Explanation of John 3
By Rev. John Clowes M.A.
Explaining the Inner Meaning of John 3
Verses 3:1, 2. That some in the perverted church, in consequence of the miracles which the Lord worked, seek conjunction with him, and acknowledge his doctrine to be divine.
Verse 3:3. To whom it is taught, that man cannot attain any perception of heavenly good and truth, except by regeneration.
Verses 3:4, 5. This however is understood by those of the perverted church, according to a natural idea, and not according to a spiritual idea, and therefore they are further instructed, that regeneration is effected by a reception of the truths of faith in man's understanding, and by a love and life in conformity with those truths.
Verses 3:6, 7. Because man is at first born merely natural, but has the capacity of afterwards becoming spiritual, by a life according to truths derived from the Word, and therefore he ought not to regard regeneration as a strange, or irrational operation.
Verse 3:8. Yet that scarcely any of the innumerable arcana of regeneration come to the knowledge and perception of man.
Verses 3:9, 10. This cannot be comprehended by those of the perverted church, who are in the knowledges of external truth, when yet those knowledges ought to have conducted them to the apprehension of internal truth.
Verses 3:11, 12. For the literal or external sense of the Word proceeds from, and is filled with, the interior things of the divine truth and wisdom, which things are rejected by those who remain in the love of mere natural things, and who, on that account, cannot comprehend celestial and spiritual things.
Verse 3:13. For celestial and spiritual things can only be comprehended by those who receive into their minds and lives the divine truth, inasmuch as the divine truth alone comes down from heaven, and therefore is alone capable of elevating any into the things of heaven.
Verses 3:14, 15. That this divine truth therefore assumed a sensual corporeal principle here on earth, to the intent that sensual corporeal men might have a divine object of faith presented to them, and being thus elevated to conjunction with that object, might be preserved from the defilement and death of merely sensual and corporeal life.
Verse 3:16. That this was effected from the divine love, to the intent that mankind might no longer continue immersed in mere natural love, but might be raised into the sphere of celestial and spiritual love.
Verses 3:17, 18. Wherefore God assumed the Human [nature] to the intent that mankind might conjoin goodness and truth in their minds and lives, since a right faith in the Divine Humanity of the Lord leads to such conjunction, whereas a want of that faith leads to separation.
Verses 3:19, 20. For the Divine Humanity of the Lord is divine truth, and if divine truth be rejected in consequence of evil love, then nothing appertains to man but the false principle of evil.
Verse 3:21. On the other hand, if divine truth be loved and obeyed, man is conducted to the Lord's Divine Humanity, because he is willing to acknowledge that all the good which he wills and does is from that divine source.
Verses 3:22, 23, 24. That when the Lord had finished these sayings, he instructs the perverted church in the truths of purification, which truths also were taught in abundance by those who were principled in charity and faith, whilst they were in a state of freedom.
Verses 3:25, 26, 27. Nevertheless these truths are received with doubt by those of the perverted church, and therefore it is taught that all purifying truth is from the Divine Truth, and thus that all wisdom, intelligence, reason, and science, are not of man, but of the Lord in his Divine Humanity.
Verses 3:28, 29. And that the design of all representative truth is only to prepare mankind for the reception of the Divine Truth, that thus good and truth may be conjoined in the church, and the church may rejoice in being instructed concerning the precepts of faith, and in receiving them in faith and obedience.
Verses 3:30, 31. Thus the Divine Truth becomes all in all in the church, as being inmost truth, and all other good and truth only administer externally.
Verses 3:32, 33. For the Divine Truth testifies concerning the Lord, both as to his divine wisdom and divine love, and notwithstanding its being rejected by the generality of mankind, brings conviction along with it to those who receive it.
Verses 3:34, 35. Which truth is from the Lord's Divine Humanity, whose intelligence and wisdom are infinite, being in eternal union with the divine good, and thus possessing the all of that good.
Verse 3:36. Whosoever therefore receives truth from that Divine Humanity with a right faith, is made partaker also of the divine good, but whoever rejects it, can have no apprehension of that good, but remains in his own natural evils.
Mark 8
1
In those days, when there was a very great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to himself, and said to them,
2
"I have compassion on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days, and have nothing to eat.
3
If I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way."
4
His disciples answered him, "From where could one satisfy these people with bread here in a deserted place?"
5
He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven."
6
He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given thanks, he broke them, and gave them to his disciples to serve, and they served the multitude.
7
They had a few small fish. Having blessed them, he said to serve these also.
8
They ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets of broken pieces that were left over.
9
Those who had eaten were about four thousand. Then he sent them away.
10
Immediately he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the region of Dalmanutha.
11
The Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing him.
12
He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation."
13
He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side.
14
They forgot to take bread; and they didn't have more than one loaf in the boat with them.
15
He warned them, saying, "Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."
16
They reasoned with one another, saying, "It's because we have no bread."
17
Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, "Why do you reason that it's because you have no bread? Don't you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened?
18
Having eyes, don't you see? Having ears, don't you hear? Don't you remember?
19
When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They told him, "Twelve."
20
"When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They told him, "Seven."
21
He asked them, "Don't you understand, yet?"
22
He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him.
23
He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything.
24
He looked up, and said, "I see men; for I see them like trees walking."
25
Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly.
26
He sent him away to his house, saying, "Don't enter into the village, nor tell anyone in the village."
27
Jesus went out, with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I am?"
28
They told him, "John the Baptizer, and others say Elijah, but others: one of the prophets."
29
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."
30
He commanded them that they should tell no one about him.
31
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32
He spoke to them openly. Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
33
But he, turning around, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men."
34
He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, "Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it.
36
For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?
37
For what will a man give in exchange for his life?
38
For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
