John 12:34-36

John 12:34-36 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’?” 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. 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.

Perhaps to deflect attention from the resounding voice from heaven, the crowd turns to the familiar tactic of questioning Jesus, using the Law as a basis of inquiry, "Why do you say the Son of Man will be lifted up when the Law says the Christ will live forever? While you are at it, Jesus, explain the 'Son of Man' to us." As usual, rather than provide a direct answer to questions intended to trap him, Jesus sets up a dichotomous yet accurate reality. Jesus knew the prophecies that Messiah would live forever. As born again believers under grace, we sometimes ignore what fulfillment of prophecy meant to the Nation of Israel. All the years in human bondage created a faithful remanent who longed for the Christ, a simple people who had not lost hope but waited in faith, believing and looking for the literal fulfillment of the words of the prophets of old: But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace. (Micah 5:2-5)

Yet here was this Jesus, claiming to be the Christ, talking in near riddles about the Son of Man going away, and now saying the light was going away to leave the people in darkness without the promised deliverer. What were they supposed to think and to believe? They had to listen carefully and quickly, for his words were few in that particular moment, but they resonated with a certain note of authority and truth before Jesus left and hid himself from them. John's gospel uses the word light over twenty times as he points to Christ as the light of the world declaring, In him [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1: 4-5) In two instances, Jesus directly states, I am the light of the world. (John 8:12 & 9:5) Numerous other passages give nearly the same meaning. Speaking of himself, Jesus said, This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:19) In today's verses, Jesus infers He is the light and people should walk in him. He tells his listeners to put their trust in the light while you have it so that you may become sons of light, but seemingly abandons them. How can you put your trust in someone who forsakes you? Soon the people will hear him say, This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 12:46)

Jesus asks them to follow him, the LIGHT. He did this earlier when he called himself the light of the world, and said, Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12b) How can you follow someone who hides from you? What appears a great contradiction, a paradox, a conundrum of epic proportions is possible because Christ is our Hope of Glory, our Righteous, our Redeemer, our Savior. The Light Has Come! Jesus told the people, He who was foretold by the prophets and longed for throughout the ages is walking among you. Light is in your midst in the dark corners of life. Open your eyes and see. You are asking the right questions: who is the Son of Man? Will He live forever? What does this mean for me? But you have to have new eyes to see that I am He. Open your ears and hearken to my voice: I am the Light. I am a new revelation, a new day, a new way of thinking. That was hard for the people to comprehend. Jesus came to the world to reveal himself as Son of God, but humanity cloaked his being and blinded people to who He was. Jesus grew weary, wept, moved from place to place to avoid capture. He did not look as the warrior king they expected in all his glory. If He were the Christ would He not have complete control over all circumstances? Yet He came as an innocent Lamb, claiming to be the light, with no power of his own, doing only the Father's will. But Christ knew who He was and He walked in that authority, in that knowledge; for He was the Son of God, the Living Word: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:1&2) He offered light and life that day and told those who sat in darkness to walk in Light, in him. He speaks those words today. Walk in the light as He is in the light: you will live and not die! Praise the Lord all you saints of the Lord!