Three Outcomes of Jesus’ Death and Our Responsibility.
John 12:38-36
28 Father, glorify your name.”�Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
29 The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” (John 12:28-29)
30 Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for me, but for you. 31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.
34 Then the crowd replied to him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah will remain forever. So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” (John 12:30-34)
35 Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them. (John 12:35-36)
John 11:41-42
“41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. 42 I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.”
1.) Three Promised Outcomes of the Death of Christ.
John 12:31-32
A) “Now is the judgment of this world,”
John 12:31
D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary
“The cross was passing judgment on them. Since Jesus was sent as his Father’s representative, his agent and the supreme divine revelation, rejection of the Son is rejection of God himself (5:23)…But in that death, God was also giving his Son as a sacrifice, the Lamb of God; in that death, Jesus was securing the life of the ‘many seeds’ (v. 24). Thus, Jesus’ passion/glorification signifies judgment both positively and negatively. As far as ‘the world’ is concerned, however, it can only be negative. There can be no further reprieve, for there can be no hope for those who reject the one person whose death/exaltation is the epiphany of God’s gracious, saving self-disclosure.”
John 3:18-19
“Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.”
John 5:24
“Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.”
Psalm 90:12
“Teach us to number our days carefully�so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.”
Application
The judgement of God rests with those who reject Jesus. How will you live to show them the value of the “way, truth, and life?” How will we live purposefully?
Romans 12:9-15
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
B) “Now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”
John 12:31
“prince of this world.” (NIV/KJV)
This is the first of three references to ‘the prince of this world’ in the Gospel of John (12:31; 14:30; 16:11), referred to elsewhere as ‘the devil’ (8:44; 13:2), ‘Satan’ (13:27) and ‘the evil one’ (17:15).
“prince of this world"
19 “We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.” (1John 5:19)
“in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” (Eph. 2:2)
Hebrews 2:14-15
“14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
Romans 6:10
“10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God.”
Colossians 2:14-15
14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
We Can Be Obedient to Cast Out Satan Today
18 He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you. (Luke 10:18-19)
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; (Mark 16:17)
Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Application
Live the life that demonstrates that Satan’s power is defeated.
Be a vessel that in obedience that is willing to be used to push the kingdom of darkness back. (Pray, Rebuke, Walk in Authority – be ready to be used)
C) “As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself.”
John 12:32
John 3:14-15
14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
The word ‘to draw’ (elkyō) is used five times in John’s Gospel (6:44; 12:32; 18:10; 21:6, 11) and only once elsewhere in the NT (Acts 16:19). It is used literally in 18:10; 21:6, 11 of drawing a sword or the drawing in a fishing net.
Colin G. Kruse, John: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 4, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries
“Jesus’ death on the cross would result in ‘all’ people being drawn to him. This does not mean that all people without exception would put their faith in him, for clearly some did not. It means people of all ethnic backgrounds would put their faith in him, one example of this being the Greeks seeking Jesus (20–22.”
John 10:16
“But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
Eph. 2:13-16
“13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.”
Application
Remind yourself that no one is too far from God.
Be reminded to pray that Jesus would draw that person, whom you believe is hopeless, unto himself. He is still drawing people today and will continue until he comes again.
30 Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for me, but for you. 31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.
34 Then the crowd replied to him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah will remain forever. So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” (John 12:30-34)
30 Jesus responded, “This voice came, not for me, but for you. 31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate what kind of death he was about to die.
34 Then the crowd replied to him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah will remain forever. So how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” (John 12:30-34)
2.) Walk in the Light as Children of the Light
John 12:35-36
35 Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them. (John 12:35-36)
35 Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them. (John 12:35-36)
Acts 26:22-23
22 To this very day, I have had help from God, and I stand and testify to both small and great, saying nothing other than what the prophets and Moses said would take place— 23 that the Messiah would suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.”
1Thess. 5:4-5
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.
35 Jesus answered, “The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn’t know where he’s going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them. (John 12:35-36)
We are to STEP FORWARD in the light of Christ.
Matthew 5:14a
“You are the light of the world.”
Application
Evaluate the light of Christ in your life.
What must you do to pursue more light?
How can you spur on your brother or sister to walk as a child of the light?
Remember, we are to become, step by step, day by day, children of the light.
Recap
Walk In the Light as Children of the Light.
Three Promised Outcomes because of the Death of Christ.
The world is judged.
Satan will be cast out of control.
All men will be drawn unto Him.