Well, here we are. First week of December, 2024. Still in the book of John chapter 12. We're gonna look at verses 36 through 43. We're gonna talk about children of light. Children of light. Now, obviously, if you have the one, you're going to have the other, children of darkness. So start thinking about where you want to be among those two things. You want to be a child of light or you want to be a child of darkness. Now, me, I have my own personal preferences, but I have those preferences based upon my regeneration. And anyway, we'll look at the text. It's gonna be John 12, 36 through 43. Pretty short text. Bet there's a lot of things in here, so stand by. John 12, 36 through 43. While Jesus is speaking, because he's answering the verse 34, that they said that we have read out of the law that Christ abides forever. How do you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Okay, so he's going to say in verse 36, while you have light, believe in the light that you may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus and departed. and did hide himself from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them or in front of them, yet they believed not on him, that the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who has believed our report, and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Isaiah said again, he hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them. These things said Isaiah when he saw his glory, that is the glory of God, and spake of him. Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also, many believed on him, but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Now in verse 40, where it references what Isaiah said, there's another reference I'll give you that you can go back to Deuteronomy 29 four, where Moses tells them basically the same thing, okay? So it's not only Isaiah which saw this. So while we're talking about children of light, typically, we speak of light in the sense of this necessary element of life providing illumination to the world and other dark places, and most often it means light as to see by. But in the sense of the word illumination, it also refers to an understanding of a thing, a mental appropriation of something that was not understood before. So light is both physical and conceptual. But we understand that within our own biological bodies, we are not capable of providing light of and by ourselves apart from any artificial means. If I go outside when it is pitch dark, my body does not throw off light in the sense of illumination. So light must come then from a source outside of ourselves. And this is true both biologically and spiritually. So we'll review verse 35, preparatory to going into the context, which is verse 36 through 43. And we're going to include it contextually in the lesson today. We're going to start it with a question that finished out verse 34. The question was, who is this son of man? Who is this Son of Man? And Jesus replies to them in verse 45, 35. Yet a little while is the light with you. I'm telling you who the Son of Man is. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness come upon you. For he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whether he goeth. Now, what's amazing is this. Of all the things that Jesus had done during his ministry, the question is still asked, who is this Son of Man? So the introductory verse 35 articulates this. The light with you. Also walk while you have that light. If you don't walk in that light, then darkness comes upon you, and he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. Now this shows that the light spoken of in this verse comes from an exterior source. Jesus was saying he is only there for a little while, and he was the light that is with you. So by itself, this verse speaks of an exterior source of light and necessity and the necessity of staying close to that source of light so you can see where you are going. And now we get to the text, John 12, 36. While you have light, he's gonna take it a step further Then verse 35, you're gonna take it a step further. While you have light, believe in the light, that you may be children, that you may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus and then departed and did hide himself from them. So we see the transition. The light's with you while you have the light, believe in the light that you may be the children of light. How then does one go from being dependent upon an exterior source of light to being in oneself a source of light? That is, how does that happen? What do you say? Believe in the light. Essentially, faith. Now, the word believe and faith in the New Testament's same word, pistis or pistillo, has the same root, same concept, faith or belief. So here is the transition. While you have the light, believe in the light. In believing in the light, you become the children of light. Ephesians 5, 8, Paul tells us, tells the Ephesians, a church whom he loved, by the way. He said, for you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord, as you are positionally in the Lord, walk as children of light. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. I want just a little interjection here. I want to talk just for a moment about this idea of name it and claim it, which in reality is no substitute for stubborn obedience to scripture, but is rather a manifestation of the idea of name it and shame it. Being children of light is equated as being light in the Lord positionally. So as only we are in him, can we emit light? And so accordingly, being positionally in the Lord, we walk in that light. In walking as children of light, we manifest the fruit of the spirit encased wrapped up in all goodness and righteousness and truth. There's enough falsehood and deceit in the world. Let us not partake in its folly, nor cease to speak against it. Because all things that are made manifest or that are exposed is light. And that's also in Ephesians. John 12, 37, But though he had done, Jesus had done so many miracles in front of them, yet they believed not on him. So the miracles were a demonstration of the ability of Jesus to overcome natural law and form. So we have the healing of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda, the healing of the man born blind, the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead after four days being in the grave, And many more other miracles that he did gave forth ample evidence of who he was. But let's take another look at an example of the depths of darkness. And we're going to go to Luke 16. This is the parable of the rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. But the rich man, in verse 27, finds himself in hell. and he's pleading with Abraham. And he's talking, he's having a conversation with Abraham, and this is given by Jesus Christ, the parable. Then he said, that is the rich man in hell, I pray you, Abraham, father, that you would send him, send him the beggar, Lazarus, who was in Abraham's bosom at that time, that you would send him to my father's house. For I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. And Abraham replied unto him, Would they have Moses and the prophets? Let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And Abraham said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, Neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Well, obviously, such was the case also with Lazarus. And that would bear witness to the truth of what Jesus said in Luke 16. You can raise somebody from the dead, and it still wouldn't persuade some of them. Because he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not. They believed not on him, even though he resurrected Lazarus from the grave after four days. So there were some who actually witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus who went away in unbelief. So that begs a question to me. I'm going to ask a question. If you're listening, or you might be reading this at some point in the future, and you are not a believer, how strong do you think your unbelief is? Could you be an eyewitness to the resurrection of a man who had been dead for four days, whose sister told Jesus, Lord, he stinks after four days, and you saw him resurrected Would you continue in your unbelief? There were some who did. Well, we go to John 12, 38. So though they had seen so many miracles, yet they believed not on him, that the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled which he spake, Lord, who has believed our report, and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed. And that's from Isaiah 53, 1. And the narrative in John 12, verse 39, therefore they could not believe because that Isaiah said again. Okay, now, we're not talking about that word could, not talking about volition. I will or I won't. It's not talking about that. Talking about ability. I can or I can't. They could not believe. They couldn't believe. Not that they wouldn't, but they couldn't. It's hard. Let's read verse 40. He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart that they should not see with their eyes. nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them." We're going to go to Romans 11. Because Paul's going to write about Israel. Even from, like from Deuteronomy 29.4, he knows that that was there. He knew what Isaiah was talking about. Let's see what he writes in Romans 11. 1 through 10. I say then, has God cast away his people? God forbid, for I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. Pay close attention here. God has not cast away his people which he foreknew. Know you not what the scripture saith of Elijah, how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed your prophets and dig down your altars, and I am left alone and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? This is how God replied to Elijah. I have reserved unto myself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Then Paul says, so even so then at this present time, also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace. They're incompatible, folks. Otherwise, work is no more work. Then he says in verse seven of Romans 11, what then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for, but the election hath obtained it. Let's go back to verse two. God hath not cast away his people, which he foreknew, the elect. The election hath obtained it, and the rest were what? Blinded, according as it is written, God, and this is Isaiah 29, God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, ears that they should not hear unto this day, and David said, let their table be made a snare and a trap and a stumbling block and a recompense unto them. Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see and bow down their back always. So let's emphasize verse eight. God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear unto this day. And we're going to go to Isaiah 29, verse 10. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep and hath closed your eyes, the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, read this, I pray thee. And he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed. And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, read this, I pray thee. And he saith, I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord saith, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men. Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder. For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden. So, it's plain and simple, there it is, kind of thing. John 12, 41. These things said Esaias when he saw his glory and spake of him. verse 42 of John 12, nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him. And I wanna make a comment here because we go back to John 8 and it says that many of the Jews believed on him, but then as they have this conversation between the Jews and Jesus, it turns out that Jesus said that they were the children of their father, that is the devil, okay? So you wanna take that with that kind of a grain of salt Because where you see that word believe, just keep that in context. Let me encourage you to do that. Nevertheless, among the chief rulers, also many believed on him, but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. Okay, what do you think, you know, let me take a drink of water here. You think that the only perfect man that ever walked the earth, and he was killed and persecuted, persecuted and killed, persecuted in a most inhumane way, and you become a disciple of his, do you think that it's going to be an easy path? So we look at this Because of the Pharisees, because of somebody else, they did not confess him. So their belief was only as deep as they had to meet the approval of somebody else. And that's not the kind of faith that the scripture talks about. Genuine faith does not appease the flesh. In fact, are diametrically opposed. Now, there were those who acknowledged the evidence set forth by eyewitnesses or maybe even with their own eyes, yet because of the Pharisees did not confess him because of their fear. Well, faith overcomes fear. That's a genuine truth. Let's look at Romans 10 verse 9. If thou, that if thou shalt confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. And you can refer back to Isaiah 28, 16 for that. I'm going to ask a question, because the one who writes Romans was the apostle Paul. Whosoever believeth on him should not be ashamed. If you go to the record of Paul in Acts 9, I'm going to ask the question, was Paul fearful after Jesus met him on the road to Damascus? Was he fearful? If you study Acts 9, just that chapter, I'll show you. In Acts 9.23, the Jews wanted to kill him in Damascus. In Acts 9.29, the Grecians wanted to kill him in Jerusalem. Okay, so this doesn't seem to me a man who's walking in the fear of man, but in the obedience to God. And why did they want to kill him? Because he spoke boldly in the name of Jesus Christ. We compare that with the Pharisees who didn't confess him because of their fear. Now, the irony here is that Saul of Tarsus was the chiefest of the Pharisees. He's brought up under the instructions of a great teacher named Gamaliel. He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. He refers to himself as the Hebrew of the Hebrews. So there's genuine belief and there's counterfeit belief. The genuine belief will cause you to often put yourself in harm's way with regard to how other people look at you. And there's a lot of people that name the name of Christ but don't put themselves in that position. And then we look at John 12, 43. For they love the praise of men more than the praise of God. They love the praise of men more than the praise of God. In Matthew 5.10, Jesus is speaking. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Now, I'm going to recount what he just said, the persecution for righteousness's sake. They're reviled, they're persecuted. All manner of evil shall be spoken against you falsely for the sake of Jesus. And how many are going to raise their hand here and say, oh, let me be so blessed? How many are going to raise their hand and say, I volunteer for that, for the persecution and for the reviling and for others to speak all manner of evil against me. I'll volunteer for that. Luke 6, 22, blessed are ye when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil for the son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. Now how many, raise your hand, how many wanna step into that gap? Let's go to James 4.4. James is a general epistle. He says, you adulterers and adulteresses, infidelity, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God, is in a position of opposition to God. Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Look at the comparative. You're one of the other folks. If you're a friend of the world, you're the enemy of God. If you're a friend of God, you're the enemy of the world. That's all there is. Okay. There's nothing in between those two things. So I'm going to ask, what are you seeking The praise of men? You want people to like you? You know what? I learned from a pretty young age. I am what I am. I'm not, I'm not bending me. to accommodate anybody else. And then as I got older, I came to this. I am what I am by the grace of God. And I'm even more resolute than before. If you seek the praise of men, let me ask you, how much of that is enough? Have we not in America seen many who shined in the spotlight and were famous and were rich and were sought after and popular and were emulated and then they die untimely deaths of overdoses or they drowned in their bathtub or whatever? And often their untimely deaths are at their own hand. because it didn't give them peace. Proverbs 30, verse 11. You wanna get some wisdom, read the book of Proverbs every month. Proverbs 30, verse 11. There is a generation that curses their father and doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, oh, how lofty are their eyes and their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation whose teeth are as swords and their jaw teeth as knives to devour the poor from off the earth and the needy from among men. The horse leech has two daughters crying, give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not it is enough. The grave, the barren womb, the earth that is not filled with water, and the fire that saith not, it is enough. The eye that mocketh at his father and despises to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. Matthew 7 verse 12 Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the straight gate, for wide is the gate, broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat, because straight is the gate and narrow is the way. that leads unto life and few there be that find it. I'm going to close with a portion from Colossians written by Paul. Colossians is a great book. It says a lot of great truths. In verse 12 and 13 of the first chapter, giving thanks unto the Father which has made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear son. I hope that as you are listening, you are in that number. And that is my prayer, but it's also my aspiration. It's my hope that maybe I can plant some seeds and that when I, by the grace and mercy of God, get to that place, that I may find you there. So I hope that God has blessed his word to your hearts today. The Gospel of John, pretty good-sized book, and we'll continue in Chapter 12 going on into the rest of the chapters as the Lord allows and as He permits. I pray that the Lord is prospering you and your endeavors for Him. And I want to encourage you and let you know that there will be setbacks. There will be times of grievous disappointment, grievous tribulation. But be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Thank you for listening.