Exposition of John, Chapter 12 · Verse 9 – Verse 12
Verſe 14. And Jeſus, when he had found a young aſſe, ſate thereon as it is written.
15. Feare not daughter of Sion, behold, thy King cometh ſitting on an aſſes colt.
In theſe verſes, we have Chriſts part and action in this triumph, to wit, that an aſſe being provided for him, he rode thereupon, to accompliſh that prediction, Zech. 9 9. of which I have ſpoken in its proper place. Albeit this be recorded here after the other, of the peoples acclamations, and it is probable the people were come to him on the way, to the mount of Olives, or, at leaſt, were coming on the way, before he ſent for the aſſe, Matth. 21.1, 2. yet it is certaine that he was riding before theſe acclamations were. Doct. 1. When Chriſt manifeſts moſt of his glory in the world, he will have it ſeen that his Kingdome is not of this world; for, in all this pomp he rides but on a young aſſe, and that a borrowed one, without any furniture ſave his diſciples cloaths, and accompanied but with a traine of baſe people and children; all which might appear but very ignominious to a carnal eye. 2. We are not to carve out the glory of Chriſts Kingdome, by our carnal conceptions and imaginations, but by his own Word; for whatever ignominy appear here, yet it is glorious and greater glory then any we could deviſe, in ſo farre as it agreeth with Scripture, and fore-going propheſies. 3. Chriſts Kingdome is ſo great a ſtranger to carnal glory and pomp, that any mean ſplendour is very much in it for this alſo takes off the ignominy, that this was much glory and ſtate to him, who never uſed to ride before. 4. Albeit Chriſt became poore for us, yet he wanted not any thing as he needed it, that ſo he might teach his people what care he will have of them; for, albeit he poſſeſſed not ſo much as an aſſe, yet when he needed, he found a young aſſe, &c or obtained the uſe of it from the owner. 5. Chriſt is a faithful obſerver of al that is written, to ſee it duly performed; for he did all this, to accompliſh what is written. 6. The encouragements of the Goſpel are not held out unto men, to cheriſh ſecurity, but to be an antidote againſt all their fears and diſcouragements; for, the ſcope of the allowance, Zech. 6.10 to rejoyce, ſhout, is here ſummed up in this fear not 7. Albeit men do not reach the height of co…ſolation and joy allowed in Chriſt; yet they are to bleſſe him in ſo far as they are keeped from cruſhing fear, for, ſo much alſo may be gathered from theſe two places compared; They rejoyce, in ſo farre as they feare not. 8. Chriſt is Zions King, who will reſpect her, and ſee her comforted, though all the world biſide ſhould ſink; for it is to the daughter of Zion, this encouragement is given from her King. 9. Whatever be Zions perplexities, yet in Chriſt there is a remedy againſt all ſhe can feel or fear; fear not, daughter of Zion, thy King cometh. 10. It is the Church…s comfort; that Chriſt is a King to her; That he cometh to her, and ſeeks her to do her good; and, that after long expectation, he will at laſt come to give her actual enjoyment: All theſe are imported in this encouragement, Thy King cometh; He leaves heaven to ſeek her on earth, and is now not held out in the promiſe as coming, but is actually come unto her. 11 Chriſt in his Kingdome and glory is adorned with me knelle and lowlineſſe; And this is the comfort of his ſubjects, that they have to do with ſuch a one; for, this addeth to the comfort, Thy King cometh, ſitting on an aſſes colt. 12. As Chriſts love and condeſcendence …s admirable in it ſelf, and to be admired by all who ſee it; ſo even the Church hath need to be ſtirred up to take notice of this as becometh; The…efore a behold is prefixed to this; to point out how admirable this is in it ſelfe, and yet how dull Zion is in remarking it, till ſhe be ſtirred up and excited to it.
Verſe 16. Theſe things underſtood not his diſciples at the firſt: but when Jeſus, was glorified, then remembred they that theſe things were written of him, and that they had done theſe things unto him.
In this verſe, John omitting what is recorded of the diſciples part in this triumph by the other Evangeliſts, doth not only record their not underſtanding at preſent that which themſelves or others were doing, till after the glorification of Chriſt, that the Spirit was poured out, and then it was brought to their remembrance that this had been fore-propheſied, and accordingly had been performed. Whence learn. 1. Men may be in the midſt of great mercies and actings, and may not only be witneſſes of the Lords working, and the works of others, but even actors themſelves, in that which for the time they do little or nothing underſtand; for, Theſe things underſtood not the diſciples at the firſt. Men have much brutiſh ignorance fed with inadvertency and may be little expecting the things that God is doing in ſuch a time or caſe, Gen. 16.13. and 28.16. and therefore do not diſcern them. 2. When the Lords people are ignorant and under a cloud, he uſeth not to take advantage of them, but can guide them as …ight as may be, ſo that a back-look thereunto, when they get light, will be …wee… unto them; for in all this they act as rightly as if they had underſtood, and afterward they find that what was written of him they had done unto him. See Pſal 73.21, 23, 24. 3. However the Lord for a time, ſuffer his people to lie under clouds, and ignorant of what he or they are doing, yet in due time he will clear them, in ſo far as is needful; for, afterward they remembred, &c. See John 13, 7. 4. The treaſures of knowledge hid up in Chriſt, were not fully opened up, till Chriſt was glorified: for, when Jeſus was glorified, then remembred they, &c. Hereby is kept a due proportion betwixt the head and his members, that he ſhall be firſt exalted, before they get their full allowance. And hereby, alſo, Chriſt being exalted, giveth evidence that he remembers his people. See, John 7.39. Acts 2.33. Eph. 4.8. 5. Confeſſion of infirmity and ignorance is a ſweet fruit of the Spirit poured out; And the more one have received, they will be the more ſenſible of, and ready to acknowledge their frailties; for John, the beloved diſciple, being now enlightened, is moſt forward to record, that they underſtood not theſe things at the firſt. 6. When the Spirit of God is moſt amply poured out, he will ſtill lead men to the Scriptures to diſcern of Chriſt, and compare their own actings by it; for, ſo was it in the diſciples beſt dayes, they remembred that theſe things were written of him and that they had done theſe things to him. 7. It is an evidence of Chriſts being exalted at the right hand of the Father, for the good of his people, when he brings Scriptures to their minde, makes them clear to them, and cleares their practiſe there; for, when Jeſus was glorified, this was a comfortable evidence of it, they remembred theſe things.
Verſe 17. The people therefore that was with him, when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raiſed him from the dead, bare record.
18. For this cauſe the people alſo met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
In theſe verſes is recorded what w…s the ſeen cauſe (for the unſeen was the over-ruling hand of God) moving the multitude to come out and conveigh him in ſtate, to wit, Some of the people (of whom, ſee chap. 11.45.) their teſtimony concerning the miracle wrought on Lazarus; which as they had publiſhed before, and ſo drew many other people out; ſo over again they proclaime it on that day, that they may contribute to the ſolemnity of the triumph. Whence learn. 1. It is the part of all ſuch as have been witneſſes to Chriſts working, on themſelves or others, to publiſh the ſame to his praiſe: for, the people that was with him when he called Lazarus, &c. bare record. 2 As it is at all times a ſinne to ſmother the praiſes of Chriſt; So, in particular, in dayes of ſolemnity, it is our ſin not to joine and bring in what we know, to make up the ſong; for, they bring in that particular to make up the triumph. 3. In a day of Chriſts power, and when he is to …t …l…ay to himſelfe, he can furniſh means, and make them effectual, to bring it to paſſe; for, he makes …h… miracle an occaſion to bring about this triumph. 4. I… they encourage men to publiſh the praiſe of Chriſt; working, as they know of it, that God may make their w…ak endeavours effectual to work upon very many; for the teſtimony of ſome drew out this great confluence to Chriſt. 5. It is the duty of them who hear any thing of Chriſts commendation, to go and ſeek him, and do homage to him; for for this cauſe the people alſo met him, for that they had heard that he had done this miracle.
Verſe 19. The Phariſees therefore ſaid among themſelves, Perceive ye how ye prevaile nothing? Behold, the world is gone after him.
In the laſt place, John records what was the Phariſees part in the time of this triumph, and ſ…ing i…. They are galled at the heart that they have had ſo little in… ceſſe of their endeavours, and that now all a…e flocking to him. We finde ſome of them carping in the midſt of the triumph, Luke 19.39. as having gone out with the reſt to ſeek ſome advantage; but this ſeems to have been their language one to another, when they ſaw the people crowding ou… of the City. Doctrine 1. In the day of Chriſts greateſt ſolemnity, there will not be wanting ſome ſore hearts at it; ſome Michal to deſpiſe David while he is dancing; And that is a part of the glory of the triumph, Pſal. 112.10. Mic 7.10. for, the Phariſees are here galled. 2. It is an evidence of a malicious diſpoſition, when men will neither ſerve Chriſt themſelves, nor can endu…e that others ſhould do it; for, ſuch is their humour here. 3. Greateſt enemies wi…l be convinced at laſt, that do what they will, their oppoſition againſt Chriſt, and his inſtalling in his Kingdom, will be to no purpoſe; for, ſay the…, perceive ye, how we prevail nothing? the world (that is all … people) is gone after him, whereas we thought to have p…d that none at all ſhould have gone. 4. It is a great plague upon perſecutors, that when they want ſucceſſe, they will not obſerve Gods mercy impeding them in an evil cou…ſe, nor his hand reſiſting them, that ſo they might ſtoop; But all their diſappointmen…s tend only to kindle their fury, and heighten their rage; for, under this diſappointment, all they b…eath out is fury and envy. 5. As it is Chriſts way, to make his glory ſpread, the more it is oppoſed and envyed, (for the world goeth after him, when they oppoſe). So the envy of perſecutors looks on Chriſts ſucceſſe in a multiplying glaſſe, to augment their own ſorrow; for, when they ſay, Behold, the world is gone after him, albeit the world be taken for a multitude of all ſorts of people in it, as now ſtrangers and others are flocking out; yet their liberal way of expreſſion intimates how much they reſent it, and look on it as more then indeed it was.