John 12:34-36 (WEL) The people answered him, “We understand from the law that Christ remains forever. How come you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 Then Jesus said to them, “The light is with you only a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you, for the one who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 “While you have the light, believe in the light, so you may be the children of light.” Jesus spoke these things, went away, and hid himself from them.
V34 The people answered him, “We understand from the law that Christ remains forever. How come you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”
The law refers to Mosaic Law.
These people were taught incorrectly.
Some verses that they appealed to: Psalm 89:28-29; Psalm 110:4; Daniel 2:44; and Daniel 7:13-14.
Yet, Messiah is to be lifted up and died as the Passover Lamb. Compare Isaiah 53, Zechariah 12:10, and Psalm 22:16.
Did the Jews of Jesus’s day understand the two comings of Messiah?
AskAndyAI:
“The Old Testament prophets saw the “two mountains” (the suffering and the reigning work of the Messiah) but could not see the valley between them, so the chronology and relationship of the two comings was unclear to them. That lack of hindsight meant the prophetic picture looked confusing rather than two distinct advents.
“As a result, many Jewish expectations developed the idea of two different messianic figures (commonly called Ben Joseph, the suffering figure, and Ben David, the reigning king) rather than one Messiah with two comings. This view appears in intertestamental writings and communities such as those reflected at Qumran.
“At the same time, Israel did expect a Messiah and had many messianic prophecies available. There were people who understood the signs and recognized Jesus (a remnant), but the majority failed to discern the timing and true identity of Jesus because of these blurred expectations and other blindnesses in first‑century Judaism.
“So while Jews certainly expected a messianic figure, the typical first‑century Jewish understanding did not clearly distinguish the first coming (the suffering, substitutionary work of Christ) from the future, earthly reign of the Messiah—which is why many in that day either missed or misunderstood Jesus’ claims.”
V35 Then Jesus said to them, “The light is with you only a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you, for the one who walks in darkness does not know where he is going.
Jesus is the light—the light of the world (John 8:12, John 9:5, and 1 John 1:5). Light brings exposure, guidance (guiding light), safety (knowing dangers and obstacles), truth (clarity and reality), purity (bleaches and for examining), and glory.
Jesus tells them that He, the light, will not be remaining. At death, He goes to Paradise; at His ascension, He goes to heaven.
Walk is a reference to a person’s way of life and interaction with society.
This world is in the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:13). Darkness is ignorance, can be fearful, unable to see obstacles, hides truth, obscures truth and reality, hides sin and crime.
V36 “While you have the light, believe in the light, so you may be the children of light.” Jesus spoke these things, went away, and hid Himself from them.
Jesus again urges them to place faith and trust in Him alone for salvation. Children of light are those who believe in Jesus and are in the Kingdom of light (God’s kingdom). Compare 1 Peter 2:9).
Salvation from God’s wrath with restoration of fellowship, forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3) are realized by believing in God. The condition for salvation began with Adam and Eve and is clear in Genesis 15:6. Faith is not a work deserving a wage or something in return for work (Romans 4:1-5).
We learn:
- Jesus tells the truth.
- Jesus meets God’s standards but not the false standards of Jewish religious teachers.
- Jesus is the Light.
Questions:
- Is truth important to you?
- Are you a living light reflecting the glory and graces of God? Compare Matthew 5:14-16.