Mixed Responses to Jesus
TRANSLATION
(34) The crowd then answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” (35) Jesus said to them, “You will have the light among you only a little while longer. Walk while you have the light so that the darkness may not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness do not know where they are going. (36) Believe in the light while you have the light so that you may become children of light.”
Having spoken these words, Jesus departed and hid himself from them. (37) Although he had performed many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in him (38) so that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (39) For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said in another place, (40) “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts so that they cannot see with their eyes and understand with their hearts and turn so that I might heal them.” (41) Isaiah said these things because he foresaw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. (42) Nevertheless, many even among the rulers believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not openly acknowledge this lest they be expelled from the synagogue, (43) for they loved human praise more than the praise that comes from God.
(44) Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me, does not just believe in me, but in the one who sent me. (45) And whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. (46) I have come into the world as a light so that whoever believes in me will not remain in the darkness. (47) If anyone hears my words but does not obey them, I do not judge that person, for I did not come to judge the world but rather to save the world. (48) Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words will face judgment, for the words that I speak will judge that person on the last day. (49) I speak not on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has commanded me to say all that I have spoken. (50) And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”
OBSERVATIONS
In this closing segment of John 12, Jesus made his final public appeal to the Jews to believe in him and in what he had come to accomplish. In the opening paragraph, “Son of Man” (vs. 34) and the contrasting words, “light” (five times in vss. 35 & 36) and “darkness” (twice in vs. 35) are repeated for emphasis. In the middle paragraph, repeated words include “believe(d)” (four times in vss. 37, 38, 39, & 42), “eyes” (vs. 40), “heart” (vs. 40), and “glory” (vss. 41 & 43). In the final paragraph, “believe(s)” is again repeated three times (vss. 44 & 45) as are “sees” (twice in vs. 45) and the contrasting words “light” and “darkness” (vs. 46). Other repeated words include “judge” (four times in vss. 47 & 48), “my words/word” (three times in vss. 47 & 48), “spoken/say/speak” (five times in vss. 48, 49, & 50), and “commandment” (twice in vss. 49 & 50). In refusing to believe the one who came from the Father to bring us light and life, these Jews risked divine judgment and eternal darkness.
OUTLINE
I. The Son of Man brought light to those walking in darkness. (34-36)
II. Yet, many did not believe in him, fulfilling the words of Isaiah’s prophecy. (37-43)
III. Those who refuse to believe in him face judgment for their unbelief. (44-50)
IDEA STATEMENT
While the unbelief that greeted Jesus, the bringer of God’s light, came as no surprise considering Isaiah’s prophecy, the Savior still appealed to those rejecting him, warning them of judgment to come.
APPLICATION
Of the four Gospels in the New Testament, John’s is the one that most frequently emphasized the importance of believing, that is, trusting and committing ourselves to the truths of who Jesus is and what he came to accomplish by his death on the cross. This record of belief/unbelief began in John’s introduction where he wrote, “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (Jn. 1:12). It continued in Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus where he said, “And as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:14-16). John repeatedly emphasized the issue of believing in the Son. Among many passages we could cite, the following serves as a summary of Jesus’ essential message: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (Jn. 5:24).
The Greek word for “believe” is found 98 times in John’s Gospel compared to 34 times in the other three Gospels and 16 more times in the rest of the New Testament. In our present chapter, Jesus’ final message to the nation before his crucifixion, we read the following exhortations: “While you have the light, believe in the light that you may become sons of light” (vs. 36). “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in the one who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as a light so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” (vss. 44-46). The choice could not have been more clearly set forth. Those who believe in the Son receive the gift of eternal life. Those who refuse to believe remain in the darkness forever.