John 12:37–38

Followeth the fourth and last part of the Chapter, wherein John, being about to close the Narration of Christs doctrine and miracles among the Jewes, doth give an account of his successe among the most part of them, (secluding the small number who beleeved in him.) Who were either wicked misbeleevers, and were nothing moved with his doctrine and miracles, but rather hardned, as had been foreprophesied, to ver. 42. or hidden and timorous friends, who for carnal respects durst not avow or confesse him, ver. 42, 43. And unto this he subjoins Christs farewell-Sermon to them, ver. 44, &c.

In these verses is recorded. 1. The open incredulity of the most part of his hearers. 2. An aggravation of this fault, from the great diligence used to draw them to him, not only by doctrine, but by miracles, which they so much sought after. 3. This is illustrate by comparing this event with a foregoing prophecy, Isa. 53.1. For clearing whereof, and the citation of it in this place, Consider. 1. This prophecy is applied to Christs Ministry, not as if it had no accomplishment in others: for Isaiah makes mention of our report; which includes both himself and his fellow Prophets, who did publish and fore-prophesie of the Gospel; and Christs Apostles and Ministers also, Rom 10 15.16. But the meaning is; That as Isaiah in his time, preaching of Christ, had cause to complain of bad successe, so his complaint is also a prediction of the like successe of Christ, his Apostles and Ministers; in the dayes of the Gospel. Consider. 2. This their carriage is compared with the prediction, and they are said not to beleeve, that the saying of Esaias might be fulfilled, not to free them from the sin and guilt of their unbelief, nor doth it hold out that this prediction was a cause thereof, or that God by foretelling thereof, had any sinful influence in producing their unbelief. But it tends to shew that the event came to passe according to the prediction: and by comparing the prediction with the event, he would, partly, point out the absolute and holy providence of God, without which nothing comes to passe, either acting or permitting it, and therefore he can foretel it so long before hand: And partly, he would prevent the stumbling of others at Christ and the Gospel, by occasion of the Jewes rejecting of him; Seeing this was rather a proofe, that he was the Messiah, of whom it was foreprophesied that he should be rejected by them. Consider. 3. As for the citation it self, it contains a proposition of their fault, in a sad complaint, that few or none gave credite to the report of the Gospel; And an explication and amplification hereof; wherein. 1. This report is called the arme of the Lord, because of its power and efficacy unto salvation, and chiefly because of Christ in it, of whom Isaiah speaks in the rest of that Chapter, and who is the power of God, 1 Cor. 1.24. 2. Their unbelief is illustrate from a negative cause thereof, to wit, that this arme of the Lord is not revealed to them, Namely, inwardly and effectually, for otherwise they did hear it. And this is spoken without all imputation unto God, who is not a debtor unto any, to reveal Christ and his Gospel to them, but may justly leave them in their natural estate.

From verse 37. Learn, 1. Where Christ doth sow and take pains among a people, he will also reap and take notice what fruits they produce; as here, he records by his penman the fruits of his ministry and pains. 2. The fruit of the Gospel which Christ requires, is, that men take him up, who is offered there, what he is, and by faith close with him and make use of him accordingly; for, this is the fruit he misseth they beleeved not on him. 3. It is the judgment of the Lord upon the world, that the offer of Christ in his Gospel doth not work upon the most part of hearers, and most faithful labourers do misse the fruits of their labours among them; for, notwithstanding Christs pains, yet they (generally) beleeved not on him. See Matth. 11.16, 17. Isa. 49.4, 5. 4 The great pains taken upon men contributes to aggravate the sinne of their obstinate infidelity; for, so is their sin agreaged here, Though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they beleeved not. These miracles were many in number, great in their nature, (as the Word will also bear) and clear, as being done before them, to their conviction, and yet they prevailed not. 5. Such as are not bettered by the Word, nor will beleeve it for it selfe, no other help they can crave, will work upon them, nor cause them beleeve it; Therefore doth he aggravate their fault from the many miracles had been done, not to seclude the clear light of his doctrine from being an aggravation, but to shew that these despisers of the Word were nothing the better for all the signes and miracles they so much sought after.

From ver. 38. Learn, 1. The meane whereby sinners are brought to faith in Christ, is, their receiving and closing with the report of the Word concerning themselves and him, in the mouth of sent messengers; for, herein consisted their not beleeving on him, that they beleeved not our report. 2. What ever be unbeleevers carriage, yet it brings no discredite to the Gospel, but to themselves; for, In this complaint it gets still its honourable titles. 3. The Gospel is the power of God to salvation, and Christ offered in it, is the power of God to effectuate that for lost sinners, which their own weaknesse (Rom. 5.6.) or the law (Rom. 8.3.) could not bring to passe; for, this is the honourable title of Christ and the Gospel, the arme of the Lord. See Rom. 1.16. 4. The Gospel, and Christ offered in it, are only effectual in these, to whom the offer is inwardly revealed by God; for, they only beleeve our report, to whom the arme of the Lord hath been revealed? See Matth. 11.25. 5. The Gospel, in all ages, is met with unbelief in the most part of men, who are left to their own darkness and wickedness, to reject it; for, Isaias said this of old, as true in his own time, and in Christ and his Apostles dayes, who hath beleeved our report, and to whom hath the arme of the Lord been revealed? The question imports that few or none did it, or were partakers of this mercy. 6. The obstinacy of men against the Gospel, is matter of wonder, and of sad complaint to God, from his faithful servants; Therefore is it propounded so here, Lord, who hath beleeved our report? where John, following the Greek Interpreters, addes the word, Lord, which is not expressed in the Hebrew, though it be virtually included in this, that faithful Ministers know not where to pour out their complaints, but in their Masters bosome. 7. As even they who lived under Christs Ministry, did, for most part, profit as little as these whom his servants labour among; So he will joyne in this sad complaint with his faithful servants against such; for, he had cause to say, and did say with the rest, who hath beleeved our report? And this is very sad when the Saviour and Intercessour is put to complain of us. 8 In dark and misty cases it is useful to look to what the Scriptures say of them, that we may direct and compose our thoughts accordingly; Therefore are the foregoing Prophesies looked unto in this matter as a ground of many useful thoughts. 9. Whatever other duties be required of Ministers, who are sensible of the unfruitfulness of their Ministry; It is also required, that they comfort themselves in this, that the holy and soveraigne good pleasure of God is still accomplished by the Ministry of the Word; Therefore is this prediction pointed at, as a special mean to comfort Ministers, when they see that things are according as God foretold they should be. See Matth. 11.25, 26. Acts 13.48. Rom. 11.7. 10. However unbeleevers may think to affront Christ, by their rejecting of him; Yet he will be disappointed by none of them, and he will emprove their opposition to special advantages: Therefore also is this prophecy cited, to shew that he knew well enough what they would prove, even long before they were, and that their not beleeving in him was an evidence he was the true Messiah, as hath been cleared. 11. God hath an holy Providence, even about things that come to pass by contingent second causes, and depend upon mens free will; for, he can foretell them here before they come to pass. 12. Gods Providence is so infallible, that he will not be frustrate of his purposes; And an argument from the prediction of his Word concerning any thing, is sufficient to conclude that it will come to passe; for, here the event answereth exactly to the prediction. 13. Whatever be the providence of God about sinful men, and their miscarriages; Yet God and his providence are wholly free of blame (He being the soveraigne Lord, above the Laws given to his creatures, bound to none, and not concurrent in the wickedness of their actions) and the guilt is wholly the sinners, as being under the Law, and voluntarily choosing the wicked course which he followeth. Therefore, albeit it be declared here, that Gods providence had an hand in this business, yet both in the prediction it is propounded by way of complaint, and here, by way of chalenge against such sinners.