Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. Ver. 1. _That he should depart, &c._] This definition of death, saith Calvin, pertains to t... [ Continue Reading ]
And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's _son_, to betray him; Ver. 2. _The devil having now put_] He is likely at one end of every temptation to sin; as the hand of Joab was in the tale of the woman of Tekoah. He rubs the firebrand of evil concupis... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; Ver. 3. _Jesus knowing, &c._] This is prefaced to the washing of his disciples' feet, to show that he did it not rashly, or out of baseness of spirit, as forgetting the dignity of his... [ Continue Reading ]
He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. Ver. 4. _He riseth from supper_] So the rite of the Paschal supper required; as Beza showeth in his annotations uponMatthew 26:20 .... [ Continue Reading ]
After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe _them_ with the towel wherewith he was girded. Ver. 5. _After that he poureth water, &c._] So doth the pope once a year in an apish imitation of our Saviour. As likewise, when he is new elected, in his sole... [ Continue Reading ]
Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Ver. 6. _Then cometh he to Peter_] He came first to him (for the former verse sets forth his intent rather than his act of washing). And yet St Chrysostom tells of some that would needs have it, that he began wit... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Ver. 7. _But thou shalt know hereafter_] Different degrees of knowledge are bestowed at several times. Our hearts are like narrow mouthed vessels; but then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Ver. 8. _Thou shalt never wash my feet_] This was an immoderate modesty, a proud humility; so is it in them that refuse gospel comforts, because they are unworthy, _Domine, non su... [ Continue Reading ]
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also _my_ hands and _my_ head. Ver. 9. _Lord, not my feet only_] Here he seems to be as far out on the other side. How hard is it to hold a mean. _Medio tutissimus ibis._ (Ovid.) Virtue is placed between two extremes, as the planet Jupiter bet... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash _his_ feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. Ver. 10. _Needeth not, save to wash his feet_] For though bathed in that blessed fountain, Zechariah 13:1, and fully justified, yea, and freed from the stain and reign... [ Continue Reading ]
For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. Ver. 11. _He knew who should betray him_] And yet he vouchsafed to wash his feet. This was _stupenda dignatio, _ a wonderful condescension, an unparalleled patience.... [ Continue Reading ]
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ver. 12. _Know ye what I have done to you?_] This was our Saviour's usual order, to catechise his disciples after he had said or done anything for their instruc... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for _so_ I am. Ver. 13. _Ye call me Master and Lord_] A little before our Saviour came in the flesh, the Jewish doctors had taken up divers titles in this order; Rabbi, Rabban, Rub, Rabba, Gaon, Moreh, Morenu, and Morehtsedeck. These they did arrogantly... [ Continue Reading ]
If I then, _your_ Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. Ver. 14. _Ye ought also to wash one another's feet_] What so great matter is it then to salute others, to seek reconciliation with them, &c. Angels think not themselves too good to serve the saints;... [ Continue Reading ]
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Ver. 15. _For I have given you an example_] υποδειγμα. This St Peter calls υπογραμμον, a copy for us to write after, 1 Peter 2:21. And in the same chapter saith that we should preach forth Christ's virtues, εξαγγειλητε, John... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. Ver. 16. _The servant is not greater, &c._] This answers all our exceptions against brotherly offices: I am his elder, better, greater than he, &c. But which of us can sa... [ Continue Reading ]
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. Ver. 17. _If ye know these things, &c._] Knowledge without practice is but as rain in the middle region; or as a horn in the unicorn's head, which if it were in a wise man's head, would be very useful and medicinabie, but as now is hurtful.... [ Continue Reading ]
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Ver. 18. _I know whom I have chosen_] Judas he had not chosen, but to the apostleship only. All this Judas hears, and is not moved at it; such... [ Continue Reading ]
Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am _he_. Ver. 19. _Ye may believe that I am he_] And that ye may not stumble or stagger, though ye see Judas play the traitor, 2 Timothy 2:18,19. The apostasy of Hymenaeus and Philetus, a pair of eminent professors,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. Ver. 20. _Verily, verily I say, &c._] Here our Saviour seems to go on where he left, John 13:17, that between being a digression. Digressions, saith one, are not al... [ Continue Reading ]
When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Ver. 21. _He was troubled in spirit_] The Stoics then were out, in holding that passions befall not a wise man; and Jesuited Gonzaga was not so much to be m... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Ver. 22. _Looked one upon another doubting, &c._] Our Saviour sifted them; and hereby put them upon the duty of self-examination; ever seasonable, but especially before the sacrament, as here, Let a man examine himself (and do it... [ Continue Reading ]
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Ver. 23. _Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom_] So must we do at the sacrament, by the actuation of our faith, ascending up into heaven, and fetching down Christ into the heart, that we may have intimate and entire comm... [ Continue Reading ]
Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. Ver. 24. _Simon Peter therefore beckoned_] Peter, that heretofore could not think his heart so unsound as to deny his Master, now feareth the ugly monster of fearless betraying. In man's heart, as in the se... [ Continue Reading ]
He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Ver. 25. _He then lying on Jesus' breast_] _Ad pectus allapsus, _ as laying his ear to our Saviour's mouth, that he might whisper him who it was; _a_ for things were as yet secretly carried, and the traitor not discovered, save to John... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped _it_. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave _it_ to Judas Iscariot, _the son_ of Simon. Ver. 26. _He it is to whom I shall, &c._] Here our Saviour not only feeds his hungry enemy, but shows him like courtesy as we do to one... [ Continue Reading ]
And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Ver. 27. _Satan entered into him_] Had gotten more full possession of him. Let them that depart the public assemblies ere all be done, as Judas did, take heed they meet not the devil at the door. The fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. Ver. 28. _Now no man at the table knew, &c._] For John had not told Peter the secret committed to him by Christ, though he were very desirous to have known it; " _Si sapis, arcano vina reconde cado._ " A friend that can both kee... [ Continue Reading ]
For some _of them_ thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy _those things_ that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. Ver. 29. _For some of them thought_] An example of Christian simplicity. As bad men muse as they use, so goo... [ Continue Reading ]
He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. Ver. 30. _He then having received the sop_] So many having received the Supper of the Lord, eat their bane and drink their poison; what they eat is sauced, and what they drink is spiced, with the bitter wrath of God, their hear... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. Ver. 31. _Therefore when he was gone out_] The room being rid of the traitor, Christ deals more freely and familiarly with the rest, and arming them against the scandal of the cross, he calls... [ Continue Reading ]
If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. Ver. 32. _And shall straightway_] Thus for the "joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, despising, the shame, as being shortly to sit down at the right hand of the throne of God,"Hebrews... [ Continue Reading ]
Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. Ver. 33. _Little children, yet a little while_] Here our Saviour useth the self-same words to his apostles, which before he had used to the Jews, with... [ Continue Reading ]
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Ver. 34. _A new commandment, &c._] New, _ratione claritatis et facilatis; _ for now there is abundance of spirit given by Christ, who writes this affection in our hearts, as of old the l... [ Continue Reading ]
By this shall all _men_ know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Ver. 35. _By this shall all men know_] Other men's disciples are known by their titles, habits, ceremonies, &c., as the pope's shavelings (which yet is grown so bald a business, that now they begin to be ashamed... [ Continue Reading ]
Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. Ver. 36. _Whither goest thou?_] That deep conceit he had drunk in of an earthly kingdom, so hung in his light, that he could not see whither Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Ver. 37. _I will lay down, &c._] Peter was _melius semper animatus quam armatus, _ better affected than appointed. His heart deceived him, as did David's, Psalms 39:1,2. He said he would look to his ways,... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. Ver. 38. _The cock shall not crow_] Christ mentioneth the cock, _quia tam strenuum pugnatorem decebat tale praeconium._ So, Revelation 6:13, pastor... [ Continue Reading ]