Exposition of John, Chapter 1 · Verse 22 – Verse 23
Ver. 32. And John bare record, ſaying, I ſaw the Spirit deſcending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33. And I knew him not: but he that ſent me to baptize with water, the ſame ſaid unto me, Ʋpon whom thou ſhalt ſee the Spirit deſcending, and remaining on him, the ſame is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34. And I ſaw, and bare record that this is the Sonne of God.
John declareth further, that he got a ſigne from God whereby he might know the true Meſſiah and the Baptizer with the Holy Ghoſt, which being accompliſhed on Chriſt at his Baptiſme, Matth. 3.16. did confirme John, and encourage him to proclaime Chriſt to be the Sonne of God. Whereas John ſaith, ver. 33. that he knew not Chriſt, it is not to be underſtood as if he knew him not at all, before the accompliſhment of that ſigne, for it is clear from Matth. 3.13, 14 he knew him when he came to be baptized. But the meaning is, that when John entred to his Miniſtry, and got the promiſe of this ſigne, he knew not Chriſt by face, though afterward about the time of his Baptiſme, he knew him firſt by revelation, and was yet more confirmed by the accompliſhment of the promiſed ſigne. Doctrine 1. The glorious evidences of Chriſts excellencie and Godhead, when he came into the world, are not cunningly deviſed fables; but moſt certaine and infallible truths; for, John bare record, ſaying, I ſaw, &c. He giveth a ſolemne teſtimony of it. 2. Chriſt in his ſolmne entry to his offices, was ſealed from heaven, and ſtated in them, that ſo the Church may learn to embrace him with all reſpect. Therefore doth the Spirit deſcend upon him in this viſible glorious way, and the Father beare witneſſe to him, as it is, Matth. 3. all the perſons of the Trinity manifeſting themſelves on Jordans bank. 3. Chriſt is endowed with the Spirit from on high for executing of his offices, and it is made manifeſt that the Spirit is to be found on him, and ſought from him; for, I ſaw the Spirit deſcending from heaven upon him, where the Spirit, who filleth heaven and earth, is ſaid to deſcend in reſpect of that viſible manifeſtation and ſigne of his preſence. 4. The Spirits deſcending like a dove, a meek, harmleſſe and affectionate creature, pointed out, what Chriſt is in his own nature to them that come to him, even meeke, harmleſſe, loving, and not dreadful; what he is in the execution of his office, even he in whom the Father is well pleaſed and pacified, and he who bringeth the good newes of aſſwaging the deluge of wrath, as Noahs dove of the drying up of the flood; And what he is in the operations of his Spirit upon his people, that they are made meek, harmleſſe, and lowly as doves, not like birds of prey. 5. Albeit all Chriſts members do receive of the Spirit in their meaſure, yet it is Chriſts prerogative to have the Spirit reſting on him; Not only as God is the Spirit of one eſſence with him, proceeding from the Father and him, and ſo is ever preſent with him t… But even as man by vertue of the perſonal union, the Spirit floweth and reſteth on Chriſt, and efficaciouſly worketh in him all divine graces and vertues without meaſure, and immutably, ſo that none can come wrong to him at any time for receiving of his Spirit: Therefore, it is ſaid, it abode upon him. See Iſa, 11.2, 3. 6. Chriſt in taking on our nature, did ſo cover his glory with the vaile of our fleſh and common infirmities, that he could not be known by bodily ſight from another man, without divine revelation, and evidences from God; for, without this, John ſaith, I knew him not. See Matth 16.17. 7. The Lord is very tender and careful of his ſervants, to encourage and confirme them in their calling and meſſage; And will not faile to performe what he hath promiſed for that effect, when he ſendeth them out; for, John ſaith, he ſaw this ſigne in a peculiar way, as being to him an accompliſhment of that promiſe given to him; for, God had ſaid to him, upon whom thou ſhalt ſee the Spirit deſcending, &c. and now it was accompliſhed. 8. The Spirit reſteth upon Chriſt, and was manifeſted to be on him by a viſible ſigne, not onelyonly for himſelf, and to point out his ezcellency, but for the Churches good, and to certifie them that he received the Spirit to communicate unto them, either extraordinarily, when need required, or ordinarily, to work that inwardly by his Spirit, which Baptiſme ſcaleth and ſignifieth; for, this ſigne ſerved to point out that Chriſt is be which baptizeth with the holy Ghoſt. Which is ſpoken, partly, with relation to the extraordinary pouring out of his Spirit after his Aſcention, as appeareth from Acts 1.5. partly, with relation to the external Ordinance of Baptiſme adminiſtred by John and others, whereof he onelyonly can give the ſubſtance, when by his Spirit he ſanctifieth and cleanſeth the beleever. 9. Albeit that extraordinary ſignes and wonders be not now needful to confirme the doctrine ſo oft confirmed already; Yet every Miniſter, would be ſure grounded in what they teſtifie to be the minde of God, and what they know of Chriſts excellency, they would not hide nor conceale it; So much may be learned from John's way, who ſaw, and bare record. 10. This truth, that Jeſus the Sonne of Mary, is alſo the Sonne of God in the ſame perſon, was confirmed by infallible evidences, and by eye and eare witneſſes; for, I ſaw, and bare record that this is the Sonne of God. See 2 Pet. 1.16. 1 John 1.1. 11. It is not enough to receive Chriſt as excellently endowed for the diſcharge of his offices; but to receive and beleeve in him as the Sonne of God by eternal generation, as being the ground-ſtone of our ſalvation, of our comfort, peace and ſtrength; Therefore doth John hold him out not onelyonly as the Baptizer with the Holy Ghoſt, but as the Sonne of God. See 1 John. 5.5.
Ver. 35. Again the next day after, John ſtood, and two of his diſciples.
36. And looking upon Jeſus as he walked, he ſaith, Behold the Lamb of God.
This is Johns fourth teſtimony, upon which followed the converſion of ſome diſciples, and ſo it leadeth us to the laſt part of the Chapter: The occaſion and ſumme of the teſtimony is, that John being the next day left alone with two of his diſciples, (or ſuch as had embraced his doctrine, and were more then common hearers) and Chriſt coming by, he again points him out as the true ſacrifice for ſin. Whence learn, 1. As Chriſt doth not faile to caſt opportunities of well-doing in his ſervants way, ſo they ought to neglect no occaſion of doing good, and of leading men to Chriſt, for, Chriſt, the next day after the former teſtimony, walketh by them, going now away, as appeareth from ver. 38, 39. And John wi…l preach and point him out, though but to two diſciples. 2. Chriſts faithful ſervants will make conſcience to exalt him, and to lead people to him, and not to themſelves, And that not onelyonly in publick, where many may obſerve, but even in their moſt private converſe, it will be their care that ſuch as reſpect them moſt, may be led from them to Chriſt. Therefore John, even in private with two diſciples is ſo careful to point out Chriſt. 3 A ſight of Chriſt is not onelyonly an occaſion, but a notable help to enable Miniſters to preach and point him out to others; for, as John looking upon Jeſus as he walked, is encouraged to commend him, ſo a ſight and enjoyment of his ſpiritual preſence, will notably furniſh men to ſpeak of him. 4. It is the duty of faithful Miniſters, to be much in preaching of Chriſt crucified, and pointing him out as the onelyonly propitiatory ſacrifice for ſin, as being a chief point of Chriſtian knowledge, and a powerfull mean of converſion; therefore doth John again point him out as ſuch, Behold the Lamb of God.