Will finish Chapter 12 tonight. Better put on a seat belt for Chapters 13-21.
Verse 31-Now is the time for Judgement of this world- Jesus is dying on the cross as a judgement for our sins, all of our sins, the sins of the world. If I ever think that my sin isn't a big deal, I look at the cross. If I ever get a bad break and think that Jesus doesn't care or doesn't love me, I look at the cross. I have settled in my mind forever, that Jesus loves me, because of the cross.
The prince of this world is Satan himself. This world, the world that you see and experience everyday, is currently ruled by Satan. Think about that. Understanding that will unlock a lot of truths for you. Jesus will not drive out Satan totally until He returns but the cross is the beginning of that process.
Verse 32 is sometimes misinterpreted to mean everyone will be saved but this is one of those verses that must be further explained elsewhere in the Bible. Universalists preach that all will be saved but that can't be true if Matthew 7:13-14 is also true. Jesus speaking:
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
What most commentators believe Jesus means and what the Bible itself teaches that this means is that Jesus is not just the Jewish Messiah or Savior but the Savior of the whole world. Men(human beings) from ALL nations, all races, all cultures will now be drawn to Christ once He is literally lifted up on the cross. They must just look to Him and His horrible/wonderful cross and believe.
In verses 35-36 Jesus again goes back to His description of Himself as THE light in this dark world. Is this world not dark, even today? He is the light and if we believe in Him we are "Sons of Light".
1st John:6-7- If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
What is the darkness I walk in now? If he doesn't let me know, if he doesn't shine the light, I won't even realize that I am walking in darkness. Kinda scary but scary kinda forces me to cling to Him. A good thing.
Verse 37-Even now, after 3 years of miracles and perfect teaching, most of the Jews did not believe. In Verse 38 and 40, Isaiah, writing 600 years earlier, explains why. God has hardened their hearts to Jesus' message.
Voice in my head: HEY!! THAT'S NOT FAIR!!
Me: OK, well Jesus had to be rejected by the Jews before he could offer Salvation to the Gentiles. That's me and you, baby.
Voice: But why? It's Jesus. He can do it however he wants.
Me: You just said it.
Voice: Said WHAT!?
Me: It's Jesus. He can do it however He wants.
Voice: Alrighty then....Well played.
Me: Thank you
Verse 47 and then we are done. Again Jesus is saying he didn't come (this time) to judge the world. Judgement was passed on the world long ago, during the time of Adam. Jesus has come to save FROM this judgement on sin and that judgement is DEATH. The second judgement, the one where Jesus DOES judge the world (Book of Revelation) is just a judgement on all those that wouldn't except Jesus saving us during this visit, His first visit that ended with the cross.
28 Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. 34 The crowd spoke up, “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’?” 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. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them. 37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous 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 deadened 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 confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 When he looks at me, he sees 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 “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. 49 For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.
More Johnny P. below. This is on John 3:16-21 but is explaining my darkness and Jesus light as only he can. Spectacular!
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