This chapter begins with. description of the famous pool of Bethesda; whose waters were medicinal, to cure the first come thereunto, whatsoever disease he had. Some think this was effected in. natural way, and that the intrails of the sacrificed beasts being washed in this pool, an healing virtue w... [ Continue Reading ]
It was very commendable that the rich men did not engross this pool, and the benefit of it, to themselves, but suffered poor people to come to it. In this college of cripples,. poor man, that had been lame thirty-eight years, was found, who wanted strength to help himself, wanting money to hire othe... [ Continue Reading ]
These words are our Saviour's seasonable advice and counsel to the poor impotent cripple, whom he had miraculously restored to health and soundness. Whence observe, 1. The person admonishing, Jesus; he that had been his physician before, is his monitor and teacher now: BEHOLD, THOU ART MADE WHOLE,... [ Continue Reading ]
After the man understood who his healer and benefactor was, he went and told the Jewish magistrates that it was Christ that had healed him. This he did, not with any evil design, no doubt, to inform against him, and stir up the Jews to persecute him; but desirous to publish what Christ had done, to... [ Continue Reading ]
From this verse to the end of the chapter, we have our Saviour's apology for his working the foregoing cure on the impotent man on the sabbath day. And the chief argument he insists upon, is drawn from his unity and eqaulity in nature and operation with his Father; AS THE FATHER WORKETH, says he, SO... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, The Jews instead of being satisfied, were the more enraged; not only because he had violated the sabbath (as they pretended) by healing the cripple on the sabbath-day, but because Christ had asserted that God was his Father in. peculiar manner, and made himself equal with God, our Savi... [ Continue Reading ]
The second argument which our Saviour produces to prove his unity in nature, and equality in operation with the Father, is drawn from that special love which the Father beareth to the Son: which inclines him to communicate all things to him by. divine and ineffable communication. Learn hence, 1. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
A third argument, proving Christ to be God, and equal with the Father, is here produced? namely, his raising of the dead; he is joined with the Father in that work, and equal with him: AS THE FATHER QUICKENETH WHOM HE PLEASETH, SO DOTH THE SON QUICKEN WHOM HE WILL; that is, not as the Father's instr... [ Continue Reading ]
A fourth instance of Christ's godhead, and proof of his equality with the Father, is, That it is his work to judge the world: THE FATHER, says Christ, JUDGES NO MAN: that is, no man without me, but all men by me, to this intent, THAT ALL MEN SHOULD HONOUR THE SON, EVEN AS THEY HONOUR THE FATHER: tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have fifth evidence of Christ's godhead, and equality with the Father: namely, that he is the author of spiritual and eternal life to all that believe on him. He that hath. fountain of life equal with the Father, and communicated to him from the Father, is God: But Christ hath this, ver.26.... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour, finding the Jews amazed and astonished at his declaring his sovereign and supreme authority and power to quicken and raise whom he pleased from the dead, doth in these verses assure them that there should be. general resurrection, and an universal day of judgment both of the righteous a... [ Continue Reading ]
Here Christ declares to the Jews, and in them all mankind, that they might assure themselves his judgment would be exactly righteous, because he had no private will or power of his own, contrary to, or different from, his Father. Learn hence, that the Lord Jesus Christ, being the same in essence an... [ Continue Reading ]
Our blessed Saviour having produced these five foregoing arguments, to prove his unity in essence, and his equality in power, with the Father, comes now at the end of the chapter, to produce several testimonies for the proof of it: and the first of them is, the testimony of God his Father: THERE IS... [ Continue Reading ]
The second testimony to prove Christ to be the Messias, was that of John the Baptist. We read, John 1:19 how the Jews were sent to enquire of him, whether he were the Christ, or not; and he denied it, and pointed at Jesus, saying, BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD; yet would not the Jews abide by this testimon... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, John's character, and the people's carriage. 1. John's character; he was. LIGHT,. BURNING AND. SHINING LIGHT: he had in him. light of knowledge, to enlighten, direct, and comfort others; and this his knowledge was accompanied with zeal: he was. BURNING light in his doctrine and. SHINI... [ Continue Reading ]
The third testimony produced by Christ, to evidence and prove himself to be the promised Messias, and Saviour of the world, tis that of his miracles; which, by an omnipotent power, as God, he was enabled to work. Christ's miracles were speaking testimonies of his unity with the Father, and of the di... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our blessed Saviour produces again the testimony of his Father, that he was the true and promised Messias: this was given him both at his baptism and his transfiguration: when God the Father owned Christ to be his Son, by an audible voice from heaven, saying, THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM. AM... [ Continue Reading ]
The next testimony which Christ appeals to, is the testimony of the scriptures; that is, the writings of Moses and the prophets, which Christ bids the Jews diligently search, and they shall find that they abundantly testified of him, and that all the prophecies and types were fulfilled in him. The w... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our Saviour upbraids the Jews for thier obstinate infidelity; that notwithstanding God the Father by. voice from heaven, and John the Baptist by his testimony on earth, notwithstanding all the miracles which they had seen wrought by Christ himself, and notwithstanding the scriptures, which they... [ Continue Reading ]
Here observe, 1. How little our Saviour sought the approbation and vain-glorious estimation of men, I RECEIVE NOT HONOUR FROM MEN. The same should all his disciples and followers do; rest satisfied in the secret testimony and silent applause of their own consciences, without pumping for popular appl... [ Continue Reading ]
Here Christ tells the Jews, that it is impossible they should believe aright in him, because they were so in love with the praise of men, that they would own him for the Messias, who could promsie them. temporal kingdom, and in the mean time reject himself, who came authorized with the testimony and... [ Continue Reading ]
THINK NOT THAT. WILL ACCUSE YOU; that is, that I ONLY will accuse you to THE FATHER; THERE IS ONE THAT ACCUSETH YOU, EVEN MOSES; that is, the writings of Moses, which you pretend to depend upon, and to trust to; FOR HAD YOU BELIEVED HIS WRITINGS, that is, the prophecies and types contained in his wr... [ Continue Reading ]