1._Jesus came to Bethany. _We see that they judged too rashly who thought that Christ _would not come to the feast_, (2) (John 11:56;) and this, reminds us that we ought not to be so hasty as not to wait patiently and quietly, till the season arrive, which is unknown to us. Now _Jesus came _first _t... [ Continue Reading ]
2._There therefore they made him a banquet_. Matthew (Matthew 26:7) and Mark, (Mark 14:3) say that he then supped at the house of Simon the leper. John does not mention the house, but shows plainly enough, that it was in some other place than the house of Lazarus and Martha that he supped; for he sa... [ Continue Reading ]
3._And the house was filled with the odor _of the ointment. It was not a simple liquor extracted from _spikenard, _but a compound of many odoriferous substances; and therefore it is not wonderful that _the _whole _house was filled with the odor _... [ Continue Reading ]
4._One of his disciples, therefore, saith. _Next follows the murmuring of Judas, which Matthew (Matthew 16:8) attributes to the disciples indiscriminately, and Mark (Mark 14:4) to _some _of them; but it is customary in Scripture to apply to many, by way of synecdoche, what belongs to one or to a few... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred denarii? _A pound of ordinary ointment, Pliny tells us, cost not more than ten denarii; but the same Pliny says, that the highest price of the best ointment was three hundred and ten denarii. Now the Evangelists agree, that this was the most costly... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Because he was a thief_. The rest of the Apostles, not from any bad disposition, but thoughtlessly, condemn Mary. But Judas resorts to a plausible pretext for his wickedness, when he brings forward _the poor_, though he cared nothing about them. We are taught by this instance what a frightful bea... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Let her alone. _When Christ bids them _let _Mary _alone_, he shows that they act improperly and unjustly who disturb their neighbors without a good reason, and raise a disturbance about nothing. Christ’s reply, as given by the other Evangelists, is longer; but the meaning is the same. The _anoint... [ Continue Reading ]
8._For the poor you have always with you. _We must observe what I have already pointed out, that a distinction is here drawn expressly between the extraordinary action of Mary, and the daily service which is due to Christ. Those persons, therefore, are apes, and not imitators, who are desirous to se... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Then a great multitude of the Jews knew that he was there. _The more nearly the time of the death of Christ approached, it became the more necessary that his name should be universally celebrated, in order that it might be a preparation for stronger faith after his death. More especially, the Eva... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Now the chief priests consulted. _It certainly was worse than insane fury to endeavor to put to death one who had manifestly been raised from the dead by divine power. But such is the spirit of giddiness with which Satan torments the wicked, so that there is no end of their madness, even though... [ Continue Reading ]
12._The next day, a great multitude. _This entrance of Christ is more copiously related (Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29) by the other Evangelists; but John here embraces the leading points. In the first place, we ought to remember Christ’s design, which was, that he came to Jerusalem of his own... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Took branches of palm-trees. _The _palm _was the emblem of victory and peace among the ancients; but they were wont to employ _branches of palm-trees, _when they bestowed kingly power on any one, or when they humbly supplicated the favor of a conqueror. But those persons appear to have taken int... [ Continue Reading ]
14._And Jesus having found a young ass. _This part of the history is more minutely related by the other Evangelists, who tell us, that Christ _sent two of his disciples _to bring an ass, (Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29.) John, who was the latest writer of all the Evangelists, reckoned it enough... [ Continue Reading ]
16._These things his disciples did not understand at first. _As the seed does not spring up as soon as it is thrown into the earth, so the result of the works of God is not immediately seen. The Apostles are the servants of God to fulfill the prophecy, but they do not understand what they are doing.... [ Continue Reading ]
17._The multitude gave their testimony. _He again repeats what he had said, that many persons, aroused by the report of so great a miracle, came to meet Christ. The reason why they go out in crowds is, that the rumor, respecting Lazarus who had been restored to life, was widely spread. They had good... [ Continue Reading ]
19._Do you not see that you gain nothing? _By these words they urge themselves to greater rage; for it may be regarded as a reproach of their slothfulness, as if they had said, that the reason why the people revolted and followed Christ was their own excessive indolence and cowardice. This is the wa... [ Continue Reading ]
20._Now there were some Greeks. _I do not think that they were Gentiles or uncircumcised, because immediately afterwards it follows that they came _to worship_. Now it was strictly prohibited by the Roman laws, and severely punished by the Proconsuls and other magistrates, if any person was discover... [ Continue Reading ]
21._These men therefore went to Philip. _It is an indication of reverence, that they do not address Christ, but are desirous to obtain access through _Philip_; for reverence always begets modesty. The inference which the Papists draw from this, that we ought to call on departed saints, (19) that the... [ Continue Reading ]
23._The hour is come. _Many explain this as referring to the death of Christ, because by it the glory of Christ was manifested; so that, in their opinion, Christ now declares that the time of his death is at hand. But I rather view it as referring to the publication of the gospel; as if he had said,... [ Continue Reading ]
24._Unless a grain of wheat having fallen into the ground, die, it remaineth alone. If a grain of wheat do not die _or putrefy, it continues to be dry and unfruitful; but the death of the seed has the beneficial effect of quickening it, that it may yield fruit. In short, Christ compares his death to... [ Continue Reading ]
25._He who loveth his soul shall destroy it. _To doctrine Christ joins exhortation; for if we must die in order that we may bring forth _fruit_, we ought patiently to permit God to mortify us. But as he draws a contrast between the love of life and the hatred of lit, we ought to understand what it i... [ Continue Reading ]
26._If any, man serve me_. That death may not be exceedingly bitter and disagreeable to us, Christ invites us by his example to submit to it cheerfully; and certainly we shall be ashamed to refuse the honor of being his disciples. But on no other condition does he admit us into their number, except... [ Continue Reading ]
27._Now is my soul troubled. _This statement appears at first to differ widely from the preceding discourse. He had displayed extraordinary courage and magnanimity by exhorting his disciples not only to suffer death, but willingly and cheerfully to desire it, whenever it is necessary; and now, by sh... [ Continue Reading ]
28._Father, glorify thy name. _By these words he testifies, that he prefers the _glory _of _the Father _to all things else, and even neglects and disregards his own life. And the true regulation of all our desires is, to seek the glory of God in such a manner that all other things shall give way to... [ Continue Reading ]
29._That it thundered. _It was truly monstrous, that the assembled multitude were unmoved by so evident a miracle. Some are so deaf, that they hear as a confused sound what God had distinctly pronounced. Others are less dull of caring, but yet take away much from the majesty of the Divine voice, by... [ Continue Reading ]
30._This voice came not for my sake. _Had Christ no need of being strengthened, or did the Father care less for him than for us? But we must attend to this principle. As it was on our account that Christ clothed himself with flesh, so all the blessings which he received from the Father were bestowed... [ Continue Reading ]
31._Now is the judgment of this world. _The Lord now, as if he had already succeeded in the contest, boasts of having obtained a victory not only over fear, but over death; for he describes, in lofty terms, the advantage of his death, which might have struck his disciples with consternation. Some vi... [ Continue Reading ]
32._If I be lifted up_. Next follows the method by which _the judgment _shall be conducted; namely, Christ, being _lifted up _on the cross, shall gather all men to himself, in order that he may raise them from earth to heaven. The Evangelist says, that Christ pointed out the manner of his death; and... [ Continue Reading ]
34._We have heard from the law. _Their intention undoubtedly was, to carp malignantly at the words of Christ; and therefore their malice blinds them, so that they perceive nothing amidst the clearest light. They say that Jesus ought not to be regarded as the Christ, because he said that he would die... [ Continue Reading ]
35._Yet a little while the light is with you. _Though in this reply the Lord gently admonishes them, yet at the same time he reproves them sharply; for he charges them with shutting their eyes against _the light_, and at the same time threatens that ere long the light will be taken away from them. W... [ Continue Reading ]
36._Believe in the light. _He exhorts them to retain by faith the possession of _the light_, for he gives the appellation,_children of light_, to those who, like true heirs, enjoy it to the end. _These things spoke Jesus. _We might have wondered why he withdrew himself from them, when they were so... [ Continue Reading ]
37._And though he had done so many signs. _That no man may be disturbed or perplexed at seeing that Christ was despised by the Jews, the Evangelist removes this offense, by showing that he was supported by clear and undoubted testimonies, which proved that credit was due to him and to his doctrine;... [ Continue Reading ]
38._That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled. _John does not mean that the prediction laid a necessity on the Jews; for Isaiah (Isaiah 53:1; Romans 10:16) uttered nothing but what the Lord revealed to him from the secret treasures of his purpose. Indeed, it must have happened, though... [ Continue Reading ]
39._Therefore they could not believe. _This is somewhat more harsh; because, if the words be taken in their natural meaning, the way was shut up against the Jews, and the power of believing was taken from them, because the prediction of the prophet adjudged them to blindness, before they determined... [ Continue Reading ]
40._He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart. _The passage is taken from Isaiah 6:9, where the Lord forewarns the prophet, that the labor which he spends in instructing will lead to no other result than to make the people worse. First then he says, Go, and tell this people, _Hearing_, _h... [ Continue Reading ]
41._These things spoke Jesus. _Lest readers should think that this prediction was inappropriately quoted, John expressly states, that the prophet was not sent as a teacher to a single age, but, on the contrary, that the glory of Christ was exhibited to him, that he might be a witness of those things... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless, many even of the rulers believed on Him. The murmuring and fierceness of the Jews, in rejecting Christ, having risen to such a height of insolence, it might have been thought that all the people, without exception, conspired against him. But the Evangelist says that, amidst the general... [ Continue Reading ]
43._For they loved the glory of men. _The Evangelist expressly states that those men were not guided by any superstition, but only endeavored to avoid disgrace among men; for if ambition had greater influence over them than the fear of God, it follows, that it was no vain scruple of conscience that... [ Continue Reading ]
44._And Jesus cried. _The object of Christ, in this statement, is to encourage his followers to a proper and unshaken steadfastness of faith; but it contains also an implied reproof, by which he intended to correct that perverse fear. The _cry _is expressive of vehemence; for it is not a simple doct... [ Continue Reading ]
45._And he who seeth me. _The word _see _is here taken for _knowledge_; for, in order to give true and thorough tranquillity to our consciences, which would otherwise have been constantly liable to various agitations, he sends us to the Father. The reason why the stability of faith is firm and secur... [ Continue Reading ]
46._I am come into the worm as a light. _In order to render his disciples more bold and persevering, he proceeds still farther in maintaining the certainty of faith. And, first, he testifies that _he came into the world to be a light_, by which men might be delivered from darkness and errors; and, a... [ Continue Reading ]
47._If any man hear my words. _After having spoken concerning his grace, and exhorted his disciples to steady faith, he now begins to strike the rebellious, though even here he mitigates the severity due to the wickedness of those who deliberately — as it were — reject God; for he delays to pronounc... [ Continue Reading ]
48._He who rejecteth me. _That wicked men may not flatter themselves as if their unbounded disobedience to Christ would pass unpunished, he, adds here a dreadful threatening, that though he were to do nothing in this matter, yet his doctrine alone would be sufficient to condemn them, as he says else... [ Continue Reading ]
49._For I do not speak from myself. _That the outward appearance of man may not lessen the majesty of God, Christ frequently sends us to the Father. This is the reason why he so often mentions the Father; and, indeed, since it would be unlawful to transfer to another a single spark of the Divine glo... [ Continue Reading ]
50._And I know that his commandment is eternal life. _He again applauds the fruit of his doctrine, that all may more willingly yield to it; and it is reasonable that wicked men should feel the vengeance of God, whom they now refuse to have as the Author of life.... [ Continue Reading ]