Explanation of John 14
By Rev. John Clowes M.A.
Explaining the Inner Meaning of John 14
Verse 14:1. The Word teaches, that man ought to look inwards towards the Lord in his Divine Humanity, for a refuge against evils.
Verse 14:2. And to believe that heaven is distinguished into in numerable societies, according to all the discriminations of good and truth, and that every one has a place there, according to the conjunction of those principles in his mind and life.
Verse 14:3. And to believe further, that according to the conjunction of those principles in the mind and life, every man has eternal conjunction of life with the Lord himself.
Verses 14:4, 5. Because according to the conjunction of those principles, every one has knowledge concerning the glorification of the Lord's humanity, and the process by which it was effected, although this knowledge seems to be concealed from him.
Verse 14:6. For in that glorification, and the process by which it was effected, is contained the all of doctrine, together with its truth and life, by which alone introduction is given to the supreme good.
Verse 14:7. Consequently the knowledge of the Lord in His Divine Humanity involves in it the knowledge of his essential divinity, and therefore faith in the visible humanity renders the divinity visible at the same time.
Verse 14:8. This reasoning however seems obscure to those in the church, who are principled in the intelligence of truth, and therefore they seek further instruction concerning the hidden divinity.
Verses 14:9, 10, 11. And are further taught, that whoever had faith in the visible Divine Humanity, has faith also in the invisible Divinity, since the Divinity and Humanity are mutually and reciprocally united, like soul and body, so that the humanity both thinks and operates from the divinity which is one with it.
Verse 14:12. Whosoever also has faith in the visible Divine Humanity, operates not only from truth in the understanding, but from the good of love and charity in the will, through the power supplied from that humanity made divine.
Verses 14:13, 14. And thus, inasmuch as he addresses himself immediately to the Lord in His Divine Humanity, all His prayers are granted, because the divinity is one with that humanity.
Verses 14:15, 16, and part of 17. He is also instructed that to love the Lord is to live according to His divine precepts, in which case the Lord in His Divine Humanity imparts all heavenly good and truth, and this to eternity.
Verses latter part of 17, 18. Which good and truth cannot be received by those who are in evil, but by those who are principled in faith and love, and who consequently have good and truth continually communicated to them from the Lord in His Divine Humanity.
Verses 14:19, 20. So that whereas they, who are in evil, have no faith in the Lord, they on the other hand, who are principled in faith and love, enjoy his continual presence, as a fountain of truth in their understandings, and of heavenly love in their wills, and thus have reciprocal conjunction of life with Him.
Verses 14:21, 22, 23, 24. For to love the Lord is to live according to His precepts, and they who so love are loved in return by the Lord, who dwells in His own Word in the interiors of such, and thus makes them the everlasting habitations of His truth and love.
Verses 14:25, 26, 27. Instructing them first by the letter of His Word, and afterwards by its spirit, or spiritual sense, in which is contained the all of truth and good, thus the all of internal peace, by which power is given over all spiritual temptations.
Verses 14:28, 29. And instructing them further, that true charity rejoices in the idea of the Lord's glorification, or of the union of divine truth with divine good, since truth derives from good all that it has, or is, and all proper faith results from the accomplishment of their predicted union.
Verses 14:30, 31. Nevertheless the union cannot be accomplished without temptation combats arising from the powers of darkness, by virtue of which the divine love of the Lord is manifested in all its fullness and purity, calling mankind to elevation of their affections by departing from all contrary love.
John 14
1
"Don't let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.
2
In my Father's house are many homes. If it weren't so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.
3
If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.
4
Where I go, you know, and you know the way."
5
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
7
If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him."
8
Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."
9
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, 'Show us the Father?'
10
Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works.
11
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else Believe me for the very works' sake.
12
Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.
13
Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14
If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.
15
If you love me, keep my commandments.
16
I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever,--
17
the Spirit of truth, whom the world can't receive; for it doesn't see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.
18
I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.
19
Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.
20
In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
21
One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him."
22
Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?"
23
Jesus answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.
24
He who doesn't love me doesn't keep my words. The word which you hear isn't mine, but the Father's who sent me.
25
I have said these things to you, while still living with you.
26
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.
27
Peace I leave with you. My Peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.
28
You heard how I told you, 'I go away, and I come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said 'I am going to my Father;' for the Father is greater than I.
29
Now I have told you before it happens so that, when it happens, you may believe.
30
I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me.
31
But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
