Read John 12:27-36

We are reminded of the humanity of Jesus as we see Him struggling to process what lay ahead for Him in the coming days. Even in the midst of His humanity, He never turns away from or abandons His mission. In his heart, He understands why He has come to this “hour”.

Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name!” John 12:27-28a NIV

As the crowds move around Him trying to catch a glimpse of the man who can raise dead men to life, a voice thunders from the heaves. The crowd begins to debate the source of this voice.

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to Him. John 12:28-29 NIV

Jesus, hearing their responses, speaks into the moment.

Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not Mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” He said this to show the kind of death He was going to die. John 12:30-33 NIV

The hour has finally come for Jesus, the Son of Man, to be glorified. He will be glorified in death, death on an old rugged cross (rather than a throne with a golden crown). On the cross, He will be lifted up above the nations and His death and resurrection will hold the power to reconcile all people to God. No longer will be the people be held captive in sin without hope.

Once again, here we see expectations clash with reality. The people expected the Messiah to come and rule on David’s throne forever and reestablish the glory of the nation. They weren’t concerned about their own spiritual condition and were confused as to why the Messiah would need to die. These Jews are distracted by preconceived ideas they had been taught about the coming of the Messiah. They question Jesus…

The crowd spoke up, “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 12:34 NIV

Jesus doesn’t respond directly to their questions (one of His specialties) but rather He goes on to talk about the opportunity to walk in the light of the Son of Man. The end is near, the crucifixion is days away, the opportunity to place their faith is Him is urgent.

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. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” John 12:35-36a NIV

Questions to consider…
Think of a time when your preconceived ideas about the ways God should work in a circumstance stood in the way of you trusting God to work however He saw fit. How did this circumstance turn out?
In what ways is it urgent to place our faith in truth in Jesus today? What does it look like to “walk in the light” in your life each day?
Ask God to help you understand His ways through the words of the Bible and the influence of the Holy spirit in prayer.