Annotations Upon the New Testament, John · Chapter 12
CHAP XII.
Verse 3. ANd annointed the feet of Iesus] Matthew and Marke say, that Christs head was annointed, John, his feet; but the three agree among themselves, that Christ was not sparingly annointed by Mary, but that a large plenty of ointment was powred upon him. Because therefore John speakes of his feet, it is all one as if he had said,Calvin. that the whole Body of Christ even to the feet was annointed.
And wiped his feet with her haire] Hysteron proteron, Non erat simplex liquor ex nardo elicitus, sed varia erat confectio ex rebus odoriferis, itaque non mirum est odore perfusam fuisse totam domum. Calvinus.for the first wiped his feet from dust and durt, and then annointed them.
Vers. 6. This he said, not that he cared for the poore, but because he was a thiefe, and had the bag] The rest of the Apostles not out of an ill disposition, but inconsiderately condemn Mary, but Judas seeks an honest pretence for his sins alleging the poore of which yet he had no care.
Vers. 7. Hath she kept this] He meanes it was not unseasonably, but according to the occasion. That is said to be kept which is in safe custody, and opportunely brought forth. The annointing of the bodies was not a vaine ceremony,Vide Piscat. but rather a spirituall symbole, because it did put the hope of resurrection before their eyes. He was annointed as one that was to be laid in the grave,Calvin. Mary certainly was moved on the sudden that she should do that by the guidance of the spirit which she had not before thought of.
Vers. 9. Might see Lazarus] That they might behold a wonderfull signe of the power of Christ in Lazarus.Tanquam laetitiae & festivitatis insigne quum novum Regem exciperent.
Vers. 13. Tooke branches of palme trees, and went forth to meet him] The palme trees among all people were alwaies signs of victory, by which is signified that the people acknowledged Christ a Conquerour, who by his Passion and Resurrection should gloriously overcome death and the Devill, as also the Elect are said to carry palmes in their hands, Rev. 1.9.
Hosanna] By this voice they witnessed that they acknowledged Jesus Christ to be that Messiah promised in times past to the Fathers,Serva vel salvum fac obsecro. Calvin. and from whom Redemption and Salvation was to be hoped. For the 118 Psalme (whence that acclamation was taken) was composed of the Messiah to this end, that all the Saints in their daily prayers might ardently desire his comming,Singulari quodam jure venisse in nomine Domini Christus dicitur, quia per eum non ex parte (ut antea per Prophetas) sed in solidum Deus se patefecit. and receive him with greatest reverence when he was given. He comes in the name of God who doth not rashly intrude himself, nor falsely usurpes honour, but beeing rightly called hath God the guide and author of his actions. See Mr Lightfoots Temple-Service, c. 16. Sect. 2.
Vers. 15. Sitting on an Asses Colt] It is true that Christ rode upon an Asse which was led together with his Dam, and the words of the Prophet agree, it being a frequent repetition among the Hebrews,Calvin. which expresse the same thing twice in divers words, upon an Asse, and the Fole of an Asse. Our Evangelist, which studies brevity, omitting the former member,Vide Waltheri harmoniam Biblicam in Matth. 21.5. Vectus autem est Christus asinâ prius, quia Judaico populo legem imposuit prior, deinde pullo sessoris inexperto, quia Gentilium populum posterius sibi associavit. Id ibid. only reherseth the latter; Mat. 21.5. saith, Christ sat upon an Asse, and a Colt; the other two Evangelists, Mark 11.7. Luk. 19.35. and John here, make mention only of the Colt brought and sate on. He rode upon them both successively and by turns say Tolet and others, which opinion they think, Zac. 9.9. and Mat. 21.5. doth favour.
Est Hyperbole, quasi diceret, plurimi abeunt à nobis, creduntque in Iesum. Cornel à Lap.Verse. 19. The world is gone after him] That is, men of all kinds promiscuously.
Vers. 22. Philip and told Andrew Jesus] Two together.
Vers. 23. The houre is come that the Son of man should be glorified] Many expound this of death, because by that Christs glory was illustrated, therefore Christ according to them saith,Calvin. that now the time of his death draws neere. But I rather refer it to the publishing of the Gospell, as if he had said, that the knowledge of him will be shortly spread through all the coasts of the world.
Ver. 25. He that loveth his life] foreign is here used of excessive and preposterous love, he that so loves his life, that out of a desire to save it he denieth mee and my Gospell; so this Greeke word is used, Mat. 10.37. The Syriack hath a word here that signifieth to love vehemently.
Chap. 11.33. a vehement affection is exprest by this word.Vers. 27. My soule troubled] foreign signifies a vehement commotion and perturbation, as Herods mind was troubled when he heard that a new King was borne, Mat. 2.3. And the Disciples when they thought a Spirit was present, so that they cried out for feare, Mat. 14.26. And Zachary at the sudden sight of the Angell, Luk. 1.12. and it is a metaphor drawn from the commotion of the water.
Quia vox haec maxima, crassissima & resonantissima erat instar tonitrui. Fortè etiam quia confusè non articulatè vocem excipiebant, uti excipitur sonus confusus tonitrui. Cornel à Lap.Vers. 29. Said that it thundred] Because (as Jansenius well commenteth upon the place) some were so amazed, that though they heard a sound, yet they understood not what it was, and therefore they said that it thundred, but others heard it more distinctly and understood it, and therefore they said that an Angell had spoken.
Vers. 32. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me] There is a double lifting up of Christ,Vide Piscat. 1 Ignominious, on the Crosse, Quistorpius interprets it of this out of the 33. verse, then men fled from him. 2. Glorious in the Gospell preacht, then he draws men to him, therefore others expound it of that lifting up. I assent to Chrysostome who saith,Calvin. that Christ used an universall particle, because the Church was to be gathered both of Jews and Gentiles, John 16.16.
Vers. 36. While ye have light beleeve in the light, that ye may be the Children of the light] The Gospell is a light, 2 Pet. 1.19. 2 Cor. 4.4.6. It resembleth it First, in its properties. It is 1. Pure, and remaines uncorrupt though it shine on dunghills. 2. Very necessary. 3 Profitable and usefull to worke and walk by. 4. Pleasant, brings glad tidings. Secondly, In the effects: 1. Expells darknesse, so this ignorance, errour, sin. 2. Makes discoveries where it comes. 3. Quickens, the Sun brings heate as well as light.
Ver. 41. When he saw his gllory] In that vision, Esay 6.1, 2, 3.
Ver. 49. What I should say, and what I should speake] Between saying and speaking (saith à Lapide) there is this difference, that to say is to teach and publish a thing gravely, to speake is familiarly to utter a thing.