John 12

1 Christ siting at the Table with Lazarus at Bethany,3 is anointed by Mary, 4 for which ste is reprehended by Judas, 7 but defended by Christ, 9 many Jews came to see Lazarus, 10 wherefore the chief Priests seek to put him to death also. 12 Chhrist rideth unto Jerusalem upon an Asse,and is by the maltitude received with joy,and wishing of happiness as the King of Israel. 20 Certain Greeks desire to see Jesus,and they speak to Philip thereabout, 23 from whence Christ takes occasion to treat of the fruit of his death,by the similitude of a grain of wheat. 27 Is troubled in his soul and prayeth to his Father,and is glorified by a voice from heaven. 29 Informs the maltitude again of the fruit and manner of his death,and admonisheth them to walk in his light. 37 The Jews continue hardned as was foretold by Isaiah. 42 Yet many of Rulers believeth in him,but dare not confess him. 44 He exhorteth again to faith,and to the confession of the same.

1. Then Jesus six daies before the passover [These six daies must be understood of the time when Christ first came to Bethany, Mat.26.2. and Mark chap.14.1. speak but of two daies.But they have respect to the time when the chief Priests took counsel to take him,and put him to death;as may also be gathered from the 19 verse following this chapter] came to Bethany,where Lazarus was,which had been dead,whom he had raised from the dead.

2. Then there they prepared him a supper, [Namely,in the house of Simon the Leper.See Mat.26.6.]and Martha served:and Lazurus was one of then who sate down with him.

3. Then Mary having taken a pound of ointment,of un-sophisticated [Gr.Pistikes;of this word see Mark 14:3.] very precious Nardus,anointed the feet of Jesus,and dried his feet with her hair,and the house was filled with the smell of the ointment.

4. Then said one of his Disciples (namely) Judas Simons Iscariot,which should betray him.

5. Wherefore was not this oyntment sold for three hundred pence [Denarij,of the value of which see Mat.18.28.& Mark 14:5.]and given to the poor?

6. And this he said,not because he was carefull for the poor,but because he was a thief,and had the purse and bare that which was given.[Gr.was cast,i.e. cast in,namely,by certain godly women and others for the mantainance of Christ and his Disciples.See Luke 8:3.]

7. Then said Jesus ,let her alone,[Or let her be] she hath kept this against the day of my burial. [that is,for a preparation to my burial.See hereof the annot. Mat.26.12.]

8. For the poor ye have alwaies with you, [Namely,to exercise bounty with them,Deu.15.11.] but me ye have alwaies.[namely corporally present.]

9. A great maltitude therefore of the Jews,understood that he was there: and came not only for Jesus sake,but that they might see Lazarus also,whom he had raised from the dead.

10. And the chief Priests took counsell [That is,concluded in thir counsel] thht they should put Lazarus also to death.

11. For many of the Jews went away for his sake : [Namely,to Bethany to see him there] and believed in Jesus.

12. The next day a great maltitude that was come to the feast,bearing that Jesus came to Jerusalem:

13. Took the branches of Palm trees,[Of this whole story,see more at large,Mat.21.8,etc.] and went forthh to meet him,and cried,Hosanna [see also of this word Matthew 21:9.] blessed (is)he [or be he] that comethh in the name of the Lord (he that is)thhe King of Israel.

14. And Jesus found a young Asse [Namely,by the ministry of his disciples,whom e had sent forth for that purpose, as thhe other Evangelists relate more at large] and sate thereon as it is written,

15. Fear not thou daughter Sion [See hereof,Mat.21.5.] behold thy King cometh,sitting the foal sheasse?

16. But this understood not his disciples at the first,[Namely,that this was the fulfilling of that prophecy] but when Jesus was glorified [that is,when after his resurrection and ascension,they had received the holy Ghost] then remembred they that this was written of him,and (that)they had done this unto him.

17. The maltitude therefore was with him,testified that he had called Lazarus out of the grave,and raised him from the dead. [Or the maltitude therefore that was by him,when he called Lazarus out of the grave,and raised him from the dead,gave testimony unto him.]

18. Therefore also the maltitude went to meet him,because they had heard that he had done that sign.

19. The Pharisees therefore said amongst another,See ye (well) that ye avail nothing at all? [Namely,with all your former resistance of him,and that therefore you must take other counsel to withstand him] behold the (whole) world goeth after him. [that is,the greatest maltitude of the people adheres to him,and followeth him as their teacher.]

20. And there were some Greeks [Which were,either uncircumcised heathen,who might also come into foremost part of the Temple for to pray, 1 Kings 8:41,42. or Jewes dwelling among the Greeks,or Proselytes converted from the Heathen,such as the Ethiopian was,Acts 8:27,28.] of those that were come up,that they might worship at the feast.

21. These therefore went unto Philip,who was of Bethsaida in Galilee,and intreated him saying,Sir,we would [Gr.will] (fain) see Jesus. [that is,salute him,and speak with him.]

22. Philip came and told it to Andrew,and Andrew and Philip again told it to Jesus.

23. But Jesus answerd them saying,the hour is come that the son of man shall be glorified. [Namely,by his death and resurrection,after the which he was also glorified amoungst the Gentiles by preaching of the Gospel.]

24. Verily,verily, i say unto you,if a grain of wheat do not fall into the earth and dy,the same abideth alone: [By this similitude Christ meaneth,that he must first dye,and afterwards rise again,to bring mankind both Jews and Greeks unto salvation.See Isa.53.10,11.] but if it dy,it bringeth forth much fruit.

25. He that loveth [That is,loveth more then me.See hereof,Mat.10.37.] his life,[Gr. soul] shall lose the same: and he that hateth his life [that is,is ready to lay it down for me.See Luke 14:26.] in this world, shall keep the same unto eternal life.

26. If a man serve me,let him follow me and where i am,there shall also my servant be.And if any man serve me,the Father shall honour him.

27. Now is my soul troubled [Namely,by the confideration of my grievous approaching suffering] and what shall i say? Father deliver me from this hour [namely,of my grievous suffering.See Mat.26.39.] but for this (cause) am i come into this hour?

28. Father glorifie thy name:Namely, by my death] Then came there a voice from heaven (saying) to this hour, and i have glorified (it) [namely,by many miracles and testimonies] and i will glorifie (it) again.[namely,by the resurrection from the dead ,and that which shhall follow thereupon.

29. The maltitude therefore that stood there,and heard (this),said that there had hapned a thunder-clap, [Namely,seeing his voice was greater then a humane voice] others said,An Angel spake to him.

30. Jesus answered and said,Not for my sake hapned this voice,but for your sakes.[namely,that ye may believe that the Father hath sent me:]

31. Now is the judgement of thhis world, [This word judgement is in the holy Scripture taken sometimes in a good sense for deliverance and restauration Psalms 140:13. sometimes in an ill,for condemnation and damnation,John 3:17. and 5.24.But it may here be well taken in both significations,namely that now the elect in the whole world,shall be delivered from the power of Devil,and restored,and that now the wicked and unbelievers in the world shall be condemned and damned] now shall the Prince of this world be cast out. [that is,the Devil shall now lose his power and dominion,which through sin he hath gotten over mankind, in those that shall believe the Gospel,Col.2.15. Heb.2.14.]

32. And i whensoever [Or if] ishall be lifted up from the earth,shall draw them [that is,notwithstanding the resistance of the Devil and the flesh,bring them to mine obedience,and consequently to eternall glory with me] all unto me.[that is,not onely the Jews but also the Gentiles which shall believe in me,John 3:14,15. See also the exposition there.]

33. (And this he said signifying what manner of death he should dy.)

34. The multitude answered him,we have heard out of Law,[That is,the Scripture,which indeed faith this,Psalm.102.27.28.and 110.4 but faith withall that he must first dy,Isa.53.8,12. Dan.9.26. and so enter into his glory,Luke.24.26.] that Christ abideth for ever; and how saist thou that the son of man must be lift up.Who is this son of man?

35. When Jesus said unto them;yet alittle while is the light with you,[That is,I who am the light,John 8:12.] walk while ye have the light,least the darkness [namely,of ignorance and darkness] seize upon you.and ye that walketh in the darkness,knoweth not whither be goeth

36. While ye have the light,believe in the light, that ye may be children of the light.These things spake Jesus,and going his way[Namely,toward Bethany Mat.21.27.Mark.11.11.Luke.21.37.] he hid himselves from them

37. And although he had done so many signs before them (notwithstanding) they believed not in him.

38. That the word of Esaias the Prophety might be fulfilled that he spake,Lord,who[Namely,of this people,i.e.very few] hath believed our preaching?[Gr, hearing,i.e. that which is preached by us,and heard by the people] and to whom is the arm of the Lord [that is,the Gospel,which is the power of God to Salvation,Rom.1.16.] revealed? [namely,so,that he hath understood and embraced it,Matth.16.17.]

39. Therefore they could not believe;[Namely,forasmuch as it was said before,that God by a just judgement for thier rebellion,should leave them in their blindness,and give them over thereunto,2 Thes.2.ver.31.] Seeing Esaias said again.

40. He hath blinded their eyes,and hardened their heart;that they may not see with the eyes,and understand with the heart,and they be converted.and i heal them.[See of this place Matth.13.14,15.]

41. This said Esaias when he saw [Namely,in the vision of the devine glory which is related Isa.6.1.] his glory,[namely,Christs,as being the only God with the father and the holy Ghost] and spake of him.

42. Nevertheless many also of the Rulers themselves believed in him;[Namely,that he was the Messias,as Nicodemus acknowledgeth that there were many such among them,John.3.2.] but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it,least they should becast out of thhe Synagogue.[namely, according to the decree of the Rulers of the Jews,John.9.22.]

43. For they loved the honour of men,more then the honour of God.

44. And Jesus cried and said ,He that believeth in me,believeth not in me,[That is,believeth not in me only,as Marke 5.37.John 7:16,] but in him that sent me.

45. And he that seeth me,[That is, knoweth,and believed in me] he seeth him that sent me.

46. I am a light [See John.9.5.and before ver.35.] come into the world,that everyone that believeth in me abide not in darkness.

47. Ande if anyone shall haveheard my words,and not have believed,I judge him not;[That is condemn] for I am not come that I should judge [that is,condemn or damn] the world;but that I should save the world.

48. He that rejecteth me and reseveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him;the word that I have spoken,that shall judge him at the last day.[That is,that shall be the rule according to which he shall be judged:and that shall be a conviction against him,that he is justly condemned.]

49. For I have not spoken of my self,[See John 7:16.] but the Father that sent me,he gave me a command,[that is,a doctrine which he commanded me to preach] what I shall say,and what I shall speak.

50. And I know that this commandement is everlasting life,[That is,brings a man to everlasting life] therefore that which I speak,I speak so,as the Father hath said unto me.