Exposition of John, Chapter 17 · Verse 20
Verſe 24. Father, I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou haſt given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
In this verſe is contained another ſute put up by Chriſt in behalfe of all his people; Wherein, having prayed for their ſpiritual union among themſelves, and for union with him and with the Father through him; he now prayeth for their union in place with himſelfe in heaven at laſt, and deſcribeth the bleſſed eſtate of beleevers in heaven. 1. From their company, that they ſhall be with him where he is. 2. From their exerciſe, which ſhall be to behold that glory given unto him, which is further commended from the fountain cauſe thereof, even the Fathers eternal love to him. Of this glory of Chriſt compare v. 1, 5. Doct. 1. It is a ſweet way to keep our hearts freſh and lively in prayer, when we have many thoughts of that tender relation betwixt God, to whom we pray, and us; Therefore Chriſt, who began his prayer with the ſweet ſtile of Father, v. 1. doth ſo often repeat the ſame, v. 11, here, and v. 25. that the thoughts of that relation might ſweeten his heart, and renew his ardour and affection. 2. The thoughts and hope of eternal life ought and will warne beleevers hearts toward God, and excite much alacrity and affection in them; for, ſo much alſo doth Chriſts practice reach, who beginning to ſpeak of his glory flowing from the Fathers love, and of heaven and eternal life to be conferred upon all his followers, his heart warmeth, and he breaketh out with that ſweet compellation, Father. 3. While Chriſt expreſſeth his petition in theſe tearmes, I will, it doth not import any imperious commanding way, repugnant to his former way of humble ſupplication; But it only imports that in this his ſupplication, he was making his latter Will and Teſtament and leaving his legacies, which he was ſure would be effectual, being purchaſed by his effectual merits, and proſecuted by his affectionate and earneſt requeſts and interceſſion, all which are imported in this expreſſion. And ſo it teacheth us, That as all theſe things ſought in this prayer, are beleevers duty to ſtudy after them; So are they Chriſts legacies, purchaſed and earneſtly prayed for by him, which will certainly be forth-coming to them: for ſaith he concerning them, I will that they be. 4. Chriſt is very deſirous and much taken up with his peoples fellowſhip and company, ſo that before he remove his bodily preſence from them, his heart is upon meeting and fellowſhip again; As here we ſee in his prayer before his departure. And this he maketh evident from day to day, in that, until that time of meeting come, two or three are not gathered in his name, but he is in the midſt of them. 5. Spiritual communion with Chriſt, will, at laſt, end in glory, and in communion with him in place in heaven: Chriſt will never reſt ſatisfied till their begun communion be thus perfected; And however the world and our hearts do, oft-times, look on ſpiritual communion but as a fancy; Yet heaven ſhall confirme the reality thereof, and that it was to good purpoſe to beleeve and wait on: And what difficulties we finde in entertaining communion here, ſhall then be removed, and we ſhall get Chriſt converſed with without an impediment. Therefore, unto the former way of union among themſelves, and with him, v. 22, 23. this union in place is ſubjoyned. 6. Such as have attained to ſpiritual communion with Chriſt, and are growing therein, will long after the compleating thereof in heaven, and after union in place with him; As here Chriſts practice and method doth teach, who after praying for the former, doth aſcend higher, to pray for this alſo. 7. As it is only the elect who are given to Chriſt, that do attain ſalvation, and all they do certainly attain it; So whatever preparations Chriſt work in them in order to their ſalvation; Yet as free love is the fountain, ſo it is alſo the perfecter of their ſalvation, and grace will be as free in a ſaved mans account, the laſt hour, as the firſt; Therefore, in this ſute, Chriſt doth only deſigne them, they whom thou haſt given me, to intimate, not only, that only ſuch and all ſuch do attain ſalvation, but alſo that this is to be looked to as the great cauſe and fountain of their ſalvation, as well as of their converſion, Chap. 6, 37. So much alſo doth he intimate by his praying for their ſalvation, as well as for their converſion. 8. The glory and happineſſe of heaven to the Elect will conſiſt much in being in Chriſts company, in whom they belight ſo much on earth; to follow the Lamb whither ſoever he goeth, and to enjoy him fully, without ſeparation any more; for, ſo is heaven here deſcribed in Chriſts prayer, that they may be with me where I am, though not ſecluding the Father in this nor in what followeth, with whom we are through the Son. 9. Chriſt, the Head of beleevers, is now truly glorious and highly exalted in heaven; His glory being openly declared as God, and he put in poſſeſſion of glory as man: for, ſaith he, there is my glory which thou haſt given me. 10. Whatever wayes of Chriſts glory be made manifeſt, to beleevers on earth, in his Church and his manifeſtations to them; yet it cannot be fully ſeen on this ſide of time, ſo tranſcendent and infinite is it; for, it is not till they be with me where I am, that they ſhall behold my glory. 11. The day is coming wherein beleevers ſhall be compleatly happy in a ſight of Chriſts glory, when he ſhall be conſpicuouſly glorified and admired in his Saints, 2 Theſ. 1.10. and glorified by them; and when, all veils being laid aſide, and they fitted for a more full fruition, ſhall viſibly and immediatly behold and enjoy him; Therefore is their condition in heaven deſcribed as conſiſting in this, that they may behold my glory which thou haſt given me. 12. Spiritual and heavenly mercies are then rightly ſeen and acknowledged, when Gods love, as the fountain thereof, affects their heart; for, ſo much doth Chriſts practice teach us, who ſpeaking of the glory given him, doth fall out in a commendation of that love whence it flowed, for thou lovedſt me. 13. Chriſt the Mediator is beloved of the Father with an everlaſting love, evidenced in his exalting of him in glory, that ſo ſinners may expect to be accepted in him; for, ſaith he, Thou lovedſt me before the foundation of the world.