NOW BEFORE THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER,.... This feast was instituted as a memorial of the deliverance of the children of Israel out of Egypt, and was an eminent type of Christ; and this passover was what Christ had greatly desired, it being his last, and when he was to express his great love to his p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SUPPER BEING ENDED,.... Or rather "supper being", or it "being supper time", for it was not ended; not the paschal supper, nor the Lord's supper, but the supper in Simon's house at Bethany, two days before the passover. There is no mention made in this whole chapter of the passover supper, or of... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS KNOWING THAT THE FATHER,.... These words express the sense Christ had of his own greatness and dignity as Mediator: HAD GIVEN ALL THINGS INTO HIS HANDS; all the persons of the elect, all blessings both of grace and glory for them, and power and authority over all other persons and things, to... [ Continue Reading ]
HE RISETH FROM SUPPER,.... In the midst of the entertainment, and which no doubt was considerable, his mind being intent on something else; and it being his meat and drink to do his Father's will, he rises and leaves his disciples sitting to finish their meal; and whilst they were murmuring at the w... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THAT BE POURETH WATER INTO A BASON,.... This also was a servile work, and what properly belonged to servants to do; see John 2:5. The bason to wash the feet in, called by the Jews רגלים עריבת, was fixed by their doctors to hold, "from two logs to nine kabs" t; not "from two logs to ten", as D... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN COMETH HE TO SIMON PETER,.... After having washed the feet of some of the disciples, as is thought by some interpreters, and particularly the feet of Judas, without any repulse; though others are of opinion that he began with Peter, who modestly, and out of reverence to him, refuses to be washe... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM,.... Christ replies, WHAT I DO, THOU KNOWEST NOT NOW: Peter knew that he was about to wash his feet, and the rest of his disciples, but he did not know the meaning and mystery of it, what Christ designed by it, and what instruction they were to receive from it, BUT... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER SAITH UNTO HIM, THOU SHALL NEVER WASH MY FEET,.... Before he had behaved with modesty, but now with obstinacy and perverseness; and though these expressions might arise from great reverence to Christ, yet they were wrong and rashly spoken. Peter ought to have been satisfied with Christ's reply... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON PETER SAITH UNTO HIM,.... Being convinced of his mistake in not submitting to Christ, fearing he should he deprived of communion with him, than which nothing was more desirable to him, or more highly esteemed of by him, says, LORD, NOT MY FEET ONLY, BUT ALSO MY HANDS AND MY HEAD; which shows... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS SAITH TO HIM, HE THAT IS WASHED,.... Not he that is baptized; for every such person is not wholly clean, but he who is regenerated by the Spirit of God, or rather, who is washed in the blood of Christ: such an one "is clean every whit"; is all over clean; not that he has no sin in him, nor com... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE KNEW WHO SHOULD BETRAY HIM,.... That is, Jesus, as Beza's ancient copy, and the Syriac and Persic versions read. This he knew from the beginning; not only from the beginning of his ministry, when he chose his twelve apostles, but from the beginning of time, yea, from everlasting; this being f... [ Continue Reading ]
SO AFTER HE HAD WASHED THEIR FEET,.... Not Peter's only, but the rest of the disciples also: some have thought, that he washed only the feet of some of them, and not all; but it seems, by this expression, that he performed this service to each of them: and when he had gone through it with everyone o... [ Continue Reading ]
YE CALL ME MASTER AND LORD,.... רבי, and מר, "Master" and "Lord", were dignified titles among the Jews, which they frequently y gave to their doctors and men of learning, and are often to be met with in their writings: hence the disciples called Christ by these names, not out of flattery, but revere... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I THEN YOUR LORD AND MASTER,.... Christ argues from these titles and characters, which his disciples rightly gave him, and from what he had done to them, though he stood in such a superior relation to them, to their duty one towards another; that since, says he, I HAVE WASHED YOUR FEET, YE ALSO... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE,.... Christ is an example to his people, in many things; not in his miraculous performances and mediatorial work, but in the exercise of grace, of meekness, humility, love, patience, and the like; and in the discharge of duty, in submission to ordinances, and in atten... [ Continue Reading ]
VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU,.... This is a strong way of asseveration, and is used when anything of moment and importance, and worthy of attention and observation is delivered. THE SERVANT IS NOT GREATER THAN HIS LORD; it is enough that he be as his Lord, which was a common phrase among the Jews... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE KNOW THESE THINGS,.... The duties they owed to him, and one another; those kind offices of love and respect to each other; the humility, condescension, and brotherly love, which ought to be in them, and of which he had given them an example: HAPPY ARE YE IF YE DO THEM; for the bare theory, or... [ Continue Reading ]
I SPEAK NOT OF YOU ALL. What he had before said on the one hand, "ye are not all clean", John 13:11, for one of them was not; and on the other hand, when he put an "if" upon, or seemed to doubt of their knowing and doing these things, John 13:17; or what he was about to say concerning his being betr... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW I TELL YOU BEFORE IT COME,.... That is, gave them notice of this before hand, that one of them should betray him: THAT WHEN IT IS COME TO PASS; and they had seen it fulfilled exactly to a tittle, and according to this Scripture: YE MAY BELIEVE THAT I AM HE: the Lord God omniscient, who knows a... [ Continue Reading ]
VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU,.... You may assure yourselves of the truth of what I am going to say, and which I say for your comfort and encouragement: HE THAT RECEIVETH WHOMSOEVER I SEND, RECEIVETH ME, AND HE THAT RECEIVETH ME, RECEIVETH HIM THAT SENT ME; I have sent you in my name to preach the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN JESUS HAD THUS SAID,.... Having spoken of the mission of his disciples by him, of their reception among men, and the notice that would be taken of it by him: HE WAS TROUBLED IN SPIRIT; in his soul, which shows him to be truly and really man, and to have an human soul, which some have denied; a... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE DISCIPLES LOOKED ONE TO ANOTHER,.... As persons surprised and astonished, and as scarce crediting what was said; not having had the least suspicion of anyone among them, that could be guilty of such an action; and expressing by their looks their detestation of, and indignation at so horribl... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THERE WAS LEANING ON JESUS' BOSOM,.... Not pressing upon that part of Christ's body, which would have been irreverent in John, and troublesome to Christ; but leaning at table upon his bed or couch, on which he lay; and which was next to, and just before Christ; so that he was very near unto, and... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON PETER THEREFORE BECKONED TO HIM,.... Peter perhaps lay at a distance from Christ, or in some such position, that he could not whisper to him himself; and besides, knew that John might use more freedom, as he was admitted to more familiarity with him; and being at some distance also from him, h... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THEN LYING ON JESUS' BREAST,.... Being on the couch just before Jesus, with his back to him, he bends backwards, and falling on Jesus' breast, whispers in his ear: AND SAITH UNTO HIM, LORD, WHO IS IT? using his interest in Christ, and making thus free with him, in compliance with Peter's request... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED, HE IT IS,.... Jesus replied, by whispering; for had he spoken out, the rest could not have been so ignorant, as they still continued, after the sign was given: Christ, I say, whispered to John, and told him by what sign he might know the person, and that it was he, TO WHOM, says he,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THE SOP, SATAN ENTERED INTO HIM,.... After he had taken and eaten the sop, or crust of bread, by which he was pointed out to be the betrayer, "Satan entered into him"; possessed his body, and filled his mind, and stirred him up more eagerly to pursue with rigour his wicked design. The Jews... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW NO MAN AT THE TABLE,.... Not one of those who lay upon the couches at the table, excepting John, to whom the signal was given: KNEW FOR WHAT INTENT HE SPAKE THIS UNTO HIM; and perhaps he might not know the meaning of his last words, that he spoke concerning the act of betraying him; nor did not... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SOME OF THEM THOUGHT,.... This was the thought of some of the disciples, it may be of all of them but John; BECAUSE JUDAS HAD THE BAG: which was for the common supply of Christ and his disciples, and for the relief of the poor; John 12:6. THAT JESUS HAD SAID UNTO HIM, BUY THOSE THINGS THAT WE... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THEN HAVING, RECEIVED THE SOP,.... As soon as ever he received it, he WENT IMMEDIATELY OUT; fearing lest an entire discovery should be made, and he be prevented accomplishing his design; or being more violently stirred up to it by, Satan, who after the sop entered into him, he directly went from... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, WHEN HE WAS GONE OUT, JESUS SAID,.... Christ and his true disciples being together alone, he used a greater freedom of conversation with them, and entered into some discourse about his sufferings and death; with a view to give them some instructions about their future conduct and behaviou... [ Continue Reading ]
IF GOD BE GLORIFIED IN HIM,.... Seeing this is a certain truth, is indisputably matter of fact, that all the perfections of God are glorified in Christ, by his sufferings and death: GOD SHALL ALSO GLORIFY HIM IN HIMSELF; either "with himself"; with his own glory, which was promised to Christ, and w... [ Continue Reading ]
LITTLE CHILDREN, YET A LITTLE WHILE I AM WITH YOU,.... Christ having removed the scandal of his death, by observing, that both he and his Father would be glorified by it, begins more freely to open his mind to his disciples, and acquaint them with it; whom he addresses in the most kind, tender, and... [ Continue Reading ]
A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU,.... As parents, when they take their leave of their children, in their dying moments, give them proper instructions and orders, and lay their dying injunctions on them, so Christ taking his leave of his disciples, gives them his; which were, that they LOVE ONE ANO... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW,.... Not only by this you yourselves will know that ye have passed from death to life, that the true work of grace is begun upon your hearts; nor only by this will you know one another to be Christians; but by this all men, even the men of the world will know, THAT YE ARE... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON PETER SAID UNTO HIM,.... One might have expected that Peter would have taken some notice of what Christ said last, about love to one another; but he passes over it, and takes no manner of notice of it; which did not arise from inattention to it, or from any dislike of it, or disaffection to it... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER SAID UNTO HIM,.... Not understanding Christ's answer, and being dissatisfied with it, inquires: LORD, WHY CANNOT I FOLLOW THEE NOW? is the place inaccessible? are the difficulties in the way to it insuperable? the roughness of the road, or the dangers of it, will not discourage me; I am ready... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED HIM, WILT THOU LAY DOWN THY LIFE FOR MY SAKE,.... Christ speaks these words as questioning, not Peter's sincerity, but his strength; or as deriding him, or rather pitying him; as if he should say, thou poor vain self-sufficient man, thou dost not know what thou talkest of: VERILY, VE... [ Continue Reading ]