After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Ver. 1. _A feast of the Jews_] This was the feast of Pentecost. Others say the Passover, which came but once a year. The true Christians (for whom the true Passover was sacrificed, 1Co 5:7) keep a continual feast or holy day,... [ Continue Reading ]
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep _market_ a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. Ver. 2. _Having five porches_] Built, belike, by some well-affected persons, at the motion of God's ministers, for the use of such impotent folk as here lay looking and langui... [ Continue Reading ]
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. Ver. 3. _Of impotent folk_] That had tried all other ways, and could not otherwise be cured, _Omnipotenti medico, nullus insanabilis occurrit morbus._ (Isidore.)... [ Continue Reading ]
For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. Ver. 4. _For an angel went down_] The miracle of this pool was granted to the Jews, partly to strengthen th... [ Continue Reading ]
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. Ver. 5. _Thirty and eight years_] A long while to be in misery: but what is this to eternity of extremity! We need have something to mind us of God, to bring us to Christ. King Alured prayed God always to send him some sick... [ Continue Reading ]
When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time _in that case_, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? Ver. 6. _And knew that he had been, &c._] Christ's eye affected his heart, Lamentations 3:51, he could not but sympathize, and succour this poor cripple, out of his mere phi... [ Continue Reading ]
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Ver. 7. _I have no man, &c._] He looked that Christ should have done him that good office; and could not think of any other way of cure. Ho... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. Ver. 8. _Rise, take up thy bed, &c._] A servile work upon the sabbath day. This our Saviour here commends not as a servile work, but for confirmation of the truth of a miracle greatly tending to God's glory; like as, another time, he bade them... [ Continue Reading ]
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. Ver. 9. _And immediately the man_] Christ's words are operative (together with his commands there goes forth a power, as Luk 5:17). So they were in the creation, Genesis 1:3. So they are st... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry _thy_ bed. Ver. 10. _It is the sabbath, it is not lawful, &c._] _Vere, sed non sincere._ Truly but not sincerely. It more troubled them that Christ had healed him than that the sabbath had bee... [ Continue Reading ]
He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Ver. 11. _He that made me whole, &c._] So, it seems, Christ had healed him, in part, on the inside also; and given him a ready heart to obey, though it were _contra gentes, _ against nature, as they say.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? Ver. 12. _What man is he_] Not that made thee whole, but that bade thee take up thy bed, &c. They dissembled the former, and insisted only upon the latter, which shows the naughtiness of their hearts.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in _that_ place. Ver. 13. _Had conveyed himself away_] Lest by his presence that work should be hindered. True goodness is public spirited, though to private disadvantage, and works for most part unob... [ Continue Reading ]
Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. Ver. 14. _Findeth him in the temple_] Praising God, likely, for his unexpected recovery. So Hezekiah, the first work he did when off his sick bed, Isaiah 38:22... [ Continue Reading ]
The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. Ver. 15. _Told the Jews_] Of a good intent, surely, to honour Christ, however it were taken by the spiteful Jews, _Probi ex sua natura caeteros fingunt._ The disciples could not imagine so ill of Judas as it proved. Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. Ver. 16. _Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus_] This he foreknew would follow, and yet he forbore not. In the discharge of our consciences (tightly informed and regulated) we... [ Continue Reading ]
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Ver. 17. _My Father worketh_] Yet without labour or lassitude, in conserving the whole creature. This he doth every day, and yet breaketh not the sabbath; _Ergo nec ego, _ Therefore, neith do I.... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. Ver. 18. _The Jews sought the more_] Persecution is (as Calvin wrote to the French king) _Evangelii genus, _ the birth of the gospel, the... [ Continue Reading ]
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. Ver. 19. _The Son can do nothing, &c._] He denies not himself to be the Son though they qua... [ Continue Reading ]
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. Ver. 20. _For the Father loveth the Son_] This noteth that eternal power of doing miracles that is in Christ. As that which follows, "He will show him gre... [ Continue Reading ]
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth _them_; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. Ver. 21. _Raiseth up the dead_] Bringing them from the jaws of death to the joys of life; which none can do but God alone.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: Ver. 22. _The Father judgeth no man_] viz. The Father alone, but by the Son, to whom all judicatory power is committed.... [ Continue Reading ]
That all _men_ should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Ver. 23. _He that honoureth not the Son_] As Jews and Turks do not. Nor Papists, that (upon the matter) despoil him of his threefold office, and so deny... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Ver. 24. _He that heareth my word_] As death came into the world by the door of the ear, so doth life eternal,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. Ver. 25. _The dead shall hear the voice_] The dead in sins shall believe the promises, and shall live the life of grace here and of glory in heaven.... [ Continue Reading ]
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; Ver. 26. _So hath he given to the Son_] What wonder, then, if faith, apprehending the infinite fountain of life, derive thence some rivulet of life, and apply the same to us for spiritual quickening?... [ Continue Reading ]
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Ver. 27. _Because he is the Son of man_] Or, as he is the Son of man. _a_ By virtue of the hypostatical union, his manhood came as near to God as could be. He had the best natural parts both of mind, Isaiah 11:2,3,... [ Continue Reading ]
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, Ver. 28. _Marvel not at this_] And yet who can but marvel at this great mystery of godliness, whereat angels stand amazed? yea, whereat he himself wonders; and therefore calls, his own name Won... [ Continue Reading ]
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Ver. 29. _They that have done good_] _In die iudicii plus valebit conscientia pura quam marsupia plena._ Bern., Daniel 12:1,2. Though other things be dark... [ Continue Reading ]
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. Ver. 30. _I can of mine own self do nothing_] But by the power communicated unto me, in that eternal generation. _ As I hear_] SoJohn 5:1... [ Continue Reading ]
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. Ver. 31. _My witness is not true_] That is, fit, firm, valid, _foro humano, Concessio rhetorica._ Beza.... [ Continue Reading ]
There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Ver. 32. _There is another that beareth witness_] God the Father, by this miracle wrought upon the impotent man. Give we real testimony to our profession by our practice. _Mallem obedire quam... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. Ver. 33. _Ye sent unto John_] As unto an oracle: but when his answer pleased you not, you rejected it, of mere obstinace and malice to my person and office. There is an odious unthankfulness in unbelief: for it rebelleth against the light, reje... [ Continue Reading ]
But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. Ver. 34. _That ye might be saved_] This was that which he sought in all his oracles and miracles. Salvation properly notes the privative part of our happiness; because it is easier to tell from what we are saved t... [ Continue Reading ]
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. Ver. 35. _He was a burning, &c._] Burning in himself, and shining to others; or as it was said of Basil, thundering in his doctrine and lightning in his life. (Nazianzen.) And of Rogers and Bradford, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
But I have greater witness than _that_ of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. Ver. 36. _The works which the Father hath given me_] Lo, Christ accounts his work a gift. So John 17:4 . _ The works t... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. Ver. 37. _Hath borne witness of me_] By the voice from heaven, and the descending of the Holy Ghost in the shape of a dove,Matthew 3:16; yet ye have neither heard h... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Ver. 38. _And you have not his word abiding in you_] As an "engrafted word," James 1:21 : ye have heard it, but with your bodily ears only, with those gristles that grow upon your heads: ye have not drawn up the ear... [ Continue Reading ]
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Ver. 39. _Search the Scriptures_] _Audite saeculares, comparate vobis Biblia, animae pharmaca, _ Listen to the world, compare with your Bibles, the medicine of our souls, saith Chrysostom. But B... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Ver. 40. _Ye will not come to me_] Though clearly convinced by the Scriptures. See their obstinace and malice. Amos,Amos 6:12, compareth such untamable, untractable, masterless monsters, to horses running upon a rock, where first they break their... [ Continue Reading ]
I receive not honour from men. Ver. 41. _I receive not honour from men_] _q.d._ I need you not, though I complain you come not to me. It is for your sakes that I seek to you. Christ could be happy, though all men should miscarry: as the sun would shine, though all the world were blind. He seeks not... [ Continue Reading ]
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. Ver. 42. _Ye have not the love of God_] Though ye pretend zeal for his glory, to your opposing of me, yet there is _aliud in titulo, aliud in pyxide._ Hypocrites are like Egyptian temples, beautiful without but within, some cat or such like t... [ Continue Reading ]
I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. Ver. 43. _Him will ye receive_] As they did Barchochab; and that Pseudo-Moses (the devil he was) that deceived so many of them in Crete, A.D. 434, persuading them to cast themselves aft... [ Continue Reading ]
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that _cometh_ from God only? Ver. 44. _Which receive honour one of another_] Faith empties a man of himself, purgeth upon ambition, and is an act of the will; else the seeking of praise with men could be no impediment... [ Continue Reading ]
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is _one_ that accuseth you, _even_ Moses, in whom ye trust. Ver. 45. _Do not think that I_] That is, that I only. _ Even Moses_] So your faithful ministers (whom men pretend to love and reverence, but obey not their doctrine), these shall ju... [ Continue Reading ]
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. Ver. 46. _For he wrote of me_] Both clearly and mystically, in the many sacrifices and ceremonies of the law. Whence Theodoret calleth Moses, τον της θεολογιας ωκεανον, εξ ουπερ παντες ποταμοι και πασα θαλαττα, ocean of divin... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? Ver. 47. _But if ye believe not his writings_] He that will not take God's word in one place will take it in no place.... [ Continue Reading ]