John 12:16

In this verse, John omitting what is recorded of the disciples part in this triumph by the other Evangelists, doth not only record their not understanding at present that which themselves or others were doing, till after the glorification of Christ, that the Spirit was poured out, and then it was brought to their remembrance that this had been fore-prophesied, and accordingly had been performed. Whence learn. 1. Men may be in the midst of great mercies and actings, and may not only be witnesses of the Lords working, and the works of others, but even actors themselves, in that which for the time they do little or nothing understand; for, These things understood not the disciples at the first. Men have much brutish ignorance fed with inadvertency and may be little expecting the things that God is doing in such a time or case, Gen. 16.13. and 28.16. and therefore do not discern them. 2. When the Lords people are ignorant and under a cloud, he useth not to take advantage of them, but can guide them as right as may be, so that a back-look thereunto, when they get light, will be sweet unto them; for in all this they act as rightly as if they had understood, and afterward they find that what was written of him they had done unto him. See Psal 73.21, 23, 24. 3. However the Lord for a time, suffer his people to lie under clouds, and ignorant of what he or they are doing, yet in due time he will clear them, in so far as is needful; for, afterward they remembred, &c. See John 13, 7. 4. The treasures of knowledge hid up in Christ, were not fully opened up, till Christ was glorified: for, when Jesus was glorified, then remembred they, &c. Hereby is kept a due proportion betwixt the head and his members, that he shall be first exalted, before they get their full allowance. And hereby, also, Christ being exalted, giveth evidence that he remembers his people. See, John 7.39. Acts 2.33. Eph. 4.8. 5. Confession of infirmity and ignorance is a sweet fruit of the Spirit poured out; And the more one have received, they will be the more sensible of, and ready to acknowledge their frailties; for John, the beloved disciple, being now enlightened, is most forward to record, that they understood not these things at the first. 6. When the Spirit of God is most amply poured out, he will still lead men to the Scriptures to discern of Christ, and compare their own actings by it; for, so was it in the disciples best dayes, they remembred that these things were written of him and that they had done these things to him. 7. It is an evidence of Christs being exalted at the right hand of the Father, for the good of his people, when he brings Scriptures to their minde, makes them clear to them, and cleares their practise there; for, when Jesus was glorified, this was a comfortable evidence of it, they remembred these things.