John 12

Notes

Ver. 23-26. This request of the Greeks manifests that the time appointed of the Father for glorifying me, in the salvation of the Gentiles as well as the Jews, is just at hand.—Were I to continue in my present state, without dying a sacrifice for sin, I should not have the honour of raising up a spiritual seed to bear my image, and show forth my praise; but being made an offering for sin, I shall be glorified in the conversion, and salvation, and praises of repentant sinners,—And ye likewise must be conformed to me in entering into your glory through much tribulation: for whoever, from love to this life, and the enjoyments of it, denies, disowns, and rejects me, that he may escape persecution and danger, shall certainly fall short of the heavenly felicity; and he that undervalues his natural life, and all its enjoyments, for my sake, shall certainly inherit eternal life as his gracious reward. If any man therefore would be a true disciple and servant to me, let him follow my example, and the instructions of my Word, providence, and Spirit. Then shall he quickly share with me in the felicities of the heavenly world, in which my divine nature is at present, and my human will shortly be; and his unfeigned devoting himself to my service shall issue in his obtaining immortal honours from my Father. 27-30. My soul is inexpressibly distressed, in the views of my approaching sufferings and tribulations from every quarter. If it were possible, I could gladly be excused from it; but I do not insist upon it, as the great end of my coming into the world is to undergo them: I therefore entirely resign myself to the will of God, and beg that, in all I do or suffer, his perfections may be glorified to the highest.—To which the Father, by a voice from heaven, replied, That he had already glorified himself in his obedience, ministry, and miracles, and would further glorify himself in his sufferings and death, and in the complete salvation of Jews and Gentiles flowing therefrom. 31. Certainly and quickly shall both Jews and Gentiles be tried with regard to their thoughts of me; the righteous shall be distinguished from the wicked, and they shall be acquitted or condemned answerably to their believing or not believing in me. And Satan, who hath long reigned over most part of the world, in ignorance, idolatry, and other wickedness, and who reigns in the hearts of worldly men, shall be totally vanquished, his claim defeated, his oracles silenced, and himself be cast out of men's hearts, by the powerful spread of the gospel. 32. And I, after first offering up myself a sacrifice for sin on a cross, and in the virtue of it ascending to my Father's right hand, will erect my kingdom upon the ruins of his, inviting men of all ranks, Gentiles as well as Tews, to myself by my Word and Spirit. 35, 36. As the light of my personal ministry, or even the dispensation by my apostles, is to continue but a short time with you Jews, ye ought without delay to make the most diligent improvement of it; for if ye do not, ye must be left to continue in your ignorance and unbelief, to your utter destruction, in time and eternity. While you have me and my gospel among you to show you the way of salvation, believe in me that ye may receive the truth in the love of it, and be under its infallible direction, till ye be admitted into the mansions of glory above. 44-50. He that truly believes in me as the promised Messiah, believes not in me only or ultimately, but, together with and through me, believes in my heavenly Father, who sent me into the world to seek and save lost sinners. And he who, by faith, discerns my person and office, is thereby led into the knowledge of my Father's nature, perfections, and will. I am come into this world to dispel the darkness of ignorance, superstition, and idolatry, and to bring life and immortality to light by the gospel, that whosoever receives and trusts in me should not continue under the power of spiritual blindness, nor wander in the way to eternal misery, but be instructed and guided in the way to everlasting blessedness. And if men, who have had opportunities of hearing and knowing my gospel, wilfully refuse it, and me in it, I will at present neither accuse them to the Father, nor pass nor execute upon them any sentence of condemnation; as the direct design of my coming into the world is not to accuse, condemn, or punish, but to secure, offer, and graciously give spiritual and eternal salvation to all that believe, whether Jews or Gentiles. But he that contemns and rejects me and my doctrines, shall, in due time, find an impartial Judge to try, condemn, and punish him: and the truths which I have preached shall be the rule of judgment, and the awful means of aggravating his offences in the last day. For the holy, excellent, supernatural, and gracious nature of the doctrines which I have taught, and my manner of delivering and confirming the same, manifest that I have uttered them as one directed and authorized by my Father. And whatever ye think of it, I know that what I preach by his authority is the only means of bringing lost sinners to everlasting life; and it is at your infinite peril to reject it.

Ver. 3. Some consider this event distinct from that of Matthew (ch. xxvi.) and Mark (ch. xiv.)—(1) Because this was six days before the passover, that only two, Mat. 26.2. (2) This seems to have occurred in the house of Lazarus, that in the house of Simon the leper, Mat. 26.6. (3) In this Mary anointed the feet of Jesus, in that a woman unnamed poured ointment on his head, Mat. 26.7. Others consider the three narratives identical, though the circumstances differ, judging it more probable that Matthew and Mark should have dislocated the chronology of the events, than that our Lord should have twice been anointed within four days. C.

Ver. 24. This statement of our Lord, and that of Paul, 1 Co. 15. 36, have been impugned as contrary to fact; for, say the objectors, if the grain of wheat die, there can be no produce. This objection is a melancholy specimen of ignorance. When a man dies, the outward body dies—the inward 'spirit returns to God who gave it.' So, when the outward parts of the seed are chemically changed by moisture and heat, the inward germ, the embryo plant, is developed, and presents, if not an intended type, yet a natural parallel and illustration, of the resurrection. C.

Ver. 27. If our Lord prayed to be saved and was not answered, how can it be said that 'the Father heareth him always?' ch. 11. 42. Two simple and efficient answers present themselves :—(1) The words may be taken interrogatively: 'What shall I say? (Shall I say) Father, save me from this hour? (Nay) but for this cause came I unto this hour.' (2) A more literal translation will totally remove the difficulty without the interrogation: 'Father, save me out of this hour;'—(which prayer was literally fulfilled, for out of that hour of darkness he arose more bright than ever): —'but for this cause came I into this world,' and therefore know I must patiently endure till thy name is glorified in my sufferings. C.

Ver. 41. The glory which Isaiah saw, ch.6.1,5,8,9, and the person of whom he spoke, was certainly JEHOVAH, JEHOVAH OF Hosts; and certainly the words of Isaiah are here applied to Christ. The conclusion is, therefore, inevitable—Christ is JEHOVAH 'manifest in the flesh.' C.

**Reflections.—**Grateful acknowledgments should never be long delayed. While true believers think all expense and service for Christ too little, hypocrites grudge him either heart, hand, or purse: and it is not regard to the poor, but love to the world, that sways them. While some gospel-hearers relish the report of Jesus and his works, others are thereby filled with murderous rancour. And the more Christ honours men, the world will hate them the more. Yea, the stronger evidence of his character Christ gives, obstinate unbelievers are the more exasperated; and if God check them, they become more resolute in wickedness. But let them rage as they please, Jesus will royally triumph over all opposition, fulfil his Father's promises, and honour his perfections, in both his sufferings and glories. —Thrice happy is it, if even curiosity lead us to the saving knowledge of him, and if regard to his people occasion our intimacy with himself!—Great is the virtue of his obedience and death for glorifying God, vanquishing Satan, and converting Jews, and especially Gentiles, to God. Much self-denial is necessary in following him aright. And transcendent is their reward who faithfully serve him, and, by faith, improve the light of his gospel while they have it. But great is their guilt and misery who indulge spite, devise cavils, and shut their eyes against the illuminations of his Word; or who, for secular honours, avoid the open profession of his name. Abandoned by God, they go on in the ways of ignorance and self-deceit, till they land in the depths of hell. Dreadful will be their case when he, who came into the world to save men, shall judge and condemn them at last. Yea, nothing will more fearfully aggravate their guilt and punishment than abused means of salvation.