Exposition of John, Chapter 5 · Verse 25
Verſe 36. But I have greater witneſſe then that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to finiſh, the ſame workes that I do, bear witneſs of me, that the Father hath ſent me.
The ſecond particular teſtimony, produced by Chriſt, whereby alſo the Father witneſſeth concerning him, is, that of his works, in doing miracles, and the work of redemption, which he declareth to be a greater witneſſe then that of John, and that they prove abundantly that he is ſent of the Father, as the Meſſiah and Saviour of the world. Whence learn, 1. Albeit our hearts be naturally jealous and ſuſpitious of divine truth, and of what Chriſt ſaith of himſelf; yet he hath abundance of witneſſes, for curing of this diſeaſe, and putting us beyond all cauſe of ſuſpition; for beſide John, he hath more and greater witneſſes, that in their mouths every word may be eſtabliſhed, 2 Corinth. 13.1. 2. Chriſt is willing and ready to give proof of his excellency, not onelyonly by his own or others words, but by his working really to prove it to their ſenſe and ſatisfaction; for he hath a witneſſe of his works. 3. Chriſts workings are not dumb works, but are ſpeaking teſtimonies of his glorie; and we never take them up rightly, till we ſee that in them; for, his works do beare witneſſe that the Father hath ſent him, as his own Sonne, to be the ſaviour of the world, and that he is not contrary to the Father in his working, as they alleadged, 4. Albeit the teſtimony of the meaneſt inſtrument, concerning Chriſt, being according to the Word, is as true as any other witneſſe; yet if we reſpect degrees of convincing evidence, the teſtimony of Chriſts own works, is a clearer confirmation of his Godhead, office, and doctrine, then the beſt of mens teſtimonies, For, not only is this teſtimony more intrinſccall, then the commendation of another, but his doing theſe things that were fore-propheſied of the Meſſiah, is an undeniable proofe, and therefore he remits John to it, Matth. 11.3, 4, 5. and his doing of them in his own name, proveth that he did them of himſelfe from the Father; Therefore ſaith he, that his works are a greater witneſſe then that of John, proving that the Father hath ſent him; For he could not have done what he did, not only by way of confirmation of the doctrine of the Scriptures, (which ſeducers by their miracles do not, Deut. 13.5.) but ſo agreeable to predictions of Scripture concerning the Meſſiah, if he had not been God, and ſent of the Father, and if he had called himſelf what he was not. And albeit Prophets and Apoſtles wrought great miracles, who were not the Meſſiah; Yet this infringeth not the clearneſſe of this Teſtimony; for, theſe miracles did only confirme their calling, authority and doctrine, and that they were what they called themſelves, (which was not that they were the Meſſiah) and ſo do Chriſts miracles confirme his doctrine, and what he ſaid of himſelfe: Next, they were but inſtruments, and that not of the miracle, but of the Word and ſigne by which it was done, and they expreſſely declared that it was not in their own name or power any ſuch thing was done, Act. 3.12, 16, But Chriſt was principal agent, and wrought them in his own name, and in this reſpect, he did the works, which none other man did, Joh. 15.24 5. All the works that Chriſt did, were entruſted him from the Father, not only to undertake, but to finiſh and perfect them: As God, the Father did communicate his nature and operation with him, and as Mediatour, he had a commiſſion by the common counſell of the bleſſed Trinity; for, they were the works, which the Father gave him to finiſh. 6. Chriſt is faithful in his truſt, and what is committed to him he doth; for, ſaith he, the works which the Father hath given me to finiſh, are the ſame works that I do. 7. As Chriſts works do prove his excellency in himſelfe, ſo alſo do they commend him to his people, as being ſent out of the Fathers love for their good, an alſufficient and omnipotent Mediatour, able to effectuate all his purpoſes, and worthy to be reſted on by them; for, ſaith he, they beare witneſſe of me, that the Father hath ſent me.