Exposition of John, Chapter 8 · Verse 16
Ver. 27. They underſtood not that he ſpake to them of the Father.
28. Then ſaid Jeſus unto them. When ye have lift up the Son of man, then ſhall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of my ſelfe, but as my Father hath taught me, I ſpeak theſe things.
29. And he that ſent me, is with me: the Father hath not left me alone: for I do alwaies thoſe things that pleaſe him.
This ſad doctrine taking no effect, by reaſon of their ignorance, who underſtood not that he ſpake of the Father when he mentioned him that ſent him; Chriſt doth further certifie them, that though now they were ignorant, yet after they had with wicked hands crucified him, then they ſhould be made to know that he is the Meſſiah, that he doth all things according to the Fathers will, and that the Father is alwayes with him, as being his obedient Sonne. Whence learn, 1. Were doctrine never ſo clear, yet Satan will keep men from underſtanding it, either by their ignorance or malice; for, though he had ofttimes before ſpoken of him that ſent him, yet they underſtood not that he ſpake to them of the Father. Wherein there was not ſo much ſimple ignorance, as malice and prejudice which tranſported them. 2. The ignorance of wicked and malicious men will be removed in due time, little to their advantage; Therefore, Chriſt threatens that they who underſtood not, ſhall know. 3, Such as do wickedly oppoſe Chriſt and his truth, will readily run the length of bloody perſecution, before they ceaſe; for, ſo doth Chriſt forewarne them, that they will lift up the Sonne of man, by putting him to ſuffer on the croſſe. He calls himſelfe here the Sonne of man, to ſhew that he ſuffered only in that nature, and to point out his condeſcendence, that he became man, that he might ſuffer. 4. Chriſt did ſo love his people, that he willingly gave himſelfe to redeeme them, and would do nothing that might hinder his being put to that curſed death, which might redeem them from the curſe; Therefore, albeit he warne them of it, yet he will not hinder it to take effect, nor ſo much as ſpeak a word to ſtop it. 5. Wicked men are never further from their purpoſe, then when they think they are neareſt to it, and as this is true in their own proſperity, Pſal. 92.6, 7. So alſo in their violent perſecution of Chriſt and his followers; Therefore doth Chriſt ſignifie, that by getting this advantage of him, to put him to death, they ſhould gain nothing, but loſe much. See Mich. 4, 11, 12, 13. 6. The ſuffering of Chriſt and his followers, whatever enemies may account of it, or whatever it ſeeme to be to fleſh and blood; Yet it is their real honour and exaltation; Therefore doth he call their crucifying of him, a lifting up of the Sonne of man, not only becauſe he was indeed lifted up upon the croſſe, but becauſe it was an exaltation of him. See Chap. 12. 32. It is an honour in Saints, to be employed to ſuffer, Act. 5.41. it is accompanied with much of the Spirit of glory, 1 Pet. 4.14. and is a ſtep, and the way to glory, Luke 24.26. and therefore gets this name. 7. It is one peculiar advantage of ſuffering, that Chriſt and his followers true dignity, and acceptance with God, is never more clearly and convincingly ſeen, then in the time of it, and after it; Therefore it is ſubjoyned, as a particular proofe that it ſhould be an exalting of him, that, then ſhalle ye know that I am he, or, the true Meſſiah, obedient unto, and approven of God, as after followeth. And ſo we finde accompliſhed, in that in his ſufferings, Pilate and his wife give him a teſtimony; the Centurion ſeeth his glory, Matth, 27.54. The darkning of the Sunne, the renting of the rocks and the vail of the Temple, the opening of graves, &c. did bear witneſſe who he was. And afterward, the ſad plagues that came on them, for rejecting of him, declared that he was the Sonne of God. 8. It is a ſad judgement upon malicious wicked men, that they are permitted to run the utmoſt length of their violence, and then (and not till then) their conſciences and Gods judgements are let looſe upon them, to let them ſee and feel what a woful courſe they have been upon; for, ſo much alſo is imported here, that when ye have lift up the Sonne of man, then ſhall ye know that I am he, &c. 9. Chriſt in his works and doctrine, as he was taught them from the Father, as man, ſo they are altogether agreeable to the Fathers will; for, this is a truth whereof he will have very enemies convinced, I do nothing of my ſelfe, but as the Father hath taught me, I ſpeak theſe things: So that ſinners are to come to, and ſeek the Father in him, and ought to look on all he doth and ſaith, as agreeable to the Fathers will. 10. As the Father is unſeparable from his Sonne Chriſt, in reſpect of the unity of the divine eſſence; ſo he is alwayes with him as Mediatour, being in him, as his Ambaſſadour, reconciling the world to himſelfe, 2 Cor. 5.19. and with him, to ſupport and uphold him, as his ſervant doing his work, according to the Covenant of redemption, Iſa. 42.1. Therefore, ſaith he, He that ſent me, is with me: the Father hath not left me alone, though all the world ſhould forſake me. Wherein we may ſee how well-pleaſed the Father is with the redemption of loſt ſinners, that he was ſtill upholding the Sonne in it, and how richly they are made up who have him with them, be againſt them who will, as Chriſt here reckons. 11. Whoſoever would have the comfort of Gods preſence and company in all conditions, they ought to ſet themſelves to pleaſe God, and obſerve his will in all things; for, ſo did Chriſt finde it, for I do alwayes thoſe things that pleaſe him. 12. As Chriſt the Sonne did learn obedience, and ſubmit himſelfe to the will of the Father; So his obedience was full and compleat, and in all things he did, the Father was well pleaſed; for, ſaith he, I do alwayes thoſe things that pleaſe him.