John 5:14–16

Here we have the Jews prosecuting of Christ, when it was made known he was the Authour of the miracle. The way of the revealing of it was, that Christ finding the man, doth give him wholesome directions how to make use of his deliverance, verse 14. and he doth thankfully publish Christ to be the Authour of his cure, ver. 15. upon which the Jews do persecute him, by traducing him as a prophaner of the Sabbath, and by plotting how to take away his life, ver. 16. from, ver. 14. learn. 1. It is a sweet fruit of trouble, when we study thankfulnesse to God for deliverance from it, by frequenting his house and publick worship, without neglect of private; for, therefore was he in the Temple, giving thanks to God, as acknowledging, that though he knew not who Christ was, yet he had been Gods instrument to him; yea, Christs own practice, in being there, is a pattern for our reverencing of ordinances. 2. It is not only our duty, but our great happinesse also, to be frequenting publick ordinances, as being the trysting place of Christs presence; for, here, Jesus found him in the Temple, which was a benefit he little expected. 3. Where Christ giveth outward favours and deliverances in special love, he will give also spiritual mercies and benefits with them; And such as are thankful for what they have received, Christ will come and give them more; for, this man with the cure, gets direction for his souls estate, and that in the Temple, where he came to blesse God. 4. Such as have gotten great mercy and deliverance from Christ, have need of direction how to guide it, that they do not miscarry under it; and even when they have some good beginnings, they need yet further upstirring; Therefore doth Christ, by his exhortation, prescribe a diet for this cured man; and albeit he was at paines to come to the Temple to offer thanks, yet Christ findes it needfull to give him this warning. 5. When men have gotten deliverance from outward trouble, they ought to take heed of resting on it, neglecting God, their duty, and souls good; So much doth this exhortation import, that being made whole, he should not think he had no more to do with God, nor needed any ‘other thing, but should minde his duty, otherwise God’ could reach him. 6. Bodily health, and the curing of infirmities which deprive us of it, is a mercy to be seriously considered, and which layeth on a special obligation to duty, especially if we have been long under the infirmity, if it hath been sad and heavy, and if our deliverance from it hath been remarkable: Therefore, doth Christ begin his direction with this; Behold, thou art made whole, that finding now by experience, the reality and benefit of his health, so miraculously wrought after his long and sad disease, he should be so affected with it, as to take with the following direction. 7, It is a special help for getting a right use of our condition, to see trouble and sicknesse flowing from sinne, as the sluce to let it in; to see that Christ knoweth men well enough, and what they are, though they take but little notice of him; and this is to be remembred, when the trouble procured by sinne, is over; for, while Christ directs him to sinne no more, it importeth, that sinne had drawn on his former sicknesse, that Christ would not have him forgetting this when the smart of the rod was gone, and that albeit he knew not Christ, yet Christ knew him, and what he had been. Whether this man had drawn on this sicknesse by some grosse provocation, I will not determine, but it is certaine, that sicknesse and trouble entred in by sinne, and that every one hath so much sinne, as to deserve sharpest plagues here, and hereafter. 8. It is not sufficient that men being delivered, do professe their thankfulnesse, or see their former guilt, unlesse the sense thereof, and of its bitter fruits, and of their deliverance restrain their after sinning, and stir them up to prevent it for the future, and so be reformed by Gods dealing; At least, (since they cannot be sinlesse) they would watch diligently over it, and not let it reigne in them; So much is imported in this direction, sinne no more. 9. Sinne is not easily avoided or shaken off, but when men have smarted for sinne, and have been graciously delivered, and tasted of Gods mercy, they may yet be tempted, and are ready to sinne yet more, and need caution to prevent it. So much also doth this direction and warning, given to the man, teach us, sinne no more. 10. The best preservative against affliction and trouble, is, not to run every course which flesh and blood may suggest for avoiding it, but to beware of sinne, which if it hold not off trouble, yet may assure us that God doth correct us in love, and not in anger; so much doth the reason of this direction, import, Sinne no more, least a worse thing come unto thee. 11. As all trouble is in it selfe an evil, what ever good God may bring out of it, and by it; So whatever any have lien under, God can easily send worse; for, while he threatens him with a worse thing, it imports that other trouble is evill, though not all in alike degree, and that God could send a worse condition then thirty eight years sicknesse. He can adde to outward trouble, Lev. 26.18, 21, 24, 28. and to spiritual plagues, Matth. 12.45. 2 Pet. 2.20. He can send them both together in their extremity, Lam. 2.22. and can send eternal punishments in stead of temporal. 12. Such as continue in a course of sinning, after they have been afflicted, and have been delivered, and tasted of Gods favour, to soul or body; do hereby take a way to kindle divine displeasures, and increase trouble; for, so much is held forth here, sinne no more least a worse thing come unto thee. Which calleth for much jealousie over what good things we seem to have under affliction, for much warinesse, that we rest not upon outward deliverance, and for much abiding in Christ, and keeping of grace in exercise.

From verse 15, 16. learn. 1. It is the duty, and commendable practice in those who have gotten experience of Christs power and pitie, to proclaime it, for setting forth of his glory, and invitation of others to come and partake; Therefore, the man departed, and told the Jews, that it was Jesus which had made him whole. And this he did out of gratitude toward Christ (whom he knew either from himselfe, or others about him) and to invite the Jewes to make use of Christ, if they had any such imployment for him. 2. Sound doctrine meets oft times with corrupt hearers, who are more enraged thereby; and honest minded men following their duty in singlenesse, may occasion persecution, and yet be blamelesse, as having done but their duty, and given no just occasion, and so are free of what followeth; for, upon this mans publishing Christ to be the Authour of his cure, the persecution ariseth, but without any fault in him. 3. The rising and spreading of Christs glory, is an eye sore to corrupt teachers and people, who are thereby discovered to be what indeed they are, and their seeming glory obscured; And persecution is the ordinary entertainment that Christ, manifesting his glory, may look for at the hands of such; for, therefore, upon the report, did the Jewes persecute Jesus, by their reproachful tongues, and devising how to take his life, either in a tumult, or judicially. 4. Such is the cruelty of persecutors, that, if they had their will, nothing but the death of those they oppose, would satisfie them: and such as are persecutors with the tongue, and spare not mens names, will also be ready to take their lives, if opportunity offer, and they can get a pretext for it; for, they sought to slay him, upon pretence of the law of Sabbath-breaking, Numb. 15.32, 33, &c. And this is marked as their disposition, who had spoken contemptibly of him, ver. 12. and continued to do so still, since they could go no further. 5. Great cruelty against Christ, may be masked with fairest pretexts, even of zeale for God and his commands; And sufferers are not to expect, but that they shall be loaden with calumnies under their sufferings; for, they sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. As persecutors will think shame to publish their malice and the causes of it: so this way of procedure, maketh persecution most sharp, Joh. 16.1, 2, 3. 6. What ever be the malice, desire, or endeavours of wicked men; yet the life of Christ and his followers is not in their hand; but the Lord may make their malice their own plagues, and preserve his people while he hath any service for them; for, though they sought to slay him, yet all their endeavours, at that time, tended only to their own trouble.