Commentary on the Gospel of John

                                Chapter Twelve

                                                                                                                                              Verses 28-33

Jesus then called on His Father to glorify His name which would also glorify Jesus. His Father answered Him from Heaven that He had already glorified His name through the love and compassion that His Son had shown in the miracles that He had done, and He would again glorify His name through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son for the salvation of all humanity.

God spoke in an audible voice, but some of the people could not understand what He said. They thought they heard only thunder. Others understood God's voice, but they thought that only an angel had spoken to Jesus. The human race happens to be divided into two basic philosophies. The materialists cannot believe in a spiritual realm. They believe everything has to be either matter or energy. These were those who only heard thunder. These kinds of people tend to become atheists and scientists. Very few of these types of people ever become saved by grace because they have trouble believing that God is a Spirit. John 4:24. But the Apostle Thomas was one of these types who became saved by grace. John 20:24-29.

The other basic philosophy of humans happens to be that a spiritual realm does exist. But many of these types also cannot become saved by grace because they tend to believe in spirits but not in God. These types often join religions and cults. These were those who said an angel spoke to Jesus. But the vast majority of humans who become saved by grace are those who believe in a spiritual realm and that God is a Spirit.

Jesus answered the people and told them that God's voice came to them, not Him. God spoke to the people there who symbolized the entire human race. Jesus knew that the gospel of John would speak to the entire human race.