John 12:34-50

Author: Kate Barnes

34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah 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. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

37 Even after Jesus had performed so many 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 hardened 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 openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Key Verses

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

46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.

Devotional

One of the most calming ways that Jesus describes Himself is when He says that He is the light. I love the sense of comfort I feel knowing that He is always there to guide my path and be noticeable to me. He doesn’t hide Himself from me, He wants to be visible. Knowing that and knowing the peace that comes from using Him as a light to guide my life, I often find myself getting frustrated at the people who actually got to see Him being a light and didn’t believe. They saw Him heal the sick, feed the hungry from seemingly nothing, and even bring the dead back to life and they still didn’t believe that He was who He said He was. But what blew my mind even more when reading this passage was it says that there were people who did believe, authorities even, but out of fear of being pushed out of the synagogue for believing and following Jesus, they kept their belief hidden and to themselves (verse 42). It goes on to say that their glory and their status was more important to them than what Jesus was offering them. When I read that, I instantly get frustrated. Why would they choose their own status over the eternal life that Jesus was offering them? Why are they so content being comfortable instead of doing everything in their power to follow Jesus?

While it is easy for me to judge their timid behavior, I love Jesus’ response to their unbelief. Right after it says that people were not believing out of fear of losing their status, Jesus turns right around and starts professing that He is the Light of the World and once we believe and follow Him, we will not remain in darkness (verse 46). It just shows who Jesus is and how His love for people is most evident. While it may seem justifiable to be upset over the lack of response to Jesus' teaching, Jesus doesn’t waste a breath being angry about that, He just wants people to come to Him so that they are no longer in the darkness. This shows us the love He has for His people and the trust that He has in God and trusting His timing. For us, it may seem impossible to think of seeing Jesus teach and perform miracles and people not falling at His feet, but I love how it shows that Jesus isn’t worried about receiving the recognition. He wants to do everything He can to make sure that people know that He is the light and that the people He came to die for and who believe and follow His teachings are saved from the darkness.

I love how Jesus ends this discussion by talking about how God sent Him and gave Him the authority to be the Light and draw people to Him. I just love when Jesus is so bold and upfront about who He is. There is a sense of peace with that. He is speaking through the authority given to Him by God and we are to trust what He says because of that. We are to trust that He is the Light and when we believe and follow Him. We no longer have to remain in darkness. We get to hold onto that truth that Jesus is the light, and we get to live boldly in His name helping others recognize the Light because of Him.

Thought Questions

1.           When was a time where it was easy for you to proclaim who Jesus is, when might it have been hard?

2.           When was a time in your life when it was evident that Jesus is the light?

Kate Barnes

Kate is a graduate of Harding University and earned her Master of Social Work from UNT. She and her family have been working and worshiping at Saturn Road since 1999. Kate has a passion for those who are often overlooked and loves to show them Jesus. She serves as the Community Outreach Minister for Saturn Road.