John 1

John 1:1

Matthew 27:37; Mr 15:26; John 19:19.

John 1:2

And one of the malefactors reviled him - St. Matthew says, the robbers: St. Mark, they that were crucified with him, reviled him. Either therefore St. Matthew and Mark put the plural for the singular (as the best authors sometimes do) or both reviled him at the first, till one of them felt “the overwhelming power of saving grace.”

John 1:3

The other rebuked him - What a surprising degree was here of repentance, faith, and other graces! And what abundance of good works, in his public confession of his sin, reproof of his fellow criminal, his honourable testimony to Christ, and profession of faith in him, while he was in so disgraceful circumstances as were stumbling even to his disciples! This shows the power of Divine grace. But it encourages none to put off their repentance to the last hour; since, as far as appears, this was the first time this criminal had an opportunity of knowing any thing of Christ, and his conversion was designed to put a peculiar glory on our Saviour in his lowest state, while his enemies derided him, and his own disciples either denied or forsook him.

John 1:5

Remember me when thou comest - From heaven, in thy kingdom - He acknowledges him a king, and such a king, as after he is dead, can profit the dead. The apostles themselves had not then so clear conceptions of the kingdom of Christ.

John 1:6

In paradise - The place where the souls of the righteous remain from death till the resurrection. As if he had said, I will not only remember thee then, but this very day.

John 1:7

There was darkness over all the earth - The noon - tide darkness, covering the sun, obscured all the upper hemisphere. And the lower was equally darkened, the moon being in opposition to the sun, and so receiving no light from it. Matthew 27:45.

John 1:8

Mr 15:38.

John 1:9

Father, into thy hands - The Father receives the Spirit of Jesus: Jesus himself the spirits of the faithful.

John 1:10

Certainly this was a righteous man - Which implies an approbation of all he had done and taught.

John 1:11

All the people - Who had not been actors therein, returned smiting their breasts - In testimony of sorrow.

John 1:13

Matthew 27:57; Mr 15:43; John 19:38.

John 1:21

Certain others with them - Who had not come from Galilee. Matthew 28:1; Mr 16:1; John 20:1.

John 1:24

Behold two - Angels in the form of men. Mary had seen them a little before. They had disappeared on these women’s coming to the sepulchre, but now appeared again. St. Matthew and Mark mention only one of them, appearing like a young man.

John 1:26

Remember how he spake to you, saying, The Son of man must be delivered - This is only a repetition of the words which our Lord had spoken to them before his passion But it is observable, he never styles himself the Son of man after his resurrection.

John 1:33

Mr 16:12.

John 1:41

To - day is the third day - The day he should have risen again, if at all.

John 1:45

O foolish - Not understanding the designs and works of God: And slow of heart - Unready to believe what the prophets have so largely spoken.

John 1:46

Ought not Christ - If he would redeem man, and fulfil the prophecies concerning him, to have suffered these things? - These very sufferings which occasion your doubts, are the proofs of his being the Messiah. And to enter into his glory - Which could be done no other way.

John 1:48

He made as though he would go farther - Walking forward, as if he was going on; and he would have done it, had they not pressed him to stay.

John 1:49

They constrained him - By their importunate entreaties.

John 1:50

He took the bread, and blessed, and brake - Just in the same manner as when ho instituted his last supper.

John 1:51

Their eyes were opened - That is, the supernatural cloud was removed: And he vanished - Went away insensibly.