Exposition of John, Chapter 17 · Verse 11 – Verse 12
Verſe 13. And now come I to thee, and theſe things I ſpeak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themſelves.
The ſecond argument, preſſing the petition, is taken from Chriſts end in putting up the petition in the diſciples audience, and the event that ſhould follow upon the Fathers granting the ſame; Namely, the fulfilling and compleating of their joy, who were much diſcouraged with the removal of his bodily preſence. The ſumme of the argument is, That he being to remove and take away his bodily preſence, which had been ſo comfortable to his diſciples; albeit his interceſſion in heaven might have ſufficed for obtaining what they needed; Yet he would recommend them to the Father, and pray for preſervation to them, in their own audience, that ſo they might be encouraged, ſeeing his care of them, and having hope of audience to ſuch a ſute put up by ſuch a petitioner. And therefore he would inferre that the Father will not diſappoint their hope, but fulfil their joy by granting the requeſt. Whence learn, 1. Chriſts removal out of the world looked very ſweet upon him, as being a coming to his Father with whom he is ſo familiar; And in him death is ſanctified and ſweetned to all his followers, as being a departing to him, that they may be with him for ever, Phil. 1.23. 1 Theſ. 4.17. So doth he deſcribe his removal, Now I come to thee. 2. Chriſt is very condeſcending in his dealing with and for his people, and doth not only what is ſimply needful, but what in reaſon may abundantly ſatisfie them, notwithſtanding their tentations and infirmities, for, albeit his interceſſion being exalted at the right hand of the Father was ſufficient to bring about needful benefits; yet for their ſatisfaction, he will even pray in their audience, Theſe things I ſpeak in the world. And this ſhould gain our conſent to ſay, he doth all things well, and by what we ſee of his condeſendence in any particular, to truſt him in others more dark. 3. Joy is allowed by Chriſt upon all his followers: It is his ſcope in his dealing toward them, and he hath done and daily doth what may breed them joy; for, this is his ſcope here, that they may have joy. See Phil. 4.4. 1 Theſ. 5.16. 4. The faith and knowledge of Chriſts interceſſion for his people, that they may be preſerved and made to perſevere, is ſuch a pledge of their ſure eſtate and of his good-will toward them, as may afford abundant matter of joy in their ſaddeſt caſe; for, Theſe things I ſpeak in the world, that they may have joy. 5. The joy of beleevers is of Chriſts allowing, is his work in them, and a joy in him over all that they finde in themſelves; Therefore doth he call it my joy. 6. Chriſts joy, allowed on his people, is a compleat joy, far beyond the empty joy of the world, in midſt whereof the heart is ſorrowful; And albeit the full degrees of their joy will meet them in heaven, yet their joy here is full in parts, as ſatisfying the minde, calming their ſtormes, and ſtaying their foot againſt all eſſayes, if they emprove it right. Therefore is this joy in that he prayes for them, and their joy in obtaining their anſwer, called a fulfilled joy. 7. Chriſt doth not only take care to give his people cauſe of joy, but to make them rejoyce in it alſo, and that with an inexpreſſible joy, whereof others are ignorant; Therefore will he have it fulfilled in themſelves, that is, their hearts filled with it, and feeding on that hid Manna, whereof ſtrangers are not pertakers, as Prov. 14.10. 8. The Father doth allow that which Chriſt doth for the encouragement of his people, and will not let it be ineffectual: For this is Chriſts argument for obtaining his ſure, which certainly hath weight with the Father, Theſe things I ſpeak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themſelves.
Ver. 14. I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them, becauſe they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
The third argument preſſing the petition, is taken from the worlds oppoſition to them being converted. The word which Chriſt gave them, ver. 8. had ſo far wrought upon them, as to regenerate them, and make them diſſent from the world in judgement, affection and converſation, ſo rendering them conforme, in ſome meaſure, to him their Head. And this change made them incurre the worlds hatred, which doth call for divine preſervation. Whence learn, 1. As it is Chriſts great favour and kindeneſſe to give his Word unto his people: ſo where it is given with a bleſſing, and rightly received, it draws the receiver to a diſconformity with the world, and not to be of it, though he be in it: for, I have given them thy Word, and they are not of the world. 2. It doth exceedingly commend the grace of God in Saints, that albeit they kept in the world, and forced to walk among the many ſnares thereof, yet they are ſeparated from it and not conforme unto it; for, though they are in the warld, v. 11. yet they are not of the world. 3. Whatever civility men of the world may have, yet all of them are ſo oppoſite to g…ace and godlineſſe, that they will not only oppoſe it in themſelves, but hate and perſecute it in others one way or other, if it were but by traducing piety, that they may perſecute it under ſome odious name; for, the world hath hated them, becauſe they are not of the world So that when it ſeems to be otherwiſe, we may reckon, either that profeſſours of Religion are but too much like the world, and little like Chriſt, or that the worlds malice is but overpowred and bridled, till they get an opportunity. 4. It may encou…age Saints to endure oppoſition from the world ſo Religions ſake, that the quarrel wherein they ſuffer, is moſt glorious, and what the world hates in them, is thei… g…ateſt ornament before God; for, he points out to them that the quarrel is, becauſe they are not of the world. 5. It may encourage them alſo in this conflict, that in their ſtate & ſuffering, they have a conformity with Chriſt their Head, conformity with whom is a great dignity; for, by this alſo doth he encourage them, they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. He or his Kingdome are not of this world more then they are, and their ſuffering on this account redounds to him, who is firſt hated, and for whoſe ſake and becauſe of conformity with him, they are hated. 6. The worlds oppoſition to Saints, becauſe of their ſeparation from it, doth engage God to ſee the more carefully to their p…eſervation; for, it is an argument why the Father ſhould keep them, The world hath hated them, becauſe they are not of the world.