John 16

John 16:1

disciples of the sufferings they must expect, and cile them to the thoughts of his remove, as what hole be advantageous to them, as the occasion of it, which would be so great a support to them and John XVI. 1—15.

JOHN XVI. 1.

CHRIST farther added in his discourse to his disciples, These things I have spoken to you concerning the opposition which you are to expect from the world, and the proportionable supports you will receive from the Spirit, that when the storm arises, you may not be offended and discouraged, and much less be drawn to renounce your profession, in order to avoid the danger. They shall indeed, excommunicate, or cast you out of the synagogues; yea, that is not all, for the hour is shortly coming, that whosoever killeth you, shall think that he offers [an acceptable] service to God: to so mad a rage

a Whosoever killeth you.] As the lower kinds of excommunication among the Jews were attended only with separation from synagogue worship, and from family converse (Luke vi. 22), or, in cases of greater guilt, with confiscation of goods and forfeiture of all their substance (Ezra x. 8), the highest kind of it was a capital offence (Lev. xxvii. 29); the execution of which, when regularly pronounced, was indeed an act of duty and obedience to God, while they had the power of life and death in their hands: but after it was wrested from them some might perhaps think it an act of very acceptable piety and zeal to attempt such executions, though at the hazard of their own lives (of which the forty conspirators against Paul do therefore so boldly avow a design, even to the high priest, as if it were meritorious rather than criminal: Acts xxiii. 14, 15). And to such sort of facts these words of our Lord may peculiarly relate. Permit me to digress so far as to add, that I apprehend, in other cases, after they were thus disarmed of the power of life and death, they had (as I may else where prove) a dependance upon the interposition of Providence to add that efficacy to their censures VOL. 2.

which their power, infringed as it was, could not give: in reference to which this highest sentence of excommunication was in the decline of their state called Anathema Maranatha, or a sentence which the Lord would remarkably come to execute, though they themselves could not carry it into effect. St. Paul therefore, with a peculiar beauty and propriety (but never, so far as I can find, fully explained), applies it to a crime not capable of conviction before any human judges; even the want of a sincere love to Christ, though under a Christian profession. See 1 Cor. xvi. 22.

b Shall think that he offers [an acceptable] service to God.] The words λαιμιαν αερο- φημη τω Θω might (as Abp. Leighton observes) be rendered, offers an oblation or sacrifice to God. This intimates, as that excellent man glosses on the text (Serm. xvii. p. 302), that “the servants of Christ should be considered, not only as sheep for the slaughter, but as sheep for the altar too.” The rage of persecuting enemies, and, beyond all comparison, the murders committed by papal cruelty in the name of the Lord, in their hecatombs of whole burnt offerings VOL. 2.

They lamented his going, but it was for their a

shall their zeal arise, and so thick is the darkness with which their minds are veiled. And all these cruel things they will do unto you, because they have not known either the Father, or me; which if they had done, instead of injuring me; and exercising such inhumanities towards you, my apostles, they would have received us with the greatest pleasure and thankfulness. But I have spoken these things plainly to you, and forewarned you of them, that when the season comes in which they shall happen, you may remember that I told you of them; and so may turn what has so discouraging an aspect into a further confirmation of your faith. And I did not indeed say these things to you from the beginning of my ministry, because I was then with you, and could easily suggest proper instructions and consolations, as new circumstances of difficulty arose: But now I speak them, because I am departing from you for a while, and am going away to him that sent me into the world; and yet none of you asketh me, Whither dost thou go? nor is concerned to make those inquiries about that better world where we are to dwell together, which surely might well become you in such a circumstance. But because I have spoken these things unto you, and talked of leaving you for a time, your natural affections have been greatly moved, and sorrow has filled and pierced your very hearts, so that you seem almost stupified with it.

But I tell you the exact truth of the case, when I say that it is on the whole advantageous to you, as well as proper for me, that I should go away, considering the agreement made between the Father and me in the counsel of peace between us; for if I do not go away, and appear in heaven under the character of the great High Priest, the Comforter will not come to you, since the gift of the Spirit is the fruit of my purchase, and is appointed to be consequent upon my being glorified; (John vii. 39, sect. ci.) but when I go from hence, I will not fail to send him to you. And when he comes, he will abundantly

(if I may be allowed an expression which will resent the murder of his children upon falls so far short of the dreadful truth), too his altar, the day when he makes inquisition justly illustrate the remark. But how God for blood will declare.

The Spirit will convince o sin, righteousness, and judgment.

prove the world of display the efficacy of his grace, not only in sect. sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: the comforts he will give you under all your clxxvii. troubles, but in the wonderful success with John which he will enable you to carry on my cause: xvi. 8

and will effectually convince the world, by your ministry, of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. He will convince the world of that aggravated sin which they are guilty of, because they do not believe in me; to the truth of whose mission he will bear an unanswerable testimony by his enlightening influences and miraculous operations. He will convince them of my righteousness and innocency; because it will evidently appear that I go to my Father, and am accepted of him, when I send the Spirit from him in so glorious a manner (compare Acts ii. 33, and Rom. i. 4); and that my righteousness may therefore be relied on for the justification and acceptance of my people, since you see me no more appearing among you in the form of a servant, but are assured that, having finished what I was to do on earth, I am taken up to heaven, and received into glory. And he will convince them of my being invested with the power of executing judgment; because the prince of this world, the great head of the apostasy, is now as it were already judged and condemned, and shall then be triumphed over in a very remarkable manner, when his oracles are silenced, and he is cast out from many persons, and countries too, which he before possessed. (Compare John xii. 31, sect. cxlviii.) And Satan being thus divested of his power, my gospel shall be propagated through the world, and a full proof at length be given of my sovereign authority, in my coming to execute judgment upon all ungodly sinners.

I have yet many other things to say to you, with relation to matters of considerable moment in the settlement of my church; but I wave them at present, because I know that you are not able to bear [them] now, and are not yet

He will convince the world.] So the and Jam. ii 9. For the illustration of this, word ἐκέζω properly signifies Compare and the following verses, see Archbish-John viii. 9, 46; 1 Cor. xiv. 24; Tit. i. 9; op Tillotson’s Works, Vol. III. p. 287-299.

He will take of the things of Christ, and shew

prepared to receive them.ᵈ But when he, [even] the Spirit of truth, is come, according to the promise I have given you, he, as a faithful Guide, will lead you into all necessary truth: or he will not exceed his commission, and, like a careless or unfaithful messenger, speak merely of himself; but, like a wise and good Ambassador, whatsoever he shall hear and receive in charge, [that] will he speak; and he will shew you things to come, as far as may be necessary to prepare and qualify you for the great work you shall be called to; and will acquaint you with future events, the prediction of which, as delivered by you, may be a lasting testimony to the truth of my gospel. And he shall indeed glorify me in the most signal manner; for he will take of mine, or of those doctrines which relate to me, and those benefits which I procure and bestow, and will reveal and shew [it] to you in the most clear and attractive light. And indeed all things whatsoever the Father hath are mine; and therefore, to express the whole system of evangelical truth, I said unto you, that he will take of mine, and will shew [it] to you; since whatsoever he reveals to you in the name of God may be called mine, as all truth proceeds from me, and all real goodness is my cause and interest in the world.

IMPROVEMENT.

ver 2 How great is the ignorance and folly of them that persecute their brethren in the name of the Lord, and kill his dear children under the pretence of offering him an acceptable sacrifice! Thus were the apostles treated by those that knew not the God for whom they professed all this burning zeal. Let us bless God that we are providentially sheltered from those effects of it which might otherwise bear so hard upon us: and let us diligently watch over our hearts, that no irregular affections may work there, and no uncharitable sentiments be harboured.

ᵈ But you are not able to bear them now. Those other things to which our Lord refers might probably relate to the abrogation of the ceremonial law, to the doctrine of justification by faith, the rejection of the Jews, the calling of the Gentiles, and the like; which might have given some offence to the disciples, till their remaining prejudices were removed. However, the prudence of Christ in this respect is an excellent pattern for ministers; and we had need to pray earnestly for the instructions and assistances of the Spirit of God, that we may neither forget nor abuse it.

Reflections on the ends for which the Spirit should be sent.

When, like the apostles, our hearts are filled with sorrow, let us be cautious that they may not be stupified by it, so that any call of duty should pass unheard, or any opportunity of religious advancement unimproved; and let us not be indolent in our inquiries into the meaning of those dispensations which we do not understand; but seriously consider whether we are not sorrowful for that which is indeed designed for our advantage, and in the issue will be matter of rejoicing to us.

We hear to what purposes the Comforter was sent. His coming was designed in a peculiar manner for the advantage of the apostles; and was of greater service to them than the continuance of Christ’s presence with them in the body would have been, not only to support and comfort them under all their trials, but to acquaint them with all necessary truth, and fully to instruct them in the mysteries of godliness. And he came also for the conviction of an apostate world; for the important errand he was sent upon was to awaken men’s minds, and to convince them of their own guilt, and of Christ’s righteousness, and of that awful judgment which should be executed on the most inveterate of his enemies. Let us often think of the force of the Spirit’s testimony to the truth of Christianity, and endeavour to understand it in all its extent. Let us bless God that the gospel, and the character of his Son, were thus vindicated; and rejoice in the views of that complete conquest, to which Satan is already adjudged. In the mean time let us earnestly pray that the influences of the Holy Spirit may be communicated to us in such a manner that Christ may be glorified in us, and we in him; and that the things of Christ may be taken, and shewn to us by that Spirit; for it can only be done by means of his influence and operations.

John 16:16

Our Lord concludes his discourse with assuring his disciples that his separation from them would not be final, but that he would still act in their favour as their Guardian, and make them finally victorious. John XVI. 16, to the end.

JOHN XVI. 16. A Little while and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while and ye

OUR Lord continued and concluded this excellent discourse to his apostles in words to the following purpose: It is yet but a little while, and you shall not see me any more conversing with you upon earth, as I have hitherto done: and yet again, for your encouragement and comfort, I assure you that it is but a little while longer, and you shall see me again, on terms

clxxviii. John xvi. 16

Christ tells them, In a little time they should not

of much greater advantage, because I go to the Father; plainly intimating thereby that he would be so mindful of their interest with the Father, as ere long to bring them to an eternal abode with him.ᵃ

But their thoughts were so taken up about other things, and they had still such expectations of his establishing an earthly kingdom, that, notwithstanding what he now had said was far from being obscure, they did not at first penetrate into the meaning of it: [some] of his disciples therefore said one to another, *What is this that he says to us? A little while and ye shall not see me; and again, a little while and ye shall see me; and why does he add, Because I go to the Father?*ᵇ They said therefore among themselves, What is this little while of which he speaks? we know not what he says, and cannot apprehend what he means by it.

Now Jesus, as the secret workings of their hearts were open to his view, knew that they were desirous to ask him for some farther

ᵃ Intimating — he would bring them to an eternal abode, &c.] As this sense is evidently much more important, so it appears to me more natural and easy than that of Mons. Le Clerc, who understands it as if Christ had said, “Though I am quickly to disappear from you, and be lodged in the grave, I shall soon come again, and make you another visit of some length, before I return to heaven by my ascension.” His going to the Father was no proof of this, though it strongly proved his ability to introduce them to the heavenly world. I apprehend that the whole joy which Christ’s resurrection and ascension, as connected with each other, gave them, is referred to in the following discourse, which therefore is so paraphrased as to include all that is pertinent and material in the explication above.

ᵇ What is this that he says, &c.] There are so many passages in the preceding parts of this discourse which relate to Christ’s going to his Father (chap. xiv. 2, 12, 28; xv. 26; xvi. 10), that it is a strange instance of the dullness of the apostles that they did not understand him here. Perhaps it is recorded on purpose to shew what an alteration the Spirit afterwards

made in them. It is indeed difficult to imagine what could perplex them, unless it were that they suspected the words, A little while and ye shall not see me; and again, a little while and ye shall see me, &c. might intimate that after he had gone to the Father, and made a short stay there, he would come again, and settle an earthly kingdom; and they might desire an explication in this view. Accordingly, after having told them that, though they were sorrowful, he would come and see them again after his resurrection (ver. 20, 22), and would introduce them to a state of comfortable converse with God by prayer, and a joy of which none should deprive them (ver. 23—27), he adds (ver. 28), that he was quickly leaving the world, to go and reside with the Father, from whom he came; thereby gently intimating that no temporal reign was to be expected. And if we suppose him thus to have glanced obliquely at the most secret sentiments of their hearts, it will account for that confession of his omniscience which immediately follows this 28th verse (ver. 29, 30); the reason of which would not appear merely from his discovery that they doubted about something which their countenances and whispers might shew.

see them again, and their hearts should rejoice.

application of what he had been saying, and yet that they were afraid of being upbraidedᶜ for the slowness of their apprehensions; and therefore kindly prevented their confusion, and said to them, Do you inquire of one another concerning this which I said, A little while and ye shall not see me; and again, a little while and ye shall see me? Surely, if you reflect a little, it cannot be very difficult to understand the meaning of that. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall shortly weep and lament for a while, on account of my being taken away from you,ᶜ and in the mean time the world shall rejoice, as if it had prevailed against me; and you shall be sorrowful at the loss of my presence, but then you have this to comfort you in that interval of distress, that your sorrow shall quickly be turned into joy. Just as a woman, when she is in labour, has great anxiety and sorrow, because her hour of distress and agony is come; but when she has brought forth a child, she forgets the pangs she endured, and remembereth [her] tribulation no more, for joy that a man is born into the world, and added to her family for its future honour and support. And so it is, that you indeed have sorrow now, in expectation of the melancholy scene which is approaching; and it will very much increase your trouble to see me in a few hours more torn away from you with inhuman violence, hung as a malefactor on the cross, and buried in the grave: but when your hopes are at the lowest ebb, I will quickly see you again, after my resurrection, and your hearts shall rejoice; and afterwards, though I am absent from you in the body, yet I will fill you with such consolation by my Spirit, that no one shall, by any means whatever, deprive you of your joy, which shall sweetly mingle itself even with your heaviest afflictions.ᵈ

ᶜ Ye shall weep and lament, &c.] Whatever immediate reference this may have to the sorrows of the apostles, immediately on the death of Christ, before his resurrection, I question not but it includes all their subsequent afflictions in the days of fasting, when the bridegroom was taken away from them as it is elsewhere expressed in a parallel phrase (Mat. ix. 15); which must ex-

express much more than the abstinence of the one day he lay in the grave, supposing (which is very possible) they had then but little relish to their food. See Vol. I. p. 391.

ᵈ No one shall deprive you of your joy.] As this promise will be for ever accomplished to all Christ’s faithful servants, so it is observable how the apostle Paul, in

Whatever they ask in his name the Father will

And in that day, when I have sent the Comforter, you shall not inquire any thing of me, nor be puzzled with much greater difficulties than those which I have been explaining; but Divine illuminations shall be poured in upon you in the richest abundance, and with it the spirit of earnest and successful prayer; for verily, verily, I say unto you, and repeat the important assurance which I before gave you (chap. xiv. 13, 14, and xv. 16), That whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you. Hitherto ye have not been used to regard me under the character of a Mediator between God and man, and therefore have asked nothing in my name; but then, having received a fuller revelation of the doctrine of my intercession, you may come with a cheerful boldness to the throne of grace, and freely ask whatever shall be necessary for you; and depend upon it you shall receive such a liberal supply, that, in the midst of all your temporal discouragements, your joy in God may still be maintained in its full height.

These weighty and important things I have often spoken to you in the obscurity of parables, which have appeared dark and mysterious to you; but the hour or time is coming when I will speak no more to you in parables or dark sayings, but I will tell you what relates to the Father with all openness and plainness of speech. In that day you shall ask in my name, and shall present your supplications to the Father with an express acknowledgment of your dependence upon me for the success of your petitions; and I do not merely say to you, that I will ask the Father on your account, and plead with him for the acceptance of your prayers, though

his more abundant afflictions, attests his experience of its truth, when he says, As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing (2 Cor vi. 10); and mentions his share in the joy of Christians as a most important and sacred oath. (1 Cor. xv. 31.)

You shall not inquire any thing of me. We render it ask; but I thought it proper to make some distinction between ἡσίω, which properly signifies to make an inquiry, and αἴω, which is to present a request. (See Dr. Calamy on the Trinity, p. 154.)

Yet I confess the former is sometime used almost in the same sense with the latter (see Mat. xvi. 1); and the word seems to have the same ambiguity with demand in English. The argument some have drawn from hence against praying to Christ, on the preceding criticism, has no appearance of weight; and did ἡσίω signify to pray, would prove (if it proves any thing) that Paul lived, and Stephen died, in a very unwarrantable, and perhaps an idolatrous practice.

ame from the Father, and is returning to him.

you may assure yourselves that I shall always be ready to do it; But I represent it not to you in such a view, as if every favour were obtained and as it were extorted, merely by my importunity, from one who has himself no regard for your happiness; for, on the contrary, I assure you, that the Father himself most tenderly loves you, and therefore will be ready to grant your requests, and to watch over you with paternal affection and care; because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God, as the messenger of his grace to men; and have accordingly relied upon me with such steadfastness, that you have ventured your all upon that belief. And you have therein acted a very prudent and happy part; for I indeed came out from the Father, and am come into the world to scatter a Divine light upon it, and to conduct men into the paths of life and peace: and now again, having dispatched my errand, I am leaving the world, and am going back to the Father; where I shall keep my stated abode, and whither I will shortly conduct you to a more glorious kingdom than you ever expected here. This is the sum of what I have been telling you, and was particularly my meaning in what I said before (ver. 16), “Yet a little while, and ye shall see me again, because I go to the Father.”

And his disciples, struck with the correspondence of what he said to what was secretly passing in their own minds, said to him, Lord Behold, now thou speakest very plainly to us and usest no parable, or obscure form of expression; so that we clearly understand the meaning, and rejoice in it. And now we know by this farther token, even thy discerning out inmost doubts on this head, that thou knowes all things, and hast no need that any one shoul ask thee any particular questions, to inform the of those scruples which thou seest when firs rising in the mind: on this account therefor we firmly believe that thou camest out from God. Jesus answered them, Do you now at lengt believe? and do you apprehend your faith to be so firm, that nothing shall be able any more to shake it? Let me advise you not to be too confident; for I assure you, that in a very little

His disciples will leave him, but the Father is with him.

time you will be found to act, as if you had not any faith in me: pray therefore, that God would fortify you against those trials of which I have warned you once and again. For behold, the hour is coming, yea, is so near at hand, that I may even say, it is now come, that you shall all be scattered and dispersed, and every one of you return to your own habitations and employments, or otherwise shift for yourselves as well as you can; and to consult your own security, you shall flee away and leave me alone; but yet I am not, properly speaking, alone, for the Father is with me, and he will comfort and support me, in the absence of all human friends.

These things have I spoken thus largely to you, that whatever difficulties may arise in life, having been thus warned, and furnished with such consolations as these, you might have lasting peace and serenity of soul by the exercise of your faith in me. In the world indeed you shall have and must expect affliction; but be courageous and cheerful in your combat, for I have myself overcome the world; and, being possessed of a power infinitely superior to it, I will make you partakers in my victory over all its terrors and its snares.

IMPROVEMENT.

ver. 16 We are, perhaps, often regretting the absence of Christ, and looking back with emulation on the happier lot of those who conversed with him on earth in the days of his flesh: but if we are true believers in an unseen Jesus, it is but a little while and we shall also see him; for he is gone to the Father, and will so successfully negotiate our affairs there, that whatever our present difficulties and sorrows are, they shall end more happily than those of a woman, who after all the pangs and throes of her labour, through the merciful interposition of Divine Providence, is made the joyful mother of a living child. 20 In the mean time, we have surely no reason to envy the world its joys and triumphs: alas, its season of weeping will quickly come! But our lamentations are soon to be turned into songs of praise, and our hearts to be filled with that solid, sacred, and peculiar joy, which, being the gift of Christ, can never be taken away. While we are in this state of distance and darkness, let us rejoice that we have access to the throne of grace through the prevailing name of Christ. Let us come thither with holy courage

Reflections on the joy that we may have in Christ.

and confidence, and ask that we may receive; and so our joy may be full. With what pleasure may we daily renew our visits to that throne, before which Jesus stands as an Intercessor; to that throne, which is possessed by the Father, who himself loveth us, and answers with readiness and delight those petitions which are thus recommended! May our faith in Christ, and our love to him, be still on the increasing hand; and our supplications will be more and more acceptable to him, whose loving kindness is better than life! (Psal. lxiii. 3.)

Surely we shall be frequently reviewing these gracious discourses which Christ has bequeathed us as an invaluable legacy. May they dwell with us in all our solitude, and comfort us in every distress! We shall have no reason to wonder if human friendship be sometimes false, and always precarious: the disciples of Christ were scattered in the day of his extremity, and left him alone, when they were under the highest obligations to have adhered to him with the most inviolable fidelity. May we but be able like him to say, that our Father is with us; and that delightful converse with God, which we may enjoy in our most solitary moments, will be a thousand times more than an equivalent for whatsoever we lose in the creatures. In the world we must indeed have tribulation; and he that has appointed it for us, knows that it is fit we should: but since Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, who was made perfect through sufferings, has overcome the world, and disarmed it; let us seek that peace which he has established, and press on with a cheerful assurance, that the least of his followers shall share in the honours and benefits of his victory.