Exposition of John, Chapter 12 · Verse 18 – Verse 19
Verſe 28. Father, glorifie thy Name. Then came there a voice from heaven, ſaying, I have both glorified it, and will glorifie it againe.
In this verſe is recorded Chriſts outgate and conſolation; it begins at ſubmiſſion in his prayer, that God would ſo diſpoſe of him, as might glorifie his own Name, without reſpect to his eaſe or inclination. And as this evidenceth the calme temper of his minde ſo his conſolation is perfected by a voice from heaven, teſtifying that as the Father had glorified his Name already in Chriſts life, ſo he would glorifie it yet more in his death.
From Chriſts ſubmiſſion, Learn. 1. It is the duty of Gods children, not to expect always, or, at the firſt, an outgate by a change of Gods diſpenſations toward them, but rather to ſeek it by a change of their own diſpoſition within them, making them fit to undergo ſuch diſpenſations; for, herein Chriſt hath caſt us a copy, in laying aſide the inclination of his nature to be rid of trouble, and ſubmitting to it. 2. It is the duty of Saints under trouble, to prefer the honour of God, and to ſeek how it may be advanced, before their own eaſe; for, Chriſt ends all his debates with this, Father glorifie thy Name, though by my trouble and ſuffering. 3. Submiſſion unto the Will of God is a real outgate from trouble, and a ſpecial victory over it; for, hereby Chriſt gets an iſſue of his agony and perplexities, Father glorifie thy Name. See Mat. 26.39 Acts 21.14. 4. The way to attaine ſubmiſſion, is, to be tender of Gods glory, and to account that dearer unto us then any thing elſe; for, this leads Chriſt to ſubmit unto this bitter cup, that hereby the Father glorifieth his Name. Whereas on the contrary, mens ſelfiſhneſſe and want of zeal is a great enemy to their ſubmiſſion.
From the Lords comfortable anſwer, Learn. 1. Soreſt exerciſes are not ſent on Gods children to deſtroy them, but when in their perplexities, they ſeek to God and ſubmit to him, there will be a comfortable iſſue; for, immediately there came a voice from heaven, &c. and ſo not only is he delivered, but the ſorer his exerciſe had been, it is the ſhorter. 2. There is no true comfort againſt ſoul-trouble, but what comes from God, and is ſpoken by him from heaven; for, this comforts Chriſt, There came a voice from heaven. And albeit we are not to expect ſuch extraordinary manifeſtations, (nor did Chriſt ſimply need them in ſuch a way, v. 30.) yet it muſt be ſpoken from the Word by God to the heart, before we get eaſe. 3. Such as are truly exerciſed in conſcience, will finde eaſe in comfortable promiſes, clearing their condition from the Word, albeit the trouble lie on; for, thus Chriſt is comforted by a voice from heaven, clearing his caſe. 4. Chriſt is a ſupplicant whoſe voice is acknowledged by the Father, as the voice of his Son, in that for which he ſeeks to him; for, here his ſupplication is anſwered by a voice from heaven. 5. The Father is glorified in the life and ſufferings of Chriſt, and not only doth the Sonne glorifie him herein, but he undertakes to glorifie himſelf: As here his anſwer doth ſhew, I have both glorified it, and I will glorifie it againe. 6. The Lords anſwers to troubled ſouls are very full, clearing all they do or can propound, and all they feele, or is lying upon them; for he not only undertakes to glorifie his Name in that wherewith Chriſt is now troubled, but cleares further what he had done. 7. Gods ſpeaking to a troubled ſoul, brings not only comfort under their preſent preſſures; but is a Piſgah from whence they may take a comfortable view of their by-paſt lots, and may ſee faire ground of hope for time to come; for, in this comfort, God cleares both by-gones and the time to come, I have both glorified it, and will glorifie it again.
Verſe 29. The people therefore that ſtood by and heard it, ſaid that it thundered: others ſaid, an Angel ſpake to him.
30. Jeſus anſwered, and ſaid, This voice came not becauſe of me, but for your ſakes.
In theſe verſes, upon occaſion of the ſeveral conjectures of the people concerning this audible voice, v. 29. Chriſt doth expound Gods purpoſe in this publick way of comforting him; That he did it, not ſo much becauſe Chriſt needed it, as to teſtifie unto them that he was accepted of God, owned of him in his ſufferings, and would be victorious over them through him. Whence learn. 1. God is very glorious and full of Majeſty, and appeares ſo when he reveals himſelf; His voice even in conſolations, is glorious; for his voice here was ſuch as the people ſaid, that it thundered, when they heard it. 2. As natural men are ignorant of ſpiritual ſoul-trouble, ſo do they as little underſtand the conſolations which God alloweth on theſe who are ſo exerciſed; for, they underſtand nothing of this matter, but ſome (it ſeems) who were more remote, ſaid, it thundered, others more neare, ſaid, an Angel ſpake to him. 3. It is the great fault of men that they delight rather to talk curiouſly of the extraordinary manifeſtations of God, then ſtudy to know the uſe to be made of them; Therefore they are curiouſly debating what this ſhould meane, when Chriſt tells them they ſhould ſtudy for whoſe ſake it came. 4. Conſolations are then double conſolations, when men are not only refreſhed thereby, but are led to know how they ought to be improven. Thus Chriſt is led to look on this voice, for whoſe ſake it comes, and knows what uſe ſhould be made thereof. 5. All the glorious teſtimonies given unto Chriſt from heaven, tended to point him out unto ſinners; as the true Meſſiah approven of God; And that for the conviction of the malicious and for the encouragement and confirmation of their faith who flee to him; Therefore, ſaith he, This voice came not becauſe of me, but for your ſakes. He needed indeed the conſolation, and it might have been imparted to him in a private way; But this publick way of declaring the conſolation, was for their behoof.