Explanation of John 6
By Rev. John Clowes M.A.
Explaining the Inner Meaning of John 6
Verses 6:1, 2. That the Lord applies himself to those who are in the ultimates of the church amongst the Gentiles, and is followed by many who are under the influence of a miraculous faith.
Verses 6:3, 4. On which occasion he elevates himself to union with his divine good, to which he conjoins the truths of the church, and thus approaches to his final glorification.
Verses 6:5, 6, 7. In this state he tries the faith of those of the church who are in intelligence, by exciting doubt respecting the implantation of good in truths, when yet he knew that it could only be done from himself.
Verses 6:8, 9. This doubt extends also to those who are principled in the good of faith, being further excited from a sense of the small portion of innocence and of living scientific truth which remained in the church.
Verse 6:10. Wherefore to remove this doubt, the Lord requires, that the truths of the church should be admitted into the will, or love, so as to affect it, and thus to rule over scientific truths.
Verse 6:11. And when this was accomplished, he imparts the good of his own love to the good of those of the church who are principled in truth, and through them to those who are principled in good, with as much of living scientific truth as could be received.
Verses 6:12, 13. And this in all the fullness of instruction and benediction.
Verse 6:14. Thus proving himself to be that divine doctrine, which, it had been predicted, was to be made manifest in the flesh.
Verse 6:15. But perceiving the state of the church to be such, that doctrine was in danger of being exalted above the life of doctrine, he again elevates himself into the good of his divine love.
Verses 6:16, 17. On which occasion, they who are principled in the truths of the church, being without illustration, consult scientifics and knowledges, and even the things of sense, thus immersing themselves in false principles, separate from divine good and truth.
Verses 6:18, 19. Under the influence of which false principles, they are brought into a state of disturbance and temptation, in which state their understandings are opened to the Lord's Divine Humanity, so as to perceive him controlling the disturbance both in the scientifics and knowledges, and begetting holy adoration.
Verse 6:20. Convincing them thus that he is Jehovah, the divine source of all peace and security.
Verse 6:21. Therefore they supplicate, that their knowledges may be always under his divine presence and influence, in consequence of which supplication they attain the life of knowledge.
Verses 6:22, 23, 24, 25. That they, who are principled in the ultimates of scientific and sensual truth, perceiving their want of the knowledge of good and truth, and that these knowledges are in the possession of the men of the church, though separated from their divine source; and perceiving further that the knowledges of what is good and true are in themselves in connection with the divine instruction and benediction; consult those knowledges, and seek conjunction with the Lord in his Divine Humanity, and make enquiry about the establishment of the church.
Verse 6:26. On which occasion they are led to explore the motives by which they are influenced, and whether those motives are grounded in external or internal considerations.
Verse 6:27. They are exhorted also to regard the good things of heavenly love and faith as infinitely superior to all other goods, and to regard them also in their connection with the Lord's Divine Humanity, from whom alone they are derived.
Verse 6:28. Thus they are led to enquire further concerning the life of heavenly love and faith, and how it is to be attained.
Verse 6:29. And are instructed that the life of love and faith results from the acknowledgement in heart and life of the Lord's Divine Humanity.
Verses 6:30, 31. Still they want further testification of this truth, and that it should be confirmed by some representative sign, like that of manna in the wilderness.
Verses 6:32, 33. Therefore they are further instructed, that the manna was merely representative of the Lord's Divine Humanity, thus of the divine love, and of reciprocal love on the part of man.
Verses 6:34, 35. Which instruction operates to produce that love, and therefore they are further taught that the Lord in his Divine Humanity is the only source of all celestial good and truth, and that they, who receive this good, will want no other good, and they, who receive this truth, will have a sufficiency of all truth.
Verses 6:36, 37. Still there are some, who know the truth of faith, and do not receive it, inasmuch as they alone receive, who are principled in heavenly good, by virtue of which good they have eternal conjunction of life with the Lord.
Verses 6:38, 39, 40. For this was the great end of the Lord's assuming humanity, that he might fulfill the purpose of his divine love, which purpose is, that all who believe in that humanity from a right faith and love, shall have eternal life.
Verses 6:41, 42. But this doctrine is opposed by those of the perverted church, who conceive the Humanity of the Lord to be like that of other men, and not a Divine Humanity.
Verses 6:43, 44. The reason of which is, because they are not principled in that heavenly good which conducts to heaven.
Verse 6:45. For thus the eternal truth teaches, that it has access to all human minds, and is received by those who are principled in heavenly good, and obedient to it.
Verse 6:46. Nevertheless none can acknowledge divine good except by divine truth, and therefore no one can have celestial good, unless he acknowledges the Lord.
Verses 6:47, 48. For to acknowledge the Lord is to possess the life of heaven, since he is the very essence of that life.
Verses 6:49, 50. Therefore they, who receive only natural nourishment from the Word, perish in their evils, whilst they, who receive spiritual nourishment, which is that of the good of heavenly love, have eternal conjunction of life with the Lord.
Verse 6:51. For these latter are made partakers of the Divine Celestial principle, or the divine good, communicated from the Lord's Divine Humanity.
Verses 6:52, 53, 54. Which appears incredible to those who are of the perverted church, and who are therefore taught, that the Divine Celestial principle and the Divine Spiritual, which is from the Divine Humanity of the Lord, is the all of life, and that whoever does not appropriate to himself this principle, has no living principle in him, but whoever appropriates it, has in him an eternal living principle.
Verses 6:55, 56. Because the Divine Celestial principle is the only nourishment of celestial life, and the Divine Spiritual principle the only nourishment of spiritual life, and therefore whoever partakes of those principles, has conjunction of life with the Lord.
Verse 6:57. And thus derives life from the Lord, in like manner as he, as to his Humanity, derived life continually from the divine good in himself.
Verse 6:58. In which case spiritual and living nourishment is received from the Word, and not merely natural and dead nourishment.
Verses 6:59, 60. That this doctrine is not apprehended by those, who are under the influence of worldly and sensual love.
Verses 6:61, 62, 63. Who are therefore instructed, that they cannot apprehend it, unless they apprehend how the Lord's Human [principle] was finally united to the Divine, and how the divine operation proceeding from that union is the source of all spiritual life, whilst what proceeds from the selfhood of man is without life; thus how the Word is the complex of divine wisdom and divine love.
Verses 6:64, 65. They are instructed further, that all men have not faith, and that from eternity the Lord foresaw the principles both of what is false and of what is evil, which are opposed to himself, and therefore taught, that none would believe in his Divine Humanity, who were not under the influence of the divine love.
Verses 6:66, 67. Nevertheless, many of those who heard this instruction, relapse into their former evils and errors, which gives occasion to tender expostulation of divine love with those of the new church, who are more confirmed in its goods and truths.
Verses 6:68, 69. Which expostulation excites confession on the part of those who are principled in faith, that the Lord's Humanity was filled with the wisdom of the divine love, and thus was one with it.
Verses 6:70, 71. Yet even amongst those, who have received the doctrines of the new church, and been made sensible of its goods, there are some who are under the influence of infernal love.
John 5
1
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4
For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6
When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10
The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11
He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12
Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14
Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
15
The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
16
And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
17
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
19
Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20
For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21
For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23
That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
30
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
31
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32
There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34
But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
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.
37
And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38
And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41
I receive not honour from men.
42
But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43
I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
47
But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
