Exposition of John, Chapter 1 · Verse 25 – Verse 26
Ver. 40. One of the two which heard John ſpeak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peters brother.
41. He firſt findeth his own brother Simon, and ſaith unto him, We have found the Meſſias, which is, being interpreted, the Chriſt.
42. And he brought him to Jeſus. And when Jeſus beheld him, he ſaid, Thou art Simon, the ſonne of Jona, thou ſhalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a ſtone.
The next that is called, is Peter, whom his brother Andrew (one of the former two) finding, he declareth how he had found the Meſſiah, and bringeth him to him: And Chriſt promiſeth to make him of a mean man, a prime beleever and inſtrument in his work, and giveth him a name anſwerable. Doctrine 1. Such as have gotten any knowledge of Chriſt, and are brought in to him, ought to be careful to invite others unto him: And albeit ſuch as are unrenewed may be inſtruments of converſion to others (otherwiſe we ſhould hear none in faith of a bleſſing to that Ordinance, ſince we cannot be infallibly certain of the converſion of any) yet ſuch as are converted, will be moſt zealous that way, and ordinarily are moſt ſucceſſeful; Therefore, doth Andrew, being now called, ſeek Simon, and bring him to Chriſt. 2. True grace ſanctifieth natural affection, and maketh a man expreſſe it, by ſeeking their ſpiritual good to whom he is bound by nature; Therefore, Andrew ſeeketh his own brother, Simon. 3. God may by a weak inſtrument, call a man to Chriſt, who will prove a more excellent and notable inſtrument then himſelf; He may make mean ones inſtruments of good to ve…y eminent ones; for, Peter, the great Apoſtle, is called by Andrew. 4. Kindneſſe begins on Chriſts ſide, and his grace doth prevent the ſinner; for, Andrew the inſtrument of Peters good, firſt findeth his own brother, which importeth he was ſeeking him, and did finde him before he dreamed of ſo good newes 5. Jeſus of Nazareth is the Meſſiah promiſed in the Old Teſtament, whom the Prophets and the godly looked for, ſo doth Andrew reckon, we have the Meſſiat, implied alſo that he and his brother had been of theſe who looked for him. 6. The finding of Jeſus Chriſt, the promiſed Meſſiah, is good newes indeed, and the moſt excellent of purchaſes, as making the finder eternally happy; for, theſe are the good news that went among them, we have found the Meſſias. 7. It is the will of God that his minde in Scripture be not hid up in a dark language, but that it be made plain and intelligible to all who ſeek the way of ſalvation therein; Therefore, is the Hebrew word Meſſias, interpreted, the Chriſt, in Greek, in which the New Teſtament was written for the uſe both of Gentiles and Jewes, as being then a common language, ſo alſo ver. 38.42. 8. The titles and ſtiles given to Chriſt in Scripture are not to be lightly paſſed over, but pondered, what may be held out in them for our edification and comfort; And particularly, that he hath taken to himſelf the title of being the anointed one by the Spirit without meaſure, for the diſcharge of all his offices for the Churches good; therefore alſo is his name, the Meſſias, which ſignifieth the Anointed, interpreted in Greek the Chriſt, ſignifying the ſame. 9. Whatever is wanting in the light of Inſtruments pointing out Chriſt, will be made up if the hearer go to Chriſt himſelf; And faithful Preachers will not be at eaſe till they draw hearers to Chriſt, and hearers ſhould be tractable when means are offered, and not reſt up in any mans word, but go to Chriſt themſelves; for, Andrew having little more to ſay, drawes him to Chriſt, and Peter goeth with him, he brought him to Jeſus. 10. Chriſt doth perfectly know all that come to him, and what concerns them, and this he diſcovereth, that they may be encouraged to employ him in all exigents, and may walk before him as an heart ſearching God; Therefore, when Jeſus beheld him, he ſaid, thou art Simon, &c. At firſt view he lets him ſee he knew him. 11. Chriſt will welcome theſe that come to him, whoever were the inſtruments of their converſion, nor will he deſpite them for their outward mean condition; for, he welcometh Peter, though called by the private inſtruction of Andrew, as well as theſe who were called by John, and that albeit he was poor Simon the ſonne of fiſher Jona. 12. Such as come to Chriſt he giveth them a new nature, and admits them into his family as children; for, his giving him a new name, imports he was now a borne childe in his family, and he his Father. 13. Whatever dignity and excellency Chriſt conferre upon his converts, yet he would have them not forgetting what they are of themſelves, that this may ſtill keep them humble, and commend Chriſts grace the more; Therefore, with the promiſe he puts him in minde, that he is Simon the ſonne of Jona. 14. As conſtancie and firmneſſe in the truth and profeſſion thereof in variety of times and trials, is a commendable excellency; ſo the diſpenſation of the meaſures of faith whereby profeſſors are ſtronger or weaker, are in Chriſts own hand; And it is not onelyonly beleevers duty to be firme, but Chriſts promiſe alſo, who undertakes to make them ſuch ſo farre as he ſeeth it meet; for, the thing ſignified by this name, Sephas, or, a Stone is conſtancy as Peters excellency; and Chriſt by giving him this name, undertaketh to make him ſo. 15. The Lord doth not meaſure nor judge of his ſervants by their fits of weakneſſe, but by the conſtant tenour of their way; And in great mercy, he giveth confirmations to his own, whom he is to try, that when their weakneſſe appeareth, they may not loſe hope; for, Chriſt calleth Simon, Cephas, or a fixed beleever, notwithſtanding his ſlips that followed, and by this name would ſore-arme him againſt diſcouragement therefrom.
Ver. 43. The day following, Jeſus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and ſaith unto him, Follow me.
44. Now Philip was of Bethſaida, the City of Andrew and Peter.
The fourth diſciple, whom Chriſt himſelf ſought out and called, is Philip, and to this is ſubjoyned the place of Philips habitation, being the ſame with Andrew and Peters alſo. Whence learn, 1. As Chriſt was conſtant and diligent about his Fathers work; So he will not faile to go wherever he hath an errand, or any to bring in, and wherever he cometh, he hath ſome to finde: for, The day following, without loſſe of a day, Jeſus would go forth, (from the place where he ſtayed after he paſſed by John) into Galilee, becauſe he had Philip to ſeek. 2. Such as Chriſt hath a purpoſe of love unto, he will not only prevent them, but will finde them out and gain them; for, he findeth Philip. 3. Chriſt hath divers wayes of calling and bringing men to him, ſo that none are to carve out a way to themſelves, as if there were none elſe; nor are any to ſuſpect their being accepted by Chriſt, when they come to him, though they have not been dealt with in all things as others; for, here we have ſome called by John, ſome by private inſtruction, and Philip called by Chriſts own mouth, and yet all alike welcome. 4. Such as would prove the truth of their Converſion, ought to renounce all things in affection and practice, in ſo far as they hinder from Chriſt, ought not to preſume to go before Chriſt, in preſcribing their way to him, nor to follow their own wit, will or luſts, but to follow him as a Teacher and Guide, and as a patterne of obedience to the moral Law, and ſuffering for righteouſneſſe, and to do this conſtantly; ſo much is imported in this invitation, Follow me, which Philip obeyed, as the ſequel declareth. 5. The work of the Goſpel and Kingdome of Chriſt may begin in very obſcure places, and among mean perſons, that ſo none may deſpiſe a day of ſmall things; for, here he begins the gathering of his Kingdome, which afterward over-ſpread the world, in obſcure Galilee, and among men of an obſcure town. Bethſaida. 6. The wickedneſſe of a place will not ſeclude Chriſts favour from particular perſons, who are his own in it; for, Bethſaida was a wicked place, as appeareth from Chriſts woes denounced againſt it, Mat. 11.20, 21. yet from thence he calleth three eminent Inſtruments.