Explanation of John 7
By Rev. John Clowes M.A.
Explaining the Inner Meaning of John 7
Verse 7:1. That the Lord has more delight in instructing the Gentiles, who are in the good of ignorance, than in instructing those of the perverted church, who are principled in self-love, because the love of the latter is opposed to his love.
Verse 7:2. For the Lord is always seeking the implantation of good in truth, and thus liberation of the church from evil.
Verses 7:3, 4. Nevertheless he is tempted by the affections of the natural man to make an external display of his omnipotence, by which both they who are of the church, and they who are not of the church, might be led to acknowledge him.
Verses 7:5, 6. But this suggestion is not influenced by divine truth, which teaches, that the state of the Lord, when he was in the world, differed from that of natural men, because he was always advancing, as to his humanity, towards union with the divine good in himself, whereas natural men are in the present possession of their good.
Verse 7:7. And therefore natural men are not sensible of opposition from the powers of evil, whereas the Lord, as to his humanity, felt the whole weight of that opposition, in consequence of making those powers manifest.
Verses 7:8, 9. On which account natural men are enjoined the use of representative worship, but not so the Lord, since the glorification of his humanity is the end of all representations, and therefore he remains with those who receive him according to that end.
Verse 7:10. At the same time he interiorly is in the good of that representative worship, which relates to the implantation of good in truth, and thus to the glorification of his humanity, but not exteriorly.
Verses 7:11, 12, 13. By which means he excites enquiry in the church concerning himself, which enquiry leads some to justify him, and some to condemn him, yet all are afraid to speak their sentiments, being over-awed by public opinion.
Verse 7:14. That from divine good, and consequent elevation into the light of divine truth, the Lord gives instruction.
Verse 7:15. The interior source of which instruction cannot be apprehended by the natural man.
Verse 7:16. Until he is taught, that the truth proceeding from the Lord's humanity is not of the humanity only, but of the divine good dwelling in it, and one with it.
Verse 7:17. And that therefore all, who live in conformity with that good, will be instructed as to the origin of truth.
Verse 7:18. Since self-love always gives birth to false principles, whilst divine and heavenly love gives birth to principles of truth and justice.
Verses 7:19, 20. Hence comes the Divine Word, which still is not obeyed, and therefore the Lord in his Divine Humanity is rejected, and his operation imputed to infernal agency, whilst they who reject him are not aware of the crime which they are committing.
Verses 7:21, 22, 23. Therefore they are taught, that since the Lord in his Divine Humanity had manifested, by their own confession, an operation more than human; and since on this account the Word, both in the Israelitish church, and in the ancient church, required purification from unclean loves, which requirement they fulfilled, as to its external representation, therefore out of regard to the Word, they ought not to oppose that humanity in its purpose of communicating spiritual life, which was represented by the Sabbath.
Verse 7:24. Neither ought they to form their judgement from truth alone, but from truth in conjunction with its good.
Verses 7:25, 26. That the opposition of the perverted church to the Lord in his Divine Humanity, was known to those who were principled in the doctrine of truth, and who thus, seeing the power of the divine truth over its adversaries, are led to enquire how far they, who are principled in knowledges, believe in that humanity.
Verse 7:27. Yet they are perplexed about the origin of that humanity, because they could not discern his divinity.
Verse 7:28. Therefore they are taught that the humanity was known, and also its origin, since it is not self-derived, but from the invisible and unknown divinity.
Verse 7:29. Yet the humanity knows the divinity, because it proceeds from the divinity.
Verse 7:30. That this doctrine excites violent opposition in will, but not in act, being restrained for the present by the Lord's divine providence.
Verse 7:31. Nevertheless, with those who are principled in truth, it excites faith in the Lord's humanity, the operation of which humanity is exalted by them above every other operation.
Verses 7:32, 33, 34. But this faith so excited tends only to increase the spirit of opposition amongst those of the perverted church, who are principled in self-love, and therefore they are taught, that the Lord's humanity will certainly be united with his divinity, on which occasion he cannot be approached by those who merely speculate about him, because they are destitute of the love and life in which he dwells.
Verses 7:35, 36. Still they who are principled in self-love are not able to comprehend what is meant by the union of the Lord's humanity with his divinity.
Verses 7:37, 38, 39. Therefore they are further instructed, that if they are desirous of attaining the knowledge of truth, they must receive from the Lord in his Divine Humanity the truths of doctrine and their faith, since hence comes spiritual intelligence of divine truth from the Lord, inasmuch as to impart such intelligence is the great purpose of the glorification of the Lord's humanity.
Verse 39, latter part. For spiritual intelligence of divine truth cannot be given but from divinity and humanity united in the one divine person of the Lord.
Verses 7:40, 41, 42, 43. That in consequence of this instruction, they, who are principled in truth, are led to acknowledge the Lord's humanity as the all of doctrine, and the all of truth, whilst others are perplexed about the divine origin of that humanity as taught in the Word.
Verse 7:44. Hence inclination is inwardly cherished to do violence to that humanity, but the power to do it is checked.
Verses 7:45, 46. And on enquiry how, it was checked, it is discovered, that the truth proceeding from that humanity was more than human, so that the simple could not resist it.
Verses 7:47, 48, 49. Therefore they, who are blinded by self-love, and who fancy themselves qualified by their superior learning to decide on what is true, or otherwise, condemn the simple as ignorant of the truth.
Verse 50, 51. Yet their own learning suggests the consideration that no one ought to be condemned, until it be first known whether he be guilty, and what his guilt is.
Verses 7:52, 53. But this consideration is over-ruled, as not applicable to the Lord's humanity and the doctrine which he taught, since no teacher of truth can be born out of the church, therefore all abide in their own ruling love and persuasions.
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."
