168

John

Some Greeks desire to see Jesus.

which was of Bethsaida

SECT. Philip, who was of Bethsaida, a city of Galilee, therefore to Philip, cxlviii. and asked it as a favour of him to introduce of Galilee, and desired them to his Master, saying, in a very respectful him, saying, Sir, we XII. 21. manner, Sir, we earnestly desire to see and hear would see Jesus. this Jesus of Nazareth, of whom we have been told such extraordinary things, and who has now been received into the city with such unusual regard.

22 Upon this Philip comes and tells what their request was to Andrew, who likewise was of Bethsaida, and had been first acquainted with Christ (John i. 40, 44, sect. xxi. xxii.) and then Andrew and Philip, having agreed upon it, went and told Jesus that some Greeks who were come to the feast desired admittance to him.

23

And Jesus immediately ordered them to be

22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again, Andrew and

Philip told Jesus.

23 And Jesus answered them, saying,

24 Verily, verily, I

brought to him; and as they were approaching The hour is come that him, he answered them, saying, At length the the Son of man should hour is come, and the appointed time is just at be glorified. hand, that the Son of man must be glorified; and I would have you look on the approach of these Greeks as an earnest of the flowing in of all the 24 Gentiles to me. But wonder not if my death is to precede it; for verily, verily, I say unto say unto you, Except you, and assure you of it as a most solemn and into the ground, and important truth, That unless a grain of wheat die, it abideth alone : fall to the ground, and die and waste away there, it remains single and alone, but if it seem to die and wither after it is sown, such is the principle of vegetation which it contains, that a new pro

writers, have indeed thought that they
were such as are commonly called proselytes
of the gate, that is (as most readers well
know), persons who, having renounced
idolatry, and being worshippers of the
God of Israel, might, according to the
law of Moses, be permitted to dwell in
Judea, and to converse among the Jews,
though not with entire freedom. And it
has likewise been thought, that the regard
which Jesus shewed to such, in vindicating
the Court of the Gentiles (where they as-
sembled for religious worship) from the
contemptuous profanations of the Jews,
(Mat. xxi. 12, 13, p. 164.) might dispose
these pious persons to address themselves
to him. But their attending at the passover
leads me rather to imagine (with Arndius,
Miscel. Sac. p. 6.) that they were what
the rabbies now call proselytes of righteous-
ness, that is, such as by circumcision obliged
themselves to observe the whole law:
(compare Acts ii. 5. viii. 27. xiii. 43.)
Yet I will not venture confidently to
affirm it.

duction

a corn of wheat fall

but

He that serves Christ shall be honoured by his Father.

but if it die, it bringeth duction of the like kind arises, and it brings

forth much fruit.

25 He that loveth

his life, shall lose it: and he that hateth his lite in this world, shall

keep it unto life eternal.

26 If any man serve me, let him follow there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my

me; and where I am,

Father honour.

27 Now is my soul troubled and what

169

SECT.

John

forth much fruit. And so it is that I myself cxlviii.
shall fall, and a new scene be opened, in which
my kingdom shall seem to be utterly lost and XII. 24.
gone; yet, like the spring corn, it shall assuredly
revive, and appear beautiful and fruitful.

But, in the mean time, such difficulties are 25
also to be expected by my faithful servants, that
it is but fit I should inform these strangers of
what I have once and again told you; that he
who loves his own life too well to part with it
for my sake, shall lose it, and expose himself to
death in the worst and most dreadful sense of the
word; but he that acts as if he hates his life in
this world, by exposing it to the greatest dangers
in the cause of my gospel, shall preserve it even
to everlasting life, and secure a state of immortal
glory and happiness. (Compare Mat. x. 39,
sect. Ixxvi. Mark viii. 35, sect. lxxxix. and
Luke xvii. 33, sect. cxxviii.) If any man 26
therefore would engage to serve me as one of
my loyal people, let him resolve to follow me
whithersoever I shall lead him, whatever dangers
and difficulties may lie in the way; and let him
know, for his encouragement, that where I am,
or where I shortly am to take up mine abode,
there shall also my faithful servant be; for I will
assign him an inheritance in that blessed world
where I am for ever to rest and reign after all
the sufferings I have endured here and I assure
you that, among all that follow me, if any man,
of whatever nation he be, or whatever his reli-
gious profession may before have been, will
faithfully serve me here, him will [my] Father
also honour, and confer such rich rewards upon
him as to make him for ever both great and
happy.

very

Having said this, our Lord paused for a while, 27 sball I say? Father, and entered on a deep contemplation of the save me from this hour: different views of things which lay before him. but And then he added aloud, Now is my very soul distressed and troubled in an affecting view of my approaching sufferings; and what shall I say? What petition shall I offer to God on this occasion? Shall I say, Father, save me from

If any man serve me.] Our Lord, by this indefinite expression, strongly intimates that his kingdom was to be of a very extensive nature; and that not only the prose

this

lytes of righteousness, but those of the gate,
and indeed even the idolatrous Gentiles
themselves, might, on their believing the
gospel, be admitted into it.

e Wha

170 Jesus has again the testimony of a voice from heaven.

cxlviii.

I unto this hour.

SECT. this dreadful hour, and from all the agonies but for this cause came which I am to endure in the gloomy season John before me? Nav, but for this cause was I born XII. 27. into the world, and for this end I came even to this present hour, that I might bear the sufferings on which I am entering, and might redeem 28 my people by them. And far be it from me to draw back from such engagements and undertakings I will therefore much rather say, Father, glorify thine own name, and dispose of me, and all my concerns, in such a way as may most effectually answer that great end!

29

30

28 Father, glorify thy name.

-Then came there

a voice from heaven, saying, I have both

Then, at that very instant while he was speaking, there came a voice from heaven [which said], I have both already glorified [it] by the glorified it, and will whole of thy ministry thus far; and I will glorify glorify it again. [it] yet again in a more signal manner by what

farther remains before thee.

therefore that stood

The multitude therefore who stood by and heard 29 The people [it], though not all in a manner equally distinct, by, and heard it, said, were perfectly astonished at the awful sound; That it thundered: and some among them said, That it thundered: others said, An angel while others, who were nearer, said, That an spake to him. angel spake to him from heaven.

30 Jesus answered

came not because of

But Jesus answered and said to his disciples, who stood near, and distinctly heard it, This voice and said, This voice from heaven came not chiefly for my sake, who me, but for your sakes. was before assured of the affection of iny Father, and knew the purpose he had formed to glorify himself by me; but it was uttered for yours, that you may not be offended at the treatment I shall meet with, and quit your hope in me, and regard for me, on account of any of the sufferings 31 which are coming upon me. This indeed is a very critical and important time; for now is the

e What shall I say? Father, save me from this hour?] I suppose few need be told that the pointing of the New Testament is far less ancient than the tert. It is agreeable to observe how many difficulties may be removed by varying it, and departing from the common punctuation of which I take this to be one of the most remarkable instances. For as the text does not oblige us to it, it does not seem natural to suppose that our Lord actually offered this petition, and then immediately retracted it again.

f Said that it thundered.] Thunder often attended a voice from heaven: (see Exod. xix. 16, 19. Rev. iv. 5. vi. 1. x. 3.) In allusion to which, perhaps, the voice itself was called by the ancient Jews Bath Kol,

judgment

31 Now is the judg

ment

or the daughter of the voice, being ushered in with thunder, and, as it were, produced from it. Elsner has shewn that the Heathens reckoned that sudden thunder was a sign that a prayer then offered met with the most favourable regard. See Elsner. Observ. Vol. I. p. 334, 335.)—Dr. Lightfoot observes here (Hor. Heb. in loc.) that Christ had thrice the testimony of a voice from heaven; first, when he entered on his public ministry, as the High-priest of our profession, at his baptism (Mat. iii. 17.) and then a second time, when a command was given to hear him, as the great Prophet of the church at his transfiguration, (Mat. xvii. 5.) and now again, when he had made his public entry into Jerusalem, as a King. ៩ Now

When he was lifted up, he would draw all men to him.

now shall the prince of

171

SECT.

cxlviii.

John

ment of this world, judgment of this world, which I am going to this world be cast out. Conquer and condemn, that by my death my followers may both be taught and enabled to triumph over it, and those may be convinced of XII. 31, sin that believe not in me: (compare Gal. i. 4. and John xvi. 8, 9.) Yea, now shall Satan, the ruler and god of this world, be cast out from that empire which he has so long usurped over the minds of men, and especially over the heathen nations. (Compare Eph. ii. 2. and 2 Cor. iv. 4.) And when I am lifted up from the 32 earth, though I may seem thereby to be made the trophy of mine enemies, yet such shall be the effect of that important event, that I shall thereby draw all men to me; that is, I shall lay a foundation for conquering the most stubborn hearts by so rich a display of my love; and shall by a secret, but powerful, influence on their minds, persuade multitudes of all ranks and all nations to list themselves under the banner I raise. (Compare John iii. 14, 15. Vol. I. p. 147, 148.)

3? And I, if I be lifted up from the

earth, will draw all men unto ine.

33 (This he said,

he should die.)

that Christ abideth

Now this he spake of his being lifted up from 33 signifying what death the earth, as signifying by what death he should die, even by crucifixion, in which the person suffering was lifted up on high, and hung as it 34 The people an- were between heaven and earth. And in ge-34 swered him, We have neral it was understood by the people as imheard out of the law, plying some violent death shortly to come upon for ever: and how him. The multitude therefore answered him, We sayest thou, The Son have heard it taught as a certain truth out of the of man must be lifted law, or out of the volume of our sacred writings, that the Messiah is immortal, and abides for ever," that his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion continues unto all generations," (2 Sam. vii. 16. Psal. lxxxix. 29. cx. 4. Isa. ix. 7. Ezek. xxxvii. 25. Dan. ii. 44. vii. 14.) and how then dost thou, who now plainly

up? Who is this Son of man?

Now is the judgment of this world.] Mr. Massey, renders this (in his Vernac. Sacra, p. 8, 9) Now is this world come to its crisis and Grotius and More (in his Theological works, p. 207.) explain it of the redemption of the world, or its vindication from the bondage of Satan. But this is so unusual a sense of the word, that I choose, with Dr. Whitby, to understand it of the condemnation of the world, or of the judgment passed upon its wicked principles and practices, and of the victory which Christians were to gain over it in consequence VOL. VII.

of the death of Christ. See John iii. 18,
19, xvi. 8, 11.

h When I am lifted up from the earth.] I
think Dr. Whitby's note on this text suffi
ciently vindicates this version of tav v↓ww.
See the Greek version of Deut. vii. 1.
Judges vi. 3. xxi. 21. 2 Sam. vii. 12.
1 Kings xiii. 31. Job vii. 4. Prov. iii. 24.
iv. 12. Jer. iii. 16. and compare John
xiv. 3. 1 John iii. 2. and 3 John, ver.
10. where ay how may signify, when I

cxlviii.

172 The Jews are offended at what he says of the Son of man.
SECT. plainly professest thyself to be the Messiah, say
that the Son of man must be lifted up from the
John earth, and die a violent death? Who is this Son
Xil. 34. of man? Is he, as such language as this might
seem to intimate, a different person from the
Messiah, whom we have been taught to expect
under the title of the Son of man? This was
said by some of the multitude who were ill-
affected towards him, and desired to find some-
thing to object against him.

35

35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a lit

Then Jesus said to them, Do not cavil at what I now say; but remember how short this opportunity is which, through the Divine goodness, you now enjoy: yet a little while is the light with ye have the light, lest

te while is the light with you: walk while

eth in darkness know

you, which you may derive from me, or my ser- darkness come upon
vants who shall come to you in my name; walk you; for he that walk-
therefore while
you have the light; comply with eth not whither he go-
the gracious purposes of God in making these eth.
discoveries to you, and regulate your temper and
conduct by them; that darkness may not over-
take you, that you may not be deprived of the
gospel, and left in a night of ignorance and mi-
sery for you know it is a most uncomfortable
thing for a traveller to be benighted in his way,
as he that walks in darkness wanders from place
to place, and knows not whither he goes, or into
what dangers he may fall the very next step he
takes; and much more dreadful will it be for
you to be deserted of God, and left to the
darkness and folly of your own hearts. (Com-

36 pare John xi. 9, 10. sect. cxxxix.) Let me 36 While ye have
therefore once more seriously and kindly exhort the light,believe in the
you, that while have the light thus clearly be the
light, that ye may

you

children of

shining around you, you believe in the light, and light.-
honestly follow it, that you may be the children of
light, who, being now truly wise and good,shall be
the heirs of holiness, glory, and joy everlasting.
These things Jesus spake when the Greeks ap-
plied themselves to him; and as the unbelieving spake Jesus, [and he
Jews were greatly irritated by the actions and left them,] and de-
discourses of the day, and would not be awaken- now the even tide was
parted, [MARK, and
ed to conviction, he left them, and departed

iWho is this Son of man?] A writer of great note interprets this as if they bad said, "Who is this that so absurdly, and inconsistently with the prophets, speaks of himself as the Son of man, while he talks of being lifted up, and dying?" (See Dr. Sykes of Christianity, p. 110.) But the sense given in the paraphrase appears to me more natural, and I am pleased to find it in Grotius. This was a real and impor

thence

These things

come,

tant difficulty; but it was fit some obscurity should for the present be left upon it, lest the plainness of the prediction should have prevented its accomplishment. Our Lord therefore gave the discourse a useful turn, and a few days more proclaimed the mystery which he had before revealed to his apostles in private when he set out on his last journey to Jerusalem. (Sec Mat. xx. 18, 19. sect. cxlii.)