Exposition of John, Chapter 13 · Verse 15 – Verse 16
Verſe 18. I ſpeak not of you all, I know whom I have choſen: but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me, hath lift up his heel againſt me.
Followeth to ver. 31. the ſecond part of the Chapter, wherein Chriſt diſcovereth Judas treachery, and that he was the Traitour. The words may be taken up in four ſteps of progreſſe in this diſcovery. 1. Chriſt in general intimateth that there were ſome unſound among them, and guardeth this buſineſſe, and the intimation thereof, with neceſſary cautions and inſtructions, ver. 18, 19, 20. 2. Being preſſed to it, and they not laying hold on the former intimation, he intimates more diſtinctly, that there was one among them ſo rotten hearted, as to betray him; whereat they are amazed, ver. 21, 22. 3. John being ſet on work by Peter, to enquire concerning this traitour, Chriſt by a ſigne doth diſcover Judas to him, ver. 23, 24, 25, 26. 4. This diſcovery producing woful effects in Judas, Chriſt diſcovers more of his minde concerning his treachery, to himſelfe, when he is going out to effectuate it, ver. 27, 28, 29, 30.
In this ver. 1. Chriſt proceeds to this general diſcovery (whereof ſome hint had been given before, ver. 10.) by way of exception to the former doctrine. As he had formerly made an exception in pronouncing them clean, ver. 10. ſo here he declares that he expected not from all of them, that they ſhould be bleſſed in practicing humility and mutual condeſcendence, ver. 17. But ſome one or other of them would be ſo far from ſerving his fellow diſciples, that he would riſe againſt his Maſter. 2. He gives the ground of this exception, and why he did thus pronounce of any of them; Namely, that he knew whom he had choſen, The meaning whereof is not ſo much that he knew what every one whom he had choſen to the Apoſtleſhip would prove, and Judas among the reſt; (though that be alſo true) But he knew who they were whom, beſide election to the Apoſtleſhip, (wherein Judas ſhared alſo, Chap. 6.70.) he had choſen to eternal life, and whom not; And conſequently, knew who would prove faithful or falſe to him. 3. If any ſhould enquire, wherefore did he chooſe ſuch a man to be an Apoſtle, who he knew would prove a traitour? He anſwers, that hereby was fulfilled a prediction in Pſ. 41.9. that one of his familiars and domeſticks ſhould ingrately recompence his kindneſs, as if a beaſt fed by his Maſter, ſhould kick againſt him. And this is the firſt caution and inſtruction ſubjoyned to this intimation, that they ſhould not ſtumble at the buſineſſe. As for this connexion of the prediction with the event, compare what is ſaid on Chap. 12.38. Only here it would be conſidered, that this is not a ſimple prediction relating only to Chriſt and Judas, but was in part accompliſhed in Ahithophels treachery againſt David, who in his ſufferings of this kinde was a type of Chriſts ſufferings from Judas, in whom that was chiefly accompliſhed. And albeit ſo much only be cited as is clearly applicable to Chriſt; that of a friend in whom I truſted, being more proper to David, ſeeing Chriſt never hoped for any good of Judas. (And ſo we ought to be wary in expounding Scripture-types) Yet even that may in ſome ſenſe be true of Chriſt, who entruſted Judas not only with the bag, but with the Miniſtry and Apoſtleſhip it ſelfe, as well as the reſt. Doctrine 1. Chriſt is very tender of his weak followers, and loath to grieve them, by bringing forth what may diſpleaſe or ſtumble them; Therefore doth he at firſt prepare their mindes for theſe ſad newes, with ſuch general intimations and cautions. 2. It is not ſufficient that men hear truths, unleſs they make application thereof to themſelves in particular; for, Chriſts exception ſuppoſeth an application of what he ſaid, on their parts. 3. When truths are ſpoken in a general auditory, men are very ready to miſapply them; for, therefore is a guard and exception needful. In this caſe, (to ſay nothing of the ſtate of mens perſons, whereby they may know much what they have right unto) we would conſider. 1. Want of fear in application of what is comfortable, is a ſad evidence of wrong application. 2. What ever mens right be to what is comfortable, yet they cannot comfortably apply it, unleſs they ſtand in real and ſenſible need of what is offered, for their encouragement and furtherance in good; or do in ſincerity lay hold on the offer, to quicken them in their ſenſe of need. 3. Albeit they may have right to apply comforts, who ſometime will fall a ſleep upon them; yet the application is never comfortable, but when ſome fruits thereof appear. So alſo threatnings are not ſavingly applyed, but when they ſtir up to diligence. 4. Ordinarily, the hearts of good and bad are ſo froward, that they are beſt at applying what they have leaſt right unto; Saints when they are humbled, can lay hold on threatnings, but cannot hear of promiſes; the wicked make no doubt of promiſes, but take no notice of threatnings; and Saints are moſt apt to graſp at promiſes when they are moſt ſecure. Doctrine 4. So general is the corruption of men, and their ſocieties, that comfortable things can hardly be ſpoken to the choiceſt and feweſt number of them, but there will be ſome to be excepted againſt, as having no right thereunto; for, when Chriſt is propounding to his very twelve Apoſtles, a promiſe of happineſſe upon the practice of humility, there needs an exception, I ſpeak not of you all. 5. Miniſters are not faithful, nor do they declare the whole counſel of God, unleſs with general promiſes, they publiſh alſo needful cautions, that none do ſtumble upon, or abuſe them; for ſo much doth Chriſts practice, in excepting Judas, teach. And albeit they cannot do as Chriſt did in pointing at the man; Yet they muſt ſet down Scripture cautions and limits to the promiſes, and the Scripture qualifications of theſe who have right thereunto. 6. Whatever may be the excellencies of men, and eſpecially of Chriſts ſervants, in reſpect of their gifts and ſucceſs; Yet true happineſs belongs to none but to the choſen and Elect ones; for, albeit the Apoſtleſhip had very eminent effects, yet they are only happy in obedience, whom he hath choſen. See Luk. 10.17, 18, 19, 20. 7. Men may be choſen to very eminent employments, who yet are not choſen to eternal life; for, by this exception, Judas is ſecluded from among theſe whom he hath choſen. So that we have need not to do at ſo much on what is adorning, but to ſeek what is ſaving. 8. Whatever be the means whereby men are kept faithful, and carried on to happineſs; Yet the fountain of all this ſlows from the Lords electing them to theſe means, and to the end following thereupon; Therefore, the Apoſtles walking in the wayes of happineſs, is attribute not ſo much to their grace, as to his election, the fountain of their grace, I know whom I have choſen, and who therefore will be happy in doing theſe things. And this is held out, partly, that all the good we have, we may trace it up to this fountain; and partly, that having made our calling and election ſure, we may be comforted under the ſenſe of great inward weakneſſe. Hence it is that glorification is ſubjoyned to election and juſtification, Rom. 8.28, 29. and election is laid as a ground of ſecurity againſt final defection in trying times, Matth. 24.24. 2 Tim. 2.18, 19. 9. Chriſt is the authour of Election, as God equal with the Father, and he knoweth the number of his choſen ones, and who they are; for, I know whom I have choſen. See 2 Tim. 2.19. 10. Chriſt is not ignorant what any of his followers will prove, and that from the beginning; for, Judas did not deceive him, I know whom I have choſen. 11. There is much of Chriſt to be ſeen in the old Teſtament, by a diſcerning eye; and much acted in types which hath its full accompliſhment in him: for, the ſcriptures, ſpeaking of Davids ſuffering in the type from Ahithophel, is fulfilled in Judas treachery againſt Chriſt. 12. In all the lots that befall Chriſt and his followers, we are to guard againſt ſtumbling at them, by conſidering a ſoveraigne providence of God in all of them; for, Chriſt here guards the diſciples mindes in this matter, by letting them ſee that God foreſaw it long before, and did foretell that which was now fulfilled. 13. Chriſt is moſt tender of fulfilling all Scriptures, that ſo we may be encouraged to reſt our confidence on what he ſaith in them; Therefore doth he admit of a Judas into his fellowſhip, and permits him to betray him, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, and there might be no cauſe of queſtioning the truth thereof. So Joh. 10.16. albeit he had affection to the Gentiles, yet for the truth of God, he confined himſelfe to the miniſtry of the circumciſion. Rom. 15.8.14. Chriſt and his followers do ſuffer not only from open enemies, which were in many reſpects an caſe; But they are alſo perſecuted by falſe boſome friends and familiars; for ſo found David the …pe, and Chriſt the ſubſtance, he that eateth bread with me, hath lifted up his heel againſt me. See Pſal. 55.12, 13, 14. 15. It is the great treachery, and horrid ingratitude of enemies, that no favours nor familiarity will draw them from their enmity, but rather emboldens them thereunto; for albeit he eat bread with him, and his bread too, (as it is Pſal. 41.9.) yet want only and ingrately, he hath lift up his heel againſt me. 16. Whatever be the carriage of enemies, yet it is the duty of Chriſts followers to heap coals on their heads, by doing them all the good they can in their ſtations; for, herein Chriſt hath left an example, who albeit he knew what Judas was, yet let him eat bread with him. See Pſalm 35.12, 13, 14, 15. Rom. 12.20.
Ver. 19. Now I tell you before it come, that when it is come to paſſe, ye may beleeve that I am he.
In this verſe a ſecond caution and inſtruction is joyned with this intimation; Wherein, (as in the former he gave a reaſon why he permitted ſuch a thing to be; ſo) he gives a reaſon why he now foretels of this treachery before hand: Namely, that when they ſhould compare his prediction with the event when it came to paſſe, they might be ſo far from ſtumbling at it, that, on the contrary it might aford them an encouragement to beleeve on him, who by the prediction did prove himſelf God omniſcient, and by his ſuffering theſe things, did prove himſelfe to be the true Meſſiah, of whom theſe things were fore-propheſied. Whence learn. 1. Chriſt is omniſcient as God, and knoweth, and can foretell things before they come to pa…e; for, now I tell you before it come. See Iſa. 48.5. 2. Chriſt doth ſo order his own and his peoples afflictions, as in ſtead of bitterneſs and ſtumbling, a right obſerver may finde many confirmations and advantages by them; for, he ſo orders Judas treachery, (which would ſeem to have ruined all) as it may contribute to confirme them that he is God and the true Meſſiah. It is he indeed who brings meat out of the eater. 3. It is a notable fruit and advantage by ſaddeſt ſtormes, to be helped to know and beleeve more of Chriſt his excellency and ſufficiency; for, this is the fruit here, that ye may beleeve that I am he. 4. Whatever degree of knowledge and faith in Chriſt Saints attain to, yet they need more increaſe and confirmation, and to attain this is a difficult task: for, albeit the diſciples knew and beleeved what he was, yet he findes this pains needful, that they may be helped to beleeve more. 5. Chriſt rightly taken up, will be beleeved to be matchleſſe, ſingular, and inexpreſſible, in his fulneſſe and excellency; for, this he aims at, that ye may believe that I am he, or, that I am, to wit, that ſingular and inexpreſſible one. 6. A ſpecial meane to confirm faith by ſaddeſt diſpenſations, is, to compare theſe events with predictions concerning them; wherein we may read Gods omniſcience and providence, knowing, and ſetting bounds to all theſe ſtormes; for, I tell you before it come, that when it is come to paſſe ye may believe.