John 12:35–36 - Cameron Jungels/Eastside Baptist, Sunday AM, November 9, 2014

“Walk in the Light while It Is Still Shining” (John 12:35–36)

^{Cameron Jungels/Eastside Baptist/Sunday AM/November 9, 2014}

 

³⁵ 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. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.  ³⁶ Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.  (John 12:35-36, NIV)

 

1.       Opportunity: You will only have the light for a limited time. 

⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  ⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.  ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.  ⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.  (John 1:4-9, NIV)

 

¹² When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12, NIV)

 

⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:5, NIV)

 

⁹ Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world's light.  ¹⁰ It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light." (John 11:9-10, NIV)

 

⁴⁶ I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (John 12:46, NIV) 

a.     Judgment is coming.

 

³¹ Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.  ³² And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."  (John 12:31-32, NIV)

 

⁴⁷ "If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.  ⁴⁸ There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.  (John 12:47-48, NIV) 

b.      Our hearts are hard. 

 

³⁷ Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.  ³⁸ This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"  ³⁹ For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:  ⁴⁰ "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn-- and I would heal them."  (John 12:37-40, NIV) 

2.      Exhortation: Walk In/Believe in the light while it is still available. 

3.       Warning: If you reject the light while it is available, darkness will overpower/overtake you, and you will not know where you are going.  

4.      Promise: If you walk in/believe in the light you will become sons of light. 

 

Main Idea: The light of the gospel of Christ is shining for a limited time, walk in the light now, so that you might live in the light for all eternity and not the unending darkness of Hell.