John 18

Thirdly, Christ as Judge will absolve them before men and angels. As Pilate said of Christ, I find no fault in this man (John 18:38), so will Christ say of the elect, I find no fault in them, I pronounce them righteous. Then follows, Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the ki…

Dives denied Lazarus a crumb of bread, and Dives was denied a drop of water. 3. If God be our Father let us submit patiently to his will; if he lay his strokes on us, they are the corrections of a Father, not the punishments of a judge: This made Christ so patient, shall not I d…

By speaking to the prejudice of another, and causing him to be put to death. Thus the Jews killed the Lord of Life, when they inveighed against him, and accused him falsely to Pilate (John 18:30). (4.) Murder is committed with the pen.

It was a painful, shameful, cursed death; he suffered the very pains of Hell equivalently, yet he willingly submitted (Isaiah 53:7). He opened not his mouth, he opened his sides when the blood ran out, but he opened not his mouth in repining, his will was resolved into the will…

Secondly, the answer which he makes is only concerning his doctrine: by which the ministers of God and all men else are taught, that being called before their enemies, to give reason of their doctrine: they are (as Saint Peter says) to be always ready to give an account of the h…

Never did men long so much for their wedding day, and for the day of their triumph, as our Lord Jesus did to get the Elect's debt paid and their discharge obtained and drawn out. 4. Consider his ease and willingness to be taken; he goes forth (John 18) to meet the band of soldie…

The glory of the Mediator shines manifestly and conspicuously in all these here. 1. The glory of His obedience, when He has it to say, as it is (John 18:9), "Of all that you have given me, I have lost none" — He gets so many souls committed to Him of the Father to redeem, and wh…

First, it supposes that he was indeed no transgressor, there was no guile found in his mouth, yet he had to stoop so low, as to be reckoned among, or numbered with transgressors; as the former expression holds out the painfulness of his death; so this holds out the ignominy of i…

(Revelation 14:18) The angel cried with a loud voice. To cry with a full and lifted up voice, or with a shout; so is the verb used (John 18:40), when men cry and cast away their clothes, and cast dust in the air. 3. His soul-trouble and death was satisfactory to divine justice,…

Error 2. We tacitly condemn the wisdom of God in our murmuring under the cross; cannot Christ lead his people to heaven a better way, than through the swords, spears and teeth of malignants, and must new armies of Irish murderers land on us again? These would be considered: 1. P…

And when Judas went out at Christ's own provoking of him — 'What you do, do quickly' (says he) — 'the Son of man goes as it was determined': he looked to his Father's purpose in it. When he went out to be taken, it is said, 'Jesus knowing all things that should befall him, went…

As willing to know the future state of his friend, so (Acts 8:14). Peter and John go to Samaria to confirm the disciples, see (John 18:15). And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple, and that other disciple was known to the High Priest, meaning himself, so that…

3. The event and issue of all, verse 8. 1. Their astonishment — they fell on their faces and were sore afraid; their falling on their faces was not out of worship, and reverence, but consternation, as those (John 18:6): as soon as he said to them I am he, they went backward and…

And this he shewed in two things. When he was to be attached he fledde not, but went to a garden in the mount, as his custome was, which was knowne to Iudas, Ioh. 18. 2. And in the very separation of bodie and soule, he cried with a loud and strong voice, which argued that he wa…

Hence we learn, that if a question arise of the doctrine which is delivered in the public ministry, then the hearers that are able to judge, must be witnesses, and the trial is to be made by them. Thus says Christ in the like case, "Why do you ask me? ask them that heard me" (Jo…

First, the exhortation and example of Christ, to be followers of him (1 Corinthians 11:1), who was lowly and meek (Matthew 11:29); for he was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before his shearer; so opened he not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7). When he was reviled,…

And this is the cause why Matthew attributes that to the sign, which agrees to the thing signified. In the second member the Prophet shows the greatness of this people's ingratitude and perversity, in that they did not see the cause why Christ was thus far humbled and afflicted,…

The Papists too presumptuously do overthrow and corrupt this place, when they wrest it to establish the tyranny of their Pope; to whom they give sovereign dominion over Kings and Princes. And herein they show themselves impudent liars (against the truth) in calling him Christ's…

For John plainly affirms that the day on which Christ was crucified was, among the Jews, the preparation, not of the Sabbath, but of the passover, (John 19:14;) and that they did not enter into the hall of judgment, lest they should be defiled, because next day they were to eat…

But a fearful and amazing stupidity must have seized his adversaries, who were not at all affected by having seen such a miracle. And yet there is the less reason to wonder that they did not see the power of Christ displayed in the person of another, when, after having themselve…

If God will take away my life, I am pleased, but I beg deliverance from the hand of Jezebel: He fled for his life for fear of Jezebel, but he called upon God to die. We may exemplify this in Christ (John 18:11): The cup which my Father has given me, says he, shall I not drink it…

The first example is in these words, Whosoeuer shall smi[]e you on the right cheeke, turne to him the other also: under which, are comprehended all iniuries done to mens bodies, not onely by blowes & words, but also in the contempt of their persons, signified by striking on the…

Secondly, we must alwaies be exercised in doing some good duty, either of our generall or particular calling, or in some commendable furtherance thereunto: for idlenesse is the deuills pillow, whereon men either plot and deuise some evil, or are lulled asleepe in securitie: but…

Christ were lowly and base, yet his doctrine in preaching was of that force in the minds of his hearers, for it did amase and astonish them. This caused the officers that were sent to take him to returne without him, alleadging the maiestie of his doctrine for the reason of thei…

2. Consider who brought her into these chambers; it is the King, even him she prayed to, to draw her, he has heard her: this King (as being the chief of all that ever bore that name) is called the King, by way of eminence; and so, (Psalm 45:1-2) and (Zechariah 4:9) he is not onl…

When Jesus heard these things, he marveled, and turned him about, and said to the people, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. But not to multiply more instances, that one place may seem fully convincing and satisfactory (John 18:36). When Christ was examined conc…

There had been often great kingdoms set up before, which were earthly kingdoms; as the Babylonish, Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman monarchies. But Christ came to set up the last kingdom, which is not an earthly kingdom, but an heavenly, and so is the kingdom of heaven: John…

There were no more temporal kings of Judah after that, neither had that people their governors from the midst of themselves after that, but were ruled by a Roman governor sent among them; and they ceased any more to have the power of life and death among themselves. Hence the Je…

As particularly, 1. He suffered great poverty, so that he had not "where to lay his head," Matthew 8:20, and commonly used to lodge abroad in the open air, for want of a shelter to betake himself to; as you will see is manifest, if you compare the following places together, whic…

When he was entering upon that sharp encounter, though sense startled at it, and said Father if it be possible let the cup pass from me, yet he soon submitted with a great deal of meekness, not as I will, but as you will (Matthew 26:39, 42). Though it was a very bitter cup, yet…

If he afflicts, it is as a father, only with purposes of good, and not so as an earthly father: (Hebrews 12:10) For verily, for a few days they chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. They mingle a great deal of p…

It argues more wickedness, to break with God for a trifle, and a very small matter; it argues more corruption: As a little force will make a heavy body move downward. Again, in another case; The ceremonialist stands upon some lesser things; as the Jews, (John 18:28) would not go…

True religion is indeed easy to be entreated (James 3:17), but now to make bold with God and conscience to please men is a sad adventure; it is not a good disposition, but pusillanimity. 5. Self-Confidence: When we think to bear it out with natural courage and resolution, and wi…

As small so great. The ceremonialist is apt to stand much upon lesser things: (John 18:28) the Jews would not enter into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled, yet they sought the life of the Lord of Glory. Hypocrites make a great business about small matters, and in th…

By Matthew Meade. (John 18:23) If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if I have spoken well, why do you strike me? (Psalm 120:2) Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.

Interpreters answer, that the Apostle's meaning is, Though they committed not such evils, yet the corruption of their nature suited with them, and so shared in them, and therefore justly liable to the like [illegible] of the law more or less. He meant what he said, and what his…

And hence therefore the resistance of sin comes to be destroyed, and the soul of the sinner most affrighted for it, and wearied with it, and so compelled to part. And therefore our Savior who was in our stead, and became our surety, and bore our sorrows, the chastisement of our…

A similitude taken from earthly [illegible], our Savior he is the King, and he was now to come in his own person, and in the ministry of the [illegible], and thereby into the souls of his people; and [illegible] the Baptist makes proclamation, not for their [illegible], so much,…

What made Christ so meek in his sufferings? He did not look at Judas or Pilate, but at his Father (John 18:11): The cup which my Father has given me. When wicked men revile and injure us, they are but God's executioners; who is angry with the executioner?

For prowesse, none to compare with him: he never turn'd his head from danger: no, not when hells malice and heavens justice appeared in field against him; Knowing all that should come upon him, went forth and said, Whom seek ye? John 18:4. For success insuperable; he never lost…

He faithfully expounded the Law (Matthew 5), refuted heresies (Matthew 22), glorified God with his miracles, was subject to his parents (Luke 2:51), paid tribute to the prince himself (Matthew 17:27), and taught others to obey lawful governors (Matthew 22:21). He would not usurp…

7. Then said I, lo I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do your will. And if Christ-God-Man did willingly lay down his life of his own goodness, and no man could take his life from him, against his will (John 10:11, 18; John 18:5, 8; John 14:31; Luke 9:51),…

Third, for the world as corrupted — or that universal corruption which is in all things in it (Galatians 1:4; 4:1, 4; 6:14; Ephesians 2:2; James 1:27; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; 1 Corinthians 7:31, 33; Colossians 2:8; 2 Timothy 4:10; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 1:20-21; 1 Corinth…

But they were not all his sureties. So he affirms, that he came into the world to bear witness unto the truth, John 18:37. that is, the truth of the promises of God; for he was the minister of the Circumcision for the truth of the promises of God unto the fathers, Romans 15:8. B…

For this is the perpetual mark wherewith God has marked them that be his. He that is of the truth (says he) hears my voice (John 18:37). Again, I am that good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and am known of them.

But poor soul he never thought, nor acted any treachery or cruelty against his brother. 3. Hence this Position: Christ was made sin, or imputed the sinner, and died for us sinners: the second Adam, the firstborn among many brethren suffered for his younger brethren, and so, by f…