John Chapter 18

Chapter 18

THE INTERNAL SENSE.

1. JESUS saying these things, went forth with his disciples beyond the torrent of cedars, where was a garden, into which he entered and his disciples.

THAT the lord, as to his Humanity, having put off his first rational principle, enters into a state of his divine intelligence, from which he communicates with those who are principled in good and truth, vs 1.

2. But Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place, because jesus oft-times assembled there with his disciples.
3. Judas then, having received a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, comes thither with candles, and lamps, and weapons.

Which state is known also to those who are in the knowledge of truth, but in evils of life, and who therefore seek to destroy it by all kinds of false persuasions both internal and external, vs 2, 3.

4. jesus therefore, knowing all things that were coming upon him, going forth, said to them, Whom seek you?
5. They answered him, jesus of Nazareth. jesus says to them, I am. And Judas also, who betrayed him, stood with them.
6. When therefore he said to them, I am, they went away backward, and fell to the ground.

Yet they are checked for a time by inquisition in their own minds concerning their designs, and by the consequent notice that the lord's humanity was divine, vs 4, 5, 6.

7. Again, therefore he asked them, Whom seek you? But they said, jesus of Nazareth.
8. jesus answered, I told you that I am; if then you seek me, let these go away.

Which inquisition is again repeated together with the same notice, vs 7, and former part of 8.

9. That the Word which he said might be fulfilled, of them which you gave me, have I lost none.

On which occasion intercession is made from the divine love in favour of those who are principled in good and truth, latter part of 8th v. and 5:9.

10. Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear; but the servant's name was Malchus.
11. Then said jesus to Peter, Put up your sword into the sheath; the cup which the father has given me, shall I not drink it?

Yet they, who are principled in the faith of the church, seek protection in truth, rejecting obedience, until they are instructed, that the lord as to his Humanity, was to suffer temptations, and thus to enter into his glory, vs 10, 11.

12. Then the band, and the captain, and the officers of the Jews took jesus, and bound him.
13. And led him away to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that same year.
14. But it was Caiaphas which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Accordingly the lord suffers his Humanity to be delivered up and treated by the perverted church, as they had before treated his Word, vs 12, 13, 14.

15. But Simon Peter followed jesus, and [so did] another disciple; but that disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with jesus into the palace of the high priest.
16. But Peter stood at the gate without; then went out the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought in Peter.
17. Then says the damsel that kept the door to Peter, Art not you also of this man's disciples? He says, I am not.
18. But the servants and the officers stood, having made a fire of coals, because it was cold, and they warmed themselves; but Peter was standing with them, and warming himself,

But they, who are principled in faith alone, cannot enter into this process, and the re-fore deny the divinity of the lord's Humanity, being influenced only by external loves, vs 15, 16, 17, 18.

19. The high priest then asked jesus concerning his disciples, and concerning his doctrine.
20. jesus answered him, I spoke openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort, and in secret have I spoken nothing.
21. Why ask you me? Ask them that heard, what I have spoken to them; behold, they know what I have said.

That inquisition is made in the perverted church respecting the lord's humanity, and answer is given, that nothing can be known concerning it, but through obedience to its precepts, vs 19, 20, 21.

22. But when he had said these things, one of the officers standing near gave jesus a blow with a rod, saying, Answerest you the high priest so?
23. jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, but if well, why smite you me?
24. Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.

This answer, however, only excites greater outrage against that humanity, when yet it ought to have appeased all violence, vs 22, 23, 24.

25. But Simon Peter was standing and warming himself: Then they said to him, are not them also [one] of his disciples? He denied, and said, I am not.
26. One of the servants of the high priest, being a kinsman of him whose ear Peter cut off, says, Did not I see you in the garden with him?
27. Then Peter denied again, and immediately the cock crew.

That in the end of the church there will remain no longer any faith, but a plenary denial of the lord, vs 25, 26, 27.

28. Then they led jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's hall; but it was morning: and they themselves entered not into the governor's hall, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the passover.
29. Then Pilate went out to them, and said, What accusation bring you against this man?
30. They answered and said to him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to you.

Therefore in the end of the church all truth divine is separated from those who are of the church, notwithstanding their external sanctity, and imparted to those who are in the falses of ignorance, and who yet are inquisitive about truth, and especially about its rejection by those who are of the church, in consequence of separating it from its good, vs 28, 29, 30.

31. Then Pilate says to them, Take you him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said to him, It is not lawful for us to put any one to death.
32. That the saying of jesus might be fulfilled, which he said, signifying by what death he was about to die.

But they who are in the falses of ignorance, cannot account for this separation, until they are instructed, that it is forbidden in the Word, and that nevertheless it had taken place amongst those of the perverted church who are in possession of the Word, vs 31, 32.

33. Then Pilate entered again into the governor's hall, and called jesus, and said to him, Art you the King of the Jews ?
34. jesus answered him, Sayest you this thing of yourself, or did others tell you of me?

They are therefore inquisitive about truth divine, but are admonished to explore in themselves the motive which leads them to such inquisition, so as to discover whether it be from the love of truth, or from other motives, vs 33, 34.

35. Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Yours own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me; what have you done?
36. jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom was of this world, then would my servants strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from here.

They are further inquisitive about the work of redemption, and are instructed that it is a divine work, for the purpose of imparting to man, not natural and temporal dominion, but that which is spiritual and eternal, vs 35, 36.

37. Pilate therefore says to him, Art you a king then? jesus answered, You say that I am a king: For this was I born, and for this I came into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.

They are again inquisitive about the divinity of the lord's humanity, and are further instructed, that they have internal evidence in themselves of its divinity, because the sole reason why the humanity was conceived, and came into the world, was, that it might be made divine truth, and thus divine good, which doctrine is received by all who are principled in good, vs 37.

38. Pilate says to him, What is truth? And saying this, he again went out to the Jews, and says to them, I find no fault in him.
39. But you have a custom, that I should release to you one at the passover; will you then that I release to you the King of the Jews?

Lastly, they are inquisitive about divine truth, and by such inquisition are led to discover, and to make confession, that the lord had integrity, and that thus his humanity was divine good, and therefore no violence ought to be done to it, vs 38, 39.

40. Then they all again cried out, saying, Not this [man] but Barabbas; but Barabbas was a robber.

Nevertheless, the perverted church reject the divine truth, and cleave to the infernal false, vs 40.