Exposition of John, Chapter 7 · Verse 3 – Verse 4
Verſe 6. Then Jeſus ſaid unto them, My time is not yet come, but your time is alway ready.
7. The world cannot hate you, but me it hateth, becauſe I teſtifie of it, that the works thereof are evil.
8. Go ye up unto this feaſt: I go not up yet unto this feaſt: for my time is not yet full come.
9. When he had ſaid theſe words unto them, he abode ſtill in Galilee.
In theſe verſes, we have Chriſts anſwer and refuſal returned to their deſire, both by word and practice; Wherein, 1. Chriſt ſheweth that there was a great difference betwixt him and them, verſe 6. His time was not yet come, whereas theirs was alway ready. Which however it be true in general, that natural men, though, by right, they have not allowance to do what they liſt, at any time; yet in effect and practice, they walk as they liſt, and take any time they pleaſe; Whereas he behoved to chooſe times, and walk according to his Fathers direction: yet it ſeemes here rather to ſhew what difference there was betwixt him and them, in this going up. He who was maligned and hated, behoved to wait for a ſit time and ſeaſon, leſt he ſhould caſt himſelf on a ſnare, and tempt God, but they could come no time wrong, being in no ſuch peril. This difference (2.) he confirmes from a reaſon, verſe 7. They might go up at any time, ſeeing the world could not hate them, who were but yet children of this world; but he behoved to chooſe his ſit time, being hated of the world, becauſe of his plain and free doctrine. 3. From this he inferreth, verſe 8. that they might go when they liſt, but he would not go till his full time came, 4. His practice is recorded, verſe 9. as agreeing with his reſolution: from verſe 6. Learn, 1. Meekneſſe doth beſeeme Chriſt and his followers; and that they meet the impertinencies of carnal men, without heat or paſſion: Therefore doth Chriſt ſo meekly anſwer their carnal deſire. 2. The Lord hath appointed times and ſeaſons for every courſe and lawful action, which prudent and godly men are bound to obſerve; for, ſo doth Chriſt obſerve, that his time is not yet come, to go to that feaſt. 3. Times of trouble and danger to the godly, ſhould make them very tender, to wait on Gods direction for every ſtep of their walking, that they neither caſt themſelves needleſſely on trouble, nor yet do ſinfully labour to avoid it; for, ſo much doth Chriſts practice teach, who being in danger, found that his time is not yet come to go up, albeit the feaſt was near, becauſe he was to go up privately. And as he knew his time by the Spirit of the Lord reſting on him; So he uſed this caution, that he might profeſſe his voluntary humiliation, even to ſinleſſe fear, for his peoples good, and that he might leave a pattern to them. 4. Such is the ordinary temper of this world, that Chriſt and his followers muſt oft-times lurk, when carnal men may appear in it without hazard; Therefore, ſaith he, but your time is alwayes ready.
From verſe 7. Learn, 1. Unrenewed men, what ever their priviledges be, yet, are but of the ſame ſtamp, and in the ſame condition with the reſt of the world; they do ſavour of it, and continuing in that condition, will get their portion in it; Therefore are the Jewes and the Rulers, from whom Chriſts hazard was at this time, called the world, albeit they judged far otherwiſe of themſelves, conſidering their priviledges. 2. Albeit the Lord, in his righteous judgement, do ſometime make the men of the world plagues and ſcourges one to another; Yet as there can be no communion kept with the world, unleſſe men will ſhare in their wickedneſſe: So it is moſt uſual that worldlings agree well enough together. Therefore ſaith he, The world cannot hate you, being ſuch as themſelves are. 3. Such as the men of the world are, ſuch are their actions and fruits; for, the works of the world are evil. Not onelyonly have they groſſe vitious actions, but even ſuch actions as are in themſelves good or indifferent, are in them, evil. 4. Unrenewed men will not readily be troubled or vexed about their actions, but would ſleep ſecurely, if others did not vex them with telling them of their way; for, this is the worlds trouble here, that he teſtified that their works are evil. 5. Whatever be the hazard, yet Chriſts ſervants are bound, in their ſtations, to bear witneſſe againſt the evil courſes of the world; for, ſo doth Chriſts practice teach. 6. Such as would be faithful in their generation, in witneſſing againſt the courſes of the world, muſt lay their accompt to be hated for their pains; for, ſuch was Chriſts lot, but me it hateth, becauſe I teſtifie of it, &c. And this he did encounter with, not onelyonly to expiate our love to the world, and our ſinful communion with it, but to caſt us a copy of what we are to expect. 7. Such is the perverſity of the corrupt world, that no evidence of affection, in dealing with them for their good, will gain them, but rather inſence them; for, albeit he but teſtified of their works, by his innocent life and doctrine, to reclaime them from them, yet the world hated him. 8. Whatever pretences of zeal perſecutors of Chriſt and his followers may have; Yet the true cauſe of their ſpleene, is the oppoſition that is made to their wickedneſſe and hypocriſie; for albeit they pretended to hate him, becauſe he had prophaned the Sabbath, as they alledged; yet Chriſt ſheweth the true cauſe of this hatred, becauſe I teſtifie of it, that the works thereof are evil
From verſe 8. Learn, 1. Chriſt approveth that Ordinances be reverenced; And albeit men be corrupt who adminiſter them, and they but carnal who go unto them; yet he allowes not that they neglect, or give over the uſe of the lawful Ordinances, as his appointed means; Therefore, ſaith he, Go ye up unto this feaſt, which however, in ſome reſpects, it imports onelyonly a permiſſion, and giving up of them to themſelves, who were ſo carnal, (as is to be after cleared;) yet, ſimply conſidered, it imports an approbation of that Ordinance, and that it was their duty to frequent it. 2. Such as ſeek Chriſts company onelyonly for carnal and ambitious ends, may expect to want it, even in going about ſacred Ordinances; for, in ſo far did Chriſt give them up, as to want his company in this journey, where they expected onelyonly carnal advantages by him. Go ye up, I go not up yet to this feaſt. 3. Tender walkers, eſpecially in times of trouble and hazard, will be very acurate in the leaſt circumſtances; So much appeareth in Chriſt, who goeth not up yet, becauſe albeit the time in general was come, yet it was not yet full come, and therefore he would not yet ſtir.
From verſe 9. Learn 1. It is not enough, eſpecially in times of trial, that men have clear light and good principles, unleſſe they have alſo honeſty and reſolution, to follow their light; for, herein Chriſt hath given us example, who, upon theſe grounds, abode ſtill in Galilee. 2. Chriſt is not changable, and one thing in his expreſſions, and another in his doings and actions, but is uniforme and ſtill the ſame, in his doings and ſayings; as here we ſee. 3. When the Lord giveth clear light to any to know their duty, they muſt not be ſhaken from it upon any termes, whatever pretences might militate to the contrary, to brangle their reſolution; Therefore, albeit Chriſt knew that men would take advantage, to carp at him, becauſe of his lurking in Galilee, and this refuſal might ſavour of contempt of his kinſmen; yet knowing that his time was not yet full come, he abode ſtill in Galilee.
Verſe 10. But when his brethren were gone up, then went he alſo up unto the feaſt, not openly, but as it were in ſecret.
Followeth the third part of the Chap. wherein is recorded Chriſts going up to the feaſt, with what followed thereupon. In this ver. it is ſhewed, that at his own appointed time he went up, yet in a private way, not in the company of his kinſmen & friends, but with his diſciples and ſome few followers, poſſibly (among other reaſons) that they might not intercept him by the way, and that he might try their thoughts of him, before he appeared, as afterward it fell forth. And here John paſſeth over ſome things that occurred in his journey, which are recorded by ſome of the reſt, that ſo he may haſten to the following hiſtory. Doctrine, 1. Such as have not embraced nor cloſed with Chriſt, but remain ſtill in their natural condition, may yet be very careful to obſerve outward ordinances; for, his brethren were gone up. 2. Albeit the Lords ſervants may for a time, in ſome caſes, withdraw themſelves from danger; Yet when God calls them to appeare, they ſhould do it without ſhrinking, though the danger continue; for, when his time was full come, he alſo went up unto the feaſt, though the malice of the Jewes was not yet abated. 3. The cruelty and ingratitude of a people will not hold Chriſt away, where he hath any good to do, for, he went up again to Jeruſalem, however they ſtood affected to him. 4. Courage in following of a calling, ſhould not be looked on as inconſiſtent with prudence; and with the carriage of our ſelves in a ſecret or open way, as may moſt contribute for the great work of our calling; Therefore Chriſt went up, not openly, but as it were in ſecret, whereby he not only ſheweth that he ſubjected himſelfe to this wary way, that he might purchaſe unto us boldneſſe before God; But as in the former purpoſe, we are taught how he ſanctified ſlight and retirement in his own perſon, and as afterward he leaveth us a pattern of undoubted boldneſſe: So here, by carrying himſelfe privatly till he come up, and till the people be conveened, and his enemies ſomewhat ſettled, after they miſſe him at the beginning of the feaſt, he would teach them that as faint-heartedneſſe is none of his leſſons, ſo neither is temerity and raſhneſſe approven by him; And that great circumſpection ſhould be uſed in our engageing in trial, and then it ſhould be reſolutely managed.