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 these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2
Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, "Bethesda," having five porches.
3
In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water;
4
for an angel went down at certain times into the pool, and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was made whole of whatever disease he had.
5
A certain man was there, who had been sick for thirty-eight years.
6
When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to be made well?"
7
The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I'm coming, another steps down before me."
8
Jesus said to him, "Arise, take up your mat, and walk."
9
Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.
10
So the Jews said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat."
11
He answered them, "He who made me well, the same said to me, 'Take up your mat, and walk.'"
12
Then they asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take up your mat, and walk'?"
13
But he who was healed didn't know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place.
14
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you."
15
The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
16
For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.
17
But Jesus answered them, "My Father is still working, so I am working, too."
18
For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19
Jesus therefore answered them, "Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.
20
For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21
For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.
22
For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,
23
that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn't honor the Son doesn't honor the Father who sent him.
24
"Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
25
Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God's voice; and those who hear will live.
26
For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.
27
He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.
28
Don't marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice,
29
and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
30
I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don't seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
31
"If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid.
32
It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.
33
You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
34
But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved.
35
He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
36
But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me.
37
The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.
38
You don't have his word living in you; because you don't believe him whom he sent.
39
"You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.
40
Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.
41
I don't receive glory from men.
42
But I know you, that you don't have God's love in yourselves.
43
I have come in my Father's name, and you don't receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
44
How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don't seek the glory that comes from the only God?
45
"Don't think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope.
46
For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.
47
But if you don't believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"
