Explanation of John 12
By Rev. John Clowes M.A.
Explaining the Inner Meaning of John 12
Verses 12:1, 2. That the Lord, during his spiritual conflicts previous to the full glorification of his Humanity, derives consolation from those in the church amongst the Gentiles, who are principled in the good of life derived from himself.
Verse 12:3. On which occasion his Humanity is admitted to closer union with his Divinity in divine good and truth, through the affection of good, and the church is made sensible of that union.
Verses 12:4, 5, 6. Nevertheless they, who are in infernal love, seek to alienate divine good from the Lord, and appropriate it to themselves, and this under specious pretences of imparting knowledge to those who are in ignorance.
Verses 12:7, 8. But they are instructed by the divine truth, to desist from such alienation, since the glorification of the Lord's Humanity requires that it be made the all of divine good, and since ignorant objects would remain in the world when that Humanity was taken out of it.
Verse 12:9. That on this occasion many, who were of the perverted church, are influenced with love, not only to the Lord's Divine Humanity, but also to that good of life which is derived from him.
Verses 12:10, 11. Nevertheless they, who are principled in the love of spiritual dominion, seek to destroy that good of life, because many are led by it to acknowledge the Lord in his Divine Humanity.
Verses 12:12, 13. Who under such acknowledgement, perceiving that the Lord was about to establish his new church, adore him as the source of every good affection and pure delight, confessing him from the heart to be also the source of every truth in the church, by reason of his union with the supreme good.
Verses 12:14, 15, 16. Wherefore, as had been predicted, the Lord in his Divine Humanity is exalted to dominion over all rational good and truth in the church, although it was not known, until this dominion was effected, what was meant by the representatives by which it had been predicted.
Verses 12:17, 18. This dominion too is confirmed by those, who witnessed the restoration of the good of life in the church, and who are thus led to seek conjunction of life with the Lord in his Divine Humanity.
Verse 12:19. But they, who are in hypocritical worship, see in that dominion the downfall of their own dominion, and the establishment of a new church.
Verses 12:20, 21, 22. That some of the Gentiles, who are skilled in the doctrine of correspondence, seek acquaintance with the Lord, through intelligence, and the good of faith.
Verses 12:23, 24. And are instructed concerning the union of the Human [principle] with the Divine, which was to be effected through temptation-combats, for the salvation of mankind.
Verses 12:25, 26. And also concerning the necessity of man's renouncing self-will, or self-love, before he can be made partaker of heavenly love, and concerning the further necessity of believing in the Lord's Divine Humanity, and keeping his precepts, since these are the only means of admission into the divine presence, and of attaining conjunction with the divine good.
Verses 12:27, 28. Therefore the Lord, as to his Humanity, underwent the most grievous temptations, even to the passion of the cross, and this voluntarily, with a view to his final glorification, or the full union of his Humanity with his Divinity, which glorification is announced from heaven.
Verses 12:29, 30. But this annunciation is regarded by some as a mere natural effect, and by others as supernatural, whilst divine instruction is given, that its object is, not so much to comfort and support the Lord's Humanity, as to comfort and support his church under the process of suffering, through which that Humanity was about to pass.
Verses 12:31, 32, 33. By which process a work of judgement was to be accomplished, and the powers of darkness were to be subjugated, whilst at the same time the Lord's Humanity was to be exalted to complete union with his Divinity, and from that Humanity was to proceed divine truth united with divine good, which, influencing the minds of men, would lead them to conjunction of life with itself.
Verse 12:34. But this doctrine is regarded in the perverted church as contradictory to the Word, and therefore inquiry is made concerning the union of the Divinity and Humanity, and also concerning what is meant by the Son of Man.
Verse 12:35. And instruction is given, that by the Son of Man is meant the divine truth, manifested in the Lord's humanity, and which for a time made its abode here below, and therefore all ought to live according to that truth, lest they should be blinded by false persuasions, in which case they will not know to what end, whether of happiness or misery, their lives tend.
Verse 12:36. former part. They ought also to elevate that truth, or suffer it to be elevated, out of the memory into the understanding, and from the understanding into the will and life.
Verses 36, latter part, and 37. Nevertheless, this instruction is hid in obscurity from the men of the perverted church, and they cannot receive it, notwithstanding the miraculous testimony which attends it.
Verses 12:38, 39, 40, 41. And this rejection of the truth had been predicted, and not only so, but a reason had been assigned in the prediction, why they, whose faith is grounded in themselves, cannot admit the truth, since if they did admit it, they would only profane it, and would thus incur a greater damnation.
Verses 12:42, 43. Yet the truth is received by some who are in the knowledges of faith, but through fear they are restrained from making confession of it, which fear is occasioned by exalting human opinion above divine opinion.
Verses 12:44, 45. Therefore the divine truth again teaches, that whoever has faith in the Lord's Divine Humanity, has faith at the same time in his Divinity, and whoever has knowledge of the Humanity, has knowledge at the same time of the Divinity.
Verse 12:46. Because the Lord's humanity is divine truth, made manifest to man, in order to deliver him from infernal falsities.
Verses 12:47, 48. For the Lord in his Divine Humanity condemns no one, being desirous to save all, but every one condemns himself, who receives the knowledge of the truth, and yet cherished the love of evil which is contrary to. that knowledge.
Verses 12:49, 50. The Lord's humanity also does not think from itself, but from his divinity, from whom it derives the whole of its affection and thought, in which affection and thought there is divine love, and therefore the thought of the humanity is always under the government of that love.
John 12
1
Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2
So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him.
3
Mary, therefore, took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.
4
Then Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said,
5
"Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?"
6
Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it.
7
But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial.
8
For you always have the poor with you, but you don't always have me."
9
A large crowd therefore of the Jews learned that he was there, and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10
But the chief priests conspired to put Lazarus to death also,
11
because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.
12
On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13
they took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet him, and cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!"
14
Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written,
15
"Don't be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey's colt."
16
His disciples didn't understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him.
17
The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, was testifying about it.
18
For this cause also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign.
19
The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him."
20
Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast.
21
These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we want to see Jesus."
22
Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus.
23
Jesus answered them, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24
Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25
He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.
26
If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
27
"Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? 'Father, save me from this time?' But for this cause I came to this time.
28
Father, glorify your name!" Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."
29
The multitude therefore, who stood by and heard it, said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."
30
Jesus answered, "This voice hasn't come for my sake, but for your sakes.
31
Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out.
32
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."
33
But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die.
34
The multitude answered him, "We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever. How do you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up?' Who is this Son of Man?"
35
Jesus therefore said to them, "Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn't overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn't know where he is going.
36
While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light." Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.
37
But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn't believe in him,
38
that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, "Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
39
For this cause they couldn't believe, for Isaiah said again,
40
"He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them."
41
Isaiah said these things when he saw his glory, and spoke of him.
42
Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn't confess it, so that they wouldn't be put out of the synagogue,
43
for they loved men's praise more than God's praise.
44
Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me.
45
He who sees me sees him who sent me.
46
I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness.
47
If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn't believe, I don't judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48
He who rejects me, and doesn't receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day.
49
For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50
I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak."
