John 17:13

The second argument, pressing the petition, is taken from Christs end in putting up the petition in the disciples audience, and the event that should follow upon the Fathers granting the same; Namely, the fulfilling and compleating of their joy, who were much discouraged with the removal of his bodily presence. The summe of the argument is, That he being to remove and take away his bodily presence, which had been so comfortable to his disciples; albeit his intercession in heaven might have sufficed for obtaining what they needed; Yet he would recommend them to the Father, and pray for preservation to them, in their own audience, that so they might be encouraged, seeing his care of them, and having hope of audience to such a sute put up by such a petitioner. And therefore he would inferre that the Father will not disappoint their hope, but fulfil their joy by granting the request. Whence learn, 1. Christs removal out of the world looked very sweet upon him, as being a coming to his Father with whom he is so familiar; And in him death is sanctified and sweetned to all his followers, as being a departing to him, that they may be with him for ever, Phil. 1.23. 1 Thes. 4.17. So doth he describe his removal, Now I come to thee. 2. Christ is very condescending in his dealing with and for his people, and doth not only what is simply needful, but what in reason may abundantly satisfie them, notwithstanding their tentations and infirmities, for, albeit his intercession being exalted at the right hand of the Father was sufficient to bring about needful benefits; yet for their satisfaction, he will even pray in their audience, These things I speak in the world. And this should gain our consent to say, he doth all things well, and by what we see of his condesendence in any particular, to trust him in others more dark. 3. Joy is allowed by Christ upon all his followers: It is his scope in his dealing toward them, and he hath done and daily doth what may breed them joy; for, this is his scope here, that they may have joy. See Phil. 4.4. 1 Thes. 5.16. 4. The faith and knowledge of Christs intercession for his people, that they may be preserved and made to persevere, is such a pledge of their sure estate and of his good-will toward them, as may afford abundant matter of joy in their saddest case; for, These things I speak in the world, that they may have joy. 5. The joy of beleevers is of Christs allowing, is his work in them, and a joy in him over all that they finde in themselves; Therefore doth he call it my joy. 6. Christs joy, allowed on his people, is a compleat joy, far beyond the empty joy of the world, in midst whereof the heart is sorrowful; And albeit the full degrees of their joy will meet them in heaven, yet their joy here is full in parts, as satisfying the minde, calming their stormes, and staying their foot against all essayes, if they emprove it right. Therefore is this joy in that he prayes for them, and their joy in obtaining their answer, called a fulfilled joy. 7. Christ doth not only take care to give his people cause of joy, but to make them rejoyce in it also, and that with an inexpressible joy, whereof others are ignorant; Therefore will he have it fulfilled in themselves, that is, their hearts filled with it, and feeding on that hid Manna, whereof strangers are not pertakers, as Prov. 14.10. 8. The Father doth allow that which Christ doth for the encouragement of his people, and will not let it be ineffectual: For this is Christs argument for obtaining his sure, which certainly hath weight with the Father, These things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.