Believe in the light while the light is with us

John 12:34~43

34 The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"

35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
The Jews Continue in Their Unbelief

37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

"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, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

40 "He has blinded their eyes

and deadened their hearts,

so they can neither see with their eyes,

nor understand with their hearts,

nor turn—and I would heal them." 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

I. Message:
Content:
Jesus told everyone that He will die and caused the crowd to wonder how the Christ could be everlasting (v. 34)
Jesus encouraged them to believe while He is around and then retreated to a quiet place (v. 35~36)
Jesus quoted Isaiah to point out the Jews’ unbelief (v. 37~41)
Many leaders believed but dared not show their belief lest they lose their position (v. 42~43)

Themes:

Believe in the light while the light is with us
Eyes blinded; heart hardened
Pursuing worldly glory over God’s glory

II. Who is God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit?

Everlasting Jesus Christ (v. 34)
Jesus Christ, Son of Man (v. 34)
Jesus Christ, soon to be crucified (v. 34)
Jesus Christ, the light of the world (v. 35~36)
Jesus Christ performs miraculous signs (v. 37)
Jesus Christ, denied by the Jews (v. 37)
Jesus Christ shines in glory (v. 41)
God the Father gives glory (v. 43)

III. What does the passage teach us (about commands, promises, examples, exhortations and warnings)?

Jesus is the light of the world

35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
In Jesus’ teachings, He talks about ‘light’ and ‘darkness’ a lot. The light is referring to Himself and the darkness refers to Satan, which leads people away from salvation. “He said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."” (John 8:12) At this moment in the Gospel, He urges people to believe in the light and to resist the dark power while the light is still with them.

Reflections: do I, as a believer of Christ Jesus, walk in His light and follow His will? Am I still under the influence of dark power?

Unbelief despite seeing miraculous signs

37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

There are two types of people in the crowd reacting to Jesus’ miraculous signs. The first are those refusing to believe despites seeing several miraculous signs. There are many reasons explaining their unbelief but a hardened heart is an appropriate adjective to describe them. The Israelites saw the ten plagues, crossed the Red Sea and survived in the desert but still could not believe. Today the situation is the same: many experienced miracles but refused to believe, remaining in spiritual blindness.

Reflections: am I still spiritually blind? Do I truly believe that Jesus is the Christ and my Saviour?
Unbelief and disobedience allowed

39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

40 "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them."
At the first look, the passage seems to suggest that He has blinded their eyes on purpose so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—lest He heal them. However this is not true: “God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Therefore this passage does not indicate that God blinded their eyes on purpose. Instead, He did not force them to believe and left them to their own.
Reflections: do I truly believe? Or am I so unbelieving that God leaves me on my own?
Jesus is an everlasting God

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him.

The passage clearly indicates that prophet Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him. This demonstrates that Jesus is everlasting and that He is one with Father God; together with the Father and the Holy Spirit being the everlasting triune almighty God, the beginning and the end.
Reflections: how much do I know Jesus? Is He a great man, a teacher, a prophet or the everlasting God?

Some believed but lacked courage to confess their faith

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

There are two types of people in the crowd reacting to Jesus’ miraculous signs. The first is the stone-hearted refusing to believe despites seeing several miraculous signs. The second is the believer that is worrying about how he may be perceived once showing his/her belief. The later is afraid that he may be driven of the council by the Pharisees.

Today there are also believers that worry about their image at their own workplace if they told everyone that they are Christians.

Reflections: do I let my coworkers at my workplace know that I’m a believer? Or do I still hesitate in proclaiming Jesus’ name?

Translated by Michael Y.