Exposition of John 17, Exposition · Part 1
JOHN 17.1.
Theſe words ſpake Jeſus, &c▪
THE Words of ſuch a friend who is likely to continue, take not ſo deep impreſſion as his who is dying or departing. The laſt farewell of ſuch a one as is dear in our affections is moſt obſerved, and beſt remembred. A ſecret winning and commanding power accompanies ſuch parting paſſages; and hence our Saviour Chriſt was frequent in them, when he was ready to be offered up, and to be finally withdrawn from his diſciples. They who left all for him; muſt needs be very much dejected to be left by him; And therefore he was wiſe and merciful to give them Comfort while he was among them, and to diſpatch them down a Comforter from heaven when he was departed from them. Upon the firſt of theſe he ſpends no leſs then four chapters, all tending to confirm and fortifie their hearts againſt the bitter trials and afflictions which they were to meet withall when he was gone. And this he doth by ſpeaking to them, and by ſpeaking for them. Both wayes he ſeeks to ſtrengthen them; by ſpeaking to them in a way of conſolation; by ſpeaking for them in a way of ſupplication. The firſt of theſe he ends with the foregoing chapter, the latter he purſues in this; which I intend (with Gods aſſiſtance) to go through withall; as I ſhall have ability and opportunity. And therefore in the entrance of this chapter it is ſaid with reference to thoſe which go before, Theſe words ſpake Jeſus, Theſe words he ſpake to his diſciples in a way of conſolation. And then immediately is added what he ſpake for his Diſciples in a way of ſupplication. Theſe words ſpake Jeſus, and lifed up his eyes to heaven, and ſaid, Father the hour is come, &c.
So that this Chapter which I am to handle is the Lords prayer. From the beginning of it to the end, nothing but the Lords prayer. Not the Lords prayer which he taught us, but the Lords prayer which he made for us. Not that which he propounded to us, as our pattern; but that which he preſented for us, as our priviledge.
Whether this were the very prayer which he uttered in the garden, when he was in an Agony, is much diſputed. Some think it was the very ſame for ſubſtance; and that it is ſet down more largely here, by John then by the reſt of the Evangeliſts, becauſe none of them were preſent, when Chriſt made that prayer, but he took Peter, James and John with him, as you may ſee, Mark 14.33. But this is but a meer fancy. For in the firſt verſe of the following chapter, it is manifeſt that Chriſt went not to the garden till he had ended this prayer, Iohn 18.1. When he had ſpoken theſe words, that is, the very prayer we are entering on, He went forth with his Diſciples over the brook Cedron; where was a garden, into which he entered. Nor is it probable that our Evangeliſt, if he had given us the ſum of that prayer, would wholly have omitted that which was the main petition in it, and which is ſo exactly mentioned by all the reſt of the Evangeliſts, Father if it be poſsible let this Cup paſs from me. Of which we have not the leaſt hint in this Chapter: Beſides it is to be obſerved, that our Saviour made that prayer in the garden lying proſtrate upon the earth, as you may ſee, Mat. 26.39. He fell upon his face and prayed: Whereas the prayer we are now about to handle, was made, with face and eyes erect, and lifted up to Heaven.
Theſe words ſpake Ieſus, and lift up his eyes to Heaven, and ſaid, Father the hour is come, &c.
So that this prayer of our Saviour was evidently, and unqueſtionably made, before his coming to the garden of Gethſemane, juſt as he was about to go thither. He had been ſwan-like ſinging out his dying ſong in the ears of his Diſciples, for the ſpace of three Chapters, and ſpeaking many things to comfort them, being at the point to leave them. And having finiſht what he had to ſay, he ſhuts up all with this prayer, Theſe words ſpake Ieſus, and lifted up his eyes to Heaven, and ſaid; which having ended, immediately away he goes, and is betrayed; As you may ſee in the beginning of the following chapter.
You ſee then what a Subject we have now to handle; A prayer, and a prayer made by Chriſt, the great High-prieſt, the Advocate and Interceſſor of his people, and the laſt publike, Solemn prayer that he made with his Apoſtles, and Diſciples, juſt as he was about to ſuffer. He took his laſt farewell of them in this prayer, and therefore you muſt think it was a Spiritfull, a zealous, and a pithy one. When he was going to be crucified, he took his leave in a long oration to them, which having done, he prayed among them, and ſo left them. And truly ſuch a prayer made by ſuch a one as Jeſus Chriſt, at ſuch a time, and on ſuch an occaſion, and among ſuch a company, muſt needs be heavenly and raviſhing, and therefore will deſerve our beſt intention, both in handling, and in hearing. Chriſt was in heaven in his thoughts and his affections, when he made it, Theſe things ſpake Ieſus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven and ſaid; The Lord in mercy grant that we may be in heaven, while we hear it.
To make way to the handling of it, I ſhall conſider three things; Firſt, the tranſition to it. Then Secondly the geſture, and the carriage of our Saviour in it. Thirdly the ſubſtance, and the matter of it.
Firſt the tranſition to it, from the former chapter, Theſe words ſpake Jeſus, theſe words expreſſed in the long diſcourſe before.
Then Secondly the geſture, and the carriage of our Saviour in it, he lifted up his eyes to heaven while he made it.
Thirdly the ſubſtance; and the matter of it, and it is wholly for the Church, either for himſelf the head of the Church, in reference, and with relation to the Church, or for the members of the Church Firſt, for himſelf the head of the Church, he deſireth glorification, Father glorifie thy Son, in the firſt verſe of the chapter, and this in reference and with relation to the Church, as is apparent at verſe 24. That they may behold his glory. Then Secondly, for the members of the Church, he deſireth confirmation, and that either for the Apoſtles and Diſciples then about him, the members of the preſent Church; Or elſe for thoſe who were after to be called by their preaching, the members of the Church to come.
In the firſt place he prayes for the Apoſtles and Diſciples then about him, the members of the preſent Church, who were already called and ſanctified, at the ſixth, and following verſes, whom God had given him out of the world, I pray for them (ſaith he) I pray not for the world. In the Second place he prayes for thoſe who were after to be called by their preaching, the members of the Church that was to come, ver. 20. and ſo on to the concluſion of the Chapter, Neither pray I for theſe alone, but for them alſo which ſhall believe in me through their word.
So that this prayer of our Saviour Chriſt you ſee, is very full. It is for himſelf the head of the Church, And it is for the Church which is his body, of which alone he is the Saviour and the Interceſſor. It is for the preſent Church, it is for the Church to come. It is for the Apoſtles and the Miniſters, the officers and teachers of the Church. And it is for the ordinary members of the Church, who believe through their words. So that whoever appertaineth to the Church, let him live in what time he will, be he of what condition or eſtate he will, he hath a ſhare in this prayer.
We muſt begin with the tranſition to it, Theſe words ſpake Jeſus. Theſe words, what words? the words in the three Chapters next before, all tending to eſtabliſh his Apoſtles and Diſciples, which the Evangeliſt relates exactly for the comfort and confirmation of the Church of Chriſt, even to the worlds end: and having done with the relation, he ſhuts it up with this, Theſe word ſpake Jeſus, and ſo goes onward to his ſupplication. The point apparently ſuggeſted to us here, is this.
DOCTRINE. The words that Jeſus ſpake are very fit to be commended to the choiceſt obſervation of his Church and people.
And here they are ſo carefully, and ſo exactly gathered up by the Evangeliſt, and knit together in a chain, every Link of which is precious. And having laid them all together, he writes this under them, Theſe words ſpake Jeſus. q…d. Take heed that you obſerve, and mark them well, they are the words, not of an ordinary man, but of the bleſſed Son of God, the great Prophet of the Church. Theſe words were breathed from the lips of Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and therefore ſee that you take notice of them, and value them accordingly. Theſe words ſpake Jeſus; indeed the ſumm and ſubſtance of the four Evangeliſts is but the hiſtory of Jeſus Chriſt, of his words, and of his actions, and therefore Luke reduceth all that he hath written in his Goſpel to theſe two heads, Acts 1.1. The former Treatiſe have I made O Theophilus of all that Jeſus began both to do and teach. His treatiſe (as you ſee) conſiſted of theſe two things, either that which Jeſus did, or elſe that which Jeſus ſpake; So that his ſayings (as you ſee) are very memorable and remarkable, being by ſpecial revelation and direction of the Spirit put in writing, and ſo left upon record for the inſtruction and the conſolation of his people to the worlds end. You may obſerve what care is taken to gather up the words of Jeſus, as they dropt from him upon all occaſions, that none of them might periſh and be loſt; by which it is apparent they were things of worth and uſe, and fit to be preſerved for poſterity. And it is noted to the praiſe of Mary, that ſhe kept his Sayings when others loſt them, yea ſhe kept all his ſayings, and ſhe kept them in her heart, that was the Cabinet in which ſhe put them, when others valued them as things of nothing, and looked upon them but as looſe words; And therefore ſhe is ſet in oppoſition to them, Iohn 2.5. They underſtood not the ſayings which he ſpake to them, but Mary kept all theſe ſayings in her heart. She laid them near her heart as choice things. It was the promiſe of our Saviour Chriſt to his diſciples, and one of the laſt he made them, and therefore certainly it was a precious one, that if they ſhould forget the words that he had ſpoken to them, he would diſpatch them down his ſpirit out of heaven, and this ſhould be one great part of his buſineſs with them, to mind them of ſuch words of his as were ſlipt out of their minds, Ioh. 14.26. The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghoſt ſhall come, and he ſhall teach you all things, and bring all things to remembrance whatſoever I have ſaid to you.
By which it is apparent that the words which Jeſus ſpake are very fit, &c. And this will yet appear more fully and diſtinctly to you, if you conſider but theſe three things: Firſt whoſe the words were. Then what the words were. Thirdly, the manner how the words were ſpoken.
As for the firſt of theſe, if you conſider whoſe the words were, you will diſcern them to be very fit to be commended to the choiceſt obſervation of the Church. The author of them, if you look no further, will purchaſe them ſo much credit. They are the words that Jeſus ſpake, as you have in my text; And ſhall that which Jeſus ſpake, any thing which he delivered, be thought unworthy of the notice of his people? Why what was Jeſus, that the words that dropt from him muſt be ſo highly valued, and eſteemed? My brethren, if you look upon him upwards, with relation to the father; or if you look upon him downwards, with relation to the Church, you will ſee enough for this, on all hands.
1. If you look upon him upwards, with relation to the father, you will ſee reaſon why his words ſhould be Commended to the choiceſt obſervation of his Church and people. He is the fathers own ſon. But you will ſay, wiſe fathers have very often weak children. But Jeſus Chriſt is ſo his fathers ſon, that he partaketh with him of his wiſdom, it is poured out into him in abundance. And therefore he is ſometimes called the wiſdom of the father in the abſtract, as ſee, 1 Cor. 1.24. Ieſus Chriſt the power of God, and the wiſdom of God. And if he be ſo very wiſe you may be ſure he ſpake wiſe words, and wiſe words are worth the marking. In him are hid all the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledge, Col. 2.3. And out of queſtion what he bringeth forth is of the treaſure that is hid in him.
2. But in the next place, if you look upon him downwards, with Relation to the Church, you will ſee further reaſon why the words that Jeſus ſpake, ſhould be ſo exactly noted, and ſo carefully obſerved. As he is the fathers wiſdom, ſo he is made to us wiſdom, as the Apoſtle Paul ſpeaks, 1 Cor. 1.30. His father hath appointed him to be the great Prophet of of his Church. The great preacher, the greater revealer of his truth and will to men, and therefore out of queſtion he can ſpeak well, and his words are worth the marking. You may be ſure the father would not ſend out ſuch a Prophet to the Church as were not worth the liſtening to. No, no, God hath annointed me to preach, faith Chriſt himſelf, Luke 4.18. not appointed me to preach, but annointed me to preach, endued me with abilities and gifts for that office, God who in former times (ſaith the Apoſtle) ſpake to the fathers by the Prophets, hath in theſe latter dayes ſpoken to us by the Son. He was deſigned, you ſee, to be the ſpokſman for the father to the world, to tell them what his mind is, and to preach the Goſpel to them.
We that are ordinary preachers of the Goſpel, we that are underlings to Chriſt in this buſineſs, muſt be enabled with ſome competent ability in this reſpect, or elſe we are not fit for this work. And therefore when our Saviour ſent out his diſciples, he promiſed to give them wiſdom, and a mouth; that is, matter and expreſſion, Luke 21.15. wiſdom within, together with a mouth to utter and to bring forth that wiſdom. To ſhew that both of theſe muſt go together in a preacher of the Goſpel. I know there is a latitude to be admitted and allowed in this regard, but yet a competent ability to ſpeak ſo as the people may be edified by it, is indiſputably required. And if the under-miniſters of Chriſt muſt have ſuch a faculty, how great ability then muſt their Maſter have? Who was deſigned to be the great Preacher, the great Prophet, and (as the Apoſtle ſtiles him) the chief Biſhop of our Souls. And if he had ſuch a tranſcendent faculty to ſpeak, then certainly the words he ſpake are fit to be commended, &c.
Then ſecondly, if you conſider as whoſe the words were, ſo in the next place what the words were; you will allow them to be worthy of our choiceſt obſervation. What the words were that Jeſus ſpake, either for the matter of them, or for the efficacy of them, let us a little weigh them in their order, and we ſhall ſee they both help to this buſineſs.
1. The words of Jeſus, for the matter of them, commonly were Goſpel words. Such were the words to which my text alludes, in the three chapters next before, full of nothing elſe (my brethren) but Goſpel-ſweetneſs, Goſpel-Promiſes, and Goſpel-conſolation againſt approaching troubles and afflictions, theſe were the words that Jeſus ſpake. Chriſt in a ſenſe (my brethren) was the firſt, and certainly the chiefeſt preacher of the Goſpel; this great Salvation, at the firſt, began to be ſpoken by the Lord, and was confirmed afterwards by them that heard him, Heb. 2.3. And hence the Goſpel, (as you know) is called Chriſts ſaying, John 8.51. The Law was the fathers ſaying. God ſpake theſe words. The Goſpel is the Sons ſaying, This was ſpoken by the Son. And hence ſaith Chriſt in the fore-alledged text, if a man keep my ſaying he ſhall never ſee Death. So that the ſayings and the words of Jeſus are very fit to be conſidered: For his; you ſee, are Goſpel-ſayings, and Goſpel ſayings are worthy of all acceptation, as the Apoſtle tels you, 1 Tim. 1.15. Indeed Law-Sayings are not ſo readily attended to, and entertained. You know (my brethren) on mount Sinai, at the giving of the Law, there were thunderings, and lightnings, and terrible voices, and the event, and iſſue was, the people fled, and would not hear, they were not able to endure the noiſe. But Goſpel-ſayings on the other ſide allure affection, and invite attention. Upon mount Tabor where our Saviour was transfigured there was a ſhining Sun, a bright cloud, a gentle and a pleaſing voice, and the Diſciples ſaid, Edificemus Domine, Let us build here, &c.
2. And as the words of Jeſus for the matter of them were Goſpel-words, ſo for the efficacy of them, they were ſaying words; and ſo in that reſpect, the words that Jeſus ſpake are very fit to be commended &c. The words that I ſpeak, ſaith our Saviour to the Jews, are ſpirit and life, John 6.63. they are ſo in their operation and effect, they give Spirit, and they work life: And who would not attend unto, and entertain ſuch words as theſe are? His ſaying, if it be received and kept, will ſurely ſave a man from death, yea, from eternal death. We may depend upon it, he binds it with a ſtrong aſſeveration, which he repeats twice for the more Surety, Iohn 8.51. Verily verily I ſay unto you, if a man keep my ſaying, he ſhall never ſee death Death is not viſible, the meaning is, he ſhall not be annoyed and hurted by it; as you have the like Expreſſion, Jer. 5.12. We ſhall not ſee ſword nor famine. And ſhould not ſuch words be commended to the Church, and embraced by the Church, as ſave from death, and bring eternal life with them? The ſetting down of which upon Record in holy Scripture, and leaving them to after-times, hath been the life of many ſouls, and will be yet of many more in every age, even to the worlds end.
If you conſider in the laſt place, as whoſe the words were, and what the words were that Jeſus ſpake, ſo the manner how he ſpake them; you will ſee further reaſon yet, why they ſhould be commended, &c. For this you may depend upon, Never man ſpake like him. It is the atteſtation that is given him, John 7.46. Which coming from his enemies, the officers that went to take him, is of the more validity, Never ſpake man like this man. Grace was poured into his lips, as the expreſſion is, Pſalm 45.2. to ſhew us that the grace there mentioned, is a gift of utterance, and a faculty of ſpeech whereof the lips are inſtruments. They are the lips that form the words we ſpeak, and bring them forth to thoſe that hear them; and hence this gift of utterance which the Pſalmiſt calls a Grace, is ſaid there to be poured into the Lips of Jeſus Chriſt.
There was a ſtream of holy eloquence continually flowing there, which ſometimes even drowned them that heard him. He ſpake with power and authority; his words had the command of mens affections, ſo that he carried them where he pleaſed. Indeed he carried them beyond themſelves in wonder, and aſtoniſhment, to hear him ſpeak ſometimes as he did, Mar. 1.22. They were aſtoniſhed at his doctrine, not only at the matter of it, though that were admirable too, but at the manner of delivery, For he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the Scribes. And Luke informs us that all men bare him witneſs, and gave teſtimony to him, he was ſo famous and renowned for this gift of his; and wondred at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth, Luke 4.22: You heard but now that grace was poured into his lips, and here you ſee, that grace was poured out of his lips. God poured it in, and he as freely poured it out, ſo as the people wondred at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. Such were the words that Jeſus ſpake, and ſuch words you will ſay, are very fit for choiceſt obſervation, and attention. The gift of eloquence (my brethren) calls for audience, eſpecially ſuch heavenly and Holy eloquence as Chriſts is. And thus much ſhall ſuffice for Confirmation, &c.
Now is it ſo (my Brethren) that the words that Jeſus ſpake are very fit to be commended, &c. Ʋſe. Then let them be received with choiceſt obſervation by his Church, and People. Let them not undervalue any of the words that Jeſus ſpake, but let them entertain them with a very high eſteem. There have been ſome of late who have ſlighted thoſe words, who have been bold to call them inckie divinity, a dead letter, and the like; And yet our Saviour Chriſt himſelf tells us, The words that I ſpeak are Spirit and Life, Iohn 6.63. Oh (my beloved) I beſeech you let every one of us be far from giving way to any mean account, or ſlight thoughts of any words that Chriſt ſpake; Let us keep up our obſervation, our eſtimation, our admiration of them to the very higheſt. It's true (my Brethren) we ſhould carefully attend, and duly mark all Scripture words, For all the Scripture is given by inſpiration of God, 1 Tim. 3.16. And all the Scripture is profitable for our ſelves, for Doctrine, for Correction, for Inſtruction, to make the man of God perfect, as it is added there in that place. But the words that Jeſus ſpake are the choiceſt part of Scripture, and therefore muſt have choiceſt obſervation. Never man, and what if I ſhould ſay, never inſpired man ſpake like to him, they came not fully home to his meaſure: They had the ſpirit indeed, and ſo had he, but he received not the Spirit by meaſure as they did. He was annointed with that oyl above his fellows; though not without them, yet above them, as the chief Prophet, and they the under-Prophets of the Church. And therefore when we read, or hear, or meet with any words that Chriſt ſpake, let us take ſpecial notice of them, let us fix and dwell upon them, and let them reſt and dwell in us. Let the words of Chriſt dwell in us Richly, let us have an eye to mark them, an ear to hear them, and a heart to keep them, as Mary had, of whom it is obſerved that ſhe kept all his ſayings in her heart. How carefully did the Apoſtle keep that which our Saviour ſpake, though it be no where mentioned in the Goſpel, and wiſhes other men to do ſo too, Acts 20.35. Remember the words of the Lord Jeſus, how he ſaid, It is more bleſſed to give then to receive, and ſo he mindeth the Corinthians in a ſpecial manner of that which Chriſt himſelf ſpake with his own voice, not by the Miniſtry of others, 1 Cor. 7.10. To the married I command, and yet not I, but the Lord, not I as an Inſpired Apoſtle, but the Lord with his own mouth when he was converſant upon the earth: as if the words that dropped immediately from his lips did challenge ſingular regard. And ſuch regard, my brethren, let them have from us when we meet with his prayers, his ſermons, his ſayings, let us ſet Aſterisks in the Margent, and the finger of a hand to point them out to ſpecial obſervation. Let us write under them, as the Evangeliſt doth in my Text, Theſe words ſpake Jeſus▪
Its true (my brethren) we have not the happineſs as ſome have had in former times to wait upon the Lips of Jeſus Chriſt, nor to hear the graci… words that dropt thence: yet we may hear him in a ſenſe at this Day… …e may hear him in his word, and in his Goſpel, and there may be Parta… of theſe ſtreams of holy Eloquence which flowed from his mouth▪ and … may hear him in his faithful Miniſters, concerning whom the Lord him…f hath ſaid, He that heareth them, hears me: And out of queſtion, that Injunction of the father, yet takes hold upon us, This is my bes…ed Son, hear him. Hear him in his writing, and hear him in his Meſſen…ers, although you cannot hear him in his own perſon. And therefore I beſeech you let us hear him, and let us hear him ſo, as to be obedient to him. Let us remember what a dreadfull curſe there is gone forth againſt the men that will not hear this Prophet, which will aſſuredly take hold upon them, Acts 3.23. Every Soul that will not hear that Prophet, ſhall be deſtroyed from among the people. It was a dangerous thing (you hear) to refuſe to hear Moſes: He that deſpiſed Moſes Law was to die without mercy. But it is much more dangerous to refuſe to hear Chriſt, there is a ſorer puniſhment for ſuch, as it is added there, Heb. 10.28. It went very hard with thoſe who re…uſed the word that was ſpoken by Angels (that is) the Law that was delivered by the Miniſtry of Angels. But if we refuſe the word that was ſpoken by Chriſt, (that is) the Goſpel, and do it finally, there is but one way with us, we are gone without recovery. For if the word ſpoken by Angels was ſtedfaſt (for the execution of it) and every tranſgreſſion and diſobedience, &c. How ſhall we eſcape, if we neglect ſo great ſalvation, which was ſpoken by the Lord! And therefore I beſeech you let us hear this great Prophet; if we hear him not, we die, and that without mercy too. But if we hear him, and obey him we ſhall live, and that for ever. The words that he ſpeaks are ſpirit and life, and if we keep his ſayings, we ſhall never ſee Death.