John 12:34-43 (March 14th, 2026)

John 12_34-43 (March 14th, 2026)Brian Lee

7:15

Chapters 1-12 of John's Gospel are often considered the "book of signs" because John records the signs Jesus performed as the Messiah. The purpose of the signs is to cause people to trust Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. Not everyone believed Jesus even after seeing the signs. How about us today? Even after reading the Bible, are we still confused about who Jesus Christ is? It is not enough for us to attend a religious service, be a member of a religious organization, or even make sacrifices for the Christian service. We have to meet Jesus of the Bible. We have to encounter the Risen Christ. We have to not just know about Him but actually know Him. I pray that you will meet Christ and fall in love with Him, as we should. Let's take a look at today's passage.

John 12:34-43

In today's passage, John records how the religious Jews of the first century had misunderstandings about the Messiah, also known as the Son of Man. This passage shows how essential it is to understand who Jesus Christ is. Many people today think of Jesus as a teacher and role model. They believe that a good Christian is someone who learns from Jesus and tries to live a better life. I believe Jesus of the Bible teaches differently.

V. 34, "So the crowd answered him, 'We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

This question was in response to Jesus' teaching in verses 31-32, "Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

By being "lifted up," Jesus was referring to his death on the cross. The crowd clearly understood that being "lifted up" meant death. And, this was not the conventional thinking at the time. Religious Jews believed that when the Messiah appears, he will be victorious over the earthly kingdoms, period. And, in that narrative, there was no room for the Messiah to suffer death.

The crowd that cried "Hosanna" quickly turns against Jesus. Jesus "failed" to meet the crowd's expectations. But before we judge the crowd with thinking, "How foolish can they be?", let us examine our own hearts. How confident are you that you have a good picture of the Messiah? Do you realize that many people see Jesus as a means to an end rather than seeing Jesus as the end in itself? Do you realize how many people call upon the name of Jesus to get what they want? Many people fervently pray to Jesus to get things in life. However, Christians gladly give up "things" in life to get Jesus' name. Which one are you?

In the first century, many Jews who waited for the Messiah ended up rejecting Jesus because He did not meet their standards. How confident are we that we are not making the same mistake? Hear the words of Jesus.

35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

Who are the true Christians, Disciples, and Children of God?

The people who choose the light, rather than the darkness, are the true children of God, according to the passage. It's those who die to themselves and are born again in Christ. The religious Jews saw plenty of signs but did not come to the light. John explains why this was the case, using the prophet Isaiah's words.

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”

This may be a difficult passage for some, for it sounds like God is actively making people unbelievers. God has "blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts," which sounds like even if someone wanted to believe in Jesus, God is making it impossible for that person to have faith. But a careful reading reveals that this is God just letting people be. For those who choose to remain in darkness, God is letting them be. The religious people in the first century took pride in the Temple, the tradition, and the Torah. These are good things for they point to the Messiah, but they are not to replace the Messiah. The Bible says,

v. 43, For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

How about us today? Do we take pride and confidence in a building, tradition, organization, and or activities, rather than Christ and His Word? What do we need to do to make sure that we are not staying in the darkness? Come to Jesus, who is the Messiah. Do not make him a means to an end. Make Christ the reason for your being, for He is the Light.