Exposition of John, Chapter 8 · Verse 6
Verſe 13. The Phariſees therefore ſaid unto him, thou beareſt record of thy ſelf, thy record is not true.
14 Jeſus anſwered, and ſaid unto them, Though I bear record of my ſelf, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go: but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
In the next place, we have Chriſts firſt conference and debate with the Phariſees, who contradict his teſtimony, as worthy to be ſuſpected, verſe 13. To which Chriſt replies, aſſerting the truth and certainty of his own teſtimony, verſe 14. chalenging them for raſh judgement of him, when yet he was not judging them, verſe 15. though if he did it his teſtimony were to be regarded, having not onelyonly himſelfe but his Father to bear witneſſe to him, which were a ſufficient number of witneſſes by the Law, verſe 16, 17, 18. but they were ignorant of the Father, as they were of him, verſe 19. To which is ſubjoyned, that however he ſpake thus freely, and they had a great minde to take him, and had him among their hands, yet they were reſtrained, verſe 20.
In theſe verſes, We have their exception againſt his teſtimony, as obnoxious to be ſuſpected, ſeeing he ſpeaks ſo much in his own cauſe, verſe 13. And Chriſt, albeit, chap. 5.31. he did, by way of preterition, paſſe this, that he might bring in the many witneſſes that pleaded for him; Yet here he doth aſſert that his teſtimony concerning himſelf is true: Which he confirmes from this reaſon; That he came from God, and was to return to him again: and being certain of this, he might aſſert it, whereas they being ignorant hereof, did carp at him. The force of this reaſon conſiſts in theſe; partly, That he being God, who came from the Father in reſpect of his manifeſtation in the fleſh, and was to return to him in regard of the manifeſtation of his glory in the humane nature exalted, he was a witneſſe above all exception: partly, That being the great Angel of the Covenant, and Ambaſſadour from the Father, to whom he was to return an account, he might lawfully publiſh his own Inſtructions and Commiſſion which were revealed onelyonly to himſelf, and ought to be credited: And partly, That he perfectly knowing this, might boldly teſtifie and ſtand to it. Doctrine 1. Chriſts enemies are endleſſe and reſtleſſe in their oppoſitions unto the ſucceſſe of the Goſpel: for, after their former interruption, verſe 3. He no ſooner begins to preach again, but they do again cavil. 2. Chriſts rich offers will not prevail with malitious enemies, to make them quit their oppoſition and ſubmit: for, when he is not threatning, but graciouſly inviting ſinners to partake of his fulneſſe, they yet cavil. 3. Whatever juſt cauſe there be to ſuſpect their teſtimony, who are but ſinful and meere men, when they commend themſelves; Yet this derogates nothing from the glory of Chriſts being true in his teſtimonies concerning himſelf: for, albeit they think they have great advantage of Chriſt from this common principle, Thou beareſt record of thy ſelf, thy record is not true, yet it hath no weight at all here. It is true indeed that the corrupt nature of man, (which is prone too ſeek it ſelf, and hunt after vain-glory, which yet is as eaſily loſt as obtained, and cannot bear our weight in a day of diſtreſſe) may render ſuch a teſtimony uncertain, but not neceſſarily prove it untrue, even in men; For honeſt men may lawfully commend themſelves in ſome caſes, and yet not bear falſe-witneſſe, nor yet be guilty of ſelf-ſeeking. But it doth not at all hold true in Chriſt who is ſeparate from ſinners, and not to be bound by the rules preſcribed to men in ſuch caſes. 4. Enemies their oppoſing and interterrupting of Chriſt, will not make void his purpoſes; but he can make their oppoſition occaſion much benefit to his people: for, albeit they thought by cavils to hinder his preaching, yet his very defences and replies did bring forth moſt precious truths of the Goſpel, for the edification of his hearers then, and of his people to the end of the world. 5 Whatever be Chriſts gracious condeſcendence, for the conviction of ſinners, and confirmation of his own; Yet he will not allow that any ſhould deny him the glory of any of his prerogatives, and particularly of his truth: Therefore albeit he formerly condeſcended, Chap 5. 31. to wave his teſtimony of himſelf, that ſo friends and foes might ſee how many witneſſes he had for him; Yet here when they contradict it, he will not paſſe from it, Though I bear record of my ſelf, yet my record is true. 6. Chriſt being true God that cannot lie, and who onelyonly can reveal himſelf and his will; and coming out of the boſome of the Father as Ambaſſadour into the world; he is an authentick witneſſe, above all exception, in what he reveals; and his naked teſtimony and aſſertion ought to be credited, without ſeeking further proof or arguments: Therefore doth he confirme the truth of his record from the conſideration of whence he came. 7. As Chriſt and his followers came into the world for awhile, to do the ſervice for which they are appointed, and then to go to God; ſo the exaltation of Chriſt doth put his divine original and authority; and conſequently, the truth of his teſtimony, out of all queſtion; Therefore doth he ſubjoyne whither he goeth, not onelyonly as the comfortable iſſue of his toile, which he looked to, but as a clear proof that he came from God, and conſequently, that his record is true. 8. Such as are employed in Commiſſion from God to carry his minde, and do vouch on that they have an account to make to God who ſent them, will finde a neceſſity to cleave to their Commiſſion, and to publiſh nothing but truth: So much alſo may be learned from Chriſts argument, who conſidering whence he came, and whither he goeth, doth therefore bear a true record. 9. Chriſts knowledge of his own excellencie and authority, is ſufficient to warrant the truth of his doctrine, whoever elſe be ignorant of it; for, he proves it true on this, I know whence I came, &c. albeit, ſaith he, ye cannot tell, &c. 10. They who would cleave to controverted and oppoſed truth, ſhould not have it by gueſſe only, but ſhould certainly know and be perſwaded of it, and then ſpeak for it: So much alſo may be learned from Chriſts confirming the truth of his record thus, that not onelyonly he was indeed from God, and his doctrine the truth, but I know whence I came, &c. 11. It is mens ignorance (either ſimple or affected) of Chriſts perſon and Commiſſion, that makes them ſo little regard, or lay ſo little weight on his doctrine and teſtimony; Therefore, in oppoſition to his knowledge, he ſubjoynes, but ye cannot tell whence I come, or whither I go, and therefore do carp at my teſtimony and doctrine concerning my ſelf.