John 13

Notes

Ver. 1,7. You know not the reasons of what I am now doing, and little think what is my meaning in it; but I will in a little time somewhat explain my design; and when the Holy Ghost shall be poured out from on high he will further acquaint you with it, and make you to experience the benefit of it. 8.*You may think your refusal is a humble aversion to my disparaging myself; but you cannot be my disciple if you set yourself against my authority, wisdom, and love; and you can have no fellowship with me, or interest in my saving blessings, unless you be spiritually washed in my blood, and, by my Word and Spirit, from the guilt and filth of your sins. 10. He who is once justified and sanctified by my blood and Spirit, needs only to be further cleansed, in the daily exercise of faith and repentance, from the guilt and defilement which, through remaining corruption, he perpetually contracts by his conversation in the world. And most, though not all, of you present are cleansed in this respect. 18. I do not expect you all to be either obedient or happy. I know that, though I have chosen you all to the apostleship, there is one among you, sitting familiarly with us at table, that is not seeking faith, holiness, and salvation, and who will ungratefully desert and betray me. 31, 32. Now the hour is just at hand when I, the Messiah, shall, by more remarkable sufferings and death, gloriously fulfil all my engagements in the room of sinners, conquer sin, Satan, and all his assistants, and secure an eternal redemption; yea, all the perfections of my heavenly Father shall be harmoniously exalted in this my astonishing self-abasement, and therefore shall he honour me in my sufferings by amazing signs and wonders, and with testimonies extorted from enemies themselves; and shall speedily and suitably reward me with a glorious resurrection, ascension, and exaltation at his right hand. 34. The command of brotherly love is here called NEW, not as if it had not all along existed in the law of God, but because Christ revived it when it was sadly corrupted and almost forgotten, and enjoined it by a ew example, and with ew explications, motives, and enforcements, that it might be observed with a zew spirit and temper, and in a mew manner, as a fundamental law of his kingdom, written in his people's hearts by the spirit of the Mew Testament; and because it is most excellent, ' and will be eternally in full force.

Ver. 1. The former chapter having closed John's account of our Lord's public teaching and procedure, here commences a specimen of his private instruction and domestic intercourse with his disciples —a portion of the Word most deeply interesting, both as the best example for fathers and mothers, and the highest practical authority for the use of family prayer. C.

Ver. 10. He that ts washed. Rather, 'He that is bathed,' whose whole body has been washed (for so the original signiffes i, needs not but to wash his feet. That is, he that has once truly reczived the Bospel, who has been 'justified by faith,' and entered into 'peace with God,' will never again require such renewal; but will require, nevertheless, continual watchfulness and prayer, that in his daily walk he may 'keep himself unspotted from the world.' C.

Ver. 14. Had this precept been literal, there would doubtless have been some subsequent mention of it in the Acts or Epistles. The precept, however, is net literal, but emblematic, as the act of which it is the exposition. It is annually caricatured at Rome, ¢ when he who proudly professes to be the successor of Peter, and blasphemously asserts himself to be the vicar of Christ, washes the feet of a company of poor; and it is truly fulfilled wheresoever one Christian, of whatever rank, performs an act of mercy and kindness to another; but it is violated wherever pride despises, indifference neglects, or covetousness refuses to condescend and relieve. C.

Ver. 26. The 'sop' was a portion of the paschal supper, collected in the fingers and dipped in the sauce, and handed toa guest as a mark of attention.— Note, From considering the position of our Lord and his disciples, and the fact that our Lord, while John was reclining on his bosom, could not have reached to any considerable distance, it seems probable that Judas lay immediately to his left, so that had our Lord laid down his head as John did it, it would have rested on the breast of the traitor. C.

Ver. 31. Now ts the Son of man glorified. In the translation the prophetic presenz is put for the future; in the Greek it is the preterite, used also prophetically to express the nearness or certainty of an event; see ch.15.6. The Son is glonfied by the resurrection, the victory over death and hell, speedily to be achieved. 'God (the Father) is glorified' in the manifestation of his love to sinners through Jesus. C.

Ver. 32. J himself. Either in the Father 'himself,' by again receiving the Son into the bosom of eternal love, or in the Son himself" by exhibiting in his Godhead-glory the power of his resurrection, ascension, and kingdom. C.

Ver. 34. A new commandment, 'New' to you; for you have hitherto been ambitious and envious, and at strife for supremacy, that can never operate but in a 'new' heart, enforced by a 'new' and unchangeable sanction, 'as I have loved you ;' and that will abide for ever 'new,' as the sun in the firmament that waxes not old or dim—the emblem of myself, 'the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.' G. **Reflections.—**How affectionate and permanent is Christ's love to all men! Astonishing was his condescension for their instruction and advantage. And it is impossible to be his disciples unless he wash us by his blood and Spirit, and we are willing to obey his command, and imitate his condescension and kindness. If his providences be dark, we must wait till he explain them, and meanwhile daily apply his Word, Spirit, and blood, for the further purification of our heart and life. Without hesitation we must always submit to his authority, and put all the knowledge which we have of his truths into practice. To know better, and do worse, is doubly criminal. And, alas! awful is the thought that any who are in profession Christ's disciples, and under the highest visible relation and obligation to him, should kick at and betray him! But fearfully Satan leads men captive at his will when they are left to their own corruptions. Yea, never is he more ready to enter into men than when they are employed in solemn acts of religion; and desertion of godly society is a common inlet to final apostasy.—It is a great mercy that the Lord knows them that are his, and will assist them in their spiritual state and gracious course, if they are only faithful and walk in him as they received him; and that, notwithstanding the most dreadful falls, he seeks to restore by his love, and afterwards bring them to his glory. 'franscendent were the glories of our Redeemer in his death and exaltation to hcaven; and marvellous the displays of the divine perfections in him, as manifested, and to be for ever manifested, in the salvation of men. Strong, then, is the reason, and plain the duty, of following him through good report and bad report, and of loving all them that bear his image for his sake.