Study in John’s Gospel

1. Study in John’s Gospel Presentation 49

2. A Reminder and Challenge Chap 12v33-36 Presentation 49

3. Introduction Jesus’ last words of public instruction had as their focus what he would achieve on his people’s behalf through the cross. But a dying Messiah made no sense to Jesus’ hearers. "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'?” v34. Some people are only interested in ‘a good religious discussion’. But notice, Jesus’ response is not a direct answer to their question. Instead, he deals with a different theme entirely. The people wanted to discuss current Messianic expectations. But Jesus wanted to talk about their personal relationship to him. Presentation 49

4. Christ’s Reminder Jesus begins by reminding his hearers of a basic truth, he is this world's light. The force of the Greek identifies Jesus not simply as a light but as THE Light. Light is one of John’s great descriptive themes for Jesus throughout his gospel. Jesus also described himself in this way, "I am the light of the world" 8v12; 9v5. John also wrote, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil, hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God" 3v19-21. Presentation 49

5. Christ’s Reminder Now it is to this profoundly rich imagery that Jesus reverts on the eve of his crucifixion. Why? First, because it identifies him with God the Father, affirming that he too is pre-existent and eternal. Light is an ancient image of God. In Ps. 27 David writes, "The LORD is my light and my salvation" Consequently, if Jesus is light as God is light, then Jesus must be the same as God. Presentation 49

6. Christ’s Reminder Secondly, this image teaches that Jesus makes God known. Light is a universal image for the illumination of the mind. When the penny drops in our understanding and we comprehend something that had hitherto been a puzzle to us we often say, “Oh, now I see”. Without illumination, we are in mental and spiritual fog. We can’t know God. Then along comes Jesus. His light dispels the fog and enlightens our darkness. As the light switch is flipped on, we are then able to see, “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. 2 Cor. 4v6 Presentation 49

7. Christ’s Reminder Thirdly, we discover that Jesus, as the light, is opposed to the darkness. That is, he is opposed to ignorance, sin, and evil, and is determined to destroy them. How? The cross is the focal point of his victory. But in simple terms, Jesus dispels darkness by shining! Let me illustrate. A family rented a home that was infested with cockroaches. When they returned home late at night and put the light on, the floor moved as a brown carpet on insects raced for cover! Similarly, Jesus dispels the darkness in our hearts simply by shining. If such a separation does not take place, if evil is not evicted from our hearts and if we are not drawn into righteousness, then we ought to question the genuineness of our Christian profession. Presentation 49

8. Christ’s Reminder Fourthly, this image contrasts Jesus the genuine and perfect light, with other partial lights. Hence John describes Jesus as “the true Light” Jn. 1v8. To call Jesus ‘the light’ is not to deny that there are other lights, however misleading, or imperfect they may be. Man was made in the image of God and although that image is now distorted he may still aspire to good things, like peace, progress and prosperity. None of these things are bad. They are good so far as they go, but they do not go far enough. They are partial lights. They deal with externals, but they do not provide that inner spiritual satisfaction that all men need and so desperately crave. Presentation 49

9. Christ’s Reminder To call Jesus ‘the true light’ is to view him as the sole source of full illumination. Through Christ alone men and women learn the truth about God and about themselves and are qualified to enter into a close personal relationship with God. All this is involved in Christ's reminder that he is ‘the light’. Suppose the people choose to reject Him? It does not matter. He is still the light. Suppose they kill Him? He is still the light. And he is the light for our own day also. Presentation 49

10. A Challenge Jesus also challenged his hearers cf. v 35-36. The challenge consists of two parts: “believe” in the light “walk” in the light. We must first believe in the light if we are to walk in it. What does it mean to believe in the light? It means to put our trust in Jesus. This was John’s aim in writing this gospel; “these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”. 20v31.In the biblical sense, believing in someone means to take that individual at his word and then to act upon it. Presentation 49

11. A Challenge Do you see what Jesus is pressing home upon his hearers? Having switched the light on and shown himself to be the Son of God and our Saviour, he then asks, “Have you acted on the light I have given you? Have I become the object of your worship? Do you view me as the only one who can deal with your sin and restore your broken relationship with God? Have you recognised that I am uniquely qualified to construct the ladder that will lead you into God’s kingdom?” Presentation 49

12. A Challenge This leads to the second part of Christ's challenge. It is the challenge to "walk" in Christ's light. This is a step beyond merely believing. It involves a continuing activity or progression. In other words, a proper response to Jesus involves much more than merely committing oneself to a set of truths and acting upon them only once. Rather, it involves committing oneself to a Jesus, who is on the move, and following him continuously. It means walking in his steps. It means doing what he does, thinking as he thinks, and acting as he acts. To do that is to walk in the light. To refuse to follow him is to fall back into darkness. Presentation 49

13. Warning: The Encroaching Darkness The third part of Christ's final teaching is a warning: "Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you." This is a serious comment, for it is teaching that if we do not follow Christ, not only do we remain in darkness, but the darkness in which we find ourselves deepens, it intensifies. “Rejected light is the parent of the densest darkness, and the man who, having the light, does not trust it, piles around himself thick clouds of obscurity and gloom, far more doleful and impenetrable than the twilight that glimmers round the men who have never known the daylight of revelation.” Alexander Maclaren Presentation 49

14. Warning: The Encroaching Darkness This principle is clearly illustrated in John 9. On the one hand, it is the story of a blind man whose physical blindness was matched by his spiritual blindness. Jesus, the Light of the world, enters the scene. The man receives not only his physical sight but something of far greater importance. His spiritual perception grows as a result of believing on Christ. At the beginning of the story, he knows Jesus only as "a man who is called Jesus" 9v11. Later on, he calls him "a prophet" v17. Still later, Jesus is referred to as being "of God" v33. Finally, he calls Christ "Lord" and worships him as "the Son of God" v 35, 38. This then is also a story of the coming of spiritual sight to a man who had also been born in spiritual darkness. Presentation 49

15. Warning: The Encroaching Darkness But the story is not only one of spiritual progression but of spiritual regression. The Pharisees involved in this incident were also spiritually blind. They reacted differently by refusing to accept or believe the light they are given. As a result they enter into the deeper darkness of those who refuse Christ's light. Indeed, we see them moving into a more and more impenetrable darkness where it is impossible for them to see with any real clarity! What will it be like in our lives? Will we go from faith to faith and from sight to sight, as did the man born blind? Or will we go from unbelief to unbelief, from darkness to darkness like the Pharisees? The direction we take depends upon our relationship to Jesus. Presentation 49

16. Warning: The Encroaching Darkness Implied in Jesus’ warning is that there is a deadline on his offer. When buying a house there is a closing date for offers. Miss the deadline, miss the house! Similarly, it is possible to miss Christ by delaying our response to him. We assume, wrongly, that Jesus will always be standing on the doorstep of our lives, knocking to gain entry. None of us know how long he will stand there! Robert Murray McCheyne, the famous C19th Scottish minister of the gospel wrote to a woman who was putting off responding to Christ’s call: “Christ gives last knocks. When your heart becomes hard and careless then fear lest Christ may have given you a last knock”. Presentation 49

17. Words of Promise Finally, Jesus’ last public instruction also contains words of promise. ‘Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.’ v36. Jesus last words of public instruction do not end with warning but with the promise that as a result of putting our trust in him we will become ‘sons of light’. The family likeness will become so apparent in our lives as we reflect the likeness of Jesus that we will become a source of blessing to others. What a privilege! Do others see something of the beauty of Jesus in our lives and are they attracted to that? Presentation 49

18. Conclusion Jesus has reminded his hearers of truths that they have already heard. He has challenged them to believe in him and to walk with him. He has also warned them against delaying a decision to respond to his challenge and he encourages response with words of unfailing promise. You were not present to hear Jesus speak these words 2000 years ago but he speaks them still today. His words are no less powerful or probing. His promise to those who respond is no less certain. Where do you stand in relation to all you have heard? Do not keep Jesus standing at the door of your heart, unlock the door and let him in, for Jesus gives last knocks! Presentation 49