NLT Study Bible - Gospel of John - Flipbook - Page 37
John 12:35
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it for fear that the Pharisees would expel
them from the synagogue. 43For they loved
human praise more than the praise of God.
44Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you
trust me, you are trusting not only me, but
also God who sent me. 45For when you see
me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 46I
have come as a light to shine in this dark
world, so that all who put their trust in me
will no longer remain in the dark. 47I will
not judge those who hear me but don’t obey
me, for I have come to save the world and
The Unbelief of the People
not to judge it. 48But all who reject me and
37But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus
my message will be judged on the day of
had done, most of the people still did not judgment by the truth I have spoken. 49I
believe in him. 38This is exactly what Isaiah don’t speak on my own authorit y. The Fa
the prophet had predicted:
ther who sent me has commanded me what
to say and how to say it. 50And I know his
“Lord, who has believed our message?
commands lead to eternal life; so I say what
To whom has the Lord revealed his
ever the Father tells me to say.”
powerful arm?”
will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”
35Jesus replied, “My light will shine for
you just a little longer. Walk in the light
while you can, so the darkness will not over
take you. Those who walk in the darkness
cannot see where they are going. 36Put your
trust in the light while there is still time;
then you will become children of the light.”
After saying these things, Jesus went
away and was hidden from them.
39But
the people couldn’t believe, for as Isa 3. The Book of Glory: The Word Is
iah also said,
Glorified (13:1–20:31)
The Passover Meal (13:1-30)
40 “The Lord has blinded their eyes
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
and hardened their hearts—
Before the Passover celebration,
so that their eyes cannot see,
Jesus knew that his hour had come
and their hearts cannot understand,
to leave this world and return to his Father.
and they cannot turn to me
He had loved his disciples during his minis
and have me heal them.”
try on earth, and now he loved them to the
41Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said very end. 2It was time for supper, and the
this, because he saw the future and spoke devil had already prompted Judas, son of
of the Messiah’s glor y. 42Many people did Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew
believe in him, however, including some of that the Father had given him authorit y
the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit over everything and that he had come from
12:35
John 8:12; 9:4; 12:46
12:36
John 8:59
Eph 5:8
1 Thes 5:5
12:38
*Isa 53:1
Rom 10:16
12:40
*Isa 6:10
Matt 13:14
12:41
Isa 6:1
12:42
John 7:13, 48; 9:2223; 12:11
12:43
John 5:44
12:45
John 14:9
12:46
John 1:4; 3:19;
8:12; 9:5
12:47
John 3:17; 8:15
13:1
John 16:28; 17:1
13:2
Luke 22:3
John 6:70-71
13
who is this Son of Man, anyway? The
Jews did not understand what sort of
Messiah planned to die.
12:36 Jesus was the light (1:4, 7-9;
3:19-21; 8:12), and he urged the crowd
to quickly make the choice to believe
in him before it was too late. They
had the choice of becoming children
of the light by rebirth through the
power of God (1:12-13). Jesus . . . was
hidden from them: Jesus withdrew first
from Judea (11:54) and then from this
audience (12:36), and soon he would
withdraw from the world (17:11).
12:37-38 Jesus’ work was finished, yet
most of the people . . . did not believe
in him. His sermons before the world
were complete and the signs had been
displayed, but he was rejected (1:11).
The quotation is from Isa 53:1.
12:39-40 The people couldn’t believe:
John quotes Isa 6:10 to explain Israel’s
unbelief (see Matt 13:13-15; Mark
4:12; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:26-27). When
revelation comes, we must believe. If
we refuse, the light disappears (12:35-
36). When God’s light departs from
the world, the darkness closes over
unbelieving hearts.
12:41 Isaiah had glimpsed the Messiah’s glory and how the world would
respond (see Isa 6:10).
12:42-43 Many people did believe
in him, but they wouldn’t admit it.
However, to follow Jesus involves telling
others about him despite the social
consequences (1:35-51; 4:1-42).
12:44-50 Jesus makes a final appeal
for belief. These verses summarize
chs 1–12. Jesus was sent by the Father,
the sole source of his ministry. Jesus is
the light shining in darkness to bring
salvation and eternal life to all who
believe in him.
12:49-50 The greatest error is for
people to see the light and reject it,
thinking it has no connection with the
Father who sent the light.
13:1–20:31 This section focuses on
the sign of the cross, the great climax
of Jesus’ life, as well as the time Jesus
spent preparing his disciples for it
(chs 13–17). Jesus is glorified through
each event of these momentous days.
Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, and
resurrection all evoke responses of awe.
On the cross, Jesus is elevated in glory
before the world (12:32).
13:1-38 The setting is Jesus’ final
Passover meal on Thursday evening,
when Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus. John
does not record the meal itself as the
synoptic Gospels do (Matt 26:17-29;
Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20; see also
1 Cor 11:23-26). John emphasizes other
activities at the event, such as the foot
washing (13:1-17), Judas’s betrayal
(13:18-30), and the prediction of Peter’s
denials (13:31-38).
13:1 he loved them to the very end: Or
he showed them the full extent of his
love.
13:2 Judas . . . Iscariot, who had
refused to believe, was engulfed by
darkness and had become Satan’s pawn
(see note on 12:39-40). the devil had
already prompted Judas: Or the devil
had already intended for Judas.
