John 12:28

In this verse is recorded Christs outgate and consolation; it begins at submission in his prayer, that God would so dispose of him, as might glorifie his own Name, without respect to his ease or inclination. And as this evidenceth the calme temper of his minde so his consolation is perfected by a voice from heaven, testifying that as the Father had glorified his Name already in Christs life, so he would glorifie it yet more in his death.

From Christs submission, Learn. 1. It is the duty of Gods children, not to expect always, or, at the first, an outgate by a change of Gods dispensations toward them, but rather to seek it by a change of their own disposition within them, making them fit to undergo such dispensations; for, herein Christ hath cast us a copy, in laying aside the inclination of his nature to be rid of trouble, and submitting to it. 2. It is the duty of Saints under trouble, to prefer the honour of God, and to seek how it may be advanced, before their own ease; for, Christ ends all his debates with this, Father glorifie thy Name, though by my trouble and suffering. 3. Submission unto the Will of God is a real outgate from trouble, and a special victory over it; for, hereby Christ gets an issue of his agony and perplexities, Father glorifie thy Name. See Mat. 26.39 Acts 21.14. 4. The way to attaine submission, is, to be tender of Gods glory, and to account that dearer unto us then any thing else; for, this leads Christ to submit unto this bitter cup, that hereby the Father glorifieth his Name. Whereas on the contrary, mens selfishnesse and want of zeal is a great enemy to their submission.

From the Lords comfortable answer, Learn. 1. Sorest exercises are not sent on Gods children to destroy them, but when in their perplexities, they seek to God and submit to him, there will be a comfortable issue; for, immediately there came a voice from heaven, &c. and so not only is he delivered, but the sorer his exercise had been, it is the shorter. 2. There is no true comfort against soul-trouble, but what comes from God, and is spoken by him from heaven; for, this comforts Christ, There came a voice from heaven. And albeit we are not to expect such extraordinary manifestations, (nor did Christ simply need them in such a way, v. 30.) yet it must be spoken from the Word by God to the heart, before we get ease. 3. Such as are truly exercised in conscience, will finde ease in comfortable promises, clearing their condition from the Word, albeit the trouble lie on; for, thus Christ is comforted by a voice from heaven, clearing his case. 4. Christ is a supplicant whose voice is acknowledged by the Father, as the voice of his Son, in that for which he seeks to him; for, here his supplication is answered by a voice from heaven. 5. The Father is glorified in the life and sufferings of Christ, and not only doth the Sonne glorifie him herein, but he undertakes to glorifie himself: As here his answer doth shew, I have both glorified it, and I will glorifie it againe. 6. The Lords answers to troubled souls are very full, clearing all they do or can propound, and all they feele, or is lying upon them; for he not only undertakes to glorifie his Name in that wherewith Christ is now troubled, but cleares further what he had done. 7. Gods speaking to a troubled soul, brings not only comfort under their present pressures; but is a Pisgah from whence they may take a comfortable view of their by-past lots, and may see faire ground of hope for time to come; for, in this comfort, God cleares both by-gones and the time to come, I have both glorified it, and will glorifie it again.