Exposition of John, Chapter 6 · Verse 49
Ver. 68. Then Simon Peter anſwered him, Lord, to whom ſhall we go? thou haſt the words of eternal life.
69. And we beleeve and are ſure that thou art that Chriſt, the Sonne of the living God.
Followeth the Apoſtles anſwer to this queſtion, given by Peter in name of the reſt. Wherein, 1. By a contrary queſtion, he profeſſeth their conſtancy, and that they knew none beſide, to whom they could or would go, and therefore would adhere to him. 2. He gives reaſons for this his aſſertion, taken from Chriſts ſweet and precious doctrine, ver. 68. and from their faith and aſſurance concerning his offices and perſon, that he is the true Meſſiah, the Sonne of God, ver. 69.
From ver. 68. Learn, 1. Were they never ſo many who make defection from Chriſt, and think little of his company, yet there will ſtill ſome be found of another ſtamp; as here we ſee in Peter. 2. Men may be of a more forward and ready ſpirit, in ſome outward actings for Chriſt, then others, who yet are as honeſt as they; Therefore Peter appeares with the firſt, not becauſe he was the eldeſt profeſſour, for Andrew was called before him, nor yet becauſe he had more faith and love to Chriſt then the reſt, for we may conceive that (at leaſt) the beloved diſciple came not behind with him; But it flowed from his forward ſpirit and temper, which as ſometime it made him foremoſt in good, ſo at other times it drave him as far wrong, that he might be humbled. 3. As hypocrites may lurk for a time undiſcerned by others, even in ſhaking times; So true grace makes men charitable of others, ſo long as they bewray not their unſoundneſſe by viſible effects: And it is a ſweet companion of gracious forwardneſſe and zeal, to be charitable, and not when men are rigide cenſurers of others; Therefore forward Peter anſwers in name of all, (we,) not ſecluding Judas. And however his charity was miſtaken, yet he could judge no otherwiſe of him, ſeeing he ſtayed ſtill when the reſt went away. See 1 Cor. 13.7. 4. Man ſince the fall is ſo empty and poore a creature, that he muſt have ſomewhat without him, to delight and reſt in for happineſſe; and if he do not chooſe Chriſt, he will put ſome other thing in his place: for, Peters queſtion imports, that if they went away from Chriſt, they behooved to go to ſome other, to whom ſhall we go? 5. Such as have a minde to quit Chriſt, had need to conſider firſt where they will get a better Maſter, and that change when they will, they will ſurely change for the worſe; for, to whom ſhall we go? ſaith he, as never looking for ſuch entertainment any where, as they had with him. 6. True diſciples, and ſuch as know Chriſts ſingular excellency, will not endure to hear of any ſeparation from him; for, this queſtion imports his abhorrence of going away from ſuch a Lord to any other. And all they who would cloſe and walk with him ſincerely, ſhould ſtudy and learn to know him to be the chiefe and moſt excellent of choices. 7 Such as would ſtand faſt in times of defection, ſhould have frequent thoughts of eternity, and of the life that is laid up there for ſuch as are ſincere; Therefore Peter fixes his eye on eternal life, and where that may be found which leads to it, when he is about the choice of a Maſter. 8. The doctrine of Chriſt and of the Goſpel is the only doctrine of eternal life; It not only manifeſts and brings to light, that there is an eternal life, and makes offer of it, but it points out the only right purchaſe of it, and way to it; It is the mean of regeneration and begetting of faith, and being embraced, doth give a right unto eternal life, and the firſt fruits of it, till they come to full poſſeſſion; Therefore is his doctrine called the words of eternal life. And in all theſe reſpects, it is preferred above the doctrine of all the Philoſophers, and in moſt of them, not only above the corrupt doctrine of theſe times wherein Chriſt lived, but even above the Law of Moſes, as it is conſidered in oppoſition to him, or without him. 9. Whatever be the verdict that corrupt men give of Chriſts doctrine; yet ſincere diſciples will judge of it according as it is, and as he accounts of it; for, what others accounted an hard ſaying, ver 60 Peter reckons to be words of eternal life, according to Chriſts own verdict, ver. 63. 10. Such as are ſeriouſly minding eternal life, will cleave to the true doctrine that leades to it, and will not abandon it nor the meſſengers thereof, no not in times of greateſt defection; for, it is one reaſon why they will not leave him, not only becauſe he is the Meſſiah, but he hath the words of eternal life. 11. It is Chriſts ſpecial prerogative, and the reaſon of ſincere profeſſours their cleaving to him, that he hath the words of eternal life in a peculiar manner; Being not only the diſpenſer and Miniſter thereof in the dayes of his fleſh, and that in a way of authority, ſweetneſſe, and efficacy, proper to himſelfe; But being alſo the purchaſer of theſe glad tydings; and being he who gives commiſſion to all that preach them, and he who gives efficacy thereunto, to make them the power of God to ſalvation; for, Peter, in all their names, profeſſeth that they do cleave to him, as he who, in all theſe reſpects, hath the words of eternal life.
From ver. 69. Learn, 1. It is the duty of ſincere profeſſours, as to cleave to all truth, ſo in particular, to avow all the truths contraverted in the time, of what importance ſoever they be; Therefore doth Peter, beſide the excellency of Chriſts doctrine, confeſſe him alſo in his perſon and office, which were the truths then oppoſed, and though they be fundamental truths, yet were accounted but little by the oppoſers thereof. 2. The more men know of Chriſt, they will finde the moe bands to tie them to him, and the moe preſervatives againſt defection from him; And particularly, the true knowledge of his office and perſon may invite men to cleave to him, forſake him who will. Therefore Peter ſubjoynes this as a new argument. 3. It is not bare and naked knowledge of what Chriſt is, that will tie mens hearts to him, unleſſe they embrace what they know, by faith; Therefore Peter gives it as a reaſon of his conſtancy, we beleeve that thou art that Chriſt. And albeit this ſeeme to be nothing but an hiſtorical aſſent to what the devils do confeſſe; Yet as it is joined with Peters reſolution, to whom ſhall we go? as the ground of it, it is an act of ſaving faith, for a firme faith of the perſon and office of Chriſt, with adherence unto him and recombency on him, is the exerciſe of ſaving faith. 4. It is not reaſon that can take up the myſteries concerning Chriſts perſon, incarnation, and offices, but faith muſt cloſe with them upon divine revelation; Therefore, ſaith he, we beleeve this. 5. As true faith and ſaving knowledge go together; So the knowledge which is gathered by experience and obſervation of events according to the Word, is a great help to faith; for, ſaith he, we beleeve and have known, as it is in the Original. As there is a ſeeing, or knowledge, that goeth before and with faith, ver. 40. (for albeit many things revealed be in themſelves myſteries, and above the reach of our capacity, as to the nature, reaſon, and manner of them, yet faith knoweth that theſe things are, and ſo cloſeth with them:) So this is an experimental knowledge following on faith; wherein, by conſidering the accompliſhment of prophecies concerning the Meſſiah, in his perſon, they were experimentally confirmed in what they beleeved. 6. It ought, and will endeare Chriſt to all true diſciples, and make them cleave to him, that he is the only true Meſſiah promiſed to the fathers, who is appointed by the Father to exerciſe the office of a King, Prieſt, and Prophet, to his Church, and who is anointed with the Spirit above meaſure for that end, from whom his people may expect the fruits of all theſe offices, the participation of his fulneſſe, and Communion with him in his dignity: for, this is a reaſon of Peters reſolution, thou art that Chriſt, that promiſed Meſſiah, and Anointed one. 7. It doth further heighten the eſtimation of Chriſt in the hearts of beleevers, and is a ſtrong bar againſt defection from him, that he is the Sonne of the living God, by eternal generation, and communication of the ſame eſſence; And ſo he is the only excellent choice, is able for all his offices, and to give worth unto his ſufferings; And as he hath a fountain of life communicate from the Father, ſo he is able to beget and preſerve life in his people. All this is imported in that other reaſon, thou art the Son of the living God.