John 13:33

The second point propounded here to his disciples, is, a sweet and warme way of intimating his departure, unto them; Wherein, letting out his affection in a warme title and compellation, he intimates that he was shortly to depart from them, in respect of his bodily presence; and that (as he had said unto the Jewes, Chap. 7.34. and 8.21.) though they should seek him, yet they were not able to come whether he went, and was. Whereby we are to understand, partly, that while they entertained any carnal conceits of the Messiah, as the Jewes did, they should not finde satisfaction in them, nor should they (as they were wont when they missed him) be able to follow him, and enjoy his bodily presence. And so when they sought him at the grave, they could not finde him. But chiefly, we are to understand, that as the unbeleeving Jewes were secluded from coming to him in heaven, so was their coming to him there, delayed, and a thing above their power, till he should come and fetch them. And particularly, their following him to heaven, through the valley of suffering, was delayed for a time, to as many of them as were to be called thereunto, as is cleared, ver. 36. Whence learn, 1. Albeit Christs presence be the sweet cordial of his followers; Yet he seeth it meet, for wise ends, and for their exercise, to withdraw it from them sometimes; As here he did from his disciples. 2. Christ, having fulfilled his Ministry on earth, did withdraw in respect of his bodily presence, not only from his foes, but even from his followers; for, even to the disciples it is now, a little while I am with you. 3. It is Christs kindnesse to his followers, that he advertiseth them of what is to come upon them, that so they may be armed against it, and prepared for it; as here he beforehand intimateth his removal to his disciples. 4. It is our duty to consider for how small a moment we may have the occasion and opportunitie of mercies, that we may be very busie, and emprove it well; for, therefore doth he advertise his disciples, a little while I am with you, that they might not trifle away that moment of time wherein he was so busie with them in the following Chapters. 5. When Christ doth any thing that his followers think hard to digest, they are bound to beleeve that he doth it not for want of care and respect, but in the abundance of his love to them; And that they have so much more roome in his heart, that his dealing is sad; and that he leaveth his heart with them, when otherwise he withdraweth; Therefore doth he sweeten this sad intimation with a sweet title, not so usual before, little children 6. A sweet word, importing Christs love, is sufficient to bear up Saints under saddest dispensations; for, this is a sufficient cordial here, to make up his removal, that he calls them little children. 7. Such as do not undervalue the sweet consolations of Christs Word, and his speaking to them, will finde him speak more sweetly in trouble then ever before; Therefore doth he reserve such a title for such a time. 8. Whatever be Christs dealing, in removing and withdrawing from his followers; Yet he still retains the relation of a Father to them, and will have such a care of them as Parents have of their young and tender children, who cannot care for themselves, and who use to be most dandled and tenderly dealt with; for, so much doth this compellation, not only of children, but little children, import. 9. It is not inconsistent with Christs love to his own, that he deal and speak as sharply against their corruptions, as against the corruptions of the wicked; for, in so far as the disciples were carnal, he saith unto them, as he said unto the Jewes, as hath been explained. 10. Christ, by removing his bodily presence, hath cut off all grounds of hope of any carnal way of intercourse or communion with him, and laid on a necessity of studying a spiritual way of coming to him, on all these who would enjoy him; for, so much also doth this intimation, common to them with the Jewes, import. 11. The wicked and the godly, even in their best frame, may be under the same outward dispensation, but in as far different a way as is betwixt their states and conditions; for, even in respect of their coming to him in heaven, he saith, As I said unto the Jewes, &c. so now I say unto you, but in a far different sense; for, To the one, he intimates his departure in judgement, by way of rejection of them; To the other, it is full of mercy, and accompanied with sweet affection; To the one, coming to him is absolutely denied, To the other, only delayed; To the one is intimate, that, as they cannot, so they shall not come where he is; To the other, it only intimates what they cannot do of themselves, but doth not seclude what he can do or will do for them. 12. Whatever men esteem of an enjoyed Christ, yet when he is gone, he will be missed by his own; for, when he is gone, ye shall seek me, saith he. 13. Christs withdrawings tend to kindle desires after him, and to be at him, in the hearts of his own, together with earnest pursuing after him; for, so much also is imported in this, ye shall seek me. 14. Christ, by removing his bodily presence from earth, hath taught his disciples, to spend their lives in a sober desire, and hastening to be with him in heaven; for, when he is gone, ye shall seek me to come whether I go, saith he. 15. Saints must not expect alwayes to get satisfaction, at first, in their most honest desires and endeavours, but to be excused with further desiring and seeking: And particularly, they must not expect to get up to rest with Christ in heaven, till first they have wrastled a while, and served their generation: for, in this respect, though they seek him, yet whither I go, ye cannot come. 16. Christs own by all their endeavours are not able to get up to him in heaven, unless he come and fetch them: for, in this respect also it holds true, ye cannot come, to wit, not only presently, but of your selves, even no more then the Jewes can do.