John 12:34-50

Common English Bible

³⁴ The crowd responded, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Human One^[a] must be lifted up? Who is this Human One?”^[b]

³⁵ Jesus replied, “The light is with you for only a little while. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness don’t know where they are going. ³⁶ As long as you have the light, believe in the light so that you might become people whose lives are determined by the light.” After Jesus said these things, he went away and hid from them.

Fulfillment of prophecy

³⁷ Jesus had done many miraculous signs before the people, but they didn’t believe in him. ³⁸ This was to fulfill the word of the prophet Isaiah:

³⁹ Isaiah explains why they couldn’t believe:

⁴¹ Isaiah said these things because he saw Jesus’ glory; he spoke about Jesus. ⁴² Even so, many leaders believed in him, but they wouldn’t acknowledge their faith because they feared that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. ⁴³ They believed, but they loved human praise more than God’s glory.

Summary of Jesus’ teaching

⁴⁴ Jesus shouted, “Whoever believes in me doesn’t believe in me but in the one who sent me. ⁴⁵ Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come as a light into the world so that everyone who believes in me won’t live in darkness. ⁴⁷ If people hear my words and don’t keep them, I don’t judge them. I didn’t come to judge the world but to save it. ⁴⁸ Whoever rejects me and doesn’t receive my words will be judged at the last day by the word I have spoken. ⁴⁹ I don’t speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me regarding what I should speak and say. ⁵⁰ I know that his commandment is eternal life. Therefore, whatever I say is just as the Father has said to me.”