Exposition of John, Chapter 8 · Verse 13 – Verse 15
Verſe 23. And he ſaid unto them, Ye are from beneath, I am from above: ye are of this world: I am not of this world.
24. I ſaid therefore unto you, that ye ſhall die in your ſinnes. For if ye beleeve not that I am he, ye ſhall die in your ſinnes.
Chriſt in his anſwer doth not meddle with their perverſe humours, but goeth on to confirme what he had ſaid. And, 1. He pointeth out the reaſon and ground of his ſad ſentence, to wit, their original diſpoſition, which is corrupt and earthly, and contrary to his, ver. 23. and this alſo is a cauſe of their ignorant miſtake of their own danger. 2. From this he inferreth, that he had juſtly ſaid they ſhould die in their ſinnes, ſeeing they would not by faith embrace him, who only could apply a remedy to their evils, ver. 24. Whence learn, 1. It is not enough that wicked men be convinced of their evil deeds, unleſſe they alſo ſtudy their original condition, and know that their evil practices do not flow only from a preſent tentation, or from evil breeding and education, but are the fruits of their natural corruption; Therefore doth Chriſt point out this to theſe Jewes. 2. Albeit man before the fall, was raiſed up to enjoy a ſpiritual life and communion with God, yet by the fall, he is caſt down, and hath his original from beneath and favours only of the world and of things therein: for, ſo much doth he intimate to theſe Jewes, Ye are from beneath, ye are of this world, 3. Albeit Chriſt did take on our nature, yet he is altogether free of the ſinne and corruption thereof, being divine in his original and way of conception, and in his condition, holy and ſeparate from ſinners; Therefore ſaith he, I am from above, I am not of this world. Where he doth not deny the truth of his humane nature, but diſclaims all communion with ſinne and the corruption of fleſh and blood. And albeit it be ſaid of his Saints alſo that they are not of this world, Joh. 15.19. and 17.16. Yet it is true of Chriſt in a ſingular manner, for he is abſolutely unſpotted by nature, they are ſo only by regeneration, and in part, and comparatively in reſpect of others. 4. As the ſtudy of Chriſts divine original and condition, is a glaſſe wherein men may ſtudy the vileneſſe of their own condition; ſo it is a ſad evidence of ſeparation from Chriſts company, ſo long as m…n retain a total diſconformity to him: for theſe ends doth he point out theſe two in their contrariety, ye are from beneath, I from above. See Rom. 8.29. 5. Men continuing in their corrupt original, without renovation from heaven, cannot expect life eternal, but will periſh in their ſinnes; for, he draws this from the former diſcourſe, by way of concluſion, I ſaid therefore unto you, that ye ſhall die in your ſinnes. 6. Albeit death be the deſert of all ſinne, and God do daily threaten ſinners with it; Yet all this admits of the exception of faith in Chriſt: And as this only (and nothing elſe) can come betwixt the ſinner and deſerved wrath; ſo even the groſſeſt of ſinners ſhall not periſh, if they turne and fly to Chriſt: And when ſinners do not this, their unbeliefe renders their caſe deſperate and incurable. Therefore is this threatning propounded with this exception, even to theſe malicious Jewes, If ye beleeve not that I am he, ye ſhall die in your ſinnes. 7. It is not ſufficient for preventing the due deſert of ſinne, that men do pretend to faith in the Meſſiah, unleſſe they do acknowledge and embrace him as he reveals and offers himſelfe; for, this Chriſt requires, as abſolutely neceſſary, that ye beleeve that I am he, where he mee…s with their faire pretences of beleeving in the true Meſſiah, and ſheweth, that unleſſe they embraced him for the Meſſiah, how contemptible ſoever he ſeemed to be, all theſe pretences would not avail them.
Verſe 25. Then ſaid they unto him, Who art thou? And Jeſus ſaid unto them, Even the ſame that I ſaid unto you from the beginning.
The Jewes do captiouſly reply to his diſcourſe, enquiring who he was that had laid ſo abſolute a neceſſity upon them to beleeve on him. He anſwers, that he was even the ſame he had declared to them ſince the beginning that he began to preach; to wit, the Sonne of God and Saviour of the world, And by this he declares that their unbeliefe would be ſo much the more hainous, as it could not ſlow from ignorance, they being ſo often informed of the truth. Doctrine, 1. As it is the lot of Chriſt and his ſervants, to have their doctrine, and threatnings in the name of the Lord, entertained with reproach; ſo alſo will their perſons be miſtaken and ſet at naught; for, ſuch was Chriſts lot, they ſcofte at his doctrine, ver. 22. and now they do in contempt enquire, who art thou? their blinde eyes not diſcerning his glory through the vail of his humiliation. And herein his people muſt reſolve to ſhare with him, 1 Joh 3 1 2. As the truth of God is, in all ages and tunes, unchangably the ſame; So it is the duty of the meſſengers thereof, to be conſtant in preaching of it, and not to change their note, whatever contradiction and oppoſition they meet with; Therefore doth he, notwithſtanding all their malice, give this anſwer, even the ſame that I ſaid unto you from the beginning, as not minding to change his note. 3. Albeit men may hear much which they ſleight and forget; Yet the Lord will not forget to reckon with them according to what they have heard, whatever uſe they have made of it; Therefore he doth not expreſſely anſwer to their queſtion, but remits them to what he had ſaid, to let them ſee that all of it would be laid on their account, to aggravate their obſtinate unbeliefe.
Verſe 26. I have many things to ſay, and to judge of you: but he that ſent me is true: And I ſpake unto the world thoſe things which I have heard of him.
Chriſt, meeting with ſo much obſtinacy in th…ſe Jewes, doth, in the reſt of this diſcourſe, give up with them; And declareth, that however he could not only diſcover, but convince them of much ſinne and maliciouſneſſe, yet ſince they were ſo corrupt, he would reſt ſatisfied in his Fathers approbation, and would leave them upon God who is true in his Word, and particularly, in his promiſes made to him, and who would certainly reckon with them for their deſpiſing of his doctrine, when he taught nothing but what he received from him. Whence learn, 1. As Chriſt hath ſtill much more to ſay to the w…cked, then he will ſay to them in this world; So it is his ſad judgement, in particular, on ſome, that when he hath ſaddeſt quarrels againſt them, yet he gives over dealing with them; Therefore ſaith he, I have many things to ſay and judge of you, when yet he gives them over, though they dr…w him to debate again. See Ezek 3.26. 2. When men do reject Chriſt and his doctrine, albeit they may be letten alone for long enough; Yet they have Gods Tribunal before which to anſwer, for their contempt; Therefore doth Chriſt leave them on God who is true, and will avenge their contempt of him. 3. Though all the world ſhould oppoſe Chriſts doctrine, yet God will own and make it good, and will prove himſelfe, true in performing all the promiſes made to Chriſt and his ſervants, for taking order with ſuch as oppoſe them and their meſſage; Therefore doth he acqui…ſce in this, He that ſent me is true, to wit, generally in the doctrine which he delivered in his name, and particularly, in the promiſes made to his Sonne, that he would own and ſupport him in the work of Redemption, and in the promiſes alſo made to his ſervants. 4. They. who would be born out againſt all the oppoſition of men, with the comfort of Gods approbation, ſhould make ſure that they have his calling to what they undertake; and that they cleave faithfully to their commiſſion; for, hereby is Chriſt ſupported, He ſent me, and I ſpeak thoſe things which I have heard of him. 5. Such as are ſure of Gods calling and commiſſion, and of the truth of what they receive, will be encouraged to preach it boldly, though all the world ſhould not beleeve, but oppoſe them; for, ſaith Chriſt, I ſpeak, and that even to the world, or openly, thoſe things which I have heard of him. He was upon the Fathers counſel, and knew the certainty of this doctrine, and therefore ſtands to it, and ſo others alſo, 2 Cor. 4.13. 6. Chriſts doctrine may ſafely be leaned to, as containing nothing elſe but what he hath heard and received from the Father; for, ſo doth Chriſt call it, thoſe things which I have heard of him.