Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It
Is To Men As They Are
"Preach The Word"
Chapter 33
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS AS LIGHT?
John 12:34-50
Light is a very wonderful thing yet cannot be completely understood. To the seeing person light may very easily be taken for granted. Light has the potential of revealing and can be called on to do a work of concealing. In darkness, color has no meaning When the light is turned on it reveals an object’s characteristics and its color. In this instance light serves a purpose of revealing.
Yet, light can also be called upon to conceal. Have you ever watched a movie when the criminal is being interrogated with a strong light beaming in his face? There is so much light intensity that the bright light blinds a person. The same happens when one rides down the road and faces a rude or careless driver who fails to dim his lights, momentarily the driver approached is blinded.
The lake of fire is described as a place of “outer darkness.” Please allow these next thoughts to be “food for thought.” An ark-welding machine emits such a brilliant light; if one keeps his eyes fixed upon it, his eyes would soon be burnt out. Then that which was so bright would become so dark. Could it be that the fires of hell are so intense and bright that just as you would glue your eyes on the sun, your eyes would immediately go out never to see again. Think of it this way, those who will be in the lake of fire are underneath the curse and can not look upon the light being emitted from the flames without their eyes being destroyed and being hurled into everlasting darkness. The same brilliant light that will be a blessing to those in heaven, with the curse removed, will be only a curse to those who are in the lake of fire. They will be in everlasting darkness.
The word “glory” carries the idea of brightness. It means to possess and to be full of perfect light; to dwell in perfect light, brilliance, splendor, brightness, luster, and magnificence with God (Practical Word Studies in the New Testament, Volume I). Moses in Exodus 33:18 wanted to see God’s glory or brightness only to be told that no man could look upon His face and live. Moses was permitted to look upon the Lord’s “back parts” (vv. 19-23). When Moses later came down from the mountain, he knew not that the “skin of his face shone” (34:29).
Instead of the flames of hell being dark as some suppose, could it be that the purging, purifying Glory of God will ignite and keep the flames burning, thus the very light hated by man, will be the burning light that puts them into eternal darkness. In contrast, the eternal lit flames will be brightly burning forever but men who love darkness rather than light will not see it at all. They, by their own choice, are where they are. David may have hinted at this truth in Psalm 139:7-8, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit, or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” (Hebrews 12:29)
With this in mind, may we consider, I. There is a Time
to Receive the Light (vv. 34-36); II. There are Those who Reject the Light
(vv. 37-42); III. There are Those who Received the Light (vv. 43-50).
I. THERE IS A TIME TO RECEIVE THE LIGHT vv. 34-36
The time is for a period (vv. 34-35). This discourse on Jesus being the Light, was in response to the people’s question (v. 34). “The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?” These people give evidence to how darkened their minds are. The truth surrounding the crucifixion and the resurrection was concealed from them. Their foolish hearts were darkened. Thus the Lord refers to Himself as being the Light. He was going to put a “little light on the subject,” and also show them that He was the Light, “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
With penetrating words, the Lord spoke. He told them to recognize their state of darkness and to come to the light in belief (v. 36). This is a reminder of the great warning given earlier in chapter one and especially in chapter three. John 3:19-21 reminds us of what He said, relative to what He is now saying, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deed were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
The phrase, “Yet a little while is the light with you” (v. 35) is a solemn warning for one not to put off receiving the Light.
The time is precious (v. 36). Just as a bright day becomes a dark night, the light of opportunity will soon be past. To fully appreciate this may we observe some things about Light. 1. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5); 2. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, the very embodiment of the heavenly light. (John 8:12; 9:5); 3. The light of the knowledge of God is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. (II Corinthians 4:6); 4. Jesus Christ “lights every man” who comes into the world. (John 1:9); 5. Believers are said to become “children of Light” through belief in the Light, Jesus Christ Himself. (John 12:36); 6. Believers have been transferred from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of Christ, the inheritance of light. (Colossians 1:13); 7. Before they came to Christ, believers are not only in darkness, but are an embodiment of darkness. But when they come to Christ, believers are placed in the Light and become an embodiment of the light itself (Ephesians 5:8); 8. Believers are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16); Believers are to set their light on a lamp stand to make their light conspicuous (Matthew 5:15). 10. Evil doers shun the light (John 3:20); 11. The creation of light is a picture of the expulsion of spiritual darkness (Genesis 1:2) (Practical Word Studies in the New Testament, Volume II)
The Greek word used here for light is photos from which we get our word photograph. A photograph taken of something special becomes more precious with the passing of time. The photograph records what it saw for a precious moment of time. The Lord indicated that He, as the Light was reflecting the Light of the Father and was to be available for a short time (vv. 35; 45). He was the photos or the photograph of the Father.
II. THERE ARE THOSE WHO REJECT THE LIGHT vv. 37-43
As it was prophesized (vv. 37-41). Clearly, Isaiah the Prophet spoke the oracles of God as he prophesized that which would take place concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, that which Isaiah predicted is taking place. Isaiah in asking the question, “Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (v. 38) is demonstrated his bewilderment at seeing so many refusing the Messiah.
Isaiah went on to say, “Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” (vv. 39-40) The Jews had an opportunity to walk in the light and follow after the light, but did not. What they were doing was very similar to what Paul was speaking in Romans 1:28 when he said, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” To refuse the Lord’s light or “the Light” who is the Lord, is to make yourself subject to having your eyes blinded and your heard hardened. It is a dangerous thing to put off the Lord when He is calling.
When the soul of man is cast into the lake of fire and torment, a place of “outer darkness,” he will be blinded for all eternity. This blindness will be a tormenting reminder that he loved darkness more than light.
Because of other people (v. 42). Verse forty-two shows how one may “believe on him” but not confess Him. “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:” James 2:17-19 gives us a parallel rendering of this concept, when it tells us that the “devils also believe.” This passage reminds us that faith without works is dead. Among the chief rulers many believed on Him; “but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they be put out of the synagogue:”; many refuse to come to Christ because of the negative influence of other people. Peer pressure is a very real pressure. Our peers govern many things that we do and say. Satan gives the delusion, “if everybody’s doing it, it must be alright.”
Certainly it would be sad standing before God one day at the great white throne judgment for having rejected Him because of someone else. There is the wicked expression that says, “misery loves company.” When one is involved in wickedness, he prefers not to do it alone. That person will entice someone else to do it with him.
There often is the desire for one to take a stand for that which is right only to be hindered by what others may think. Hell will be populated with people who are there because of the fear of what others thought.
Because of their pride (v. 43). These negative influences have its affect most often because of pride. This kind of pride genders fear. There is one kind of pride that looks down on others. There is another pride that cause one to strive to be equal to or superior to others. It is this kind of pride expressed in our text, “For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
The world knows how to praise its own. The lights of this world shine as a counterfeit to the real light. The spotlight draws attention to that person in the spotlight. Famous movie stars often exclaim that they live for the praise, adoration, and the recognition of their fans. They thrive and feed off the “praise of men.” Yet cunningly, Satan will use that same form of pride to lure countless souls into the pit. The bright lights of Las Vegas are only a counterfeit rendering of the true light. They burn and glow with each flicker of light being a testimony to those who have rejected the true Light.
III. THERE ARE THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE LIGHT vv. 44-50
They partake of His deity (vv. 44-45) (cf. 49) This section of Scripture shows Christ to be not only the Light to reveal, but the Word to relate. Jesus relates back to the Father, giving the glory back to Him in respect to the authority that the Father has over the Son. This truth is expressed in verse 44. “Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me." Then in verse 45, "And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.” Verse 49 is very important concerning the work of Christ who is the word, “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.”
In John 1:1, Jesus is introduced as the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” In John 1:1, we see the Word in His presentation; in this chapter we see the Word in His purpose. He came to reveal the Father. John having been inspired by the Holy Spirit, used the word, “Word” to communicate to both the Gentile and the Jew. The Jew saw a word as more than just a sound of intelligence. It was powerfully able, if properly exercised, to express something, to do something. Even in the Old Testament, the Word of God meant something. It was used in association with God’s creation power or His sustaining power. The Greeks had a different mindset; they saw the Word more philosophically. Just as the word is a vehicle to transmit an expressed thought, the word also is seen as the power that enabled men to think and reason.
Now in this section, after having been introduced as the Word, Jesus tells the people, “I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me …” (v. 49). The mind of God has spoken through the Son of God. Verse 44 is not an argument, which says that one is not in reality believing on Jesus. He is simply emphasizing, as one sent from God, that He came to speak and do what he was commissioned to do. His argument reasoned that to reject Him was more importantly a rejection of God the Father. This section again is a reminder to the fact that Jesus is God. His Deity is declared. John’s gospel focuses on who Jesus is; the synoptic gospels focus on what Jesus did.
They forsake the darkness (vv. 46-50). It would be good to remind ourselves how each of the gospels emphasize a different origin of Jesus relative to His work. In Matthew, Jesus came from Abraham through David, and is the Messiah. In Mark, Jesus comes from Nazareth, and is a Servant. In Luke, Jesus comes from Achan, and is shown to be the Perfect Man, and in John, Jesus is the Man from heaven, and is God. The whole purpose of the gospel of John being written is shown in John 20:31, “But these are written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
Someone said that the book of John is “a pool, in which a child may wade and an elephant may swim.” This is what commentator Charles Erdman meant when he sad, “Its stories are so simple that even a child will love them, but its statements are so profound that no philosopher can fathom them.” (Blue Letter Bible)
The believer receives the Word as well as the Light as indicated by verse 46-47. “I am a light come into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.” When contrasting light and darkness, one must be aware that one is an extreme to the other. They are opposites. Light can dispel darkness, but darkness can not dispel light. A light can be brought into a dark room, and the room is no longer dark. But you can not bring darkness into a lighted room and it became dark. For the room to become dark, one must remove the light. If Jesus, the Light, removes Himself then all becomes dark, but the believer may enjoy the Light for all eternity. Thank God for the Light!
As believers, we should let our lights so shine that by our witness and testimony we may help dispel darkness. We need to be bright lights shining in dark places. The Bible is replete with those who were bright lights in dark places. Noah was a bright light as he built the ark in a morally and spiritually darkened world. Joseph was a bright light in a morally and spiritually darkened home, Potipher’s house. Daniel was a bright light shining in a dark empire. Jesus was a bright light while shining on the “Old Rugged Cross.”
With these being our examples and Jesus being our primary example, may we shine for Him!
Study By Max Alderman, Ph.D
