Exposition of John, Chapter 12 · Verse 16
Ver. 25. He that loveth his life ſhall looſe it: and he that hateth his life in this world, ſhall keep it unto life eternal.
26. If any man ſerve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there ſhall alſo my ſervant be: If any man ſerve me, him will my Father honour.
In the laſt place, Chriſt having acquainted them with what was his true glory, and the way to it, doth now point out the way how to come and have communion with him therein, to wit, by taking up the croſſe, and following him. And for this end. 1. He ſets forth the danger of irreſolution, and the good of reſolution, in this point, verſe 25. A man that is ſparing, if it were even of his life when Chriſt calls for it, doth take the ready way to loſe it, and he who doth hazard it for him at his call, is ſure to live eternally. 2. He points out their obligation to this duty, that if any will be his ſervants, it is reaſon they follow him in the paths he hath troden, verſe 26. — 3. He ſubjoins, for the encouragement of ſuch, that if they follow him as ſervants, they ſhall enjoy, his company, and if they honour him, the Father will honour them, verſe—26.
From verſe 25. Learn, 1. It is not enough that Chriſts followers leave off to ſtumble at his ſufferings, or at the afflictions of others, unleſſe they be content alſo to ſubmit to the croſſe, without ſtumbling, in their own perſons; Therefore doth he ſubjoine this doctrine to the former concerning his death, to breed them with the croſſe in their own perſons. 2. Albeit Chriſt may let ſome eaſily ſlip through, and others get away with ſome ſmall loſſe; yet he approves of no followers, who are not reſolved on the loſſe of what is deareſt to them, yea, even of life, for his ſake: Therefore doth he mention our life to be hated, not ſecluding other things, as parents, wife, children, houſes, lands, &c. but including them all in this, as being the moſt precious enjoyment. And ſince ſome are put to that, all muſt reſolve on it. 3. Its not enough that men quit any thing for Chriſt, unleſſe it be done with cheerfulneſſe, zeal, and an holy indignation that any thing, how precious ſoever, ſhould come in competition with obedience to him; Therefore is i… required, that they hate their life; Which is not to be underſtood abſolutely, as if it were a ſin, to love life, as it is the gift of God, or that they ſhould weary of it; But comparatively, that they ſhould not love it more then Chriſt, Matth. 10.37. and ſhould abho…re that it ſhould come in competition with duty to him. 4. Whatever be our obligations to Chriſt, yet mens inordinate affection to their temporal life is a great impediment to our duty, when it comes to that puſh; for, it is ſuppoſed that too many will love their life, (to wit, in this world, or their temporal life;) ſo as to preferre the preſervation of it to obedience and a good conſcience. 5. Whoever are careful to preſerve their temporal life upon any tearmes, they take the ſhort cut to looſe it, and eternal life alſo; for, he that loveth his life ſhall looſe it. He both provokes Chriſt to plague that life, and cut it off, which he will not employ in a good cauſe, and however it fare with his temporal life, yet he looſeth eternal life. 6. As the looſe grip of things temporal is the ſureſt and beſt grip; ſo when a man preferres ſervice to Chriſt to his own life, it is the ſure way to preſerve both body and ſoul unto life eternal; for, he that hates his life in this world, ſhall keep it unto life eternal. Some time the Lord may continue and preſerve a mans life, after he hath ſubmitted to looſe it for his ſake: But however that ſucceed, yet the other incouragement ſtands firme. 7. They who have the lively hope of eternal life, will eaſily digeſt any temporal loſſe, eſpecially when that hope cannot be attained without that loſſe; for, preſervation unto eternal life, is ſufficient to perſwade a man, when he is called to it, to hate his life in this world. 8 Such as live by faith, muſt renounce the principles of carnal ſenſe and reaſon, and be content to walk on grounds contrary to theſe, eſpecially in times of trial; for, they muſt learn that love, and keeping of life is loſſe, and hatred, and loſing of it is keeping of it.
From verſe 26. Learn, 1. Chriſt will not be content of glorious-like outſide acquaintance with men, unleſſe they engage themſelves in humble ſervice to him; Therefore, in oppoſition to their deſire of ſeeing him, verſe 21. he deſires that men ſhould ſerve him. 2. Such as give up themſelves to ſerve Chriſt, muſt not in their duties preſcribe unto him, but muſt be content to follow his directions; And in their lots, they muſt not think it ill to be no better uſed then he was, but ſhould account the worſt condition ſweet and eaſie, in that he eſſayed it, and paved the way before them; for, ſaith he, if any man ſerve me, let him follow me. 3. Such as ſerve Chriſt, by following him, ſhall be ſure not only to ſee him, but to enjoy his company: He will be with them in trouble, and not let them be alone, and they ſhall be brought, at laſt, to partake of the ſweet iſſue that followed on his ſuffering; for, where I am, there ſhall alſo my ſervant be. See Luke 22.28, 29. John 17.24. Rom. 8.17. 4. It is a ſweet encouragement to ſincere followers of Chriſt, that in glory they ſhall have conſtant and neer fellowſhip with him, which they are ſo much thirſting after in their pilgrimage; for, this is the encouragement of ſervants, where I am, there ſhall alſo my ſervant be. 5. Whatever diſgrace Chriſts ſervants may meet with; yet to ſerve him is their true honour, and will be rewarded at laſt with viſible honour; for, if any man ſerve me, him will my Father honour. See 1 Sam 2.30. 6. He ſaith here, my Father will honour him, not only to point out that it is true honour only which is conferred by God, Joh. 5.44. But to teach, That Chriſt as Mediatour is ſo accepted of the Father, that he will put marks of favour and honour upon all his ſervants.