
menon</I></B>--<I>he abideth in me,</I> by the inseparable union of the
|
|
divine and human nature: never had God such a temple to dwell in on
|
|
earth as <I>the body of the Lord Jesus,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+2:21"><I>ch.</I> ii. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here was the true Shechinah, of which that in the tabernacle was but a
|
|
type. <I>The fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:9">Col. ii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Father so dwells in Christ that in him he may <I>be found,</I> as a
|
|
man where he dwells. <I>Seek ye the Lord, seek</I> him in Christ, and
|
|
<I>he will be found,</I> for in him he dwells.
|
|
|
|
2. <I>He doeth the works.</I> Many words of power, and works of mercy,
|
|
Christ did, and the Father did them in him; and the work of redemption
|
|
in general was God's own work.
|
|
|
|
3. We are bound to believe this, <I>for the very works' sake.</I> As we
|
|
are to believe the being and perfections of God for the sake of the
|
|
works of creation, which declare his glory; so we are to believe the
|
|
revelation of God to man in Jesus Christ for the sake of the works of
|
|
the Redeemer, those mighty works which, by showing forth themselves
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+14:2">Matt. xiv. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Show forth him, and God in him.</I> Note, Christ's miracles are
|
|
proofs of his divine mission, not only for the conviction of infidels,
|
|
but for the confirmation of the faith of his own disciples,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+2:11,5:36,10:37"><I>ch.</I> ii. 11; v. 36; x. 37</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_14"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Consolatory Discourse.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the
|
|
works that I do shall he do also; and greater <I>works</I> than these
|
|
shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
|
|
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that
|
|
the Father may be glorified in the Son.
|
|
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do <I>it.</I>
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The disciples, as they were full of grief to think of parting with
|
|
their Master, so they were full of care what would become of themselves
|
|
when he was gone; while he was with them, he was a support to them,
|
|
kept them in countenance, kept them in heart; but, if he leave them,
|
|
they will be <I>as sheep having no shepherd,</I> an easy prey to those
|
|
who seek to run them down. Now, to silence these fears, Christ here
|
|
assures them that they should be clothed with powers sufficient to bear
|
|
them out. As Christ has <I>all power,</I> they, in his name, should
|
|
have great <I>power, both in heaven and in earth.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Great power on earth
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He that believeth on me</I> (as I know you do), <I>the works that I
|
|
do shall he do also.</I> This does not weaken the argument Christ had
|
|
taken from his works, to prove himself one with the Father (that others
|
|
should do as <I>great works</I>), but rather strengthens it; for the
|
|
miracles which the apostles wrought were <I>wrought in his name,</I>
|
|
and <I>by faith in him;</I> and this magnifies his power more than any
|
|
thing, that he not only wrought miracles himself, but gave power to
|
|
others to do so too.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Two things he assures them of:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) That they should be enabled to do such works as he had done, and
|
|
that they should have a more ample power for the doing of them than
|
|
they had had when he first sent them forth,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:8">Matt. x. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
Did Christ <I>heal the sick, cleanse the leper, raise the dead?</I> So
|
|
should they. Did he convince and convert sinners, and draw multitudes
|
|
to him? So should they. Though he should depart, the work should not
|
|
cease, nor fall to the ground, but should be carried on as vigorously
|
|
and successfully as ever; and it is still in the doing.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) That they should do <I>greater works than these.</I>
|
|
|
|
[1.] In the kingdom of nature they should work greater miracles. No
|
|
miracle is little, but some to our apprehension seem greater than
|
|
others. Christ had healed with the hem of his garment, but Peter with
|
|
his shadow
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+5:15">Acts v. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
Paul by the handkerchief that had touched him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+19:12">Acts xix. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ wrought miracles for two or three years in one country, but his
|
|
followers wrought miracles in his name for many ages in divers
|
|
countries. <I>You shall do greater works,</I> if there be occasion, for
|
|
the glory of God. <I>The prayer of faith,</I> if at any time it had
|
|
been necessary, would have <I>removed mountains.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] In the kingdom of grace. They should obtain greater victories by
|
|
the gospel than had been obtained while Christ was upon earth. The
|
|
truth is, the captivating of so great a part of the world to Christ,
|
|
under such outward disadvantages, was the miracle of all. I think this
|
|
refers especially to <I>the gift of tongues;</I> this was the immediate
|
|
effect of the <I>pouring out of the Spirit,</I> which was a constant
|
|
miracle upon the mind, in which words are framed, and which was made to
|
|
serve so glorious an intention as that of spreading the gospel to all
|
|
nations <I>in their own language.</I> This was a greater <I>sign to
|
|
them that believed not</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+14:22">1 Cor. xiv. 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
and more powerful for their conviction, than any other miracle
|
|
whatever.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The reason Christ gives for this is, <I>Because I go unto my
|
|
Father,</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) "<I>Because I go,</I> it will be requisite that you should have
|
|
such a power, lest the work suffer damage by my absence."
|
|
|
|
(2.) "<I>Because I go to the Father,</I> I shall be in a capacity to
|
|
furnish you with such a power, for <I>I go to the Father, to send the
|
|
Comforter,</I> from whom <I>you shall receive power,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:8">Acts i. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
The wonderful works which they did in Christ's name were part of the
|
|
glories of his exalted state, <I>when he ascended on high,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+4:8">Eph. iv. 8</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Great <I>power in heaven: "Whatsoever you shall ask, that will I
|
|
do</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:13,14"><I>v.</I> 13, 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
as Israel, who was a prince with God. Therefore you shall do such
|
|
mighty works, because you have such an interest in me, and I in <I>my
|
|
Father.</I>" Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. In what way they were to keep up communion with him, and derive
|
|
power from him, when he was gone to the Father--by prayer. When dear
|
|
friends are to be removed to a distance from each other, they provide
|
|
for the settling of a correspondence; thus, when Christ was going to
|
|
his Father, he tells his disciples how they might write to him upon
|
|
every occasion, and send their epistles by a safe and ready way of
|
|
conveyance, without danger of miscarrying, or lying by the way: "Let me
|
|
hear from you by prayer, <I>the prayer of faith,</I> and you shall hear
|
|
from me by the Spirit." This was the old way of intercourse with
|
|
Heaven, ever since <I>men began to call upon the name of the Lord;</I>
|
|
but Christ by his death has laid it more open, and it is still open to
|
|
us. Here is,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Humility prescribed: <I>You shall ask.</I> Though they had quitted
|
|
all for Christ, they could demand nothing of him as a debt, but must be
|
|
humble supplicants, beg or starve, beg or perish.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Liberty allowed: "Ask any thing, any thing that is good and proper
|
|
for you; any thing, provided you know what you ask, you may ask; you
|
|
may ask for assistance in your work, for a mouth and wisdom, for
|
|
preservation out of the hands of your enemies, for power to work
|
|
miracles when there is occasion, for the success of the ministry in the
|
|
conversion of souls; ask to be informed, directed, vindicated."
|
|
Occasions vary, but they shall be welcome to the throne of grace upon
|
|
every occasion.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. In what name they were to present their petitions: <I>Ask in my
|
|
name.</I> To ask in Christ's name is,
|
|
|
|
(1.) To plead his merit and intercession, and to depend upon that plea.
|
|
The Old-Testament saints had an eye to this when they prayed <I>for the
|
|
Lord's sake</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+9:17">Dan. ix. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
and <I>for the sake of the anointed</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+84:9">Ps. lxxxiv. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
but Christ's mediation is brought to a clearer light by the gospel, and
|
|
so we are enabled more expressly to <I>ask in his name.</I> When Christ
|
|
dictated the Lord's prayer, this was not inserted, because they did not
|
|
then so fully understand this matter as they did afterwards, when the
|
|
Spirit was poured out. If we ask <I>in our own name,</I> we cannot
|
|
expect to speed, for, being strangers, we have <I>no name</I> in
|
|
heaven; being sinners, we have an <I>ill name</I> there; but Christ's
|
|
is a good name, well known in heaven, and very precious.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It is to aim at his glory and to seek this as our highest end in
|
|
all our prayers.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. What success they should have in their prayers: "What you ask,
|
|
<I>that will I do,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
And again
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
"<I>I will do it.</I> You may be sure I will: not only it shall be
|
|
done, I will see it done, or give orders for the doing of it, but <I>I
|
|
will do it;</I>" for he has not only the interest of an intercessor,
|
|
but the power of a sovereign prince, who <I>sits at the right hand of
|
|
God,</I> the hand of action, and has the doing of all in the kingdom of
|
|
God. By faith in his name we may have what we will for the asking.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. For what reason their prayers should speed so well: <I>That the
|
|
Father may be glorified in the Son.</I> That is,
|
|
|
|
(1.) This they ought to aim at, and have their eye upon, in asking. In
|
|
this all our desires and prayers should meet as in their centre; to
|
|
this they must all be directed, that God in Christ may be honoured by
|
|
our services, and in our salvation. <I>Hallowed be thy name</I> is an
|
|
answered prayer, and is put first, because, if the heart be sincere in
|
|
this, it does in a manner <I>consecrate</I> all the other petitions.
|
|
|
|
(2.) This Christ will aim at in granting, and for the sake of this will
|
|
do what they ask, that hereby the glory of the Father in the Son may be
|
|
manifested. The wisdom, power, and goodness of God were magnified in
|
|
the Redeemer when by a power derived from him, and exerted in his name
|
|
and for his service, his apostles and ministers were enabled to do such
|
|
great things, both in the proofs of their doctrine and in the successes
|
|
of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_17"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Consolatory Discourse.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
|
|
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
|
|
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
|
|
17 <I>Even</I> the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive,
|
|
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him;
|
|
for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Christ not only proposes such things to them as were the matter of
|
|
their comfort, but here promises to send the Spirit, whose office it
|
|
should be to be their Comforter, to <I>impress</I> these things upon
|
|
them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. He premises to this a memento of duty
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>If you love me, keep my commandments.</I> Keeping the commandments
|
|
of Christ is here put for the practice of godliness in general, and for
|
|
the faithful and diligent discharge of their office as apostles in
|
|
particular. Now observe,
|
|
|
|
1. When Christ is comforting them, he bids them <I>keep his
|
|
commandments;</I> for we must not expect comfort but in the way of
|
|
duty. The same word (<B><I>parakaleo</I></B>) signifies both to exhort
|
|
and to comfort.
|
|
|
|
2. When they were in care what they should do, now that their Master
|
|
was leaving them, and what would become of them now, he bids them
|
|
<I>keep his commandments,</I> and then nothing could come amiss to
|
|
them. In difficult times our care concerning the events of the day
|
|
should be swallowed up in a care concerning the duty of the day.
|
|
|
|
3. When they were showing their love to Christ by their grieving to
|
|
think of his departure, and the sorrow which filled their hearts upon
|
|
the foresight of that, he bids them, if they would show their love to
|
|
him, do it, not by these weak and feminine passions, but by their
|
|
conscientious care to perform their trust, and by a universal obedience
|
|
to his commands; this is better than sacrifice, better than tears.
|
|
<I>Lovest thou me? Feed my lambs.</I>
|
|
|
|
4. When Christ has given them precious promises, of the answer of their
|
|
prayers and the coming of the Comforter, he lays down this as a
|
|
limitation of the promises, "Provided you keep my commandments, from a
|
|
principle of love to me." Christ will not be an advocate for any but
|
|
those that will be ruled and advised by him as their counsel. Follow
|
|
the conduct of the Spirit, and you shall have the comfort of the
|
|
Spirit.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He promises this great and unspeakable blessing to them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:16,17"><I>v.</I> 16, 17</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. It is promised that they shall have <I>another comforter.</I> This
|
|
is the great New-Testament promise
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:4">Acts i. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
as that of the Messiah was of the Old Testament; a promise adapted to
|
|
the present distress of the disciples, who were in sorrow, and needed a
|
|
comforter. Observe here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) The blessing promised: <B><I>allon parakleton</I></B>. The word is
|
|
used only here in these discourses of Christ's, and
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+2:1">1 John ii. 1</A>,
|
|
|
|
where we translate it an <I>advocate.</I> The Rhemists, and Dr.
|
|
Hammond, are for retaining the <I>Greek</I> word <I>Paraclete;</I> we
|
|
read,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:31">Acts ix. 31</A>,
|
|
|
|
of the <B><I>paraklesis tou hagiou pneumatos</I></B>, the <I>comfort of
|
|
the Holy Ghost,</I> including his whole office as a paraclete.
|
|
|
|
[1.] You shall have another <I>advocate.</I> The office of the Spirit
|
|
was to be Christ's advocate with them and others, to plead his cause,
|
|
and take care of his concerns, on earth; to be <I>vicarius
|
|
Christi--Christ's Vicar,</I> as one of the ancients call him; and to be
|
|
their advocate with their opposers. When Christ was with them he spoke
|
|
for them as there was occasion; but now that he is leaving them they
|
|
shall not be run down, the Spirit of the Father shall speak in them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:19,20">Matt. x. 19, 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
And the cause cannot miscarry that is pleaded by such an advocate.
|
|
|
|
[2.] You shall have another <I>master</I> or <I>teacher,</I> another
|
|
<I>exhorter.</I> While they had Christ with them he excited and
|
|
exhorted them to their duty; but now that he is going he leaves one
|
|
with them that shall do this as effectually, though silently. Jansenius
|
|
thinks the most proper word to render it by is a <I>patron,</I> one
|
|
that shall both instruct and protect you.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Another <I>comforter.</I> Christ was expected as the consolation
|
|
of Israel. One of the names of the Messiah among the Jews was
|
|
<I>Menahem--the Comforter.</I> The Targum calls the days of the Messiah
|
|
<I>the years of consolation.</I> Christ comforted his disciples when he
|
|
was with them, and now that he was leaving them in their greatest need
|
|
he promises them <I>another.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) The giver of this blessing: <I>The Father</I> shall give him,
|
|
<I>my Father</I> and <I>your Father;</I> it includes both. The same
|
|
that gave the Son to be our Saviour will give his Spirit to be our
|
|
comforter, pursuant to the same design. The Son is said to send the
|
|
Comforter
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+15:26"><I>ch.</I> xv. 26</A>),
|
|
|
|
but the Father is the prime agent.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) How this blessing is procured--by the intercession of the Lord
|
|
Jesus: <I>I will pray the Father.</I> He said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>)
|
|
|
|
<I>I will do it;</I> here he saith, <I>I will pray for it,</I> to show
|
|
not only that he is both God and man, but that he is both king and
|
|
priest. As priest he is ordained for men to make intercession, as king
|
|
he is authorized by the Father to execute judgment. When Christ saith,
|
|
<I>I will pray the Father,</I> it does not suppose that the Father is
|
|
unwilling, or must be importuned to it, but only that the gift of the
|
|
Spirit is a fruit of Christ's mediation, purchased by his merit, and
|
|
taken out by his intercession.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(4.) The continuance of this blessing: <I>That he may abide with you
|
|
for ever.</I> That is,
|
|
|
|
[1.] "<I>With you,</I> as long as you live. You shall never know the
|
|
want of a comforter, nor lament his departure, as you are now lamenting
|
|
mine." Note, It should support us under the loss of those comforts
|
|
which were designed us for a time that there are everlasting
|
|
consolations provided for us. It was not expedient that Christ should
|
|
be with them for ever, for they who were designed for public service,
|
|
must not always live a college-life; they must disperse, and therefore
|
|
a comforter that would be with them all, in all places alike,
|
|
wheresoever dispersed and howsoever distressed, was alone fit to be
|
|
with them for ever.
|
|
|
|
[2.] "With your successors, when you are gone, to the end of time; your
|
|
successors in Christianity, in the ministry."
|
|
|
|
[3.] If we take <I>for ever</I> in its utmost extent, the promise will
|
|
be accomplished in those consolations of God which will be the eternal
|
|
joy of all the saints, <I>pleasures for ever.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. This comforter is the <I>Spirit of truth, whom you know,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:16,17"><I>v.</I> 16, 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
They might think it impossible to have a comforter equivalent to him
|
|
who is the Son of God: "Yea," saith Christ, "you shall have the Spirit
|
|
of God, who is equal in power and glory with the Son."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) The comforter promised is <I>the Spirit,</I> one who should do his
|
|
work in a spiritual way and manner, inwardly and invisibly, by working
|
|
on men's spirits.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) "He is the <I>Spirit of truth.</I>" He will be true to you, and to
|
|
his undertaking for you, which he will perform to the utmost. He will
|
|
<I>teach you the truth,</I> will enlighten your minds with the
|
|
knowledge of it, will strengthen and confirm your belief of it, and
|
|
will increase your love to it. The Gentiles by their idolatries, and
|
|
the Jews by their traditions, were led into gross errors and mistakes;
|
|
but the Spirit of truth shall not only <I>lead you into all truth,</I>
|
|
but others by your ministry. Christ is the truth, and he is the Spirit
|
|
of Christ, the Spirit that he was anointed with.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) He is one <I>whom the world cannot receive;</I> but <I>you know
|
|
him. Therefore he abideth with you.</I>
|
|
|
|
[1.] The disciples of Christ are here distinguished from the world, for
|
|
they are chosen and called out of the world that lies in wickedness;
|
|
they are the children and heirs of another world, not of this.
|
|
|
|
[2.] It is the misery of those that are invincibly devoted to the world
|
|
that they <I>cannot receive</I> the Spirit of truth. The spirit <I>of
|
|
the world</I> and <I>of God</I> are spoken of as directly contrary the
|
|
one to the other
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:12">1 Cor. ii. 12</A>);
|
|
|
|
for where the spirit of the world has the ascendant, the Spirit of God
|
|
is excluded. Even the <I>princes of this world,</I> though, as princes,
|
|
they had advantages of knowledge, yet, as princes of this world, they
|
|
laboured under invincible prejudices, so that they knew not <I>the
|
|
things of the Spirit of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:8">1 Cor. ii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
[3.] Therefore men <I>cannot receive the Spirit of truth</I> because
|
|
they <I>see him not, neither know him.</I> The comforts of the Spirit
|
|
are <I>foolishness to them,</I> as much as ever the cross of Christ
|
|
was, and the great things of the gospel, like those of the law, are
|
|
counted as a strange thing. These are judgments far above out of their
|
|
sight. Speak to the children of this world of the operations of the
|
|
Spirit, and you are as a barbarian to them.
|
|
|
|
[4.] The best knowledge of the Spirit of truth is that which is got by
|
|
experience: <I>You know him, for he dwelleth with you.</I> Christ had
|
|
dwelt with them, and by their acquaintance with him they could not but
|
|
know <I>the Spirit of truth.</I> They had themselves been endued with
|
|
the Spirit in some measure. What enabled them to leave all to follow
|
|
Christ, and to continue with him in his temptations? What enabled them
|
|
to preach the gospel, and work miracles, but the Spirit dwelling in
|
|
them? The experiences of the saints are the explications of the
|
|
promises; paradoxes to others are axioms to them.
|
|
|
|
[5.] Those that have an experimental acquaintance with the Spirit have
|
|
a comfortable assurance of his continuance: He <I>dwelleth with you,
|
|
and shall be in you,</I> for the blessed Spirit doth not use to shift
|
|
his lodging. Those that know him know how to value him, invite him and
|
|
bid him welcome; and therefore he shall be in them, as the light in the
|
|
air, as the sap in the tree, as the soul in the body. Their communion
|
|
with him shall be intimate, and their union with him inseparable.
|
|
|
|
[6.] The gift of the Holy Ghost is a peculiar gift, bestowed upon the
|
|
disciples of Christ in a distinguishing way--them, and not the world;
|
|
it is to them <I>hidden manna,</I> and the <I>white stone.</I> No
|
|
comforts comparable to those which make no show, make no noise. This is
|
|
the favour God bears to his chosen; it is the <I>heritage of those that
|
|
fear his name.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_24"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Consolatory Discourse.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
|
|
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye
|
|
see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
|
|
20 At that day ye shall know that I <I>am</I> in my Father, and ye
|
|
in me, and I in you.
|
|
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is
|
|
that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my
|
|
Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
|
|
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that
|
|
thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
|
|
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will
|
|
keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto
|
|
him, and make our abode with him.
|
|
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word
|
|
which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
When friends are parting, it is a common request they make to each
|
|
other, "Pray let us hear from you as often as you can:" this Christ
|
|
engaged to his disciples, that out of sight they should not be out of
|
|
mind.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. He promises that he would continue his care of them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>I will not leave you orphans,</I> or <I>fatherless;</I> for, though
|
|
I leave you, yet I leave you this comfort, <I>I will come to you.</I>"
|
|
His departure from them was that which grieved them; but it was not so
|
|
bad as they apprehended, for it was neither total nor final.
|
|
|
|
1. Not total. "Though I leave you without my bodily presence, yet I do
|
|
not leave you without comfort." Though children, and left
|
|
<I>little,</I> yet they had received the adoption of sons, and his
|
|
Father would be their Father, with whom those who otherwise would be
|
|
fatherless find mercy. Note, The case of true believers, though
|
|
sometimes it may be sorrowful, is never comfortless, because they are
|
|
never orphans: for God is their Father, who is an <I>everlasting
|
|
Father.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. Not final: <I>I will come to you,</I> <B><I>erchomai</I></B>--<I>I
|
|
do come;</I> that is,
|
|
|
|
(1.) "I will come speedily to you at my resurrection, I will not be
|
|
long away, but will be with you again in a little time." He had often
|
|
said, <I>The third day I will rise again.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) "I will be coming daily to you in my Spirit;" in the tokens of his
|
|
love, and visits of his grace, he is still coming.
|
|
|
|
(3.) "I will come certainly at the end of time; surely I will come
|
|
quickly to introduce you into the joy of your Lord." Note, The
|
|
consideration of Christ's coming to us saves us from being comfortless
|
|
in his removals from us; for, if he <I>depart for a season,</I> it is
|
|
<I>that we may receive him for ever.</I> Let this moderate our grief,
|
|
<I>The Lord is at hand.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He promises that they should continue their acquaintance with him
|
|
and interest in him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:19,20"><I>v.</I> 19, 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more,</I> that is, Now
|
|
I am no more in the world. After his death, <I>the world saw him no
|
|
more,</I> for, though he rose to life, he never <I>showed himself to
|
|
all the people,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+10:41">Acts x. 41</A>.
|
|
|
|
The malignant world thought they had seen enough of him, and <I>cried,
|
|
Away with him; crucify him;</I> and so shall their doom be; they shall
|
|
see him no more. Those only that see Christ with an eye of faith shall
|
|
see him for ever. The world sees him no more till his second coming;
|
|
but his disciples have communion with him in his absence.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. <I>You see me,</I> and shall continue to see me, when <I>the world
|
|
sees me no more.</I> They saw him with their bodily eyes after his
|
|
resurrection, for he showed himself to them <I>by many infallible
|
|
proofs,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:8">Acts i. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
And <I>then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.</I> They
|
|
saw him with an eye of faith after his ascension, sitting at God's
|
|
right hand, as Lord of all; saw that in him which the world saw
|
|
not.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. <I>Because I live, you shall live also.</I> That which grieved them
|
|
was, that their Master was dying, and they counted upon nothing else
|
|
but to die with him. No, saith Christ,
|
|
|
|
(1.) <I>I live;</I> this the great God glories in, <I>I live,</I> saith
|
|
the Lord, and Christ saith the same; not only, I shall live, as he
|
|
saith of them, but, I do live; for he has <I>life in himself,</I> and
|
|
<I>lives for evermore.</I> We are not comfortless, while <I>we know
|
|
that our Redeemer lives.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Therefore <I>you shall live also.</I> Note, The life of Christians
|
|
is bound up in the life of Christ; as sure and as long as he lives,
|
|
those that by faith are united to him shall live also; they shall live
|
|
spiritually, a divine life in communion with God. This life is hid with
|
|
Christ; if the head and root live, the members and branches live also.
|
|
They shall <I>live eternally;</I> their bodies shall rise in the virtue
|
|
of Christ's resurrection; it will be well with them in the world to
|
|
come. It cannot but be well with all that are his,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+26:19">Isa. xxvi. 19</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. You shall have the assurance of this
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>At that day,</I> when I am glorified, when the Spirit is poured out,
|
|
<I>you shall know</I> more clearly and certainly than you do now that
|
|
<I>I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) These glorious mysteries will be fully known in heaven; <I>At that
|
|
day,</I> when I shall receive you to myself, you shall know perfectly
|
|
that which now you <I>see through a glass darkly.</I> Now it appears
|
|
not <I>what we shall be,</I> but then it will appear what we were.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They were more fully known after the pouring out of the Spirit
|
|
upon the apostles; at that day divine light should shine, and their
|
|
eyes should see more clearly, their knowledge should greatly advance
|
|
and increase then, would become more extensive and more distinct, and
|
|
like the blind man's at the second touch of Christ's hand, who at first
|
|
only <I>saw men as trees walking.</I>
|
|
|
|
(3.) They are known by all that receive the Spirit of truth, to their
|
|
abundant satisfaction, for in the knowledge of this is founded their
|
|
<I>fellowship with the Father</I> and <I>his Son Jesus Christ.</I> They
|
|
know,
|
|
|
|
[1.] That <I>Christ is in the Father,</I> is one with the Father, by
|
|
their experience of what he has wrought for them and in them; they find
|
|
what an admirable consent and harmony there is between Christianity and
|
|
natural religion, that that is grafted into this, and so they know that
|
|
Christ <I>is in the Father.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] That Christ is in them; experienced Christians know by the Spirit
|
|
that Christ abides in them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Jo+3:24">1 John iii. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
[3.] That they are in Christ, for the relation is mutual, and equally
|
|
near on both sides, Christ in them and they in Christ, which speaks an
|
|
intimate and inseparable union; in the virtue of which it is that
|
|
<I>because he lives they shall live also.</I> Note, <I>First,</I> Union
|
|
with Christ is the life of believers; and their relation to him, and to
|
|
God through him, is their felicity. <I>Secondly,</I> The knowledge of
|
|
this union is their unspeakable joy and satisfaction; they were now in
|
|
Christ, and he in them, but he speaks of it as a further act of grace
|
|
that they should know it, and have the comfort of it. An interest in
|
|
Christ and the knowledge of it are sometimes separated.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. He promises that he would love them, and manifest himself to them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:21-24"><I>v.</I> 21-24</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. Who they are whom Christ will look upon, and accept, as lovers of
|
|
him; those that <I>have his commandments, and keep them.</I> By this
|
|
Christ shows that the kind things he here said to his disciples were
|
|
intended not for those only that were <I>now</I> his <I>followers,</I>
|
|
but for all that should <I>believe in him through their word.</I> Here
|
|
is,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The duty of those who claim the dignity of being disciples.
|
|
Having Christ's commandments, we must keep them; as Christians in name
|
|
and profession we have Christ's commandments, we have them sounding in
|
|
our ears, written before our eyes, we have the knowledge of them; but
|
|
this is not enough; would we approve ourselves Christians indeed, we
|
|
must keep them. Having them in our heads, we must keep them in our
|
|
hearts and lives.
|
|
|
|
(2.) The dignity of those that do the duty of disciples. They are
|
|
looked upon by Christ to be such as love him. Not those that have the
|
|
greatest wit and know how to talk for him, but those that <I>keep his
|
|
commandments.</I> Note, The surest evidence of our love to Christ is
|
|
obedience to the laws of Christ. Such is the love of a subject to his
|
|
sovereign, a dutiful, respectful, obediential love, a conformity to his
|
|
will, and satisfaction in his wisdom.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. What returns he will make to them for their love; rich returns;
|
|
there is no love lost upon Christ.
|
|
|
|
(1.) They shall have the Father's love: <I>He that loveth me shall be
|
|
loved of my Father.</I> We could not love God if he did not first, out
|
|
of his good-will to us, give us his grace to love him; but there is a
|
|
love of complacency promised to those that do love God,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+8:17">Prov. viii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
He loves them, and lets them know that he loves them, smiles upon them,
|
|
and embraces them. God so loves the Son as to love all those that love
|
|
him.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They shall have Christ's love: <I>And I will love him,</I> as
|
|
God-man, as Mediator. God will love him as a Father, and I will love
|
|
him as a brother, an elder brother. The Creator will love him, and be
|
|
the felicity of his being; the Redeemer will love him, and be the
|
|
protector of his well-being. In the nature of God, nothing shines more
|
|
brightly than this, that <I>God is love.</I> And in the undertaking of
|
|
Christ nothing appears more glorious than this, that <I>he loved
|
|
us.</I> Now both these loves are the crown and comfort, the <I>grace
|
|
and glory,</I> which shall be to all those that <I>love the Lord Jesus
|
|
Christ in sincerity.</I> Christ was now leaving his disciples, but
|
|
promises to continue his love to them; for he not only retains a
|
|
kindness for believers, though absent, but is doing them kindness while
|
|
absent, for he bears them on his heart, and ever lives interceding for
|
|
them.
|
|
|
|
(3.) They shall have the comfort of that love: <I>I will manifest
|
|
myself to him.</I> Some understand it of Christ's showing himself alive
|
|
to his disciples after his resurrection; but, being promised to all
|
|
that <I>love him and keep his commandments,</I> it must be construed so
|
|
as to extend to them. There is a spiritual manifestation of Christ and
|
|
his love made to all believers. When he enlightens their minds to know
|
|
his love, and the dimensions of it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+3:18,19">Eph. iii. 18, 19</A>),
|
|
|
|
enlivens their graces, and draws them into exercise, and thus enlarges
|
|
their comforts in himself--when he clears up the evidences of their
|
|
interest in him, and gives them tokens of his love, experience of his
|
|
tenderness, and earnests of his kingdom and glory,--then he manifests
|
|
himself to them; and Christ is manifested to none but those to whom he
|
|
is pleased to manifest himself.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. What occurred upon Christ's making this promise.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) One of the disciples expresses his wonder and surprise at it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Who it was that said this--<I>Judas, not Iscariot.</I> Judah, or
|
|
Judas, was a famous name; the most famous tribe in Israel was that of
|
|
Judah; two of Christ's disciples were of that name: one of them was the
|
|
traitor, the other was the brother of James
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+6:16">Luke vi. 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
one of those that were akin to Christ,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+13:55">Matt. xiii. 55</A>.
|
|
|
|
He is called <I>Lebbeus</I> and <I>Thaddeus,</I> was the penman of the
|
|
last of the epistles, which in our translation, for distinction's sake,
|
|
we call <I>the epistle of Jude.</I> This was he that spoke here.
|
|
Observe, <I>First,</I> There was a very good man, and a very bad man,
|
|
called by the same name; for names commend us not to God, nor do they
|
|
make men worse. Judas the apostle was never the worse, nor Judas the
|
|
apostate ever the better, for being namesakes. But, <I>Secondly,</I>
|
|
The evangelist carefully distinguishes between them; when he speaks of
|
|
this pious Judas, he adds, <I>not Iscariot.</I> Take heed of mistaking;
|
|
let us not confound the precious and the vile.
|
|
|
|
[2.] What he said--<I>Lord how is it?</I> which intimates either,
|
|
<I>First,</I> the weakness of his understanding. So some take it. He
|
|
expected the temporal kingdom of the Messiah, that it should appear in
|
|
external pomp and power, such as all the world would wonder after.
|
|
"How, then," thinks he, "should it be confined to us only?" <B><I>ti
|
|
gegonen</I></B>--"<I>what is the matter</I> now, that thou wilt not
|
|
show thyself openly as is expected, that <I>the Gentiles may come to
|
|
thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising?</I>" Note, We
|
|
create difficulties to ourselves by mistaking the nature of Christ's
|
|
kingdom, as if it were of this world. Or, <I>Secondly,</I> as
|
|
expressing the strength of his affections, and the humble and thankful
|
|
sense he had of Christ's distinguishing favours to them: <I>Lord, how
|
|
is it?</I> He is amazed at the condescensions of divine grace, as
|
|
David,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+7:18">2 Sam. vii. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
What is there in us to deserve so great a favour? Note,
|
|
|
|
1. Christ's manifesting himself to his disciples is done in a
|
|
distinguishing way-to them, and <I>not to the world</I> that <I>sits in
|
|
darkness;</I> to the <I>base,</I> and not to the <I>mighty</I> and
|
|
<I>noble;</I> to <I>babes,</I> and not to the <I>wise</I> and
|
|
<I>prudent.</I> Distinguishing favours are very obliging; considering
|
|
who are passed by, and who are pitched upon.
|
|
|
|
2. It is justly <I>marvellous in our eyes;</I> for it is
|
|
unaccountable, and must be resolved into free and sovereign grace.
|
|
<I>Even so, Father, because it seemed good unto thee.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Christ, in answer hereto, explains and confirms what he had said,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:23,24"><I>v.</I> 23, 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
He overlooks what infirmity there was in what Judas spoke, and goes on
|
|
with his comforts.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] He further explains the condition of the promise, which was loving
|
|
him, and keeping his commandments. And, as to this, he shows what an
|
|
inseparable connection there is between love and obedience; love is the
|
|
root, obedience is the fruit. <I>First,</I> Where a sincere love to
|
|
Christ is in the heart, there will be obedience: "<I>If a man love
|
|
me</I> indeed, that love will be such a commanding constraining
|
|
principle in him, that, no question, he will <I>keep my words.</I>"
|
|
Where there is true love to Christ there is a value for his favour, a
|
|
veneration for his authority, and an entire surrender of the whole man
|
|
to his direction and government. Where love is, duty follows of course,
|
|
is easy and natural, and flows from a principle of gratitude.
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> On the other hand, where there is no true love to
|
|
Christ there will be no care to obey him: <I>He that loveth me not
|
|
keepeth not my sayings,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
This comes in here as a discovery of those that <I>do not love
|
|
Christ;</I> whatever they pretend, certainly those do not love him that
|
|
believe not his truths, and obey not his laws, to whom Christ's sayings
|
|
are but as idle tales, which he heeds not, or hard sayings, which he
|
|
likes not. It is also a reason why Christ will not manifest himself to
|
|
the world that doth not <I>love him,</I> because they put this affront
|
|
upon him, not to <I>keep his sayings;</I> why should Christ be familiar
|
|
with those that will be strange to him?</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] He further explains the promise
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>If a man thus love me, I will manifest myself to him. First, My
|
|
Father will love him;</I> this he had said before
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
and here repeats it for the confirming of our faith; because it is hard
|
|
to imagine that the great god should make those the objects of his love
|
|
that had made themselves <I>vessels of his wrath.</I> Jude wondered
|
|
that Christ should <I>manifest himself to them;</I> but this answers
|
|
it, "If my Father love you, why should not I be free with you?"
|
|
<I>Secondly, We will come unto him, and make our abode with him.</I>
|
|
This explains the meaning of Christ's manifesting himself to him, and
|
|
magnifies the favour.
|
|
|
|
1. Not only,<I>I will,</I> but, <I>We will, I and the Father,</I> who,
|
|
in this, <I>are one.</I> See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
The light and love of God are communicated to man in the light and love
|
|
of the Redeemer, so that wherever Christ is formed the image of God is
|
|
stamped.
|
|
|
|
2. Not only, "<I>I will show myself to him</I> at a distance," but,
|
|
"<I>We will come to him,</I> to be near him, to be with him," such are
|
|
the powerful influences of divine graces and comforts upon the souls of
|
|
those that love Christ in sincerity.
|
|
|
|
3. Not only, "I will give him a transient view of me, or make him a
|
|
short and running visit," but, <I>We will take up our abode with
|
|
him</I> which denotes complacency in him and constancy to him. God will
|
|
not only love obedient believers, but he will take a pleasure in loving
|
|
them, will rest in love to them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zep+3:17">Zeph. iii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
He will be with them as at his home.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[3.] He gives a good reason both to bind us to observe the condition
|
|
and encourage us to depend upon the promise. <I>The word which you hear
|
|
is not mine, but his that sent me,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
To this purport he had often spoken
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:16,8:28,12:44"><I>ch.</I> vii. 16; viii. 28; xii. 44</A>),
|
|
|
|
and here it comes in very pertinently. <I>First,</I> the stress of duty
|
|
is laid upon the precept of Christ as our rule, and justly, for that
|
|
word of Christ which we are to keep is the Father's word, and his will
|
|
the Father's will. <I>Secondly,</I> The stress of our comfort is laid
|
|
upon the promise of Christ. But forasmuch as, in dependence upon that
|
|
promise, we must deny ourselves, and take up our cross, and quit all,
|
|
it concerns us to enquire whether the security be sufficient for us to
|
|
venture our all upon; and this satisfies us that it is, that the
|
|
promise is not Christ's bare word, but the Father's which sent him,
|
|
which therefore we may rely upon.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_27"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec6"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Consolatory Discourse.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>25 These things have I spoken unto you, being <I>yet</I> present
|
|
with you.
|
|
26 But the Comforter, <I>which is</I> the Holy Ghost, whom the
|
|
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and
|
|
bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto
|
|
you.
|
|
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the
|
|
world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
|
|
neither let it be afraid.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Two things Christ here comforts his disciples with:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. That they should be under the tuition of his Spirit,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:25,26"><I>v.</I> 25, 26</A>,
|
|
|
|
where we may observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The reflection Christ would have them make upon the instructions he
|
|
had given them: <I>These things have I spoken unto you</I> (referring
|
|
to all the good lessons he had taught them, since they entered
|
|
themselves into his school), <I>being yet present with you.</I> This
|
|
intimates,
|
|
|
|
(1.) That what he had said he did not retract nor unsay, but ratify it,
|
|
or stand to it. What he had spoken he had spoken, and would abide by
|
|
it.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That he had improved the opportunity of his bodily presence with
|
|
them to the utmost: "As long as I have been yet present with them, you
|
|
know I have lost no time." Note, When our teachers are about to be
|
|
removed from us we should call to mind what they have spoken, <I>being
|
|
yet present with us.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The encouragement given them to expect another teacher, and that
|
|
Christ would find out a way of speaking to them after his departure
|
|
from them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
He had told them before that the Father would give them this other
|
|
comforter
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
and here he returns to speak of it again; for as the promise of the
|
|
Messiah had been, so the promise of the Spirit now was, the consolation
|
|
of Israel. Two things he here tells them further concerning the sending
|
|
of the Holy Ghost:--</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) On whose account he should be sent: "The Father will send him
|
|
<I>in my name;</I> that is, for <I>my sake,</I> at my special instance
|
|
and request:" or, "as my agent and representative." He came in his
|
|
Father's name, as his ambassador: the Spirit comes in his name, as
|
|
resident in his absence, to carry on his undertaking, and to ripen
|
|
things for his second coming. Hence he is called <I>the Spirit of
|
|
Christ,</I> for he pleads his cause, and does his work.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) On what errand he should be sent; two things he shall do:--
|
|
|
|
[1.] <I>He shall teach you all things,</I> as a Spirit of wisdom and
|
|
revelation Christ was a teacher to his disciples; if he leave them now
|
|
that they have made so little proficiency, what will become of them?
|
|
Why, the Spirit shall teach them, shall be their standing tutor. He
|
|
shall teach them all things necessary for them either to learn
|
|
themselves, or to teach others. For those that would teach the things
|
|
of God must first themselves be taught of God; this is the Spirit's
|
|
work. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+59:21">Isa. lix. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] <I>He shall bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have
|
|
said unto you.</I> Many a good lesson Christ had taught them, which
|
|
they had forgotten, and which would be to seek when they had occasion
|
|
for it. Many things they did not retain the remembrance of, because
|
|
they did not rightly understand the meaning of them. The Spirit shall
|
|
not teach them a new gospel, but bring to their minds that which they
|
|
had been taught, by leading them into the understanding of it. The
|
|
apostles were all of them to preach, and some of them to write, the
|
|
things that Jesus did and taught, to transmit them to distant nations
|
|
and future ages; now, if they had been left to themselves herein, some
|
|
needful things might have been forgotten, others misrepresented,
|
|
through the treachery of their memories; therefore the Spirit is
|
|
promised to enable them truly to relate and record what Christ said
|
|
unto them. And to all the saints the Spirit of grace is given to be a
|
|
remembrancer, and to him by faith and prayer we should commit the
|
|
keeping of what we hear and know.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. That they should be under the influence of his peace
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Peace I leave with you.</I> When Christ was about to leave the world
|
|
he <I>made his will.</I> His soul he committed to his Father; his body
|
|
he bequeathed to Joseph, to be decently interred; his clothes fell to
|
|
the soldiers; his mother he left to the care of John: but what should
|
|
he leave to his poor disciples, that had left all for him? Silver and
|
|
gold he had none; but he left them that which was infinitely better,
|
|
<I>his peace.</I> <I>"I leave you,</I> but I leave <I>my peace</I> with
|
|
you. I not only give you a title to it, but put you in possession of
|
|
it." He did not part in anger, but in love; for this was his farewell,
|
|
<I>Peace I leave with you,</I> as a dying father leaves portions to his
|
|
children; and this is a <I>worthy portion.</I> Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The legacy that is here bequeathed <I>Peace, my peace.</I> Peace is
|
|
put for all good, and Christ has left us all needful good, all that is
|
|
really and truly good, as all the purchased promised good. Peace is put
|
|
for reconciliation and love; the peace bequeathed is peace with God,
|
|
peace with one another; peace <I>in our own bosoms</I> seems to be
|
|
especially meant; a tranquillity of mind arising from a sense of our
|
|
justification before God. It is the counterpart of our pardons, and the
|
|
composure of our minds. This Christ calls <I>his</I> peace, for he is
|
|
himself our peace,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:14">Eph. ii. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is the peace he purchased for us and preached to us, and on which
|
|
the angels congratulated men at his birth,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+2:14">Luke ii. 14</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. To whom this legacy is bequeathed: "To you, my disciples and
|
|
followers, that will be exposed to trouble, and have need of peace; to
|
|
you that are the sons of peace, and are qualified to receive it." This
|
|
legacy was left to them as the representatives of the church, to them
|
|
and their successors, to them and all true Christians in all ages.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. In what manner it is left: <I>Not as the world giveth, give I unto
|
|
you.</I> That is,
|
|
|
|
(1.) "I do not compliment you with <I>Peace be unto you;</I> no, it is
|
|
not a mere formality, but a real blessing."
|
|
|
|
(2.) "The peace I give is of such a nature that the smiles of the world
|
|
cannot give it, nor the frowns of the world take it away." Or,
|
|
|
|
(3.) "The gifts I give to you are not such as this world gives to its
|
|
children and votaries, to whom it is kind." The world's gifts concern
|
|
only the body and time; Christ's gifts enrich the soul for eternity:
|
|
the world gives lying vanities, and that which will cheat us; Christ
|
|
gives substantial blessings, which will never fail us: the world gives
|
|
and takes; Christ gives a good part that shall <I>never be taken
|
|
away.</I>
|
|
|
|
(4.) The peace which Christ gives is infinitely more valuable than that
|
|
which the world gives. The world's peace begins in ignorance, consists
|
|
with sin, and ends in endless troubles; Christ's peace begins in grace,
|
|
consists with no allowed sin, and ends at length in everlasting peace.
|
|
As is the difference between a killing lethargy and a reviving
|
|
refreshing sleep, such is the difference between Christ's peace and the
|
|
world's.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. What use they should make of it: <I>Let not your heart be
|
|
troubled,</I> for any evils past or present, <I>neither let it be
|
|
afraid</I> of any evil to come. Note, Those that are interested in the
|
|
covenant of grace, and entitled to the peace which Christ gives, ought
|
|
not to yield to overwhelming griefs and fears. This comes in here as
|
|
the conclusion of the whole matter; he had said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Let not your heart be troubled,</I> and here he repeats it as that
|
|
for which he had now given sufficient reason.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Joh14_30"> </A>
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<A NAME="Joh14_31"> </A>
|
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<A NAME="Sec7"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Consolatory Discourse.</I></FONT></TD>
|
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
|
|
|
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<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come
|
|
<I>again</I> unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I
|
|
said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
|
|
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when
|
|
it is come to pass, ye might believe.
|
|
30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of
|
|
this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
|
|
31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as
|
|
the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go
|
|
hence.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Christ here gives his disciples another reason why their hearts should
|
|
not be troubled for his going away; and that is, because his heart was
|
|
not. And here he tells them what it was that enabled him to endure the
|
|
cross and despise the shame, that they might <I>look unto him,</I> and
|
|
<I>run with patience.</I> He comforted himself,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. That, though he went away, he should <I>come again: "You have heard
|
|
how I have said,</I> and now I say it again, <I>I go away, and come
|
|
again.</I>" Note, What we have heard of the doctrine of Christ,
|
|
especially concerning his second coming, we have need to be told again
|
|
and again. When we are under the power of any transport of passion,
|
|
grief, or fear, or care, we forget that Christ will come again. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+4:5">Phil. iv. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ encouraged himself with <I>this,</I> in his sufferings and
|
|
death, that he should <I>come again,</I> and the same should comfort us
|
|
in our departure at death; we go away to come again; the leave we take
|
|
of our friends at that parting is only a good night, not a final
|
|
farewell. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+4:13,14">1 Thess. iv. 13, 14</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. That he <I>went to his Father: "If you loved me,</I> as by your
|
|
sorrow you say you do, <I>you would rejoice</I> instead of mourning,
|
|
because, though I leave you, yet I said, <I>I go unto the Father,</I>
|
|
not only mine, but yours, which will be my advancement and your
|
|
advantage; for <I>my Father is greater than I.</I>" Observe here,
|
|
|
|
1. It is matter of joy to Christ's disciples that he is gone to the
|
|
Father, to take possession for orphans, and make intercession for
|
|
transgressors. His departure had a bright side as well as a dark side.
|
|
Therefore he sent this message after his resurrection
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+20:17"><I>ch.</I> xx. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>I ascend to my Father and your Father,</I> as most comfortable.
|
|
|
|
2. The reason of this is, because <I>the Father is greater than
|
|
he,</I> which, if it be a proper proof of that for which it is alleged
|
|
(as no doubt it is), must be understood thus, that his state with his
|
|
Father would be much more excellent and glorious than his present
|
|
state; his returning to his Father (so Dr. Hammond) would be the
|
|
advancing of him to a much higher condition than that which he was now
|
|
in. Or thus, His going to the Father himself, and bringing all his
|
|
followers to him there, was the ultimate end of his undertaking, and
|
|
therefore greater than the means. Thus Christ raises the thoughts and
|
|
expectations of his disciples to something greater than that in which
|
|
now they thought all their happiness bound up. The kingdom of the
|
|
Father, wherein he shall be all in all, will be greater than the
|
|
mediatorial kingdom.
|
|
|
|
3. The disciples of Christ should show that they love him by their
|
|
rejoicing in the glories of his exaltation, rather than by lamenting
|
|
the sorrows of his humiliation, and rejoicing that he is gone to his
|
|
Father, where he would be, and where we shall be shortly with him. Many
|
|
that love Christ, let their love run out in a wrong channel; they think
|
|
if they love him they must be continually in pain because of him;
|
|
whereas those that love him should <I>dwell at ease</I> in him, should
|
|
<I>rejoice in Christ Jesus.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. That his going away, compared with the prophecies which went
|
|
before of it, would be a means of confirming the faith of his disciples
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>I have told you before it come to pass</I> that I must die and rise
|
|
again, and ascend to the Father, and send the Comforter, <I>that, when
|
|
it is come to pass, you might believe.</I>" See this reason,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+13:19,16:4"><I>ch.</I> xiii. 19; xvi. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ told his disciples of his death, though he knew it would both
|
|
puzzle them and grieve them, because it would afterwards redound to the
|
|
confirmation of their faith in two things:--
|
|
|
|
1. That he who foretold these things had a divine prescience, and knew
|
|
beforehand what day would bring forth. When St. Paul was going to
|
|
Jerusalem, he <I>knew not the things that did abide him there,</I> but
|
|
Christ did.
|
|
|
|
2. That the things foretold were according to the divine purpose and
|
|
designation, not sudden resolves, but the counterparts of an eternal
|
|
counsel. Let them therefore not be troubled at that which would be for
|
|
the confirmation of their faith, and so would redound to their real
|
|
benefit; for the <I>trial of our faith</I> is very precious, though it
|
|
cost us present <I>heaviness, through manifold temptations,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:6">1 Pet. i. 6</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. That he was sure of a victory over Satan, with whom he knew he was
|
|
to have a struggle in his departure
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Henceforth I will not talk much with you,</I> having not much to
|
|
say, but what may be adjourned to the pouring out of the Spirit." He
|
|
had a great deal of good talk with them after this
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+15:1-16:33"><I>ch.</I> xv. and xvi.</A>),
|
|
|
|
but, in comparison with what he had said, it was not much. His time was
|
|
now short, and he therefore spoke largely to them now, because the
|
|
opportunity would soon be over. Note, We should always endeavour to
|
|
talk to the purpose, because perhaps we may not have time to talk much.
|
|
We know not how soon our breath may be stopped, and therefore should be
|
|
always breathing something that is good. When we come to be sick and
|
|
die, perhaps we may not be capable of talking much to those about us;
|
|
and therefore what good counsel we have to give them, let us give it
|
|
while we are in health. One reason why he would not talk much with them
|
|
was because he had now other work to apply himself to: <I>The prince of
|
|
this world comes.</I> He called the devil the <I>prince of this
|
|
world,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+12:31"><I>ch.</I> xii. 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
The disciples dreamed of their Master being the prince of this world,
|
|
and they worldly princes under him. But Christ tells them that the
|
|
<I>prince of this world</I> was his enemy, and so were the <I>princes
|
|
of this world,</I> that were actuated and ruled by him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:8">1 Cor. ii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
But <I>he has nothing in me.</I> Observe here,
|
|
|
|
1. The prospect Christ had of an approaching conflict, not only with
|
|
men, but with the powers of darkness. The devil had set upon him with
|
|
his temptations
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:1-11">Matt. iv.</A>),
|
|
|
|
had
|
|
offered him the <I>kingdoms of this world,</I> if he would hold them as
|
|
tributary to him, with an eye to which Christ calls him, in disdain,
|
|
<I>the prince of this world. Then the devil departed from him for a
|
|
season;</I> "But now," says Christ, "I see him rallying again,
|
|
preparing to make a furious onset, and so to gain by terrors that which
|
|
he could not gain by allurements;" to frighten from his undertaking,
|
|
when he could not entice from it. Note, The foresight of a temptation
|
|
gives us great advantage in our resistance of it; for, being
|
|
fore-warned, we should be fore-armed. While we are here, we may see
|
|
Satan continually coming against us, and ought therefore to be always
|
|
upon our guard.
|
|
|
|
2. The assurance he had of good success in the conflict: <I>He hath
|
|
nothing in me,</I> <B><I>ouk echei ouden</I></B>--<I>He hath nothing at
|
|
all.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) There was no guilt in Christ to give authority to <I>the prince of
|
|
this world</I> in his terrors. The devil is said to have <I>the power
|
|
of death</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:14">Heb. ii. 14</A>);
|
|
|
|
the Jews called him <I>the angel of death,</I> as an executioner. Now
|
|
Christ having done no evil, Satan had no legal power against him, and
|
|
therefore, though he prevailed to crucify him, he could not prevail to
|
|
terrify him; though he hurried him to death, yet not to despair. When
|
|
Satan comes to disquiet us, he has something in us to perplex us with,
|
|
for we have all sinned; but, when he would disturb Christ, he found no
|
|
occasion against him.
|
|
|
|
(2.) There was no corruption in Christ, to give advantage to <I>the
|
|
prince of this world</I> in his temptations. He could not crush his
|
|
undertaking by drawing him to sin, because there was nothing sinful in
|
|
him, nothing irregular for his temptations to fasten upon, no tinder
|
|
for him to strike fire into; such was the spotless purity of his nature
|
|
that he was above the possibility of sinning. The more Satan's interest
|
|
in us is crushed and decays, the more comfortably may we expect
|
|
sufferings and death.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. That his departure was in compliance with, and obedience to, his
|
|
Father. Satan could not force his life from him, and yet he would die:
|
|
<I>that the world may know that I love the Father,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
We may take this,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. As confirming what he had often said, that his undertaking, as
|
|
Mediator, was a demonstration to the world,
|
|
|
|
(1.) Of his compliance with the Father; hereby it appeared that he
|
|
loved the Father. As it was an evidence of his love to man that he died
|
|
for his salvation, so it was of his love to God that he died for his
|
|
glory and the accomplishing of his purposes. Let the world know that
|
|
between the Father and the Son there is not love lost. <I>As the Father
|
|
loved the Son, and gave all things into his hands;</I> so <I>the Son
|
|
loved the Father,</I> and <I>gave his spirit into his hand.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Of his obedience to his Father: "<I>As the Father gave me
|
|
commandment, even so I</I> did--did the thing commanded me in the
|
|
manner commanded." Note, The best evidence of our love to the Father is
|
|
our doing as he hath given us commandment. As Christ loved the Father,
|
|
and obeyed him, <I>even to the death,</I> so we must love Christ, and
|
|
obey him. Christ's eye to the Father's commandment, obliging him to
|
|
suffer and die, bore him up with cheerfulness, and overcame the
|
|
reluctancies of nature; this took off the offence of the cross, that
|
|
what he did was by order from the Father. The command of God is
|
|
sufficient to bear us out in that which is most disputed by others, and
|
|
therefore should be sufficient to bear us up in that which is most
|
|
difficult to ourselves: <I>This is the will of him</I> that made me,
|
|
<I>that sent me.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. As concluding what he had now said; having brought it to this, here
|
|
he leaves it: <I>that the world may know that I love the Father.</I>
|
|
You shall see how cheerfully I can meet the appointed cross: "<I>Arise,
|
|
let us go hence</I> to the garden;" so some; or, to <I>Jerusalem.</I>
|
|
When we talk of troubles at a distance, it is easy to say, <I>Lord, I
|
|
will follow thee whithersoever thou goest;</I> but when it comes to the
|
|
pinch, when an unavoidable cross lies in the way of duty, then to say,
|
|
"<I>Arise, let us go</I> to meet it," instead of going out of our way
|
|
to miss it, this lets <I>the world know that we love the Father.</I> If
|
|
this discourse was at the close of the passover-supper, it should seem
|
|
that at these words he arose from the table, and retired into the
|
|
drawing-room, where he might the more freely carry on the discourse
|
|
with his disciples in the following chapters, and pray with them. Dr.
|
|
Goodwin's remark upon this is, that Christ mentioning the great motive
|
|
of his sufferings, his Father's commandment, was in all haste to go
|
|
forth to suffer and die, was afraid of slipping the time of Judas's
|
|
meeting him: <I>Arise,</I> says he, <I>let us go hence</I> but he looks
|
|
upon the glass, as it were, sees it not quite out, and therefore sits
|
|
down again, and preaches another sermon. Now,
|
|
|
|
(1.) In these words he gives his disciples an encouragement to follow
|
|
him. He does not say, <I>I must go;</I> but, <I>Let us go.</I> He calls
|
|
them out to no hardships but what he himself goes before them in as
|
|
their leader. They had promised they would not desert him: "Come," says
|
|
he, "<I>let us go</I> then; let us see how you will make the words
|
|
good."
|
|
|
|
(2.) He gives them an example, teaching them at all times, especially
|
|
in suffering times, to sit loose to all things here below, and often to
|
|
think and speak of leaving them. Though we sit easy, and in the midst
|
|
of the delights of an agreeable conversation, yet we must not think of
|
|
being here always: <I>Arise, let us go hence.</I> If it was at the
|
|
close of the paschal and eucharistical supper, it teaches us that the
|
|
solemnities of our communion with God are not to be constant in this
|
|
world. When we sit down under Christ's shadow with delight, and say,
|
|
<I>It is good to be here;</I> yet we must think of rising and going
|
|
hence; going down from the mount.</P>
|
|
|
|
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