2. The Departing Light John 12:27-50

3. Review Apparently still the Sunday before the crucifixion –Some have supposed vv20-57 are a summary of events during Monday-Wednesday But John has been exact on his dates(Jn 12:1,12) –No need to assume the day has changed The reason people want to spread the events out is because chapter 13 begins on Thursday –But John has never been trying to tell every detail »Other books were (and are) available for those days (Matthew, Mark, Luke) –So Jesus is still in the temple, healing and teaching the people who have come to Him

4. Introduction Jesus has just given His answer to Philip and Andrew about the Greeks who wished to see Jesus (Jn 12:20-26) –Part of that answer pointed to His coming glorification and the necessity of His death and burial before the resurrection –With that on His mind...

5. As death draws closer Jn 12:27 –Thinking about His coming death was troubling He knew the kind of death He would die He knew the betrayals that would come first He knew the pain and humiliation that would be cast on Him –He asks a very human question, “What shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’?” Should He be looking for a way out of the death Should He be asking the Father to save Him? –Note: He is not asking the Father to save Him, but asking if He should be asking that

6. As death draws closer He immediately answers His own question –“But for this purpose I came to this hour” It would make no sense to ask to be saved from the very purpose for which He came –He knew the plan before He came to earth –He knew the pain and suffering and death –He knew this was the only way to save man –He willingly chose to come Saying that no matter how troubling thought of His death might be, He wasn’t going to stop now

7. Father, Glorify Your Name Rather than give in to the human desire to escape suffering, pain and death Jn 12:28 –He is willing to call upon His Father, not to save Him, but to make the Father’s name glorious Jesus is willing to do His part in that cause –The Father immediately replies aloud He has glorified His name (in past times, including Jesus’ work) He will glorify it (through Christ’s death, resurrection, and resulting salvation)

8. Belief and Disbelief Jn 12:29 –Remember, Jesus is in the temple God speaks, and some think it was just their imagination hearing a voice –If you choose to disbelieve, it does not matter how much evidence is available Others believed (to an extent), must be an angel –The Father communicating with Jesus, yes –But not the Father directly communicating »Why not? That would make Jesus too much like Moses (Num 12:1-9) »And if Jesus is like Moses then He is the one prophesied (Deut 18:17-18)

9. Judgment of the cross Jn 12:30-33 –The reason God spoke aloud was to instill belief Not in Jesus, but the disciples and people No ability to say He did not speak with and for the Father –Now is the time of judgment Not final judgment, but the decision point for the world –Will there be salvation? –The crux of the war between God and Satan If Jesus is lifted up (crucified), then Satan loses –The “if” shows Jesus still has free will

10. Clarification, please Jn 12:34 –Isn’t the Christ supposed to reign forever? 2 Sam 7:12-13; Ps 110:4; Dan 2:44, 7:13-14 –Then ask who the Son of Man is Shows same event as earlier because title Son of Man was used in v23 People understood the glorification of the Son as the same as the “lifted up”, and knew the “lifted up” meant death –So either they misunderstood “Son of Man” being Christ (since Christ would live forever) –Or they misunderstood “lifted up” being death

11. The Light Jn 12:35-36 –Jesus does not directly answer their question What they said was true, except they didn’t realize where the Son of Man would live and reign –Though Dan 7 explains it would be in heaven –Instead He tells them they need to make use of the light while available (Jn 8:12) Soon the light would be taken away And if they did not follow (believe and obey) the light, they’d be lost in darkness (sin) –But if they believed... “they may become sons of light” – more required than faith only –Then He left, they would have to decide now whether or not they believed

12. Prophecy fulfilled Jn 12:37-41 –Despite all that Jesus had done, including raising Lazarus, they didn’t believe But Isaiah had prophesied nearly 750 years before, that they would not believe –Isa 53:1 in the context of the Christ’s death –Isa 6:10 where Isaiah was sent to be a prophet »The people weren’t going to believe Isaiah »And 750 yrs later they still didn’t believe him –[Note: v41 says the passage Isa 6:10 was when Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory, and Isa 6 says he saw Jehovah’s glory – imp. when dealing with JWs]

13. Belief Jn 12:42-43 –While some refused to believe despite the evidence, many did believe Even among the leaders of the Jews –But were afraid to say so because it might cost them their positions and place in society Belief without obedience is dead (Jms 2:17) –Jesus told those who believed that they would have to abide in His words (Jn 8:31-32)

14. Belief Jn 12:44-50 –Belief in Christ = belief in the Father Disbelief of the Christ = disbelief of the Father –Seeing Christ = seeing the Father Jesus lived exactly the way the Father wanted If you believe in Him, you “should not abide in darkness” –It is possible to stay in sin while believing (Jms 2:19) –I came to save, not to judge His mission (on first coming) was to save –If you don’t believe, He isn’t going to judge right now, but on the last day he will be judged »And the word of Jesus will judge, because »Word of Christ = Word of the Father Disbelief and /or disobedience is self-judgment Belief + Obedience = eternal life, salvation

15. Conclusion Jesus knew His death was drawing near –He knew some would never believe If they wouldn’t believe the signs and the voice from heaven, nothing would change them These would be eternally lost by their own choice –He knew some believed but were afraid to act on their belief Unless they acted, these were in danger of being lost by their own choice –He knew others would believe and obey, these would be saved by the sacrifice of Jesus Which group are you in?