John 12:1
THEN JESUS CAME TO BETHANY - This was near to Jerusalem, and it was from this place that he made his triumphant entry into the city. See the notes at Matthew 21:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JESUS CAME TO BETHANY - This was near to Jerusalem, and it was from this place that he made his triumphant entry into the city. See the notes at Matthew 21:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 26:3. John 12:2 A SUPPER - At the house of Simon the leper, Matthew 26:6. LAZARUS WAS ... - The names of Martha and Lazarus are mentioned because it was not in their own house, but in that of Simon. Lazarus is particularly mentioned, since it was... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY MIGHT PUT LAZARUS ALSO TO DEATH - When men are determined not to believe the gospel, there is no end to the crimes to which they are driven. Lazarus was alive, and the evidence of his resurrection was so clear that they could not resist it. They could neither deny it, nor prevent its effec... [ Continue Reading ]
See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 21:1. Also Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29. John 12:16 WAS GLORIFIED - Was raised from the dead, and had ascended to heaven. John 12:17 BARE RECORD - Testified that he had raised him, and, as was natural, spread the report through the city. This excited m... [ Continue Reading ]
CERTAIN GREEKS - In the original, “some Hellenists” - -the name commonly given to the Greeks. The same name was commonly used by the Jews to denote all the pagan nations, because most of those whom they knew spoke the Greek language, John 7:34; Romans 1:16; Romans 2:9; Romans 3:9. “Jews and Greeks.”... [ Continue Reading ]
BETHSAIDA OF GALILEE - See the notes at John 1:44. WOULD SEE JESUS - It is probable that the word “see,” here, implies also a desire to converse with him, or to hear his doctrine about the nature of his kingdom. They had seen or heard of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and, either by curiosity... [ Continue Reading ]
TELLETH ANDREW - Why he did not at once tell Jesus is not known. Possibly he was doubtful whether Jesus would wish to converse with Gentiles, and chose to consult with Andrew about it. TELL JESUS - Whether the Greeks were with them cannot be determined. From the following discourse if would seem pr... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOUR IS COME - The time is come. The word “hour” commonly means a definite part or a division of a day; but it also is used to denote a brief period, and a fixed, definite, determined time. It is used in this sense here. The appointed, fixed time is come - that is, is so near at hand that it may... [ Continue Reading ]
VERILY, VERILY - An expression denoting the great importance of what he was about to say. We cannot but admire the wisdom by which he introduces the subject of his death. They had seen his triumph. They supposed that he was about to establish his kingdom. He told them that the time had come in which... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT LOVETH HIS LIFE ... - This was a favorite principle, a sort of “axiom” with the Lord Jesus, which he applied to himself as well as to his followers. See the Matthew 10:39 note; Luke 9:24 note.... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVE ME - Will be my disciple, or will be a Christian. Perhaps this was said to inform the Greeks John 12:20 of the nature of his religion. LET HIM FOLLOW ME - Let him imitate me; do what I do, bear what I bear, and love what I love. He is discoursing here particularly of his own sufferings and de... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW IS MY SOUL TROUBLED - The mention of his death brought before him its approaching horrors, its pains, its darkness, its unparalleled woes. Jesus was full of acute sensibility, and his human nature shrunk from the scenes through which he was to pass. See Luke 23:41. WHAT SHALL I SAY? - This is an... [ Continue Reading ]
GLORIFY THY NAME - The meaning of this expression in this connection is this: “I am willing to bear any trials; I will not shrink from any sufferings. Let thy name be honored. Let thy character, wisdom, goodness, and plans of mercy be manifested and promoted, whatever sufferings it may cost me.” Thu... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PEOPLE - A part of the people. IT THUNDERED - The unexpected sound of the voice would confound and amaze them; and though there is no reason to doubt that the words were spoken distinctly Matthew 3:17, yet some of the people, either from amazement or envy, would suppose that this was a mere nat... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME NOT BECAUSE OF ME - Not to strengthen or confirm me; not that I had any doubts about my course, or any apprehension that God would not approve me and glorify his name. FOR YOUR SAKES - To give you a striking and indubitable proof that I am the Messiah; that you may remember it when I am depart... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW IS THE JUDGMENT OF THIS WORLD - Greek: “crisis.” This expression, doubtless, has reference to his approaching death, and whatever he means by judgment here relates to something that was to be accomplished by that death. It cannot mean that then was to be the time in which the world was to be fin... [ Continue Reading ]
BE LIFTED UP - See John 3:14; John 8:28. WILL DRAW - John 6:44. The same word is used in both places. ALL MEN - I will incline all kinds of men; or will make the way open by the cross, so that all men may come. I will provide a way which shall present a strong motive or inducement - the strongest... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE HEARD OUT OF THE LAW - Out of the Old Testament; or rather we have been so taught by those who have interpreted the law to us. THAT CHRIST - That the Messiah. ABIDETH FOR EVER - Will remain forever, or will live forever. The doctrine of many of them certainly was that the Messiah would not... [ Continue Reading ]
YET A LITTLE WHILE IS THE LIGHT WITH YOU - Jesus did not reply directly to their question. He saw that they were offended by the mention of his death, and he endeavored to arrive at the same thing indirectly. He tells them, therefore, that the light would be with them a little while, and that they o... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE YE HAVE LIGHT - This implied two things: 1.That he was the light, or was the Messiah. 2.That he was soon to be taken away by death. In this manner he answered their question - not directly, but in a way to convey the truth to their minds, and at the same time to administer to them a useful... [ Continue Reading ]
SO MANY MIRACLES - This does not refer to any miracles performed on this occasion, but to all his miracles performed in view of the nation, in healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind, raising the dead, etc. John here gives the summary or the result of all his work undeniable proof of his bei... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SAYING - The word of Isaiah, or that which Isaiah predicted. This occurs in Isaiah 53:1. MIGHT BE FULFILLED - That the same effect should occur which occurred in the time of Isaiah. This does not mean that the Pharisees rejected Christ in order that the prophecy of Isaiah should be fulfilled, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE - See Mark 6:5; “He could there do no mighty works,” etc. The works can and could are often used in the Bible to denote the existence of such obstacles as to make a result certain, or as affirming that while one thing exists another thing cannot follow. Thus, John 5:44; “How c... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH BLINDED THEIR EYES - The expression in Isaiah is, “Go, make the heart of this people fat, and shut their eyes.” That is, go and proclaim truth to them truth that will result in blinding their eyes. Go and proclaim the law and the will of God, and the effect will be, owing to the hardness of... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE SAW HIS GLORY - Isaiah 6:1. Isaiah saw the Lord (in Hebrew, יהוה Yahweh) sitting on a throne and surrounded with the seraphim. This is perhaps the only instance in the Bible in which Yahweh is said to have been seen by man, and for this the Jews affirm that Isaiah was put to death. God had s... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHIEF RULERS - Members of the Sanhedrin - Nicodemus, Joseph, and others like them. BECAUSE OF THE PHARISEES - The Pharisees were a majority of the council. DID NOT CONFESS HIM - Did not openly avow their belief that he was the Messiah. Two of them, however, did afterward evince their attachmen... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRAISE OF MEN - The approval of human beings. It does not appear that they had a living, active faith, but that they were convinced in their understanding that he was the Messiah. They had that kind of faith which is so common among people - a speculative acknowledgment that religion is true, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS CRIED AND SAID - John does not say where or when this was; it is probable, however, that it was a continuation of the discourse recorded in John 12:30. Jesus saw their unbelief, and proceeded to state the consequence of believing on him, and of rejecting him and his message. BELIEVETH NOT ON M... [ Continue Reading ]
SEETH ME ... - This verse is a strong confirmation of his equality with God. In no other way can it be true that he who saw Jesus saw him that sent him, unless he were the same in essence. Of no man could it be affirmed that he who saw him saw God. To say this of Paul or Isaiah would have been blasp... [ Continue Reading ]
A LIGHT INTO THE WORLD - John 8:12; John 1:9; John 3:19. WALK IN DARKNESS - In gross and dangerous errors. Darkness is put for error as well as for sin, John 3:19; 1 John 1:5. It is also used to denote the state when the comforts of religion are withdrawn from the soul, Isaiah 8:22; Joel 2:2;... [ Continue Reading ]
I JUDGE HIM NOT ... - John 8:15. It was not his present purpose to condemn men. He would come to condemn the guilty at a future time. At present he came to save them. Hence he did not now even pronounce decisively on the condition of those who rejected him, but still gave them an opportunity to be s... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT REJECTETH ME - Luke 10:16. The word “reject” means to despise, or to refuse to receive him. HATH ONE - That is, he needs not my voice to condemn him. He will carry his own condemnation with him, even should I be silent. His own conscience will condemn him. The words which I have spoken will... [ Continue Reading ]
OF MYSELF - John 7:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS LIFE EVERLASTING - Is the cause or source of everlasting life. He that obeys the commandment of God shall obtain everlasting life; and this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his only-begotten Son, 1 John 3:22. We see here the reason of the earnestness and fidelity of the Lord Jes... [ Continue Reading ]