Exposition of John, Chapter 5 · Verse 17
Verſe 27. And hath given him authority to execute judgement alſo, becauſe he is the Son of man.
To confirme the former reaſons, and becauſe they might be ready to ſtumble at what Chriſt ſaid of himſelfe, when they looked on him in his humane nature; Therefore he declareth that not only as God, he hath a fountain of life, equally with the Father, but that he hath authority given him from the Father, to execute, or do judgement, even becauſe he is the Sonne of man. By executing or doing of judgement, of which, ver 22. we are to underſtand a dominion and government over all things, and particularly, the power of life and death, to condemne or abſolve, which will be eſpecially verified in the judgement of the laſt day, of which he ſpeaketh, ver. 28, 29. And Chriſt ſaith authority is given him to do this becauſe he is the Sonne of man, or, as he is the Sonne of man. Whereby we are not to underſtand his humane nature ſimple conſidered, but his office, and his humane nature as united in one perſon with the Godhead; That becauſe he is God-man, the Mediatour of ſinners, and took on our nature for that end, therefore he hath all power committed to him as Mediatour, for the good of the Church; the exerciſe whereof he fully entered upon, after his reſurrection, Matth. 28.18. Rom. 14.9. Rev. 1.18. Philip. 2.8, 9, 10, 11. And, that in his humane nature, though he be not advanced to the participation of divine properties, yet he is advanced to that Lordſhip over all the creatures that he is capable of, Rom. 14.9. Phil 2.9, 10 and gifted with that dignity and authority to be in the unity of perſon, one with him, who is ſovereigne Lord over all; And he is the viſible actor and Judge in theſe adminiſtrations, which could be done by none but him who is God alſo, and particularly, in the laſt day, wherein he ſhall be Judge in viſible ſhape, Act. 10.42. and 17.31. according to the prophecy of him under the ſame name, Dan. 7.13. Doctrine, 1. The eternal Sonne of God, equal with the Father, did in the fulneſſe of time, become true man in one perſon with his God-head; for, the Sonne of God, ver. 25. is alſo the Sonne of man. 2. Mans nature is highly exalted in our head Chriſt; his humane nature being not only advanced to that dignity above all creatures, that it can be capable of, in it ſelfe; but being in the unity of perſon, the ſame with him who is Lord over all, and the viſible actor of the works of the Godhead, for, the Sonne of man hath authority given him, &c. 3. As Chriſt hath from the Father a native dominion, as God, by eternal generation; ſo he hath alſo a donative Kingdome, as Mediatour, God-man, for the good of his Church; whereby he not only ruleth over his Church, but hath all power in heaven and earth, and all things in his hand, which may either hinder or promote her happineſſe; for, the Father hath given him authority to execute judgement, becauſe he is the Sonne of man. And this is to be looked on as better and ſurer in Chriſts hand, who is our head, then in our own. 4. The redemption of loſt ſinners is ſo acceptable to the Father, that he will not only accept a ranſome, but will honour the Redeemer, and conferre dignity upon him, for effectuating that work; for, becauſe he is the Sonne of man, and Mediatour, the Father hath given him authority to execute judgement. See Philip. 2.8, 9, 10. Joh. 10.17. 5. Chriſt hath undertaken to work the work of redemption of ſinners, and ſo hath engaged himſelfe to carry it through; and the Father, according to his Covenant with him, hath inveſted him with what was requiſite … perfecting that work; for, he is the Sonne of man … that end, and therefore the Father hath given him authority, &c. 6. Chriſt in the work of redemption, and adminiſtration of all things, for the elects behoofe, is the Fathers Commiſſioner, and cloathed with a Delegate authority for which he is accountable to the Father, for all thoſe whom he hath given him, and all their allowances and lots, and for the adminiſtration of all things in order to them: Not a lot they meet with, but he will give an account of it, as beſeeming his dominion and truſt, and tending to their well-fare; for, as the Sonne of man and Mediatour, this authority is given him, as to a Delegate. 7. The dignity of Chriſts humane nature being united with the God-head, and his dignity as Mediatour, as it ſhines in many particular acts and adminiſtrations, ſo particularly, in that he will be the viſible Judge of quick and dead, in his humane nature, at the laſt day; wherein Chriſt, deſpiſed in the world, becauſe of his outward baſeneſſe, will be glorious; and contemners of his offer of mercy, will finde his Lambs face terrible; And wherein beleevers will finde their Advocate, their Judge; for, his executing of judgement, becauſe he is the Sonne of man, doth point at this ultimately.