John 12

John 12:23-26

This request of the Greeks manifests that the time appointed of the Father for glorifying me, in the salvation of the Gentiles as well as the Jews, is just at hand.—Were I to continue in my present state, without dying a sacrifice for sin, I should not have the honour of raising up a spiritual seed to bear my image and shew forth my praise; but, being made an offering for sin, I shall be glorified in the conversion, and salvation, and praises, of ransomed multitudes.—And ye likewise must be conformed to me in entering into your glory through much tribulation: for whoever, from love to this life and the enjoyments of it, denies, disowns, and rejects, me, that he may escape persecution and danger, shall certainly fall short of the heavenly felicity; and he that undervalues his natural life, and all its enjoyments, for my sake, shall certainly inherit eternal life as his gracious reward. If any man therefore would be a true disciple and servant to me, let him follow my example, and the instructions of my word, providence, and Spirit. Then shall he quickly share with me in the felicities of the heavenly world, in which my divine nature is at present, and my human will shortly be: and his unfeigned devoting himself to my service shall issue in his obtaining immortal honours from my Father

John 12:27-30

My soul is inexpressibly distressed, in the views of my approaching sufferings and tribulations from every quarter. If it were possible, I could gladly be excused from it; but I do not insist upon it, as the great end of my coming into the world is to undergo them; I therefore entirely resign myself to the will of God, and beg that in all I do or suffer his perfections may be glorified to the highest.—To which the Father, by a voice from heaven, replied, That he had already glorified himself in his obedience, ministry, and miracles, and would further glorify himself in his sufferings and death, and in the compleat salvation of Jews and Gentiles flowing therefrom

John 12:31

Certainly and quickly shall both Jews and Gentiles be tried with regard to their thoughts of me: the righteous shall be distinguished from the wicked, and they shall be acquitted or condemned answerably to their believing or not believing in me. And Satan, who hath long reigned over most part of the world, in ignorance, idolatry, and other wickedness, and who reigns in the hearts of worldly men, shall be totally vanquished, his claim defeated, his oracles silenced, and himself be cast out of men’s hearts, by the powerful spread of the gospel

John 12:32

And I, after first offering up myself a sacrifice for sin on a cross, and in the virtue of it ascending to my Father’s right hand, will erect my kingdom upon the ruins of his, drawing multitudes of all ranks, Gentiles as well as Jews, to myself by my word and Spirit. 35, 36. As the light of my personal ministry, or even the dispensation by my apostles, is to continue but a short time with you Jews, ye ought without delay, to make the most diligent improvement of it; for, if ye do not, ye must be left to continue in your ignorance and unbelief to your utter destruction, in time and eternity. While you have me and my gospel among you, to shew you the way of salvation, believe in me, that ye may receive the truth in the love of it, and be under its infallible direction, till ye be admitted into the mansions of glory above

John 12:44-50

He that truly believes in me as the promised Messiah, believes not in me only or ultimately, but, together with and through me, believes in my heavenly Father, who sent me into the world to seek and save lost sinners. And he who, by faith, discerns my person and office, is thereby led into the knowledge of my Father’s nature, perfections, and will. I am come into this world to dispel the darkness of ignorance, superstition, and idolatry, and to bring life and immortality to light by the gospel, that whosoever receives and trusts in me should not continue under the power of spiritual blindness, nor wander in the way to eternal misery, but be instructed and guided in the way to everlasting blessedness. And if men, who have had opportunities of hearing and knowing my gospel, wilfully refuse it, and me in it, I will at present neither accuse them to the Father, nor pass nor execute upon them any sentence of condemnation; as the direct design of my coming into the world is not to accuse, condemn, or punish, but to purchase, offer, and effectually apply, spiritual and eternal salvation to all that believe, whether Jews or Gentiles. But he that contemns and rejects me and my doctrines shall, in due time, find an impartial Judge to try, condemn, and punish, him: and the truths which I have preached shall be the rule of judgment, and the awful means of aggravating his offences, in the last day. For the holy, excellent, supernatural, and gracious, nature of the doctrines which I have taught, and my manner of delivering and confirming the same, manifests that I have uttered them as one directed and authorised by my Father. And whatever ye think of it, I know that what I preach by his authority is the only mean of bringing lost sinners to everlasting life; and it is at your infinite peril to reject it

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XII.—Grateful acknowledgments should never be long delayed. While true believers think all expence and service for Christ too little, hypocrites grudge him either heart, hand, or purse; and it is not regard to the poor, but love to the world that sways them. While some gospel hearers relish the report of Jesus and his works, others are thereby filled with murderous rancour. And the more Christ honours men, the world will hate them the more. Yea the stronger evidence of his character Christ gives, obstinate unbelievers are the more exasperated; and, if God check them, they become more resolute in wickedness. But let them rage as they please, Jesus will royally triumph over all opposition, fulfil his Father’s promises, and honour his perfections, in both his sufferings and glories.—Thrice happy is it, if even curiosity lead us to the saving knowledge of him, and if regard to his favourites occasion our intimacy with himself!—Great is the virtue of his obedience and death, for glorifying God, vanquishing Satan, and converting Jews, and especially Gentiles, to God. Much self-denial is necessary in following him aright. And transcendent is their reward who faithfully serve him, and, by faith, improve the light of his gospel while they have it. But great is their guilt and misery who indulge spite, devise cavils, and shut their eyes against the illuminations of his word; or who, for secular honours, avoid the open profession of his name. Abandoned by God, they go on in the ways of ignorance and self deceit, till they land in the depths of hell. Dreadful will be their case when he, who came into the world to save men, shall judge and condemn them at last. Yea, nothing will more fearfully aggravate their guilt and punishment than abused means of salvation