Matthew Poole and continuators on John 5:36

36 But I have greater witness than that of John, for the works which the Father hath given me to finish , the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me .

Not than that of my Father, mentioned v. 31, 32. but than that of Iohn (last mentioned;) nor doth he say a truer, but a greater witness.

The works which his Father sent him to do, his fulfilling of the Law, his publication of the Gospel, the Miracles which he wrought, were all of them works which his Father had given him to finish. Christ often appealeth to the works which he had done, as sufficiently testifying of him, Ch. 10.25. 37, 38. and 14.10, 11. and 15.24. And it is plain, that the People lookt upon them as a great testimony, Ch. 3.2. and 9.32, 33. The Iews avoided the force of th[illegible: 1 letter]s testimony impudently, some of them saying, that he did them by the help of the Devil, Mat. 12.24. Others pretending (more lately) that the Messiah was to work no Miracles; but that is expresly contrary to what we have, Ch. 7.31. and is doubtless a device of later years.

But it is a greater Question, how the Miracles of Christ bear witness of him; and whether they were onely a probable, or a certain and infallible Testimony of his Deity. Those that think them an infallible Testimony, say, 1. That he did works which none else did, John 15.24. 2. That he did them by his own Power, Luke 6.19. There went Vertue out of him, and healed them all. 3. That they were done in confirmation of the Doctrine to that purpose, which he Preached, which God would not have confirmed by Miracles, had not he been sent of God to work such things. Those that think they were not a certain and infallible Testimony, say, 1. That the Prophets and Apostles also wrought Miracles. 2. That our Saviour tells his Apostles, they should do greater works than he had done. 3. That the doing of them from his own Power, was a thing could not be known to others; so could be no Testimony to them. But our Saviour did not onely himself raise the dead, cast out Devils, and work other Miracles; but he gave others also a Power to do it, which argued an Original Power in himself, and is more than we read of any Prophets or Apostles; who, tho they wrought such Miraculous Operations, yet having not that Power Originally in, and from themselves, could not communicate it to others.

Marginal references: 1 John 5.9.