John 12:16-18 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified… I. GOD DOES FORETELL IN HIS WORD MANY EVENTS BEFORE THEY COME TO PASS. This appears from the text and from the whole history of His conduct from the first prediction of Genesis to the last in Revelation. Witness the fulfilled promises concerning the Jews, heathen nations, Christ, His Church, etc. II. GOD ALWAYS BRINGS TO PASS THE EVENTS WHICH HE FORETELLS. This will appear if we consider — 1. That we have no evidence that. He has ever failed to bring to pass any event that He has foretold. Though the disciples did not know at first that Zechariah's prophecy had been fulfilled, they knew it afterwards. 2. God never foretold any events but such as — (1) He was willing to bring to pass. He never could be under any compulsion to foretell. (2) His own glory requires to be brought to pass. (3) He is able to bring to pass. God can do anything that power can do and that does not involve a contradiction. His opponents He can break in pieces. III. GOD HAS GOOD REASONS FOR FORETELLING EVENTS BEFORE THEY COME TO PASS. 1. To convince men that He is concerned in bringing them about. 2. To demonstrate the truth of His bringing to pass other events not predicted. Predicted events stand inseparably related to unpredicted. The Messianic prophecies are connected with other events which took place in every part of the world. Improvement: It appears from the design of prophecy, that the Bible predictions — 1. Are the last He will ever give (Revelation 22:18, 19). 2. Will answer their end though not understood till fulfilled. 3. Being disbelieved does not destroy their evidence or importance. 4. Are an infallible evidence of the truth of the Bible. (N. Emmons, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him. |
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