1 Then Iesus, sixe dayes before the Passouer, came to Bethanie, where Lazarus was, which had bene dead, whom hee raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper, and Martha serued: but Lazarus was one of them þt sate at the table with him.
3 Then tooke Mary a pound of ointment, of Spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Iesus, & wiped his feet with her haire: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Iudas Iscariot, Simons sonne, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and giuen to the poore?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poore: but because hee was a thiefe, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Iesus, Let her alone, against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 For the poore alwayes yee haue with you: but me ye haue not alwayes.
9 Much people of the Iewes therefore knew that he was there: and they came, not for Iesus sake onely, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 ¶ But the chiefe Priests consulted, þt they might put Lazarus also to death,
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Iewes went away and beleeued on Iesus.
12 ¶ On the next day, much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Iesus was comming to Hierusalem,
13 Tooke branches of Palme trees, and went foorth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna, blessed is the king of Israel that cōmeth in the Name of the Lord.
14 And Iesus, when he had found a yong asse, sate thereon, as it is written,
15 Feare not, daughter of Sion, behold, thy King commeth, sitting on an asses colt.
16 These things vnderstood not his disciples at the first: but when Iesus was glorified, then remēbred they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things vnto him.
17 The people therefore that was with him, when he called Lazarus out of his graue, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that hee had done this miracle.
19 The Pharisees therefore saide among themselues, Perceiue ye how yee preuaile nothing? Behold, the world is gone after him.
20 ¶ And there were certaine Greeks among them, that came vp to worship at the feast:
21 The same came therefore to Philip which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Iesus.
22 Philip commeth and telleth Andrew: and againe Andrew and Philip told Iesus.
23 ¶ And Iesus answered them, saying, The houre is come, that the Sonne of man should be glorified.
24 Uerely, verely, I say vnto you, Except a corne of wheat fall into the ground, and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25 He that loueth his life, shall lose it: and hee that hateth his life in this world, shall keepe it vnto life eternall.
26 If any man serue me, let him follow me, and where I am, there shall also my seruant be: If any man serue me, him will my father honour.
27 Now is my soule troubled, and what shall I say? Father, saue me from this houre, but for this cause came I vnto this houre.
28 Father, glorifie thy Name. Then came there a voice from heauen, saying, I haue both glorified it, and wil glorifie it againe.
29 The people therefore that stood by, and heard it, said, that it thundered: others said, An Angel spake to him.
30 Iesus answered, and said, This voice came not because of mee, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the iudgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted vp from the earth, will draw all men vnto me.
33 (This hee said, signifying what death he should die)
34 The people answered him, We haue heard out of the Law, that Christ abideth for euer: and how sayest thou, The Sonne of man must bee lift vp? Who is this Sonne of man?
35 Then Iesus said vnto them, Yet a little while is the light with you: walke while ye haue the light, lest darkdesse come vpon you: For he that walketh in darkenesse, knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye haue light, beleeue in the light, that ye may bee the children of light. These things spake Iesus, and departed, and did hide himselfe from them.
37 ¶ But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they beleeued not on him:
38 That the saying of Esaias the Prophet might be fulfilled, which hee spake, Lord, who hath beleeued our report? and to whom hath the arme of the Lord beene reuealed?
39 Therefore they could not beleeue, because that Esaias said againe,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardned their heart, that they should not see with their eyes, nor vnderstand with their heart, and be conuerted, and I should heale them.
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
42 ¶ Neuerthelesse, among the chiefe rulers also, many beleeued on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confesse him, lest they should be put out of the Synagogue.
43 For they loued the praise of men, more then the praise of God.
44 ¶ Iesus cried, and said, He that beleeueth on me, beleeueth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me, seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoeuer beleeueth on me, should not abide in darkenesse.
47 And if any man heare my words, and beleeue not, I iudge him not; For I came not to iudge the world, but to saue the world.
48 He that reiecteth me, and receiueth not my words, hath one that iudgeth him: þe word that I haue spoken, the same shall iudge him in the last day.
49 For I haue not spoken of my selfe; but the Father which sent me, he gaue me a commaundement what I should say, and what I should speake.
50 And I know that his commandement is life euerlasting: whatsoeuer I speake therefore, euen as the Father said vnto me, so I speake.
Christ anointed by Mary. (1-11) He enters Jerusalem. (12-19) Greeks apply to see Jesus. (20-26) A voice from heaven bears testimony to Christ. (27-33) His discourse with the people. (34-36) Unbelief of the Jews. (37-43) Christ's address to them. (44-50)1-11 Christ had formerly blamed Martha for being troubled with much serving. But she did not leave off serving, as some, who when found fault with for going too far in one way, peevishly run too far another way; she still served, but within hearing of Christ's gracious words. Mary gave a token of love to Christ, who had given real tokens of his love to her and her family. God's Anointed should be our Anointed. Has God poured on him the oil of gladness above his fellows, let us pour on him the ointment of our best affections. In Judas a foul sin is gilded over with a plausible pretence. We must not think that those do no acceptable service, who do it not in our way. The reigning love of money is heart-theft. The grace of Christ puts kind comments on pious words and actions, makes the best of what is amiss, and the most of what is good. Opportunities are to be improved; and those first and most vigorously, which are likely to be the shortest. To consult to hinder the further effect of the miracle, by putting Lazarus to death, is such wickedness, malice, and folly, as cannot be explained, except by the desperate enmity of the human heart against God. They resolved that the man should die whom the Lord had raised to life. The success of the gospel often makes wicked men so angry, that they speak and act as if they hoped to obtain a victory over the Almighty himself.
12-19 Christ's riding in triumph to Jerusalem is recorded by all the evangelists. Many excellent things, both in the word and providence of God, disciples do not understand at their first acquaintance with the things of God. The right understanding of spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, prevents our misapplying the Scriptures which speak of it.
20-26 In attendance upon holy ordinances, particularly the gospel passover, the great desire of our souls should be to see Jesus; to see him as ours, to keep up communion with him, and derive grace from him. The calling of the Gentiles magnified the Redeemer. A corn of wheat yields no increase unless it is cast into the ground. Thus Christ might have possessed his heavenly glory alone, without becoming man. Or, after he had taken man's nature, he might have entered heaven alone, by his own perfect righteousness, without suffering or death; but then no sinner of the human race could have been saved. The salvation of souls hitherto, and henceforward to the end of time, is owing to the dying of this Corn of wheat. Let us search whether Christ be in us the hope of glory; let us beg him to make us indifferent to the trifling concerns of this life, that we may serve the Lord Jesus with a willing mind, and follow his holy example.
27-33 The sin of our souls was the troubled of Christ's soul, when he undertook to redeem and save us, and to make his soul an offering for our sin. Christ was willing to suffer, yet prayed to be saved from suffering. Prayer against trouble may well agree with patience under it, and submission to the will of God in it. Our Lord Jesus undertook to satisfy God's injured honour, and he did it by humbling himself. The voice of the Father from heaven, which had declared him to be his beloved Son, at his baptism, and when he was transfigured, was heard proclaiming that He had both glorified his name, and would glorify it. Christ, reconciling the world to God by the merit of his death, broke the power of death, and cast out Satan as a destroyer. Christ, bringing the world to God by the doctrine of his cross, broke the power of sin, and cast out Satan as a deceiver. The soul that was at a distance from Christ, is brought to love him and trust him. Jesus was now going to heaven, and he would draw men's hearts to him thither. There is power in the death of Christ to draw souls to him. We have heard from the gospel that which exalts free grace, and we have heard also that which enjoins duty; we must from the heart embrace both, and not separate them.
34-36 The people drew false notions from the Scriptures, because they overlooked the prophecies that spoke of Christ's sufferings and death. Our Lord warned them that the light would not long continue with them, and exhorted them to walk in it, before the darkness overtook them. Those who would walk in the light must believe in it, and follow Christ's directions. But those who have not faith, cannot behold what is set forth in Jesus, lifted up on the cross, and must be strangers to its influence as made known by the Holy Spirit; they find a thousand objections to excuse their unbelief.
37-43 Observe the method of conversion implied here. Sinners are brought to see the reality of Divine things, and to have some knowledge of them. To be converted, and truly turned from sin to Christ, as their Happiness and Portion. God will heal them, will justify and sanctify them; will pardon their sins, which are as bleeding wounds, and mortify their corruptions, which are as lurking diseases. See the power of the world in smothering convictions, from regard to the applause or censure of men. Love of the praise of men, as a by-end in that which is good, will make a man a hypocrite when religion is in fashion, and credit is to be got by it; and love of the praise of men, as a base principle in that which is evil, will make a man an apostate, when religion is in disgrace, and credit is to be lost for it.
44-50 Our Lord publicly proclaimed, that every one who believed on him, as his true disciple, did not believe on him only, but on the Father who sent him. Beholding in Jesus the glory of the Father, we learn to obey, love, and trust in him. By daily looking to Him, who came a Light into the world, we are more and more freed from the darkness of ignorance, error, sin, and misery; we learn that the command of God our Saviour is everlasting life. But the same word will seal the condemnation of all who despise it, or neglect it.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.