Exposition on John 5, John 5 · Verse 5 – Verse 6
Verſ. 5.
And a certaine man was there, which had infirmitie thirty and eight yeeres.
WE are now come to the 3. Part of this miracle, viz. the Party endured who is ſet downe indefinitely to be a certaine man. Secondly he is deſcribed his condition, that he was diſeaſed 38. yeeres.
In that he is only called a certaine man, it implies, that hee was a man of no great name or note, but that he was a poore man; as alſo appeares, in that he had layne here ſo long without helpe; for if he had been a rich man, he might hauehave hired ſome to put him in. Yet Chriſt makes choice of this man, to ſhew his power on him. Which ſhewes the freeneſſe of his grace: a point often noted.
Moreouer of all the company that was here, he made choice of one onelyonly to cure him: which he did, Firſt, becauſe it was ſufficient for him to ſhew what he was able to doe vponupon one as well as vponupon many. Secondly, that it might be an encouragement to others to ſeeke vntounto him. So that if no other but this man were here cured, it was their owne fault, in not comming vntounto Chriſt. For we neuer read that he refuſed any that came vntounto him for helpe and comfort. Thirdly, to ſhew that he was bound to none, but what he did, he did voluntarily, and ſo he chuſeth a poore man, one that deſerued leaſt.
Here we are to take notice of Gods dealing, how he beſtoweth his fauour but vponupon few, in reſpect of the multitude: as in the Deluge. So of many thouſands that came out of Aegypt, two only entred into Canaan: of foure grounds that receiue ſeed, only one bringeth foorth fruit. See Math. 20.16· many come to the word, but few are cured by the miniſtery thereof. Neither let me here expoſtulate, and contend with God, for it is Gods goodnes that he hath appointed meanes, and that hee doth make them effectuall to any. And ſo that may be anſwered to them, that Chriſt doth, Matth. 20.15. 2. The conſciences of wicked men ſhall tell them, that they hauehave not done all that which they might, and hauehave not vſed that ability which God gaue them to doe good. But for thoſe on whom God ſheweth fauour, who are conuerted by the word, this is, Firſt, to magnifie the goodneſſe of God, that but of a few it hath pleaſed him to make choice of them. Secondly, to catch them to honour God, who hath ſo much honoured them by a godly life, and not to be like vntounto the multitude.
The Condition by which this man is deſcribed, is, that hee had an infirmity 38. yeeres. &c. If the circumſtances be conſidered, we ſhall ſay that he was of all the company one of the moſt miſerable; Firſt, in that it is ſayd, he was diſeaſed; that is, as the originall ſignifieth, the diſeaſe had ſo long growne vponupon him, and ſo much infected him, that he was vnable to helpe himſelfe. Secondly, in that it is ſayd, he was [in] this weakeneſſe; that is, the diſeaſe had ouer-whelmed him, and wholy poſſeſſed him in all parts. Thirdly, in that he found no helpe at all to ſuccour him. Fourthly, that to his diſeaſe there was added pouerty; and pouerty ioyned with ſickneſſe makes it much the more grieuous. Fifthly, The continuance of it, that he had been ſicke 38. yeeres, ſhewes the greatneſſe of his miſery.
Doct. Chriſt makes choice of the moſt wretched and miſerable to ſuccour them: a point to be obſerued in moſt of his miracles. Which hee doth for the magnifying of his mercy both in it ſelfe, for the greatnes of miſery doth amplifie the greatnes of mercy. 2. And alſo in the apprehenſion of the party helped that he may the more highly prize and eſteeme of it, and the more gracefully accept of it as Paul doth, 1. Tim. 1.13
Vſe. To teach vsus that the greatnes of our miſery ſhould be ſo farre from making vsus doubt, and deſpaire of ſuccour, as rather to miniſter to vsus hope to be releiued of our miſery, being a fit obiect for Chriſts mercy to work vponupon.
Now although this man had lien a long time in this diſeaſe, yet at length the Lord ſent him helpe. Hence we learne. That though the Lord ſuffer men a long time to lie in miſery yet at the length he affordeth them comfort and releife. This man was ſicke. 38. yeeres; the woman with the bloody iſſue 12. yeares; the woman bound by Satan 18. yeares: the blinde man, Ioh. 9. till he came to mans age, as Verſ, 21. ſo the Cripple Act. 4.2. yet all cured. The captiuity was 70. yeres, yet at length they returned: 2. Chron. laſt. Ezr. 1. Abrahams ſeed in bondage 400 yeares, yet at length deliuered. So Satan hath beene let looſe now 600. yeeres Reu. 20.7. yea, the Church hath almoſt 6000. yeeres been in continuall warfare; yet ſhall at length triumph in heauen. The reaſon why God doth thus diſpoſe of it, is; Firſt, in regard of himſelfe, that his power, and glory, and mercy may be the more manifeſted: as Ioh. 9.3. and 11.4. Secondly in regard of man, for the triall of his patience: for the continance of a miſery doth more trie a mans patience then the Weight of it.
Neuertheleſſe, God doth ſend helpe firſt, to manifeſt his wiſdome care and prouidence, that he doth not forſake and forget them though he hauehave deferred to helpe them. Secondly to miniſter comfort to thoſe that hauehave long been in miſery, when they ſhall ſee others in like caſe comforted.
Vſe, is not to be diſcouraged, becauſe of the long continuance of our afflictions; but that we conſider, that their is ſome end or other, why the Lord doth deferre to help vsus. And that God herein aimes at our good, as well as his owne glory that hereby he will hauehave our hearrs purged, our mindes weaned from the world, and deſire of heauen more increaſed: ſo that the iſſue and fruit of our affliction ſhall recompence the grieuouſneſſe of it. If this man had been cured, before he had not come to that knowledge of Chriſt and ſo to remiſſion of ſins as now he did; as Verſ. 14. wherefore we muſt wait on God with patience: Hab. 2.3. and vphold our ſelues, Firſt by faith beleiuing that God doth herein deale with vsus as a wiſe God, and a mercifull father. Secondly by Hope to ſtrengthen our faith and to make vsus looke for both preſent aſſiſtance in troubles, and future deliuerance from them.
Verſ. 6.
When Ieſus ſaw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that caſe—
THe fourth part of this miracle, is the Occaſion here layd downe, conſiſting of two branches: Firſt, Chriſts ſight of his preſent miſery. Secondly, his knowledge of his former eſtate.
From the Firſt, this Doct. ariſeth, That the ſight of our miſerie, is a motiue to ſtirre vp Chriſt to compaſſion toward vsus. Which ought to miniſter vntounto vsus a further ground of patience and comfort in afflictions: a point heretofore often noted in Chriſts miracles.
From the ſecond, that Chriſt did only ſee his miſerable eſtate, but did alſo take notice of the circumſtances of it, or that he had ſo long continued in it, we learn; That Chriſt is not ignorant of the circumſtances of our miſery, the time, the kinde, manner and meaſure as Luk. 13.16. Exod. 3.7. This is another ground of great comfort that howſoeuer the greatnes of our miſery be vnknowne to men, yet it is all knowne to God, who doth accordingly pitty vsus.