John 9:35–38

In the last part of the Chapter, we have Christ comforting the man after his excommunication, by two grounds of comfort, the last whereof he maintains against the exceptions of some of the Pharisees. The first ground of comfort (in these verses) is, by leading him to knowledge of, and faith in himselfe the Sonne of God. Wherein is recorded. 1. That Christ hearing of his hard condition, doth finde him out, and propound an overture to encourage him against that sentence; which is, to beleeve, ver. 35. 2. The man professing a willingnesse to beleeve, but desiring to be informed, who was the Sonne of God, ver. 36. is resolved and cleared by Christ, verse 37. 3. The man being thus cleared, doth professe his embracing of him by faith, and in testimony thereof, doth worship him, ver. 38.

From verse 35. Learn, 1. Men by the persecution of enemies may be driven to their thrift, to need and get more proofes of Christ; for, had they let this man alone, possibly this great mercy might have worne out of his minde; but by their tossing and excommunicating of him, they put him to it, to need comfort, and so way is made for his receiving of it. 2. There are none of these who are dear to Christ, and have tasted of his mercy, but he hath an eye upon them, and doth know and take notice what lots they meet with in the world; for, this is not hid from him, Jesus heard that they had cast him out. 3. When Christs people are crushed with troubles and ill usage, then it is his fit time to fall in and give them a tender visit; when they are deserted by all, they are left on him; for, at this time he seeks and findes him. He takes advantage to do him good in this strait, as he had done formerly. 4. Christ will be at pains, to seek and finde his own in trouble, when they little know where to finde him; for, whereas the man knew him not, nor where to finde him, yet he found him. 5. Christ will draw near to them who are rejected of the world for his names sake; and such as are unjustly excommunicate, will be brought the nearer to Christ; for, he found him whom they had cast out. 6. Men may be put to tryal with a lesser measure of knowledge, and a further measure be reserved for their encouragement when they are under it; for, he had endured a sharp trial in Christs defence, before he knew him well, and now he is led up to know him to be the Sonne of God, for his encouragement. 7. The main matter where upon Christ trieth his own, and their great encouragement against suffering, is, faith in Christ, whereby communion with him is entertained; for, he propounds this as his only cordial, and the mean to reap benefit by him, and tries him about it, dost thou beleeve? 8. Albeit faith must take up Christ, in both his natures, and all his offices; Yet it never findes sure footing, till it go through the vaile of his humanity, and finde him to be true God, and rest on him as such; Therefore saith he, doest thou beleeve on the Sonne of God?

From verse 36. Learn, 1. Christ may be present with his own, and speaking to them, and yet they not know him, till he reveal himselfe; for, saith he, when the Sonne of God is speaking to him; Who is he, Lord? 2. Weak and ignorant professours may yet have somewhat to witnesse their honesty; And namely, their sense and acknowledgement of their ignorance; Some sparks of love to Christ, though they know him not well, and a strong desire to beleeve, and a desire after the knowledge of Christ that they may beleeve; which, in effect, is an evidence of begun faith desiring growth. All these appear in this question, proving the mans honesty, Who is he, Lord, that I might beleeve on him? 3. Whatever good desires there may be in the heart of one who is very ignorant; Yet true faith is not content to go on implicit grounds; but seeks for clear knowledge of the ground it goeth upon; nor can there be solide faith without sound knowledge of that which we beleeve: Therefore he doth not please himselfe with these beginnings, but desires to have his doubts cleared, that he may beleeve indeed; Who is he, Lord, that I might beleeve on him? 4. The right end at which we should aime, in our desires after the knowledge of Christ and heavenly things, is, not barely to know and contemplate them, but that we may close with, and embrace them by faith, for, this man desires knowledge for that end, who is he, that I might beleeve on him?

From verse 37. Learn, 1. Unto such as really misse Christ, and desire after him, he is not so far off as they may conceive, but really present; for, when he propounded the question, little thinking where he might be, he gets a speedy account, that he whom he desires to know, is present with him. 2. When Christ hath manifested himselfe to any of his people, it is his new gift to make them discerne it; for, saith he, thou hast seen him, to wit, now with bodily eyes, and before this thou hast seen his glory in the miracle, and yet he must be helped to discerne this. See 1 Cor. 2.12. 3. As Christ doth insinuate himselfe into the hearts and mindes of his people, by singular benefits which he conferreth on them; (as here he makes himselfe known to this man, by his admitting him to see and hear him:) so it is his will, that they carefully remember the favours he hath conferred on them; Therefore doth he say, Thou hast seen him, or, art seeing him, that he may keep him mindefull of the mercy he had received, in recovering his sight. 4. As it is of Christs great condescendence, that he stoops to speak to vile sinners; So the sure way of taking him up, even albeit he were bodily present, is by his Word; Therefore, saith he, thou hast seen him, and not only so, but it is he that talketh with thee; whereby he not only commends his own love that did speak to him, but leads him not to look to his person only, but especially to his speech and doctrine. 5. The longer Christ keeps intercourse with a sinner, his manifestations of himselfe will be still the clearer and sweeter; for, after he had made himselfe so known to this man, as he knew him to be a good man and a Prophet, now he reveals himselfe to be the Sonne of God, for his further comfort.

From verse 38. Learn, 1. Whatever may be the power of unbeliefe, when yet men have much notional knowledge of Christ; Yet when Christ reveals himselfe to soules, it is accompanyed with such power and life, that they are drawn to beleeve, and to confesse him, as they have a calling; Therefore, upon this short information from Christ, he said, Lord, I believe. 2. When one closeth with Christ by faith, it may and will put an end to all his perplexities and fears; for, this cures him of all his distempers in his trials, Lord, I beleeve. 3. True knowledge of the Sonne of God, and true faith in him, will beget much subjection, adoration, and reverence, and will draw the heart to do homage to Christ; Therefore is it subjoyned, and he worshipped him, to wit, as God manifested in the flesh.