Exposition of John, Chapter 12 · Verse 13 – Verse 15
Ver. 20. And there were certaine Greekes among them that came up to worſhip at the feaſt.
21. The ſame came therefore to Philip which was of Bethſaida of Galilee, and deſired him, ſaying, Sir, we would ſee Jeſus.
22. Philip commeth and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip told Jeſus.
Followeth to verſe 37 the third part of the Chapter wherein is contained Chriſts doctrine and exerciſe upon occaſion of ſome Greeks deſiring to ſee him, who was now become ſo famous by reaſon of this triumph. It may be taken up in theſe. 1. Their deare, and way of propounding it, ver. 20, 21, 22. 2. Chriſts anſwer, wherein, waving their reſpects tendered to him, he preaches of the glory and fruit following upon his ſuffering, ver. 23, 24. and of their duty who would ſeek to make acquaintance with him, ver. 25, 26. 3. Leſt this doctrine of his death and ſuffering ſhould ſtumble them, he, firſt, by ſore exerciſe, ver. 27. and then, by conſolation ſent from heaven, ver. 28, 29, 30. doth make it evident it was the minde of God he ſhould ſuffer, and yet not ſink under it. 4. Being cal…ed in his exerciſe, and cheered up with the late ſenſible conſolation; he preaches more fully concerning the glorious fruits of his death. ver. 31, 32, 33. 5. An objection being moved againſt his doctrine concerning his ſuffering who gave out himſelfe to be the Meſſiah, ver. 34. Chriſt doth preſſe upon them to emprove the preſent opportunity of his preſence, and then cloſeth the conference by departing from them, verſe 35, 36.
In theſe verſes, we have the firſt particular in this part of the Chapter, and an occaſion of the enſuing purpoſe; which is the deſire of ſome ſtrangers to ſee Chriſt. Wherein we may conſider. 1. The perſons who propound this deſire. They are certain Greekes that came up to worſhip. We finde indeed that the Jewes who were born and bred among the Greekes are called Grecians, or Greciſts, Acts 6.7. and 9.29. becauſe they lived among them, and uſed the Greek language, yea, and made moſt uſe of the Greek tranſlation of the Old Teſtament. But theſe ſeem not to have been of that ſort, for the deſignation is different, in the Original, from that which is uſed, Acts 6. and 9. And therefore it appears rather that theſe were devout Gentiles, who embracing the true Religion, did come up at ſolemne times to worſhip at Jeruſalem. And albeit the natural Greeks, or poſterity of Javan, were but a ſmall part of the heathen nations, and poſſibly theſe were none of them; Yet it is not unuſual in the New Teſtament, to comprehend all (or the moſt part of) Nations that were not Jewes, under the name of Greeks, Rom. 1.16. and 10.12. Gal. 3.28. And that becauſe the Grecian Empire had, before that time, extended it ſelfe far, and ſo gave a name to the ſubjects of their dominion; And withal, the Greek language being generally in uſe in theſe countries, and ſome Greeks being incorporate with them, it is nothing ſtrange they be ſo deſigned. Conſider. 2. Their deſire, which is, that they may ſee Jeſus. It is not needful to determine, whether they had already ſeen him in the throng, and now would be more familiarly acquainted with him; But it is clear from Chriſts anſwer, and entertaining of this motion, that their deſire did ſlow from curioſity, and as they came not to Jeruſalem for this cauſe, ſo they minde no more but to ſee him. Conſider. 3. The way of propounding their deſire, and how it comes to be propounded unto Chriſt. They do very reſpectively propound the matter unto Philip, and he doth conſult with Andrew, and then both of them preſent it unto Chriſt. Whatever may be commendable in this procedure; as that they make acquaintance with Chriſt by means of his Apoſtles, and that Philip makes a ſtand in the matter till he get further advice, becauſe theſe were Gentiles who had been excluded in their firſt commiſſion, Matth. 10.5. Yet Chriſts ſtrange doctrine, on this propoſition, intimateth that he did not reliſh it well. I ſhall not determine that they uſed this mean, to get a meeting with Chriſt in private, as not deſiring to be ſeen owning him, againſt whom the Rulers had ſuch indignation, Chap. 11.57. But this is clear enough, that they in propounding, & the diſciples in entertaining it, keep too great a ſtate in it, as if acceſſe into Chriſt were not eaſie. Doctrine 1. Albeit it pleaſed the Lord, till the fulneſſe of time, to give up all Nations, and did only chooſe the Nation of Iſrael to be his peculiar people; Yet it pleaſed him, even then, to bring in ſome ſtrangers, as the firſt fruits, till the fulneſſe of the Gentiles ſhould be brought in, and the portition wall be taken away; for, there were certain Greekes among them at the feaſt. And in dedicating of the Temple, a roome was left for theſe, 1 Kings 8.41, 42, 43. 2. Whatever the Lord conferre upon his people, in their private and ſecret worſhip; yet it is their duty not to be content therewith, nor can they prove that it is ſound and ſincere, unleſſe they do alſo frequent publike Ordinances where they may be had, were it at a great diſtance; for, theſe Greeks came up to worſhip at the feaſt, though poſſibly they lived far off, ſome of them. Though there was ſomewhat typical in theſe feaſts, yet they were alſo ſolemne parts of the Jewiſh worſhip; And their frequenting thereof at the Lords command, will condemne them who are not put to ſuch pains, and yet prove negligent. 3. Chriſt, when he is known in any meaſure, will be thought a deſireable ſight; Therefore they would ſee Jeſus. 4. Such as would make acquaintance with Chriſt, ought not to neglect the ordinary means, or to make uſe of his ſervants; for, in ſo far they were right, in that they came to Philip, and deſired him, ſaying, Sir, we would ſee Jeſus. We need not conceive that they came to Philip, upon any particular acquaintance, becauſe he was of Bethſaida of Galilee, which lay nearer the confines of the Land; But becauſe they met firſt with him. And they call him Sir, though a fiſherman, as being the civil compellation of theſe times, given even to mean perſons, Joh. 20 15. 5. Many, even of them who make much noiſe of deſiring to ſee Chriſt, may yet be driven ſo to do, out of meer curioſity, and for carnal reſpects; for, ſuch was their deſire here, to ſee Jeſus, and but to ſee and gaze on him, who had been made ſo famous in the late triumph. 6. It is the duty of diſciples, to make mens acquaintance with Chriſt; for whatever was their fault, in not taxing what was amiſſe, or in their own way, yet it was no fault, but their duty, to make up the acquaintance. 7. It is a great miſtake, and an injury done to Chriſt, to think that he will keep a ſtate and diſtance from ſinners who ſincerely ſeek him; And his ſervants do but an ill office, when they foment ſuch apprehenſions; for, whatever they deſerved, yet they miſtake Chriſt, when they thought he was like a King, who could not be come unto but by ſome of his courtiers, and favorits; whereas many needy ſinners did come to him immediatly; and Philip finding ſtrangers take notice of him, doth ſinne in making ſuch a buſineſſe of ſtate of it, as might confirme them in this opinion. 8. Chriſts Court would be but ill guided, if any (though even diſciples) did guide it but himſelfe; Men would readily befriend them who are not ſo welcome, and would neglect the needy, and might point out Chriſt as more ſtrange then indeed he is; for, here the diſciples, who ſleighted little children and the woman of Canaan, now, when they think their Maſter is like to be eſteemed of among ſtrangers, they are foot and hand for them, though they were nothing ſo ſincere, and they do, by conſulting one with another, bear theſe ſtrangers in hand, that it was not eaſie to finde acceſſe to him, that ſo they may admire him the more.
Ver. 23. And Jeſus anſwered them, ſaying, The houre is come that the Son of man ſhould be glorified.
Followeth to ver. 27. the ſecond particular in this part of the Chapter, containing Chriſts anſwer to this propoſition; wherein. 1. (in this verſe) Sleighting their curious deſire, and tacitely reprehending the Diſciples carnal way of managing it; he ſheweth, that he had other true glory to look to, which made him vilipend this carnal reſpect tendered unto him by ſtrangers, to wit, the glory of, and following upon, his ſufferings which were near approaching And withal, by this doctrine, he points out that they ought to ſeek acquaintance with him, not as a man lately cryed up by popular applauſe, but as a glorified Chriſt on the triumphant chariot of his croſſe, and exalted at the Fathers right hand. Whence learn, 1. Chriſt takes no pleaſure to ſatisfie the curioſity of men, nor in worldly glory, nor, will he foſter his followers in an eſtimation of it; Therefore doth he ſleight this motion, and preaches what was of more importance. He will not call them into his preſence, but by his doctrine doth teſtifie he did not reliſh the reſpects they offered to him. 2. As ſad ſufferings may be following cloſe after ſome ſun-blenk of glory and triumph; So it concerns the Lords people to meditate and reſolve thereupon, even in their beſt dayes: for, after Chriſts triumph, the hour of his ſuffering is come, or near approaching: and he is meditating thereupon. 3. Divine providence is ſo particular about all things, particularly, about the ſufferings of Chriſt and his followers; that not ſo much as the hour when ſufferings ſhall begin, but it is determined: Therefore, ſaith he, ſo particularly, the hour is come, &c. 4. Such as would take a right look of the ſufferings of Chriſt and his followers, ought to look through all the pain, bitterneſſe, or ignominy, that is in them, and fix their eye upon the glory that is in that lot, and followeth thereupon; for, thus doth Chriſt leave us an example, who in ſpeaking of the approaching time of his ſuffering, declareth that he looks upon it as an hour wherein the Sonne of man is to be glorified. This was true, even of his very ſufferings, that he was glorified in being called to exerce the office of a Prieſt for his people, Heb. 5.4, 5. And ſo alſo Saints have looked on their ſufferings for him, as an high honour conferred upon them, Acts 5.41. But it was more viſibly verified in the iſſue of his ſufferings, 1 Peter 1.11. when in his own perſon he was exalted unto glory, Luke 24.26. and by the vertue of his death became great in the world, as verſe 32. of this Chapter. 5. Such as get open eyes to diſcerne the glory of the croſſe; and the glory that abides Chriſt and his followers after their ſuffering, will not care for, nor reliſh worldly pomp and glory, or carnal reſpect from men; Therefore Chriſt ſleights this offer, becauſe his eye was fixed elſewhere; The hour is come, that the Son of man ſhould be glorified. See Heb. 11.24, 27. and 12.2 6. Chriſt will entertain no acquaintance with any, unleſſe his croſſe be beautiful unto them, and unleſſe they lay aſide doating on his bodily preſence, and ſtudy communion with him in his ſufferings and exaltation; for, while as they ſought to converſe with him bodily, and ſee his imagined outward glory, he, in his anſwer, remits them to his ſuffering and exaltation ſhortly approaching, to ſtudy acquaintance with him there.
Ver. 24. Verily, verily I ſay unto you, Except a corne of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
In the next place, becauſe Chriſts ſuffering as the way to his glory, did ſtumble many of theſe who had carnal imaginations concerning the Meſſiah; Therefore (in this verſe) he clears the neceſſity of his dying, by a ſimilitude taken from grain, which unleſſe it be towen and die in the ground, can produce no increaſe; but being ſown, it bringeth forth much fruit. Even ſo, unleſſe he died, there would be no converſion of loſt men unto God. Whence learn, 1. The neceſſity and uſefulneſſe of the croſſe is not eaſily beleeved by the Sons of men; And it is a point to be received on Chriſts word, who will not deceive; Therefore, doth he begin this doctrine concerning his ſufferings, with ſo grave an aſſeveration, Verily, verily, I ſay unto you. 2. If Chriſt had not dyed, and continued for a while under the power of death, we could reap no profit by him, nor would any have gone to heaven with him; for, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone, and ſo had been here. It had been no prejudice to him, only his love could not be without us, nor had it been manifeſted, unleſſe he had brought many Sonnes into glory, but all the loſſe had been ours. 3. Chriſts death hath produced a fair harveſt of fruit on the earth, many being drawn unto him, and many ſweet fruits flowing from his death to them; for, if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit, and ſo is it here. And thus alſo doth the Lord bleſſe the afflictions, even of Saints, to bring out much good. 4. The profit that flows from the croſſe of Chriſt and his followers, ought to prevent any ſtumbling there at; for by this argument Chriſt obviates the ſcandal here. And indeed, if the fruit of the croſſe be an argument to move him to embrace it, much more ſhould it take away our ſtumbling.