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Mysteries of John
Chapter 12
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[Mysteries of John]
[Charles Fillmore's Works] [Unity on the Web Home Page]
John: Chapter 12
Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to
Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the
dead. 2 So they made him a supper there: and Martha served;
but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him. 3
Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very
precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his
feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor
of the ointment.
BETHANY MEANS "a place of fruits," dates, bread, that is,
substance. Whenever we make a mental demonstration we get a
certain result in our body. This is called the "fruit" of
our thought.
When Jesus went to Bethany He realized the fruit or effect
of raising Lazarus; that is, the quickening of certain
sleeping energies in His body consciousness.
This realization is a feast to the soul and body, a filling
of the whole man with a sense of satisfaction. Martha, the
practical soul, and Mary, the devotional, serve the Master.
Martha provides the material necessities and Mary the
spiritual, while Lazarus sits at meat (abides as the living
substance of the subconsciousness).
Mary, the devotional side of the soul, is grateful for the
awakening of her brother Lazarus, because she depends for
her manifestation on the subconscious life that he
represents. When the soul is lifted up in prayer and
thanksgiving, there follows an outflow of love that fills
the whole "house" or body with its odor. The anointing of
Jesus' feet represents the willingness of love to serve.
When Jesus
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washed the feet of His apostles He said, "He that is . . .
greater among you, let him become as the younger; and he
that is chief, as he that doth serve."
4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, that should
betray him, saith, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for
three hundred shillings, and given to the poor? 6 Now this
he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he
was a thief, and having the bag took away what was put
therein. 7 Jesus therefore said, suffer her to keep it
against the day of my burying. 8 For the poor ye have
always with you; but me ye have not always.
9 The common people therefore of the Jews learned that he
was there: and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but
that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from
the dead. 10 But the chief priests took counsel that they
might put Lazarus also to death; 11 because that by reason
of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
Judas Iscariot (sense consciousness) is incarnated
selfishness, and his every thought is to build up
personality. When Mary anoints the feet of Jesus (when love
pours out her precious substance, diffusing its essence
throughout the whole man), Judas inquires why the ointment
was not sold and the proceeds given to the poor. The Judas
consciousness believes in poverty and has no understanding
of the true law of supply. All that comes into
consciousness is selfishly appropriated and dissipated by
this thief, yet he produces nothing. Sense consciousness is
the enigma of existence, and in it is wrapped up the
mystery of individuality. Jesus knew that through this
department of His being He would be betrayed, but
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He made no effort to defeat the act of Judas. Sense
consciousness betrays man every day, yet it would be unwise
wholly to destroy it before its time, because at its
foundation it is good; it has simply gone wrong; it "hath a
devil."
Love is the "greatest thing in the world," according to
Henry Drummond, who analyzed it in a masterly manner. Jesus
acknowledged the power of love when He said, "Suffer her to
keep it against the day of my burying." When personality is
hurt to the death and surrenders all, love pours her balm
over every wound and the substance of her sympathy infuses
hope and faith into the discouraged soul. A noted mental
healer relates that her husband was dying of consumption.
She had treated him in every way known to her science
without results, when one day in her agony she exclaimed,
"I will give my whole life to save you." Immediately, she
says, a great flood of substance seemed to roll forth from
her heart toward her husband, and from that day he began to
improve, and he finally got well. This was the precious
ointment of love, poured out for him when he was buried in
the consciousness of death, and it resurrected him. Divine
Love hath a balm for every ill.
12 On the morrow a great multitude that had come to the
feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to
meet him, and cried out, Hosanna: Blessed is he that cometh
in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel. 14 And
Jesus, having found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is
written,
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15 Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh,
sitting on an ass's colt. 16 These things understood not
his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified,
then remembered they that these things were written of him,
and that they had done these things unto him. 17 The
multitude therefore that was with him when he called
Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, bare
witness. 18 For this cause also the multitude went and met
him, for that they heard that he had done this sign. 19 The
Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Behold how ye
prevail nothing; lo, the world is gone after him.
The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and His
reception by the multitude represents a transient and
external enthusiasm, the result of demonstrations in the
outer. This multitude that went forth to meet Him, crying,
"Hosanna: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the
Lord," did so because they had witnessed the raising of
Lazarus. Their homage to Jesus was based on the "signs"
that they had witnessed, and not on that deep inner
conviction of Truth that attests the sincere followers.
A large proportion of those who espouse the cause in this
day do so from the "signs" standpoint. They have observed
some demonstration, and accept the philosophy as they would
a new patent medicine, and they change their doctrine as
readily as the doser does his drug.
20 Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up
to worship at the feast: 21 these therefore came to Philip,
who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying,
Sir, we would see Jesus.
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22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and
Philip, and they tell Jesus. 23 And Jesus answereth them,
saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be
glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a
grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by
itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. 25 He
that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life
in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any
man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there
shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the
Father honor.
Common sense often saves a man from the fanaticism of
religious enthusiasm. The Greeks represent the practical
side of man's nature. They ask Philip for an interview with
Jesus, and Philip tells Andrew. All this means that it is
through the power (Philip) and strength (Andrew) in man
that the sense reason acts, and when the I AM is called
down from its lofty spiritual enthronement to the
contemplation of practical life, there is a restoration of
equilibrium. Then it recognizes the law of giving its
exalted ideality to the earthly consciousness, that it may
also be lifted up. To the higher consciousness this seems
like the death of an ideal, but it is only a temporary
submergence, which has its resurrection in a great increase
of life and power. Thus we lose our life in the service of
the good, and count it of no value in order to find it
again in Spirit.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father,
save me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this
hour. 28 Father, glorify thy
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name. There came therefore a voice out of heaven, saying, I
have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. 29 The
multitude therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that
it had thundered: others said, An angel hath spoken to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice hath not come for my
sake, but for your sakes.
Jesus' mission on earth was to save the race from bondage,
from sin, sickness, and death. This Scripture reveals that
Jesus had been able to realize the Truth in this regard and
that the time was now approaching for the demonstration. In
the face of it all, He realized He was on new ground and
there was that within Him which was troubled. "Father, save
me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this
hour. Father, glorify thy name." From within Him came the
reassuring voice of God: "I have both glorified it [the
name] and will glorify it again." This means that Jesus'
heavenly credentials were sufficient and that there was
nothing to fear. The demonstration must eventually be
forthcoming.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince
of this world be cast out. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from
the earth, will draw all men unto myself. 33 But this he
said, signifying by what manner of death he should die. 34
The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of
the law that the Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest
thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of
man? 35 Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while
is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that
darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the
darkness knoweth not whither he goes. 36 While ye have the
light,
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believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light.
The multitude here referred to is the multitude of thoughts
within the soul that is endeavoring to lay hold of the laws
of spirituality. Jesus' admonition was "Yet a little while
is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that
darkness overtake you not."
36 These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid
himself from them. 37 But though he had done so many signs
before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 that the word
of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake,
Lord, who hath believed our report?
And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39 For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah
said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart;
Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with
their heart,
And should turn,
And I should heal them.
41 These things said Isaiah, because he saw his glory; and
he spake of him. 42 Nevertheless even of the rulers many
believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not
confess it, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43 for they loved the glory that is of men more than the
glory that is of God.
By a "prophet" within the soul is understood the capacity
to read out of the law and to perceive to what degree the
soul can really demonstrate spirituality. It is revealed
that in this Scripture the Pharisaical
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intellect was in authority, compelling the soul forces that
were beginning to understand Truth but that still loved the
glory that is of men more than the glory that is of God to
do obeisance to it.
44 And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me,
believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he
that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me. 46 I am come
a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may
not abide in the darkness. 47 And if any man hear my
sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not
to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He that
rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that
judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge
him in the last day. 49 For I spake not from myself; but
the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment,
what I should say, and what I should speak. 50 And I know
that his commandment is life eternal; the things therefore
which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I
speak.
In this Scripture Jesus (symbolizing the indwelling Christ)
is declaring to the whole soul consciousness that the
preponderance of power is spiritual. Spiritual character is
the rock foundation of Being; therefore He is urging the
multitude of thoughts to realize that their redemption
comes through decreeing their oneness with Spirit and that
the will of God is active in consciousness.
The realization of divine unity is the highest that we may
attain. This is true glory, the blending and merging of the
whole being in Divine Mind. "Build yourself into God and
you will find yourself in heaven right here and now."
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[Mysteries of John]
[Charles Fillmore's Works] [Unity on the Web Home Page]
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