George Hutcheson
28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me ye would rejoyce, because I said, I go unto the Father: For my Father is greater then I.
From this to the end of the Chapter we have a conclusion of this part of the discourse, in prosecution of that exhortation, ver. 27. which may be reduced to two heads. 1. A reproofe that they entertained not his doctrine, and particularly, the news of his departure, with joy, for which he giveth two reasons, ver. 28, 29. 2. A declaration that this was his farewell-Sermon, and therefore to be better hearkened unto, ver; 30, 31.
In this verse is contained. 1. The summe of what he is now teaching them, to wit, concerning his departure and return again to them. 2. The use they should have made, even of the saddest part of this doctrine, concerning his departure; Namely, not to be grieved and troubled, as they were, but rather to rejoyce. 3. What the want of this evidenced in them, even the want of such love to him as became them, which would have made them rejoyce. 3. The first reason why they would rejoyce if they had loved him; Namely, because he went to the Father who is greater then he, (not as God, but as man and Mediatour, and in his present state of humiliation) and therefore his exaltation out of his estate of humiliation, into glory with the Father, should have made them rejoyce, especially considering that this his exaltation tended to their advantage. Doctrine 1. It is needful that disciples consider seriously what they hear, and that for this end, needful doctrines be frequently repeated and inculcate upon them; Therefore doth Christ put them in minde what they had heard; ye have heard how I said unto you, &c. 2. Saints are not to pore only on what is sad in Christs doctrine or dealing, but to study also what lenitives he allowes, to sweeten the other; Therefore, with his going, which is bitter, he mentions his return, which is as sweet, ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again to you. 3. Albeit there were no other encouragement by the way, during Christs absence; Yet the hope of his coming again might allay the grief of his departure; Therefore, it is subjoyned, as a sufficient lenitive, I go away, and come again unto you. 4. Not only Christs sweet dispensations, but even the hardest trials of Saints, and his most sharp dispensations to them, afford matter of joy, if rightly studyed; Therefore doth he pitch upon the saddest of it, and urge it as matter of joy, ye would rejoyce because I said, I go unto the Father. See Jam. 1.2. 5. Christ by departing out of the world, is exalted unto a more glorious estate then that in which he was during his abode on earth; for, so is imported in that he goeth unto the Father, who is greater then he; Whereby, as man and Mediatour, he is advanced to be next in glory to the Father, and as God, he layeth aside that vail under which he appeared in his state of humiliation, and lets out that glory which he had with the Father before the world was, Joh. 17.5. 6. The exaltation of Christ is a ground of much joy to beleevers, as being not only his advancement, but an evidence that he hath accomplished all things for which he came into the world, and a pledge that he will execute his offices in a more glorious way, for their good; for, this is matter of joy, I go unto the Father, for the Father is greater then I. 7. It is the great fault of beleevers, that they choose rather to carp at Christs dealing, then to study matter of encouragement in it; and that their selfe-love, (desiring to be much humoured and pleased) doth marre all right use of his dispensations: Therefore doth he give them a milde challenge, that their desire to enjoy his bodily presence, had marred the joy they might have gathered at his departure. 8. Saints may seem to have much fond love to Christ, and their love to make a great stir, when yet it is not love to him, but self-love, that aileth them; Therefore, albeit they thought it was love to him that so disquieted them, yet saith he, If ye loved me, ye would rejoyce, &c. 9. True love to Christ will make a man submit to what honours him, how much soever it crosse them; for, albeit this separation might be very sad to them, yet, If ye loved me, ye would rejoyce because I said, I go unto my Father, to be exalted. 10. Albeit self-love make Saints think they are upon the only way of their own good; Yet, upon serious search it will be found that in opposing Christs will, they oppose their own real good also; for, his exaltation being for their advantage, they who rejoyced not at it, did forsake their own mercy.
