Exposition of John, Chapter 1 · Verse 11
Ver. 15. John bare witneſſe of him, and cried, ſaying, This was he of whom I ſpake, He that cometh after me, is preferred before me, for he was before me.
IN the ſecond part of the Chapter John confirmeth this his doctrine concerning Chriſt from four teſtimonies of John the Baptiſt, given after the Baptiſme of Chriſt, ver. 37. The firſt, from this ver. to ver. 14. The ſecond, from ver. 19. to ver. 29. The third, from ver. 29. to ver. 35. The fourth, ver. 35, 36.
In the firſt teſtimony, he holds forth the excellency of Chriſt, firſt, as being above himſelf in dignity, ver. 15. Next, as being above all beleevers in the point of fulneſſe, and ſufficiency for the ſupply of loſt ſinners, ver. 16. Thirdly, as being preferred to Moſes the Miniſter of the Law, ver. 17. Fourthly, as being preferred to all men in the point of knowing and revealing of God. ver 18.
In the firſt branch of this commendation, Chriſt being now immediately gone from John after his Baptiſme, to be tempted in the Wilderneſſe (and therefore he ſaith, this was he, ſpeaking of one who had been with him, but was now gone) John doth repeat his former teſtimonies, and apply them to this individuall perſon who had been with him; Wherein he had declared, and yet again doth declare, that howſoever Chriſt did come after him in time of nativity, and in time of manifeſtation and execution of his office; Yea, and after him for a time in place, as coming to be baptized by him, and as yet more obſcure then he: Yet he was truly before him in dignity of perſon and office, as being the eternal God. Doctrine 1. It is a commendable and ſweet thing when Miniſters prove faithful in their truſt, and mind the work about which they are ſent; for, John was ſent to bear witneſſe of the light, ver. 7. and accordingly his practice is, John bare witneſſe of him. 2. The teſtimony of faithful Miniſters doth not evaniſh with the publication thereof, nor dieth with themſelves, but continueth as a conſtant witneſſe to all thoſe to whom the knowledge thereof cometh: And particularly, it is ſo with the doctrine of extraordinary Meſſengers, whoſe doctrine being recorded, ſtandeth as a conſtant witneſſe; for, in the Original it is, John beareth witneſſe of him, in the preſent time, though John was long ſince dead. 3. Faithful Miniſters having to do with hearers at a great diſtance from God; who are deaf, and diſtracted with the noiſe of tumultuous luſts, had need to be earneſt and inſtant in their doctrine, and ſhould in plain termes, not going about the buſh, with boldneſſe and fearleſſeneſſe, and with fervency, and not for the faſhion only, publiſh what they have in commiſſion; for, in theſe reſpects, John bare witneſſe of him, and cried. Beſide that John, entring to his Miniſtry in a year of Jubilee, as is ſuppoſed, did thus become the trumpeter to proclaime the acceptable year of the Lord. 4. Chriſt needeth not viſible manifeſtations of himſelf, to invite ſuch as know him from the Word, to commend him, and eſteeme highly of him; for, John, before Chriſt came unto him, or he ſaw him, had given ample teſtimonies concerning him, This was be of whom I ſpake, even all theſe teſtimonies before Chriſts Baptiſme, recorded by the other Evangeliſts. 5. As faithful Miniſters ought to be preparing people for Chriſts manifeſtations of himſelf; So when he doth manifeſt himſelf, a Miniſter is yet needful to expound theſe manifeſtations to be the thing promiſed, that ſo they may not be miſtaken nor ſtumbled at; Therefore, John having ſpoken of Chriſt before he manifeſted himſelf, finds it needful to apply that doctrine to that perſon, that they might not ſtumble at his low condition. This was he of whom I ſpake. And we are ready to fall in the like miſtake of his promiſed comforts and outgoings, when they come. 6. Chriſts real excellency and worth is ſuch, that commenders of him according to his word, will never have cauſe to change their note, but when he manifeſts himſelf, they will ſee all true that was ſaid of him, and when again he obſcureth himſelf; there is no cauſe to change our thoughts; for, here when Chriſt comes to John, he points him out, as making good all he had ſaid, and when now he is gone to the Wilderneſſe to be hungry and to be tempted of the Devil, John ſaith the ſame things of him, This was be of whom I ſpake, &c. 7. A… Chriſt is ſtill above, and preferred before the choiſeſt of Miniſters, however he abaſed himſelf in the dayes of his fleſh, and ſubjected himſelf to fulfil all righteouſneſſe; So it is the duty, and will be the practiſe of faithful Miniſters, and honeſt Chriſtians, to abaſe themſelves, that Chriſt may be exalted, and to guard againſt any reſpect that may encroach upon his honour; for, thus did John preach of him firſt and laſt, he that cometh after me is preferred before me. 8. The dignity and eternity of Chriſts perſon as God, ſets him up above all creatures, how excellent ſoever; for albeit as man, he was for a time made a little lower then the Angels, yet by vertue of the perſonal union, he is, even as man, made head of Angels. And as God, there is no compariſon betwixt him and the creatures; So much doth Johns reaſon teach us, he is preferred before me, for he was before me.