John 12:44

Followeth Christs farewell-Sermon to the Jewes, concerning his person, office, and doctrine, pointing out the advantages that men reap by beleeving in him, and the danger of rejecting him and his doctrine. And albeit the Greek particles which answer each to other, ver. 42, 44. do import that this doctrine had a special relation to the faintheartedness of these beleevers formerly spoken of; Yet the subject matter extend, both to the open unbeleevers, and them. And the whole purpose may be taken up in several arguments, pleading against the unbelief of many, and the faintheartedness of beleevers, who did not confess him. The first argument is insinuate in Christs practice, of crying, whereby he insinuates the importance of this subject, that they should beleeve in him, however they sleighted it, and avows his zeal in this matter, when others hid themselves. The second argument (in this verse also) points out the advantage of faith from the object thereof, who is God. They who beleeve on him, beleeve not on him, but on him who sent him: which is not to be understood simply, that Christ is not the object of faith, but with relation to their conceptions of Christ, as a meer man, and opposite to God: and so the meaning is; That which he calls them unto, is not a faith in him as man, but a faith in God, and not a faith in him only, but a faith in the Father also, who is in Christ, and one and the same God with him, as the following verse cleareth. And so the encouragement is, That be being true God, equal and one in essence with the Father, their faith in beleeving on him, should be in God, and they should finde the Father in him, which might both stir up the unbeliever to beleeve, and the fainthearted beleever, to avow him. Whence learn, 1. Whatever be mens thoughts, concerning Christ, and faith in him, for attaining salvation; yet it is in it selfe a matter of greatest consequence and importance; Therefore, Jesus cryed, and said, when he spake of it, as being necessary to be inculcate. 2. Whatever be mens carriage, in maliciously rejecting or not avowing of Christ: Yet true zeal in others ought not to be blunted, but rather set on edge thereby; for, herein Christ is a pattern, who cryed, in commending his person and doctrine in the midst of that corrupt and fainthearted generation. 3. Christs diligence and earnestness, in perswading sinners to come to him, is such, as will leave all despisers inexcusable; for, not only doth he come again in publike, after he had lately departed from them, but when he comes, he zealously and affectionally cried, to perswade them. 4. The reason why faith in Christ is so little endeavoured after by men, and way beleevers are so little bold in avowing of it, is, because the worth and consequence thereof is so little seen; Therefore Christ points out the excellency thereof, as a special mean to convince and perswade them. 5. The worth of faith is then taken up, when men study the object thereof well, and that they are not called to make flesh their arme, or to trust in dumb idols, but in the living and true God: Therefore doth he commend saith here, that by beleeving on him, they beleeve also on him that sent him, and consequently, on him as true God one with the Father. See Joh. 14.1. 2 Tim. 1.12. 6. It may encourage also to saith, that beleevers do not only fasten upon an infinite deity, but do ascend up to God through Christ the Mediatour, and tryst with the Father in him, who is true God one in essence with him; for, this is the order here, by beleeving on me they believe on him that sent me, saith he. See 2 Cor. 5.19. and 3.4. 1 Pet. 1.21. 7. For taking up the right meaning of Scripture, men must not alwayes look to what the outward sound of words at first view would seem to say; but all circumstances, and the speakers scope, must be seriously pondered; for, unlesse we take these words as spoken with an eye to the Jewes apprehensions of Christ, we shall fall in a foul errour, that beleevers do not beleeve on Christ, which is contrary to the very scope of the place, and to other Scriptures, Joh 14.1. 8. Albeit it pleased the Father to send Christ as his Ambassadour into the world, and he came in obedience to that call; Yet this diminisheth not the glory of the sender, nor of the person sent: for, both Christ, and he that sent him, is true God, the object of saving saith.