How great is the faith that grasps the word of God and keeps it. And yet it can be seen that nothing is more powerless and weaker than the word and faith. But it is God's way to prove His power and wisdom through weakness and foolishness, and to disgrace the power and wisdom of the devil and the world.
I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.
If this is true, a Christian should despise death, or at least not fear it so much that he does not despise God for its sake.
But whoever is not afraid of death and does not respect God (as the crude world does), this book of God is of no use to him.
3) Christ says John 12:32: .
When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw them all to myself.
By these words he reveals his will to us, and declares that he has made the human
1) "deß" is missing in the Wittenberg and in the Jena.
2) This year is only in Walch.
3) This inscription is found in Latin, written by Luther's own hand, in a copy of "Der Psalter deutsch. Martinus Luther. Wittemberg 1524," which is in the Nuremberg City Library. (Erl. Ausg., vol. 37, p. 106.)
He does not want to push away the human race, even though it is miserably burdened (oppressum) with the greatest sins and misdeeds and deserves the wrath of God, but wants to draw it from the earth to Himself. Thus he hangs on the cross with outstretched arms (manibus), as if he wanted to call us to him with the words written in Matth. 11, 28: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Therefore we should learn to take refuge in Christ, to ask him for help against sin and eternal death, so that we may expect our deliverance in firm faith. M. Luter.
John 12:35.
Walk while you have the light, so that the darknesses do not overtake you.
Who believes more and more that such seriousness is, of which Christ speaks here? How little do we esteem this light, and think that we can still get it if we want to, even if we do not accept it now. But he says, "No, but he who despises it is seized by darkness.
Fronte capillata, post haec occasio calva.
V. 35: He who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.
Many fine people, both in monasteries and outside, who were serious about becoming pious and blessed, experienced this with their great damage, yes, loss of property, body and souls, under the troublesome papacy, which made it sour on both sides; the latter with so much fasting, watching, praying, singing, reading, etc., that some of them lost their senses over it, that some of them went out of their minds, some weakened their bodies so much that they had to die the sooner; those with invocation of the saints and visiting their places, saying various little prayers, also with much giving to maintain and increase idolatry and false worship in monasteries, foundations 2c., and to supply their idolaters abundantly 2c., all in the opinion and hope as if they would certainly thereby appease God's wrath, obtain forgiveness of sins, and earn heaven. And yet they were nothing else than walking in darkness and missing the way. Therefore, all the effort and work, all the doing and suffering, all the giving and giving,
was in vain and lost. For where God's word does not shine, there can be nothing but darkness, error and destruction. That is why the. Therefore the Lord says: "I am the light of the world. "Walk while ye have the light, that the darknesses overtake you not, for the night cometh, wherein it is impossible to work, John 8:12, 35, Cap 9:4.
John 13:35.
Thereby everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love1 among yourselves.
It is not possible that he should hate his neighbor who loves to hear and read his word and teaching. Again, it is also impossible that he should be Christ's disciple, or be taught by His word, who does not love his neighbor, because the Master teaches and gives such love; therefore he must be the devil's disciple.
Joh. 14, 1. 2.
Do not let your heart be troubled 2c. In my father's house are many dwellings.
Here the Lord himself commands us to be of good courage and not to be afraid. For we know where we are to stay, we must not worry about lodgings or dwellings; they are already prepared and waiting for us when we are to depart. Give us grace, dear Lord, that we may believe, amen.
Let not your heart be troubled. If you believe in God, you also believe in me. In my father's house 2c.
The father himself has ordered you lodging, so do not be alarmed. And even if he had not ordered it, I would order it soon and come to you again. The Lord 2) wants to make it clear, as he does in this chapter and often in the Gospel of St. John, that he is like the Father, and that the Father does nothing that he, the Son, does not do in the same way. Therefore he also says: "If you believe in God, you also believe in me. But it is very comforting that he does not only comfort them about the dwelling place, that it is already prepared, but also promises them, v. 3.
1) Wittenbergers and Jenaers: dear to you.
2) Erlanger: "he" instead of: The HErr.
Take them to him, that they may be where he is. Let this be your comfort in all trials and tribulations, and hold fast; it is for a little while, and he will come and deliver you, and take you to himself, that you may be where he is; and he will make you glad of your affliction. 3) So come, dear Lord, soon, and do not consume, amen.
Joh. 14, 1.
If you believe in God, you also believe in me.
Why and before whom should you or would you fear, if I am the very God in whom you believe when you believe in God; and cannot lack God when you believe in me? Now I am a right man, like unto you, before whom ye must not fear, but am my good friends; in turn I also am your good friend. So you must not be afraid of God either, as good friends are not afraid of good friends, but take comfort in him, and all good things, in all accidents, are provided for him. For it is said: Et Verbum caro factum est, God became man.
Do you believe in GOD 2c.
Since Christ is not angry with us, but also dies for us, surely God cannot be angry with us, for he, Christ, is God. Whoever believes in him, believes in God. O blessed would be he who did not doubt this.
Joh. 14, 6.
Christ. I am the life and the truth.
As I go, so shall it go, and shall go right, and shall stay that way.
Devil. I am death and lies.
If you doubt this, hold the chair of Rome against God's word; the [word] does not deceive you and is old enough to be believed.
I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
That is cut short, and straight condemns all ways, doctrine and life that are not
3) The words: "dass du seiest ... ergötzen" are missing in the Erlanger.
4) Erlanger: can also.
Christ is called. Therefore all who are in the papacy, from top to bottom, must go to hell. For it is evident that theirs is not Christ, nor truth, but lies, error, and death. Therefore they cannot come to the Father, that is, to the kingdom of heaven.
I am the way, and the truth 2c.
He who does not go this way must miss and go astray. He who does not obey this truth 1) must lie and deceive, and deceive himself and others. He who does not have this life must die and perish forever. Summa, without me everyone goes to hell and must go to the devil.
V. 10 The words that I speak to you I do not speak from myself. But the Father who dwells in me does the works.
That is, if you hear me and my words, you must not be afraid of God, my Father, that he will devour you like fire (as Moses says), but may boldly and confidently think that he himself speaks to you the very things you hear from me. For I am the same God and Lord with him, and there is no more God who speaks to you differently than I do. Therefore do not fear me, and love to have me around you; do not fear the Father, and love to have him around you. And neither flee nor shun him, as little as ye flee or shun from me. And pray and speak as confidently with him as with me. For I am the Son, He the Father. I do not hate you, neither does he; may you speak boldly with us 2c.
Joh. 14, 13.
Whatever you ask in my name, I will do.
It is clear that he who worships the Son worships the Father. And what the Son gives, the Father gives. And the Son's and the Father's honor, gift and work are one.
Joh. 14, 13.
Whatever you ask in my name I will do, so that the Father may be honored in the Son.
1) Erlanger: does not have the truth.
Dear, who believes that our prayer is so pleasant? But let us pray nevertheless. For weak faith is also true faith, and must nevertheless also be heard, so that the Father does what we ask of the Son, whom we believe to be like God with Him, even though He was crucified in weak humanity. That it may be said: Homo JEsus Christ is all and everything, and that we with Paul know nothing without JEsum Christ crucified, 1 Cor. 2, 2.
V. 21: He who has my commandments and keeps them is he who loves me.
The difference is having God's word and keeping it. Many have it, but do not keep it, but keep their mammon, honor, power, favor over God's word. Therefore they do not love Christ, and deceive themselves by knowing that they have the word, and hear and read it daily, but do not improve themselves by it.
V. 23 We will come to him and make our home with him.
O faith, faith, how hard it is for you to enter, and yet he is an exceedingly blessed man who believes. How so? For he is, says Christ, a dwelling place and palace of the divine majesty. Again, without 2) doubt, he who does not believe is the devil's cave 3) and stinking barrel; he will certainly give hospitality to a fine host in the abyss of hell. O protect us, dear Lord, from unbelief, and strengthen our faith! Amen.
We will come to him, and apartment 2c.
If God dwells with him who loves and keeps His word, who dwells with him who despises and persecutes His word? Protect GOD from this.
Joh. 14, 24.
The word you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me.
Who believes this? It is true, I hear the word, but if I could believe that God Himself is telling me and talking to me: Dear, tell me, where would I be before great humility?
2) Erlanger: without all.
3) Wittenberger and Jenaer: "hnle", which Walch and the Erlanger have resolved with "Hülle".
and hope? From humility, that I would be horrified that with such a little worm, yes (as Abraham says), with dust and ashes, the majesty in heaven itself speaks. In hope that such high majesty would not despise to look at me /in the muck and stink, yes, even to talk to me, and to talk so sweetly and comfortingly. O, cursed be thou, unbelief, of all creatures! Amen.