THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
*JOHN

John 12

1Mary anointeth the feet of Jesus: Judas murmureth at the cost. 9The people flock to see Lazarus: the chief priests consult to kill him. 12Jesus rideth into Jerusalem in triumph. 20Certain Greeks desire to see him. 23He sheweth the benefit of his death to believers; prayeth to his Father; is answered by a voice from heaven; signifieth the manner of his death; and exhorteth to make good use of the present light. 37The generality of the Jews believe not: 42yet many chief rulers believe, but dare not confess him: 44he urgeth faith in his divine mission.


1THENa Jesus 1six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

a Mat. 26:6; Mark 14:3; Luke 7:37; John 11:2.

1 These six days must be understood of the time when Christ first came to Bethany. Mat. 26:2, and Mark 14:1 speak but of two days; but they refer to the time when the chief priests took counsel to take Him, and put Him to death, as may also be gathered from the nineteenth verse of this chapter.

22There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

2 Namely, in the house of Simon the leper. See Mat. 26:6.

3Then took Mary a poundb of ointment of 3spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

b NT weight (Gr. litra): 12 ounces or 340 grams*

3 Gr. pistikes. Of this word see Mark 14 on verse 3.

4Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

5Whyc was not this ointment sold for three hundred 4pence, and given to the poor?

c Mark 14:5.

4 Gr. denarii, of the value see Mat. 18 on verse 28; Mark 14:5.

6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, andd had the bag, and bare what was 5put therein.

d John 13:29.

5 Gr. was cast, that is, cast in, namely, by certain godly women and others for the maintenance of Christ and His disciples. See Luke 8:3.

7Then said Jesus, 6Let her alone: 7against thee day of my burying hath she kept this.

6 Or, let her be.

7 That is, for a preparation to My burial. See hereof the annotation at Mat. 26 on verse 12.

e Mark 14:8.

8For the poorf8always ye have with you; but me ye have 9not always.

f Deut. 15:11; Mat. 26:11; Mark 14:7.

8 Namely, to show to them benevolence, Deut. 15:11.

9 Namely, physically present.

9Much 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, whomg he had raised from the dead.

g John 11:44.

10¶But the chief priests 10consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;

10 That is, resolved in their Council.

11Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went 11away, and believed on Jesus.

11 Namely, to Bethany, to see him there.

12¶Onh the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

h Mat. 21:8; Mark 11:8; Luke 19:36.

1312Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, 13Hosanna: Blessedi14is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

12 Of this entire history, see in more detail Mat. 21:8, etc.

13 See also of this word in Mat. 21 on verse 9.

i Psalm 118:26.

14 Or, be he.

14And Jesus, when he had 15found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

15 Namely, by the ministry of His disciples, whom He had sent forth for that purpose, as the other evangelists relate more in detail.

1516Fearj not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.

16 See hereof Mat. 21:5.

j Isa. 62:11; Zech. 9:9; Mat. 21:5.

1617These things understood not his disciples at the first: but 18when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

17 Namely, that this was the fulfillment of that prophecy.

18 That is, when after His resurrection and ascension, they had received the Holy Ghost.

1719The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

19 Or, The multitude therefore that was with him, testified that he had called Lazarus out of the grave, and raised him from the dead.

18For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.

19The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceivek ye how ye prevail 20nothing? behold, 21the world is gone after him.

k John 11:47.

20 Namely, with all your previous resistance against Him; and that therefore you must take another counsel to oppose Him.

21 That is, most of the multitude of people adhere to Him and follow Him as their Teacher.

20¶And there were certain 22Greeks among them thatl came up to worship at the feast:

22 Which were, either uncircumcised heathen, who also were permitted to come into the foremost part of the temple to pray, 1 Kings 8:41, 42, or, Jews, dwelling among the Greeks, or proselytes converted from the heathen, such as was the man of Ethiopia, Acts 8:27, 28.

l Acts 8:27.

21The same came therefore to Philip, whichm was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we 23would 24see Jesus.

m John 1:45.

23 Gr. will.

24 That is, greet and address.

22Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

23¶And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, thatn the Son of man should be 25glorified.

n John 13:32; 17:1.

25 Namely, by His death and resurrection, after which He was also glorified through the preaching of the Gospel among the Gentiles.

24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Excepto a 26corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

o 1 Cor. 15:36.

26 By this parable Christ wants to say that He must first die and afterwards rise again, to bring mankind both Jews and Greeks unto salvation. See Isa. 53:10, 11.

25Hep that 27loveth his 28life shall lose it; and he that 29hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

p Mat. 10:39; 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; 17:33.

27 That is, loveth more than Me. See hereof Mat. 10:37.

28 Gr. soul.

29 That is, is ready to lay it down for Me. See Luke 14:26.

26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and whereq I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

q John 14:3; 17:24.

27Nowr is my soul 30troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this 31hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

r Mat. 26:37, 38, 39; Mark 14:34; Luke 22:44.

30 Namely, by the consideration of My grievous suffering which is approaching.

31 Namely, of My grievous suffering. See Mat. 26:39.

28Father, 32glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both 33glorified it, and 34will glorify it again.

32 Namely, by My death.

33 Namely, by many miracles and testimonies.

34 Namely, by the resurrection from the dead, and that which shall follow thereupon.

29The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it 35thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

35 Namely, seeing this voice was greater than a human voice.

30Jesus answered and said, This voice came nots because of me, but 36for your sakes.

s John 11:42.

36 Namely, in order that you may believe that the Father has sent Me.

31Nowt is the 37judgment of this world: nowu shall the 38prince of this world be cast out.

t John 16:11; Eph. 2:2.

37 This word judgment is sometimes taken in the Holy Scripture in a good sense for deliverance and restoration, Psalm 135:14; 140:12, sometimes in an ill sense for condemnation or damnation, John 3:17; 5:24. But it may here be well taken in both meanings, namely, that now the elect in the entire world shall be delivered from the power of the devil and restored, and that now the wicked and unbelievers in the world shall be condemned and damned.

u John 14:30; Col. 2:15.

38 That is, the devil shall now loose his power and dominion, which through sin he has gotten over mankind, in those who shall believe the Gospel, Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14.

32Andv I, 39if I be lifted up from the earth, will 40draw 41all men unto me.

v Num. 21:9; 2 Kings 18:4; John 3:14; 8:28.

39 Or, whenever.

40 That is, notwithstanding the resistance of the devil and the flesh, bring them to Mine obedience, and consequently to eternal glory with Me.

41 That is, not only the Jews but also the Gentiles who shall believe in Me, John 3:14, 15. See also the exposition there.

33This he said, signifying what death he should die.

34The people answered him, We have heard out of 42the law thatw Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?

42 That is, the Scripture, which indeed states this, Psalm 102:26, 27; 110:4, but adds to this also, that He must first die, Isa. 53:8, 12; Dan. 9:26 and so enter into His glory, Luke 24:26.

w 2 Sam. 7:16; 1 Chron. 22:10; Psalm 45:6; 89:36; 110:4; Isa. 9:6; Jer. 23:6; Ezek. 37:26; Dan. 2:44; 7:14, 27; Micah 4:7; Heb. 1:8.

35Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while isx43the light with you. Walky while ye have the light, lest 44darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

x verse 46; John 1:9; 8:12; 9:5.

43 That is, I, Who am the Light, John 8:12.

y Jer. 13:16; Eph. 5:8; 1 Thes. 5:4.

44 Namely, of ignorance and hardness.

36While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and 45departed, and did hide himself from them.

45 Namely, toward Bethany, Mat. 21:17; Mark 11:11; Luke 21:37.

37¶But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

38That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord,z46who hath believed our 47report? and to whom hath the 48arm of the Lord been 49revealed?

z Isa. 53:1; Rom. 10:16.

46 Namely, of this people, that is, very few.

47 Gr. hearing, that is, that which is preached by us, and heard by the people.

48 That is, the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, Rom. 1:16.

49 Namely, in this manner, that he has understood and embraced it, Mat. 16:17.

39Therefore they 50could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

50 Namely, forasmuch as it was said before, that God, by a just judgment for their rebellion, would leave them in their blindness, and give them over in it, 2 Thes. 2:11.

4051Heaa hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

51 See of this place, Mat. 13:14, 15.

aa Isa. 6:9; Ezek. 12:2; Mat. 13:14; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:26; Rom. 11:8.

41Theseab things said Esaias, when he 52saw 53his glory, and spake of him.

ab Isa. 6:1.

52 Namely, in the vision of the Divine glory which is related in Isa. 6:1, etc.

53 Namely, of Christ, as being the only God with the Father and the Holy Ghost.

42¶Neverthelessac among the chief rulers also many believed 54on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lestad they should be put 55out of the synagogue:

ac John 7:13, 48.

54 Namely, that He was the Messiah, as Nicodemus acknowledges that there were many such among them, John 3:2.

ad John 9:22.

55 Namely, according to the decree of the rulers of the Jews, John 9:22.

43Forae they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

ae John 5:44.

44¶Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, 56believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

56 That is, believeth not in Me only, as Mark 5:37; John 7:16.

45Andaf he that 57seeth me seeth him that sent me.

af John 10:30; 14:9.

57 That is, knoweth, and believeth in Me.

46 Iag am come 58a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

ag verse 35; Isa. 42:6; 49:6; John 1:9; 8:12; 9:5; Acts 13:47.

58 See verse 35. John 9:5.

47And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I 59judge him not: forah I 60came not to 61judge the world, but to save the world.

59 That is, condemn.

ah John 3:17; 9:39.

60 Namely, in this My humble state.

61 That is, condemn or damn.

48Heai that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: theaj word that I have spoken, 62the same shall judge him in the last day.

ai John 3:18; 8:24.

aj Mark 16:16.

62 That is, that shall be the rule according to which he shall be judged; or, that shall be a conviction against him, that he is justly condemned.

49Forak I have not spoken 63of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a 64commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

ak Deut. 18:18; John 3:11; 5:20; 7:16; 8:28; 14:10, 24; 16:13.

63 See John 7:16.

64 That is, a doctrine which He commanded Me to preach.

50And I know that his commandment is 65life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

65 That is, it brings men to everlasting life.