John 12:28-30 Father, glorify your name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.… The whole multitude heard a noise; but the meaning of the voice was only perceived by each in proportion to his spiritual intelligence. Thus the wild beast perceives only a sound in the human voice; the trained animal discovers a meaning, a command, e.g., which it immediately obeys; man alone discerns a thought. (F. Godet, D. D.) The voice from heaven: — I. THE VOICE. 1. Grossly misunderstood by the bystanders — (1) As a natural phenomenon, as thunder. (2) As a supernatural utterance, the speech of an angel — a significant proof of man's incapacity to understand the words of God (1 Corinthians 2:14). 2. Lovingly by Jesus; as an old and familiar voice, the voice of His Father, which twice previously had addressed Him out of heaven. It needs a child's heart to recognize a father's voice. 3. Rightly interpreted again by Jesus — perhaps also by John and his co-apostles — to whom it spoke in the language of — (1) Approbation, "I have glorified it." (2) Consolation, "Will glorify it again." II. THE PURPOSE OF THE VOICE. 1. Not for His sake; since He knew His Father always heard Him (chap. John 11:42). 2. But for theirs — to assure them that He was the Father's Son, the heaven-sent Messiah.Learn — 1. The superiority of faith to unbelief in the understanding of Divine revelations. 2. The condescension of Christ in considering man's weakness and infirmity. (T. Whitelaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. |