John 19:35–37

In these verses, we have Johns part in this businesse, who, 1. Bears witnesse of the certainty of his death, and of the truth of these proceedings confirming the same, for confirmation of the faith of others, v. 35. 2. He clears these proceedings of the Souldiers, by comparing the same with Scripture, shewing how they were accomplished thereby. And particularly, that their not breaking his bones, was an accomplishment of the truth of that type of the passeover, Exod. 12.46. Num. 9.12. and that the promise made to all the godly, Psal. 34.20. was eminently accomplished in him. And that their piercing of his side was agreeable to that prediction, Zecb. 12.10. wherein it is foretold that the Messiah was to be pierced, which is all that John points at here; though there it be further intimate, that they (or, the Jewes, of whom the Prophet is speaking) pierced him, their malice and cruelty being the chief wheel that moved in this matter, and set Pilate, and the souldiers on work; and therefore the Jewes are said to crucifie him by the Souldiers hands, as Act. 2.36 There is also further intimate in that prediction, a promise of the conversion of these who thus pierced him, the full accomplishment whereof is yet to come; and this imports further, that he was not only pierced by their cruel persecuting of him, but by and for their sinnes also, as hath been cleared in its proper place.

From v. 35. Learn, 1. John is so careful to adde his testimony concerning these things, and particularly his death; Not only to stop the mouths of cavillers, who might be ready to alledge that he was taken away before he was dead: But further, yet again to teach us, that it is a point about which faith ought to be much employed, that Christ truely died for our sins, 1 Cor. 15.3. that so we may see that divine justice is truely satisfied for sin, and may employ faith to get sin truely slain and subdued, by the vertue of his death. 2. It is also firmly to be beleeved, that Christ and his followers are not in the hands of enemies, to be disposed of as they please, but that God over-ruleth all of them, to bring about his purposes by them; for, this also was a part of Johns remark and testimony, not only that Christ died, but that the Souldiers did omit or exercise cruelty toward him (in not breaking his legs, and yet piercing his side) according as had been purposed by God, and foretold in Scripture; as is after cleared. 3. The doctrine of the Gospel, concerning Christ, is a doctrine of faith; And it is to be assented to by faith, whoever there be to say to the contrary; for, his scope in publishing of this, as of other Gospel truths, is, that ye might beleeve. 4. As faith loveth not to walk on slippery and unsure grounds; So, the Word affordeth sufficient ground of certainty for faith to fasten upon; for, John here declareth the certainty of this truth, that ye might beleeve. 5. It is a great confirmation of the certainty of the doctrine of the Gospel, that the Penmen thereof were eye and ear witnesses of what they publish; for, he that saw, bare record, &c. See 1 Joh. 1.1, 2, 3, 4. 6. Such as are made witnesses of any thing concerning Christ, it is their duty, and will be their care (if they be affected therewith) to publish the same in their stations, to the edification of others; for, so did John in his station, And he that saw it, bare record, that ye might beleeve. 7. Whatever exceptions unbeleevers have against the doctrine of the Gospel; Yet is sufficient to condemne them, and to encourage beleevers, That the doctrine is true in it selfe, That the publishers were assured of the truth thereof, both by sight and by faith; and, That they were so guided by God, as they would have been loath to publish any thing for a ground of faith, which was not a truth: All these are imported here, His record is true, in it selfe, and he knoweth that he saith true, not only in respect of his seeing what he saith, but by the Spirit of faith comparing what he saw, with the Scriptures, (as after followeth) and he knoweth that he saith true, and publisheth only such things as he is so perswaded of, that ye might beleeve.

From v. 36. Learn, 1. The only best way of reading and being edified by the passages of providences about Christ and his followers, is, to compare the same with Scripture; for, so doth John clear these passages, for these things were done, that the Scripture should be fulfilled. 2. Such is our weaknesse and inadvertency, that we need help to take up these Scriptures, which point out Christ in the Old Testament, and which serve to expound the lots he met with, and to confirme our faith concerning him and his sufferings; Therefore doth John help the Church in all ages, by pointing at the Scripture, which should be fulfilled. 3. Christ is the truth and substance of that type of the Paschal Lamb, and the true passeover sacrificed for us, 1 Cor. 5.7. in whom, and in his sufferings, all that is really to be found which is pointed out and typified by that shadow; Therefore, what was ordained concerning the Paschal lamb, is applyed here to him, as the substance of that type, A bone of him shall not be broken. 4. Christ was not crushed by or under his sufferings, but did subsist under all of it, till he triumphed over it; for, whatever was the reason of not breaking the bones of the lamb, (as, their great hast in going out of Egypt, that they might not stay to break the bones and eat the marrow) yet in the substance it pointed at this, that he was not broken under his suffering, but his bones were keeped whole, as being shortly to rise again and triumph over it. And to this also may that passage, Psal. 34.20. be applied, which proveth true of beleevers under their trials, that they are not quite crushed by them, because it was true of him first. 5. Christ and his followers are in the hand of God in their sufferings, who carveth out the measure, weight, and every circumstance of their trouble, and leaveth it not to the will of adversaries; for, so much also doth that passage, Psal. 34. hold out, that God so keeps them as not so much as a bone is broken when he will have it otherwise; And this is true of Christ first, and of others through him. 6. Albeit Christ endured so much from men, as might put him to death; Yet he would have it seen that he died voluntarily, and that he was not violently compelled to die; for, so much further doth the truth and substance of that type point out, A bone of him shall not be broken, He voluntarily prevented their cruelty, by yielding up the Ghost, so that they needed not violent him, nor hasten his death, as they did with the rest.

From v. 37. Learn, 1. Christ is pointed out, not in one only, but in many of the writings of the Old Testament; And they need to study much in all the writings thereof, who would understand what is foretold of him, and compare the same with the accomplishment, for their own edification: Therefore doth John make use yet of more Scripture, to clear these proceedings, And againe another Scripture saith. 2. All the Scriptures are divine and of alike infallible verity, so that one of them will prove true and be accomplished, no lesse then another; for, in these proceedings, as one, so another Scripture is fulfilled and gets accomplishment. 3. God in his providence hath determined and appointed the least circumstance and manner of the sufferings of his people; for, so appears particularly in the sufferings of Christ, concerning whom it was foreprophesied that he should be pierced, as the Souldiers did. 4. The Scripture is the true and infallible determiner, who are most guilty of persecution in Gods account; And according to this Rule, it will be found, that malicious upstirrers unto cruelty, are more guilty then the ignorant executors thereof: Therefore doth the Scripture ascribe this act to the Jewes, they pierced him, by the hand of the Souldiers, as either giving a particular command for this deed, or being generally guilty of all that followed upon their malicious persecuting of him, and by their interposing with Pilate, v. 31. occasioning this cruelty. 5. The Lord may be so gracious to persecutors, as to give them a sight of their cruelty, in mercy, and a sight of mercy together with it; for, so is this prediction held out in a promise of their conversion, as is cleared on Zech. 12. They shall look on him whom they have pierced.