A Paraphrase on the New Testament, John · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
THEN Jeſus, ſix days before the paſſoover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raiſed from the dead. 2. There they made him a Supper, and Martha ſerved: but Lazarus was one of them that ſat at the table with him.
1. N. 1, Chriſt was not againſt feſtival entertainment. 2. This is the ſame Hiſtory mentioned, Luk. 10. Where you may ſee more of it.
3. Then took Mary a pound of ointment, of ſpikenard, very coſtly, and anointed the feet of Jeſus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the houſe was filled with the odor of the ointment.
3. N. 1. It is not unlike that ſuch an action was twice done, that is, by two ſeveral Mary's; and that this is not the ſame with that Luke 7. But yet it is very hard to judge where this was done: that it was thrice done is not probable: And that it was done in the houſe of Simon the Leper other Evangeliſts notifie: yet here it ſeemeth to have been done in Martha's own houſe, compar'd with Luke 10. I'ts moſt likely to me that Simon and Martha dwelling in the ſame Village at Bethany joyned their Purſes and Labour and feaſted him in Simons houſe where this anointing was done: But that he was alſo entertained at Martha and Mary's houſe, where that was done, which is recorded, Luke 10.
4. Then ſaid one of his diſciples, Judas Iſcariot, Simons ſon, which ſhould betray him. 5. Why was not this ointment ſold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
4, 5. N. That as Piety is oft pretended by hypocrites againſt Charity, ſo is Charity here by Judas againſt Piety: And there is no work ſo good but may be oppoſed by very fair pretences.
6. This he ſaid, not that he cared for the poor; but becauſe he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
6. Judas being Purſe-bearer, falſly pretended a care of the poor, for his ſelfiſh covetouſneſs.
7. Then ſaid Jeſus, Let her alone: againſt the day of my burial hath ſhe kept this. 8. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
7. This which ſhe gave ſhall be as it were for my funeral embalming; that may be beſt on ſuch an extroardinary occaſion which ordinarily is not ſo. You may always give to the poor.
9. Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came, not for Jeſus ſake only, but that they might ſee Lazarus alſo, whom he had raiſed from the dead. 10. But the chief Prieſts conſulted, that they might put Lazarus alſo to death. 11. Becauſe that by reaſon of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jeſus.
9. N. To be put to death by ſuch wicked Prieſts and Rulers, is no diſhonour or note of guilt in the ſufferer. 2. We ſee here how much Dives was deceived, Luk. 16. That thought his brethren would have been perſwaded by Lazarus ſent from the dead: It's like they would have indicted him for a Scandalum Magnatum, or put him to death again.
12. On the next day, much people that was come to the feaſt, when they heard that Jeſus was coming to Jeruſalem. 13. Took branches of palm-trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hoſanna, bleſſed is the King of Iſrael that cometh in the name of the Lord.
12, 13. They honoured him by this applauding ſolemnity, as the Meſſiah ſent from God to be the King of Iſrael.
14. And Jeſus when he had found a young aſs, he ſat thereon; as it is written, 15. Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh ſitting on an aſſes colt.
14, 15. Thus Zach. 9.9. Was fulfilled.
16. Theſe things underſtood not his diſciples at the firſt, but when Jeſus was glorified, then remembred they that theſe things were written of him, and that they had done theſe things unto him.
16. N. Many things are ſaid and done by Chriſt, which ſhall not be preſently underſtood, but in their ſeaſon.
17. The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raiſed him from the dead, bare record. 18. For this cauſe the people alſo met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
17, 18. N. It was the people that had ſeen and heard of his raiſing Lazarus, that there met him as King with Hoſanna's.
19. The Phariſees therefore ſaid among themſelves, perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
19. N. They thought their danger immanent, that the people would proclaim him King, and then the Romans would deſtroy their Country as Rebels; for they could not truſt God to ſave them from the Romans, though Miracles ſhould have taught it them.
20. And there were certain Greeks among them, that came up to worſhip at the feaſt:
20. Theſe Greeks were not the Jews of Alexandriae that uſed the Greek tongue, (elſewhere called Greeks) but the Proſelites of the Gates, who worſhipped but as Catechumens did with Chriſtians.
21. The ſame came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethſaida of Galilee, and deſired him, ſaying, Sir, we would ſee Jeſus. 22. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip told Jeſus. 23. And Jeſus anſwered them, ſaying, the hour is come, that the Son of man ſhall be glorified. 24. Verily, verily I ſay unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground, and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
21. When Greeks by the ſame of Chriſts Miracles deſired to ſee him, he tells them, that indeed the time of his glory in the world by mens believing on him, was at hand: But that he muſt die firſt, and then the Catholick Church ſhould be gathered. A grain of Wheat is ſaid to die, becauſe the diſſolution and change maketh it no longer a grain of Wheat, but the ſeed of many new grains with the Straw.
25. He that loveth his life, ſhall loſe it, and he that hateth his life in this world, ſhall keep it unto life eternal.
25. And, as it is with me it will be with you: He that ſo overloveth his life, as that he cannot forſake it for my ſake and his Salvation, ſhall loſe it by keeping of it: And he that caſteth it away as men do a hated thing, rather than deny me and ſin, ſhall live for ever.
26. If any man ſerve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there ſhall alſo my ſervant be: if any man ſerve me, him will my Father honor.
26. If any man will be a Chriſtian let him not ſtick to do and ſuffer as I do; but believe that he ſhall fare no worſe than I, but if he die he ſhall be with me where I am: For my Father will honour thoſe that ſerve me.
N. 1. To be a Chriſtian and to be one that ſerveth Chriſt, are all one. 2. Salvation is promiſed to all that ſerve Chriſt. 3. They that ſerve him ſhall be with him where he is: therefore the ſpirits of the juſt made perfect are in Paradiſe, and Heaven; for Chriſt is there. This is our great comfort in life and at death: And we muſt then thus think of our godly departed friends: they are all with Chriſt.
27. Now is my ſoul troubled; and what ſhall I ſay? Father, ſave me from this hour: but for this cauſe came I unto this hour, 28. Father, glorifie thy name. Then came there a voice from Heaven, ſaying, I have both glorified it, and will glorifie it again.
27.28. I am a man, and my Soul is troubled at the foreſight of my death and ſuffering and nature inclineth me to ſay, Father ſave me from it: But I muſt not take up with that natural deſire; for I came on purpoſe thus to ſuffer: Therefore my choice and prayer is, Father glorifie thy Name: Then came there a voice, &c.
29. The people therefore that ſtood by, and heard it, ſaid that it thundred: others ſaid, An angel ſpake to him.
29. They heard the ſound but underſtood not the words.
30. Jeſus anſwered and ſaid, this voice came not becauſe of me, but for your ſakes. 31. Now is the judgment of this world: now ſhall the prince of this world be caſt out. 32. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33. (This he ſaid, ſignifying what death he ſhould die.)
30. This voice though ſpoke to me, was for your conviction, and not for my ſake only: For now the time is at hand when the wickedneſs of this world ſhall be detected and puniſhed, and Satan the Prince of this world caſt out of his poſſeſſion by the gathering of my Chu…ch: And when I am lifted up from the earth by Crucifixion, I ſhall be lifted up to Heaven in glory▪ and will by my Word and Spirit draw many Nations to me their Saviour: By being lift up he meant his Crucifixion as in order to his Reſurrection and Aſcenſion.
34. The people anſwered him, We have heard out of the law, that Chriſt abideth for ever: and how ſayeſt thou, the Son of man muſt be lift up? who is this Son of man?
34. We have been taught that Chriſt dieth not, but ſhall have an everlaſting Kingdom! who then is that Son of man that thou ſayeſt muſt be lift up.
35. Then Jeſus ſaid unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you; walk while ye have the light, leſt darkneſs come upon you: for he that walketh in darkneſs, knoweth not whither he goeth. 36. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may▪ be the children of light. Theſe things ſpake Jeſus, and departed, and did hide himſelf from them.
35, 36. Though Chriſt abide for ever; he will not for ever abide viſible with you: It is but a little while that he who is the light will continue among you: Obey the Light while you have it leſt darkneſs ſurprize you: and he that walketh in darkneſs knoweth not whither he goeth, nor whether he do well or ill. Before I be taken from you, believe in me that ye may be illuminated adopted, and enjoy the light.
37. But though he had done ſo many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him. 38. That the ſaying of Eſaias the Prophet might be fulfilled, which he ſpake, Lord who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
37. All his Miracles cauſed them not to believe: And ſo Iſaiahs propheſie was fulfilled in them, &c.
39. Therefore they could not believe, becauſe Eſaias ſaid again. 40. He hath blinded their eyes, and hardned their heart, that they ſhou…d not ſee with their eyes, nor underſtand with their heart, and be converted, and I ſhould heal them. 41. Theſe things ſaid Eſaias, when he ſaw his glory and ſpake of him.
39. And no wonder that they believed not, for it could not be, it being foretold by Iſaiah that God would forſake them which Iſaiah foreſeeing Chriſts day by inſpiration, did mean in that propheſie.
N. To underſtand this 1. We muſt diſtinguiſh between▪ a cauſed Neceſſity, and a Neceſſity of Conſequence in order of arguing. 2. Between men that have forfeited Gods grace by rejection, and thoſe that Grace is newly offer'd to. And ſo 1. God is not the efficient cauſe of any ſin. 2. But he deſe…teth many that abuſe his Grace, and leaveth them to their blindneſs and obſtinacy, 3. And for it, he cauſeth their deſtruction 4. And he oft foretelleth this. 5. And his prediction maketh the thing foretold hypothetically neceſſary, or a certain conſequence in order of arguing: It being impoſſible that God ſhould lie: And ſo all that is foreknown by God or man will come to paſs; when foreknowledg doth not cauſe it, but prove it. 6. And deſerted Souls have a moral impotency to repent, that is, an indiſpoſition which nothing in their depraved nature will overcome.
42. Nevertheleſs, among the chief rulers alſo many believed on him, but becauſe of the Phariſees, they did not confeſs him, leſt they ſhould be put out of the Synagogue. 43. For they loved the praiſe of men, more then the praiſe of God.
42. Many of the chief Rulers had a ſecret belief, but not enough to make them openly own and confeſs him, left they ſhould be excommunicate and reproacht: For the love of their reputation with men did prevail in them againſt their love of Gods approbation.
44. Jeſus cried and ſaid, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that ſent me. 45. And he that ſeeth me, ſeeth him that ſent me.
44. To believe in me is not to take my own teſtimony, but Gods that ſent me, and ſo is ultimately to believe on him: And it is Gods power that you ſee when ye ſee my works.
46. I am come a light into the world, that whoſoever believeth on me, ſhould not abide in darkneſs.
46. The world is in darkneſs, and I am ſent to be their Light and Teacher to bring them out of it; even from the darkneſs of Atheiſm, Heatheniſms, Infidelity and unrighteouſneſs.
47. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judg him not: for I came not to judg the world, but to ſave the world. 48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have ſpoken, the ſame ſhall judg him in the laſt day.
47. It is not the work that I came for into the world to accuſe men as their enemy for rejecting my Word: The final rejecters of it will be condemned, but not ſo much by my accuſation, as by the evidence of Truth and Divine Atteſtation in the word which they rejected.
N. It is uſual in the Goſpel, for a comparative negation to be expreſſed poſitively: as [I judg him not] that is, not chiefly; (care not: Labour not for the food that periſheth) that is, comparatively, let it be leaſt and laſt. Many ſuch there are.
49. For I have not ſpoken of my ſelf; but the Father which ſent me, he gave me a commandment; what I ſhould ſay, and what I ſhould ſpeak. 50. And I know that his commandment is life everlaſting: whatſoever I ſpeak therefore, even as the Father ſaid unto me, ſo I ſpeak.
49, 50. It is not the meer word of me as a man, but Gods word ſpoken by me by his command, which I have preached: And his Word is the cauſe of and guide to everlaſting life.
N. Chriſt as man was under a peculiar Law of mediation, proper to himſelf.