Explanation of John 5
Av Rev. John Clowes M.A.
Explaining the Inner Meaning of John 5
Verses 5:1, 2. That the Lord, as to his humanity, initiated himself into the doctrine of the church, which was in connection with the knowledges of good and truth derived from the Word, thus with truths introductory to good.
Verse 5:3. Which truths are imparted to all those who are made sensible of their natural infirmities and disorders, whether arising from a defect, of intelligence, or from intelligence not yet formed into life, or from faith separate from charity, and thus produce vivification through acknowledgement and faith.
Verse 5:4. And this in consequence of divine influx, so that whoever receives the knowledges of good and truth with his supreme affection, or love, experiences purification from evil, and restoration of spiritual life.
Verses 5:5, 6, 7, 8. Yet some, by reason of the unsettled state of their wills, make slower progress in purification than others, until they are excited to exploration of their secret purposes and intentions, and have their affections and thoughts thereby elevated, so as to live according to the truth.
Verse 5:9. In which case they also are restored to the life of heaven, whilst the doctrine, in which they believe, is elevated to that life, so as to influence their lives, and thus introduce them into a state of eternal rest and peace.
Verses 5:10, 11. That they, who are of the perverted church, are offended on this occasion, and are instructed that all elevation of doctrine to conjunction with the life of heaven is an effect resulting from the divine love of the Lord, in his Divine Humanity.
Verses 5:12, 13. Hence they are led to seek knowledge concerning that Divine Humanity, but are not permitted, by reason of the evils and falsities in which they are principled, to attain such knowledge.
Verse 5:14. That they, who are purified from evils and falsities, are cautioned against the danger of profanation, which consists in turning back again to such evils and falsities.
Verse 5:15. Being therefore thus cautioned, they bear testimony to the Lord's Divine Humanity, as being the only source, of all spiritual and eternal life.
Verse 5:16. But are opposed in this testimony by those of the perverted church, who abide in representative worship, and do not discern how all representatives had reference to the union of the Divine and Human nature in the Lord.
Verse 5:17. Wherefore these latter are instructed, that the union of the two natures is effected reciprocally.
Verse 5:18. But this instruction only excites more of evil, being perversely interpreted as tending not only to destroy all representative worship, but also to confound divinity with humanity, and humanity with divinity.
Verse 5:19. Therefore they are further instructed, that divine truth can do nothing of itself, but from the divine good, and thus divine truth in the Lord's humanity always operates in conjunction and agreement with divine good in his divinity.
Verse 5:20. And this in consequence of the divine love, which manifests to its humanity all its purposes, until its humanity is fully glorified, or made divine, that so mankind may be led to adoration.
Verse 5:21. And also to the discovery, that by virtue of such glorification, the humanity receives from the divinity the power of imparting spiritual life, and thus of delivering man from the power of evil.
Verse 5:22. Also the power of arranging the several principles of the human mind, and thus of separating the evil from the good, which cannot be effected by the divine good alone without the divine truth.
Verse 5:23. To the intent that thus the Humanity of the Lord may always be seen in union with his divinity, and regarded as an equal object of worship and adoration, since otherwise the divinity itself cannot be worshipped and adored.
Verse 5:24. They therefore, who obey the divine truth, and approach the Lord in his Divine Humanity, are admitted into heaven, and never separating truth from good, are raised from a state of damnation to a state of salvation.
For since the assumption of the Human [principle] by the Divine, all who are in ignorance may learn the truths of faith, and may thus be gifted with spiritual life.
Verse 5:26. Inasmuch as the internal of the Lord being Jehovah, his Humanity has independent and underived life, alike with his divinity.
Verse 5:27. And has also the power of separating evil from good, and thus of arranging all goods and truths, as being itself the supreme truth.
Verses 5:28, 29. So that at his appearing even natural men shall be instructed in the divine truth, and if they obey it, shall attain spiritual life; but if they be disobedient, shall immerse themselves in spiritual death.
Verse 5:30. For the Humanity of the Lord operates solely from the divinity in itself, and is thus in divine truth from divine good, because in all things it exalts the divine good.
Verses 5:31, 32. Therefore divine truth claims no authority to itself separate from divine good, but only in union with that good.
Verses 5:33, 34. Neither does it claim authority from human testimony, but from its own divine power of communicating spiritual life.
Verse 5:35. Yet the testimony of man in favour of the divine truth is grounded both in good and truth, and has a tendency to impart to others those heavenly principles.
Verse 5:36. Nevertheless the glorification of the Lord's Humanity, the subjugation of the hells, and the consequent redemption of mankind, are the fullest proofs that the Lord is one with Jehovah.
Verse 5:37. Thus the divine good, which in itself is invisible, testifies that it is made visible in the Divine Humanity, which it assumed for that purpose.
Verse 5:38. But this is not believed by those, who are not enlightened and enlivened by the truth of that good.
Verse 5:39. Therefore all such are exhorted to explore the Holy Word which contains that truth, and which testifies throughout concerning the assumption and glorification of the Lord's Humanity.
Verse 5:40. Nevertheless they, who are of the perverted church, will not draw near to and abide in that Humanity, although there is no other source of good and of truth.
Verses 5:41, 42. Which Humanity testifies that it is purely Divine, and that they who reject it have no genuine affection of truth.
Verse 5:43. Therefore they do not approach the Eternal in his Divine Humanity, because they believe the truth to be unconnected with that its divine source.
Verse 5:44. And this in consequence of exalting human authority above the authority of divine truth.
Verses 5:45, 46, 47. So that even the truth of the Word, which they profess to believe, condemns them, since that truth testifies concerning the Lord's Divine Humanity, and therefore if its testimony be not admitted, the Lord's Divine Humanity cannot be acknowledged.
John 4
1
When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
2
(Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
3
He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
4
And he must needs go through Samaria.
5
Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
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Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
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There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
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(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
9
Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
10
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
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Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
13
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
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But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
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The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
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Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
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The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
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For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
19
The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
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Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
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Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
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Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
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But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
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God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth.
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The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
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Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
27
And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
28
The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
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Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
30
Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
31
In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
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But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
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Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
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Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
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Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I Say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
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And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
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And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
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I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
39
And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
40
So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41
And many more believed because of his own word;
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And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
43
Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.
44
For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.
45
Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.
46
So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.
47
When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.
48
Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.
49
The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
50
Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.
51
And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
52
Then inquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
53
So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.
54
This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.
