Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
Ver. 1. That he should depart, &c.] This definition of death, saith Calvin, pertains to the whole body of the Church. It is to the saints no more than a passage to the Father, an inlet to eternal life. Whether a Christian's death be a burnt offering (of martyrdom), or a peace offering (of a natural death), whether it be by a sudden change, as Elijah's, or a lingering sickness, as Elisha's, it is a sweet sacrifice ascending to God, as Manoah's angel ascending in the smoke. This made Basil, when the emperor's lieutenant threatened to kill him, cry out, ειθε γενοιτο μοι, I would he would; for so should he soon send me to my heavenly Father, to whom I now live, and to whom I desire to hasten, προς ον επειγομαι πορρωθεν. (Basil.) This made Veleurio, a Dutch divine, when he lay upon his death bed, break out into these sweet words (Joh. Manli. loc. com.), Pater est Amator, Filius Redemptor, Spiritus Sanctus Consolator; quomodo itaque tristitia affici possim? The Father loves me, the Son redeemed me, the Holy Ghost comforts me; how then can I be cast down at the approach of death? And the like triumphant words were uttered to me by my late reverend good friend and father, Mr John Jackson, pastor of Binton, in Warwickshire, when he lay dying, and laid his last charge upon me, to preach Christ, who had swallowed up death in victory.
To the end he loved them] Such fast friends are hard to find. φιλος ευμεταβλητον ζωον, A friend is a very changeable creature, saith Plato; as soon on and as soon off again; as soon in and as soon out, as Joab's dagger was; clear at the top and muddy at the bottom, as ponds are; white at the waxing of the moon, and black at the waning of it, as the fish scolopidus in the river Araxis is said to be. Andronicus, the Greek emperor, whom but yesterday he had used most kindly, and enrolled among his best friends, upon them today he frowned and tyrannized most cruelly; so that you might have seen, saith the historian, the same man the same day (as is reported of Xerxes's admiral) to be crowned and beheaded, to be graced and disgraced. So of Tiberius and Mahomet, the first emperor of the Turks, it is said, that in their love there was no assurance; but their least displeasure was death. Christ, whom he loves once he loves ever, and though we break often with him, yet he abides faithful,2 Timothy 2:13, and his foundation standeth steady, having this seal, "The Lord knoweth them that are his," 2 Timothy 2:19 .