John 12:35-43

< Back to John Index


TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Lord Urges People to Come to the Light

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Acceptance of the light brings more light.

  2. Rejection of the light brings further darkness.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. There is a time for us to hide.

  2. There is a time for us not to hide.

QUESTIONS

  1. Refer to John 12:36-37. Who is the “them” to whom the Lord was speaking?

  2. Many welcomed the Lord into Jerusalem at the beginning of the week. Were all the people in this crowd believers?

  3. Name two members of the Sanhedrin who went from being secret believers to open followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

  4. Read Isaiah 6. Who was it that John saw as Isaiah’s vision of God?

  5. Light is one of the themes of the gospel of John. Is this actual physical light?

  6. What is the result if you believe in the light? What happens if you reject the light?

ANSWERS

  1. The crowds in the temple area during Passover time. Many were pilgrims who had come from Galilee and had seen Jesus’ miracles there, and some had seen Lazarus raised from the dead at nearby Bethany.

  2. No. Most of the people did not believe in Him. See John 12:37. Jesus was not the political Messiah they were looking for. Even concerning those who believed in Him, there was a question of whether it was true faith or not. See John 12:42.

  3. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. See John 19:38-40 and Luke 23:50-51.

  4. He saw the vision as that of Jesus Christ. John knew that the Christ of the New Testament was the Jehovah of the Old Testament.

  5. No. John is referring to moral light (goodness, righteousness, and truth), and it is centered in Christ, the light of the world.

  6. You will receive more light. As Christians, you will become more Christ-like. Acceptance of light brings more light. Rejection brings further darkness and you lose direction.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Do you love the praise of men more than the praise of God? Give this serious consideration as to how you live your life and respond to various situations and people.

  2. Have you seen in your life that you have more light as you accept the light that is given to you? Are you close to the Lord each day?

CHALLENGE

  1. If you sense a lack of purpose in your life, spend more time with the Lord in His word so the darkness will not overcome you. Is your “hiding time” (your quiet time with the Lord) a sacred time for you?

KEY VERSES

  • “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” John 12:36

  • “Isaiah said again, ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts.’” John 12:40

  • “They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” John 12:43



John, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsJohn 12:35-43