John 12:1

JOHN CHAPTER 12 1 THESSALONIANS 12:1 Mary anoints the feet of Jesus: Judas murmurs at the cost. 1 THESSALONIANS 12:9 The people flock to see Lazarus: the chief priests consult to kill him. 1 THESSALONIANS 12:12 Jesus rideth into Jerusalem in triumph. 1 THESSALONIANS 12:20 Certain Greeks desired to s... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:2

That this supper was made in Bethany is no question; but at whose house there it is questioned. Some think that it was at the house of Simon the leper. We read indeed of a supper made for our Saviour at his house, both MATTHEW 26:6,7, and MARK 14:3, and that Simon is said to have been of Bethany: on... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:3

Ver. 3-8. Both Matthew and Mark relate this story with some different circumstances: see the notes upon those two places, where all the differing circumstances are considered and explained, and the parts of this history are more largely explained.... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:9

Bethany was so near to Jerusalem, that many of the Jews came thither, as well to see Lazarus, raised from the dead, as to see Christ: nor was this without the special providence of God, that the name of Christ might be made more famous just before his suffering.... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:10

Never was there a more unreasonable madness and rage, to justify the apostle's calling of the enemies of the gospel _unreasonable men,_ 2 THESSALONIANS 3:2. Suppose that Christ had broken the sabbath, or had spoken blasphemy, yet what had Lazarus done?... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:11

Being raised from death to life, he possibly spake of it to the honour and glory of God; for this they consult to put him to death also; and their only reason was, _because that many of the Jews believed on Jesus_ for his sake.... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:12

Ver. 12-15. This whole history is much more largely reported by the other evangelists; SEE POOLE ON "MATTHEW 21:1", and following verses to MATTHEW 21:16. SEE POOLE ON "MARK 11:1", and following verses to MARK 11:10. SEE POOLE ON "LUKE 19:29", and following verses to LUKE 19:40.... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:16

The evangelist, amongst others, confesseth his own ignorance also. The disciples saw the thing done, Christ riding into the city upon the foal of an ass, the people strewing of boughs, and throwing their clothes in the way; but to what purpose these things were done, or what fulfilling of prophecies... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:17

Ver. 17-19. These three verses let us know the external cause of the people's coming to see Christ, which was the fame of the miracle wrought by our Saviour on Lazarus; this increased the number of those who came to see his entrance into Jerusalem; but the unseen cause was, doubtless, the influence... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:20

OLBGrk; It is not easy to be determined what these GREEKS were; whether Jews, who, being scattered in the Grecian country upon the conquests which the Grecians had made upon the Jews under Alexander the Great, and those who succeeded him, still remained in those countries, but kept so much of the re... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:21

If these Grecians (as is probable) were Syrophenicians, their country was so near to Bethsaida of Galilee, which was Philip's town, that it is probable they might have some knowledge of him, and that might bring them to him to be spokesman; but it should seem they came only to satisfy their curiosit... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:22

The news of their coming, and their errand, is brought to Christ by Philip and Andrew, who possibly might stumble at it, because they were Gentiles, and Christ had forbidden them to go into the way of the Gentiles; they therefore first acquaint him with the desire of those Greeks, before they bring... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:23

Christ replies, that the time was now come when he (who was the Son of God) SHOULD BE GLORIFIED; that is, by the Gentiles receiving of the gospel, according to the many prophecies of it in the Old Testament; but he goeth on telling them that he must first die.... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:24

Look as you see in your ordinary husbandry, the grains of wheat are first buried in the earth, and lose their form, before they spring and shoot up again, and bring forth fruit; so it must be with me; I must be first lifted up, before I shall draw men after me; I must first be crucified, before my g... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:25

We had much the same in the other evangelists, MATTHEW 10:39 LUKE 14:26. Some think that our Saviour repeateth it here, to show, that as Christ first suffered, and then entered into his glory; so his disciples must also lay the foundation of their glory in their sufferings and _through much tribulat... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:26

IF ANY MAN SERVE ME, LET HIM FOLLOW ME: this is much the same with that, MATTHEW 16:24, unless following here be more restrained to suffering, _let him follow me_ to my cross; for otherwise it seemeth the same with serving; we must be ready not only to do, but also to die for Christ, to follow him t... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:27

OLBGrk; NOW IS MY SOUL TROUBLED; by _soul_ is not here to be understood only the sensitive part of the soul, but his whole human soul. So 1 THESSALONIANS 13:21, _He was troubled in spirit._ Our inward troubles arise from our passions; and there are passions of grief and fear, which give us most of... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:28

FATHER, GLORIFY THY NAME; that is, make thy name glorious, make it to be known and famous over all the earth. A general petition, but such a one as all our particular requests must be reduced to, if they be according to the will of God. It is as much as, Father, do thine own will: for God is then gl... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:29

THE PEOPLE SAID THAT IT THUNDERED; nor, it may be, were they mistaken, saving only in this, that they thought it was nothing else but thunder (being possibly at such a distance, as they could not distinctly hear the voice); for it was God's way, when he spake unto his people by a voice, to have that... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:30

This voice came not to instruct me, I very well knew, before it came, that my Father had glorified his own name, and would do it again; it came not principally nor solely for me, but chiefly to confirm you in this great truth, that I am the Son of God, and he whom he hath sent into the world, by and... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:31

The terms JUDGMENT and WORLD are taken so variously in the New Testament, and particularly in this very Gospel, that they have given interpreters a great liberty to vary in their senses of this passage. It seemeth reasonable to agree that our Saviour doth expound in this verse what the voice from he... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:32

Ver. 32,33. However this term of lifting up Christ is taken in some other scriptures, it is by the evangelist himself in this text expounded concerning his death, so as there is no room for any other interpretation of it in this text. The word that is used, is hardly to be found in any place (except... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:34

Here again THE LAW is taken in a larger sense than in some places, where it is only significant of the books of Moses, in opposition to the prophets and other holy writings, as we had it before, 1 THESSALONIANS 10:34; for the places of Scripture which the people seem to refer to, seem to be PSALMS 1... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:35

Our Saviour thinketh not fit further to open himself as to that point concerning the Messiah, and his Divine nature; into a direct assertion of which he must have entered, had he given a direct answer to their questions; otherwise what they had objected might easily have been answered by our Saviour... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:36

He either expounds what he meant before, by his calling to them to walk in the light, viz. believing in him who is the true and great Light of the world; or else he declares faith in him to be their duty, as well as obedience to him, which is a point our Saviour had often before pressed. While I am... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:37

The miracles of Christ did not work faith in any, yet they had a tendency both to prepare souls for an assent to the proposition of the gospel, and also for receiving Christ as the true Messiah and Saviour of the world, as they evidenced a Divine power in him by which he wrought those mighty works;... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:38

OLBGrk; So as that which Isaiah prophesied, ISAIAH 53:1, appeared to be fulfilled in them; for the term ina, which we translate THAT, doth not in Scripture always denote the final cause, with respect to the counsel and intention of God, but oft times the event. So 1 THESSALONIANS 5:20 ROMANS 5:20 2... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:39

OLBGrk; Some will have, THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE, to be the same with, they did not; as, MARK 6:5, it is said Christ could not do mighty works at Nazareth; or the same with, they would not, as GENESIS 19:22; but this seemeth a hard interpretation of ouk hdunanto. It is most certain, that in all there... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:40

We have this text (than which there is not one more terrible in the whole book of God) no less than six times quoted in the New Testament, and in all places quoted and given as a reason for the Jews unbelief in the Lord Jesus Christ, MATTHEW 13:14,15 MR 4:12 LUKE 8:10 ACTS 28:26,27 RO 11:8. It is no... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:41

The evangelist saith, that these things ESAIAS SAID, WHEN HE SAW HIS GLORY, AND SPAKE OF HIM. Isaiah's sight of God's glory is described, ISAIAH 6:1, _I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, &c._ The evangelist expounds this of Christ, which is an evident proof of the Deity of Chri... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:42

OLBGrk; Though the Pharisees made up a great part of the sanhedrim, yet there were divers others also mixed with them, amongst which there were many of a better temper; and it may be arcontwn here may not signify members of that court, but principal men in the magistracy. We must not understand by... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:43

For they were not willing to part with their great places in the magistracy, which brought them respect, honour, and applause from men; they valued this more than God's honouring and praising them. How hard it is for great men to enter into the kingdom of God!... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:44

The words, at first view, seem to contain a contradiction, and denying the same act as to the same person; as if any man could believe, and yet not believe on Christ; but there is nothing less in them. By the same figurative way of speaking God tells the prophet Samuel, 1 SAMUEL 8:7, the people had... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:45

No man hath seen God at any time; but he that by the eyes of his mind knows, and understands, and believeth in me, seeth him that sent me: or, he that seeth me in my works which I do, seeth also him that sent me, by whom I do these mighty works. Thus, afterward, 1 THESSALONIANS 14:9, he saith to Phi... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:46

I AM COME A LIGHT INTO THE WORLD; this is no more than what our Saviour hath often said, 1 THESSALONIANS 3:19, and 1 THESSALONIANS 9:5; and it was according to the prophecy of him, ISAIAH 42:6. THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON ME SHALL NOT ABIDE IN DARKNESS; that he who receiveth and embraces me, as his... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:47

I JUDGE HIM NOT; I alone judge him not, or rather, it is not my present business to pronounce sentence of condemnation against him; I am now doing the work of a Redeemer and Saviour, not of a Judge: he _is condemned already,_ 1 THESSALONIANS 3:18, and he hath another that accuseth and condemneth him... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:48

These words, AND RECEIVETH NOT MY WORDS, expound the former: not to receive in heart, to believe, and embrace the words of Christ in the gospel, is to reject Christ. So LUKE 10:16, _He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me._ And he that doth so, _hath one that judgeth h... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:49

I do not speak what I say to you as mere man, or any thing but what is my Father's will, and mine only as one with him, and as sent by him; I have said nothing but what my Father hath willed me to reveal to the world as his will.... [ Continue Reading ]

John 12:50

I am assured that the way to life everlasting is to obey his commandments; and that makes me speak, and deliver all that, and nothing but that, which I have in charge from my Father: AS THE FATHER SAID UNTO ME, SO I SPEAK. Therefore look you to it, in rejecting me, you reject my Father, whom you own... [ Continue Reading ]

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