Our blessed Saviour in the foregoing chapter, having acquainted his disciples with his approaching death, by the treachery of Judas, their hearts were thereupon overwhelmed with grief and trouble. Accordingly in this chapter, by sundry arguments, he comforts his disciples against the perplexity of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. How Thomas, and probably divers others of the apostles, notwithstanding all that Christ had said to the contrary, did still dream of. temporal kingdom, and supposed him to speak of some earthly palace which he was going to, and therefore he tells our Saviour, he knew not whither he... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. What. gross conception the apostles had, and St. Philip in particular, of the divine nature and being, as if God the Father could be seen with mortal eyes. SHEW US THE FATHER, AND IT SUFFICETH US. It is not easy to determine what degrees of ignorance may consist with saving grace; d... [ Continue Reading ]
Here Christ gives his disciples. promise of enduing them with power after his departure to work miracles in some respects greater than what he wrought himself; not greater in regard of the manner, for he wrought by his own power, and they wrought all in his name, but greater in regard of the matter... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words our Saviour produces another argument to quiet his disciples's hearts under their perplexity and trouble for the loss of his bodily presence; he assures them, that whatever comforts they enjoyed by his presence, they shall obtain by their prayers. Observe here, 1. The qualification r... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words our Saviour implicitly reproves his disciples for their fond way of expressing their love to him, by doating upon his bodily presence, and sorrowing immoderately for his absence and he expressly warns them to evidence their love to him by their obedience to his commands; IF YE LOVE ME... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ comforteth his disciples here, with. promise of the mission of the Holy Spirit, to supply the want of his bodily presence. Where observe, 1. The procurer of this blessing, and that is Christ, by his prevailing prayer, and powerful intercession; I WILL PRAY: it runs in the future tense; and s... [ Continue Reading ]
Here observe, 1. The condition which the disciples were in upon the account of Christ's removal from them, and that was sad and comfortless: fatherless or orphans, as the word signifies. Learn hence, That Christ's departure, or the loss of his gracious presence, is very sad and comfortless to. piou... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our Saviour foretells his approaching death, that within. little time the men of the world should see him no more; for though he rose again, the world saw him no more after his death; for we read of no appearance of him after his resurrection to any, but to his disciples only. Indeed his resurr... [ Continue Reading ]
Our blessed Saviour in these words repeats what he had before enjoined at verse 15, namely, to evidence the sincerity of our love to him, by the universality of our obedience to his commands: HE THAT HATH MY COMMANDMENTS, AND KEEPETH THEM, HE IT IS THAT LOVETH ME. Where note, 1. The necessity of kn... [ Continue Reading ]
Some understand these words of. temporal manifestation, and thing that Judas the brother of James, who spake them, still expected that Christ should be. temporal prince, and have such. kingdom as should be conspicuous to all the world, and therefore puts the question. How he could possibly shew hims... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, How our Saviour still goes on to direct and encourage his disciples to evidence the sincerity of their love to his person, but the universality of their obedience to his commands; and tells them how great their advantage would be by so doing. For first, THE FATHER WOULD LOVE THEM; tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have. repeated promise of the mission of the Holy Ghost, called THE COMFORTER, and his special office declared; namely, to teach, and to bring to remembrance what Christ had taught; HE SHALL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS. As the Spirit of God is the great Comforter, so he is the Special Teacher, of h... [ Continue Reading ]
As if our Lord had said, "Whatever outward trouble the world gives you, be not afraid of it before it comes, nor troubled at it when it is come, for. will give you inward peace in the midst of all your outward troubles. NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH, GIVE. UNTO YOU." Where note, That Christ's peace is va... [ Continue Reading ]
That the disciples of Christ might neither be overset with fears, not overwhelmed with grief, he tells them that they ought to entertain the news of his departure rather with joy and exultation, than with sorrow and dejection: IF YE LOVED ME, YE WOULD REJOICE BECAUSE. GO TO THE FATHER. True love to... [ Continue Reading ]
The time of our Saviour's death now nearer and nearer approaching, he prepares the expectation of his disciples for it, because evils that surprize us suddenly, do sink our spirits sadly: whereas what we fear, for that we prepare. Accordingly our Lord arms his disciples against all disquietude, and... [ Continue Reading ]