Exposition of John 17, Exposition · Part 18
JOHN 17.4.
I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do.
AND thus far of the firſt Particular conſidered in the words, what it was that Chriſt did, the work which God had given him to do.
The Second follows now in order to be handled, viz. The manner how he did it; he did it abſolutely and compleatly, I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do.
foreign, I have made an end of it. Now a work is ended then, when it is ſo diſpatched, that there is no remainder of it to be done. When there is nothing left of it imperfect and unfiniſhed. So that there can be nothing added to it any way, to make it more accompliſhed and compleat. And this is that which Jeſus Chriſt affirmeth of himſelf, in relation to the work that was committed to him of his Father, ſaith he, I have gone through with it, I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do, or I have brought it to a full end.
But had he ſo compleated it, and ended it indeed, when he put up this ſupplication to his Father? Was there no remainder of it to be done? Why, the great work of all was yet behind, the offering of himſelf upon the Croſs, as an oblation and Sacrifice to God the Father. He had not yet laid down his life for his people. Yet this he was deſigned to do, his Father had appointed him to tread the Wine-preſs of his wrath, and to become an offering for ſin. In which reſpect the holy Ghoſt affirmeth of him, that it behoved Chriſt to ſuffer. There was a neceſſe in it, becauſe it was the Fathers pleaſure that it ſhould be ſo, it was the work that he had given him to do, and how then ſaith our Saviour here, before his paſſion, and before his ſuffering, I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do.
To this Interpreters give various anſwers, according to their various apprehenſions of our Saviours meaning in the words. Some think he ſpeaks by way of propheſie, and ſo makes mention of that which was indeed to come, as if it had been paſt already, which is a very uſual thing in Scripture; In ſuch a manner ſpake the holy Prophet David, as a Type or Figure of our Saviour, long before him, Pſal. 22.16. They have pierced my hands and feet, my garments they have parted, and caſt lots upon my veſture. They had not done it then, but it is ſpoken by anticipation. And ſo our Saviour, I have finiſhed the work which thou haſt given me to do. I am about it, and I ſhall as certainly go through with it, as if it were already perfect and conſummate.
Others conceive our Saviours meaning to be only this, I have finiſhed the work, viz. in purpoſe and in preparation. In that I have laid the ground-work and foundation of it, I have aſſumed the humane nature, I have preached the Goſpel freely, I have by my Reproofs and Miracles, and many other ways ſufficiently exaſperated and enraged the Jews to crucifie me, and ſo to make an end of this buſineſs. And conſequently I have done as much as lies in me to finiſh it, and to bring it to perfection.
The plaineſt and moſt genuine Expoſition, (as it ſhews to me) is that of Calvin, which Beza and ſome others after him have reſted in. And it is to this purpoſe, I have finiſhed the work, that is, as if our Saviour Chriſt had ſaid, I have as good as finiſhed it. My death and paſſion is at hand, I am now ready to be offered up, ſo that my work is upon the matter ended. And thus becauſe the Conſummation of it was ſo near approaching, he minds his Father of it, as a thing that was already perfectly accompliſhed, and fulfilled. I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do.
Well then, my Brethren, finiſh it he did, you ſee he pleads it to his Father, and ſo accordingly the Point on which I ſhall inſiſt is this.
DOCTRINE. That Jeſus Chriſt did not do his work by halves, but he went through with the buſineſs that was committed to him by his Father.
He did not enter on it and deſiſt again, he did not give it over when he had begun, and leave it incompleat and inconſummate. No, he followed and purſued it, till he had made an end of it, till he had brought it to perfection. It is his own aſſertion of himſelf, who is the faithful and the true witneſs, and that in Prayer to his Father, I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do. So that we need no other teſtimony to induce us to believe it.
He tells us in another place, that it was his meat and drink to do the the will of him that ſent him, and to finiſh his work, Joh. 4.34. He was about the work of the Converſion of the woman of Samaria, and many of the people of the City with her, and he was ſo intent upon it, that he would neither eat nor drink, till he had done it. And as the Father put his work into his hands, to this end, that he might go through with it, and diſpatch it, as he himſelf acknowledges, John 5.36. Where he ſtileth it, the work which God had given him to finiſh, ſo he did accordingly. And therefore when he came to die, he cryed out, it is finiſhed, Iohn 19.30. The work of Gods Commiſſion, and of Mans Redemption and Salvation is accompliſht, ſo that I have no more to do in this world. In which reſpect perhaps is that expreſſion, Heb. 2.10. It became him for whom are all things (that is the Father) to make the Captain of our Salvation perfect through ſufferings. Perfect as a Mediator, and as a reconciler between God and Man, becauſe when he had ſuffered once, his work was perfect, ſo that there could be nothing added to it to make it more conſummate and compleat. The point is plain, &c.
Yea, but it ſeems there was ſomething yet behind, Object. there was a remainder, if not of the active, at leaſt of the paſſive obedience of Chriſt, which was a part, if not the greateſt part of his work. Or elſe what is the ſence of the Apoſtle in thoſe words of his, Col. 1.24. I now rejoyce in my ſufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions, or ſufferings of Chriſt. All was not finiſhed then it ſeems, it was not ſo compleatly ended, but there needed ſome addition.
For clearing this, my Brethren, you muſt know there is a twofold paſſion of Chriſt, the one in his proper and natural, Anſw. the other in his myſtical Body. The one in his own fleſh, the other in the fleſh of his members. The one for the Redemption and the Reconciliation; the other for the Edification and Confirmation of the Church.
The firſt ſort of ſufferings may be ſtiled foreign the former afflictions of Chriſt indured in his own fleſh, of which we have read at the 22. ver. You hath he reconciled through death in the body of his fleſh. The latter ſort are called foreign, the after afflictions of Chriſt, endured in the fleſh of his members, in the verſe now cited. I fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Chriſt in my fleſh.
Now, my Beloved, there is nothing behind of that firſt ſort of ſufferings of Chriſt, endured in his own fleſh, for the Redemption of the Church. There is nothing wanting to them, there is no ſuch indigency or failing in them, as to need a ſupplement or a ſupply by the after afflictions of Martyrs or Saints. No, my Beloved, the Paſſion of our Saviour is compleat and full, he finiſhed it himſelf upon the Croſs. It was the laſt word that he ſpake, before he yeelded up his ſoul into the hands of God the Father. And ſince it was his laſt, his dying word, the ſin were the greater, if we ſhould not believe him.
But there is much behind of the latter ſort of ſufferings of Chriſt, endured in the fleſh of his members. And theſe are more and more compleated every day. For even as the Father did determine the number and meaſure of the ſufferings of Chriſt, which he ſhould endure in his natural body, which he accordingly accompliſhed and fulfilled. So he hath alſo determined the number and meaſure of the ſufferings of Chriſt in his myſtical body, which they accordingly, muſt accompliſh and fulfill. So that every perſecution and affliction that any of his members ſuffer, abates the number and the tale, leſſeneth the heap of thoſe afflictions. And hence it was that the Apoſtle Paul rejoyced, becauſe he filled up that which was behind of the ſufferings of Chriſt in his myſtical body. This comforts me and cheers me yet, that by the trials and the troubles that are now upon me, I make up the remainder of the ſufferings which God the Father hath appointed Chriſt to undergo, although not in himſelf, yet in his members. I rejoyce in my ſufferings, becauſe I fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Chriſt in my fleſh.
Ʋſe 1 Now is it ſo, that Jeſus Chriſt did not do his work by halves, &c. they are ſeverely to be cenſured then, who come in with their additions to the works of Chriſt; and go about to botch it up with their ſupplies. As if he had not done what he profeſſes to his Father in my Text, but had left his work imperfect: So that it needed any thing which they can either do or ſuffer, to finiſh it and make it perfect.
And here the Papiſts are not only faulty, who make up the work of Chriſt, and fill it out with the invented ſuperfluities of the ſufferings of their Martyrs and the merits of their Saints. As if he had not done enough himſelf to make us perfect, to ſatisfie the juſtice of his Father for us.
But even many of the Saints themſelves ſometimes, though they believe that Jeſus Chriſt hath finiſhed the work of their Redemption, and that it needs no Supplement in any kind, much leſs that any thing that they can do, can make the leaſt addition to it, yet are inſenſibly betrayed, they know not how, into a kind of joyning of their duties with him, in the work of their Redemption and Salvation. For this they do in ſome degree, while they expect to be accepted with the Lord, and to be juſtified and ſaved, the rather for their works and duties. And therefore when they ſeriouſly conſider with themſelves, how they ſhall have their ſins forgiven them, how they ſhall be admitted into Gods favour, they are not ſatisfied to look upon the work that Chriſt hath done, to make him all in all in this buſineſs, but they muſt alſo caſt an eye on that which they themſelves have done. And when they think upon their own enlargements; their deep humiliations, their earneſt and inceſſant labours in the ſervice of the Lord, they do, they know not how, put then in with Jeſus Chriſt as joynt Saviours. Much hath been ſaid of late againſt duty, ſo much, that it hath been more ſlighted and neglected then it ought to be. That which I ſpeak is not againſt the doing of it, but againſt the mixing of it with the work of Jeſus Chriſt. The ſetting of our poſts by his poſts, and our works by his works. Ah, my Beloved; let us be extreamly ſhie of this, let us not ſo diſhonour Jeſus Chriſt, as if he had not done enough to juſtifie us, and to gain acceptance for us: But ſince he hath finiſhed the work himſelf, and done it perfectly; Oh let us truſt him perfectly for Redemption and Salvation; let us relie on what he hath done, and reſolve with the Apoſtle, that we are compleat in him, Col. 2.10. ſo that we ſtand in need of no addition. When we are thinking how we ſhall be ſatisfied, ſanctified, juſtified in this world, and ſaved in the world to come. Though we have lived like Angels, and done religious duties, as if we were in Heaven already, let us bid all this ſtand by, and cry out with the holy Martyr in the flames, None but Chriſt, none but Chriſt.
Is it ſo, that Jeſus Chriſt did not do his works by halves, &c. Then Ʋſe 2 let not us, my Brethren, do our works by halves neither, but let us finiſh them as Chriſt did. If we be entred on the work and ſervice of the Lord, as many of us are, O let us not give over and deſiſt again. Let not our righteouſneſs be like the morning cloud, and early dew. If we have taken pains in holy Duties, and have gone onward in them many years, in Hearing, in Prayer, and in Faſting, and the like, let us be diligent and conſtant ſtill, let us hold on our way; as Job ſaith, The upright man doth; Let us not give over all again, as ſome have done in theſe times. Let us not be weary of well doing; No, as we have begun to work, and as we have wrought hitherto, ſo let us work ſtill, till we have finiſhed all the work that God hath given us to do; and let our laſt work be more then our firſt. And to this end, I beſeech you carefully to weigh theſe few things.
Firſt, If we finiſh not our work, and if we do not end well, it argues that we were not right, and ſound in the beginning. They that are planted in the houſe of God, ſaith David, ſhall flouriſh in the Courts of our God, they ſhall bring forth more fruit in their age, Pſalm 92.13, 14. And hence it is obſerved by the Holy Ghoſt of the beſt of Gods ſervants, that they never ſhewed ſuch Zeal, and Faithfulneſs, and Diligence in the work of the Lord, as when they drew near their end, and when they ſaw their time was ready to expire. As Jacob, Moſes, Joſhuah, David, Peter ſhewed more care of Gods Church, and more zeal for Gods Glory towards their end, then they had ever done before. Yea, Our Saviour Chriſt himſelf was never ſo much in prayer, ſo painfull and affectionate in comforting, and in inſtructing his Diſciples, as he was when he was ready to be offered up. He wrought the works of him that ſent him while it was day, as his own expreſſion is, While the day of life laſted, John 9.4. And therefore ſo let us too. His unwearied diligence is very notable. Luke 21.37, 38. In the day time he was teaching in the Temple, and at night he went into the Mount of Olives, where he retired himſelf to prayer. And all the people came early to him in the morning, in the Temple, for to hear him.
If you finiſh not your work, and if you go not through with your buſineſs, you diſhonour God. There is no way to glorifie him, but by perſeverance, as our Saviour Chriſt inſinuates in my Text; ſaith he to God the Father, I have glorified thee upon the earth. How ſo, might God reply? Why, I have finiſhed the work that thou gaveſt me to do; I have not entred on it only, and carried it along awhile, but I have brought it to perfection. God is never glorified, but by finiſhing his Works. To begin, and then fall back, is to put God and Chriſt to ſhame.
Thirdly, If you finiſh not your work, as you diſhonour God and Chriſt, ſo you ſhame your ſelves too. This man began to build, but was not able to make an end. Nothing makes a man ſo baſe and deſpicable in the eyes of God, and gracious men, as to have been religious, zealous, earneſt, hot in the beginning, and to become an Enemy, a Worldling, a lazie, idle Drone in the concluſion. The ſalt that hath loſt its ſavour, is good for nothing, ſaith our Saviour, but to be caſt out with contempt, and to be trodden under feet of all men, Mat. 5.13.
You loſe all that you have wrought, and all that you have done already, if you finiſh not your work. All your obedience both active and paſſive is utterly loſt. Your active obedience is as it were forgotten with God, unleſs you continue, Ezek. 18.24. So is your paſſive, if you fail in Perſeverance. Your ſufferings are in vain, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks to the Galatians, Gal. 3.4. In a word, It is conſtancy in doing and ſuffering that crowneth a Chriſtian; It is not promiſed to Beginners, but to ſuch as continue: Beloved, Here are many of you that have done many things, and ſuffered many things for God. Many that have taken pains in holy Duties, in Hearing, Praying, Faſting, &c. Oh let not all be caſt away, let not all that you have done or ſuffered be in vain. I ſay as the Apoſtle, John 2.8. Loſe not the things that you have wrought. It is a ſad and lamentable thing to ſee a man come home even to Heaven-gate, and for want of one ſtep more, to tumble back again into Hell.
If you end your works well, you ſhall have very good wages, you ſhall receive a full Reward. He that continueth to the end, ſhall be ſaved, Mat. 24.13. If you be faithfull to the death, you ſhall receive the Crown of life, Apoc. 2.10. And if you thus hold out in Gods work, till the Period of your lives, when you ſhall come to die, you may conclude with God as Chriſt doth, I have finiſhed the work which thou gaveſt me to do, and now O Father, Glorifie me with thy ſelf. And you may ſing your dying ſong with the Apoſtle, 2 Tim. 4.7. I have fought a good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteouſneſs, which God the righteous Judge ſhall give me.
And thus we have at length diſpatched three of the Arguments, with which our Saviour preſſeth, and enforceth the great Petition that he makes to God the Father. And we are now deſcended to the fourth and laſt, and it is drawn Ab aequo, from the Equity of that which he petitions for, and the right he had to it: Nay, He affirmeth, that he had not only Jus ad rem, but more then ſo, he had Jus in re too. He had not only Right and Title to the Glory which he prayes he may be made Partaker of, but he had the poſſeſſion of it, and that from all Eternity.