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27 Now I am deeply troubled, and I don't know what to say. But I must not ask my Father to keep me from this time of suffering. In fact, I came into the world to suffer. 28 So Father, bring glory to yourself.

A voice from heaven then said, “I have already brought glory to myself, and I will do it again!” 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some of them thought it was thunder. Others thought an angel had spoken to Jesus.

30 Then Jesus told the crowd, “That voice spoke to help you, not me. 31 This world's people are now being judged, and the ruler of this world[a] is already being thrown out! 32 If I am lifted up above the earth, I will make everyone want to come to me.” 33 Jesus was talking about the way he would be put to death.

34 (A) The crowd said to Jesus, “The Scriptures teach that the Messiah will live forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

35 Jesus answered, “The light will be with you for only a little longer. Walk in the light while you can. Then you won't be caught walking blindly in the dark. 36 Have faith in the light while it is with you, and you will be children of the light.”

The People Refuse To Have Faith in Jesus

After Jesus had said these things, he left and went into hiding. 37 He had worked a lot of miracles[b] among the people, but they were still not willing to have faith in him. 38 (B) This happened so that what the prophet Isaiah had said would come true,

“Lord, who has believed
    our message?
And who has seen
    your mighty strength?”

39 The people could not have faith in Jesus, because Isaiah had also said,

40 (C) “The Lord has blinded
    the eyes of the people,
and he has made
    the people stubborn.
He did this so that they
could not see
    or understand,
and so that they
would not turn to the Lord
    and be healed.”

41 Isaiah said this, because he saw the glory of Jesus and spoke about him.[c] 42 Even then, many of the leaders put their faith in Jesus, but they did not tell anyone about it. The Pharisees had already given orders for the people not to have anything to do with anyone who had faith in Jesus. 43 And besides, the leaders liked praise from others more than they liked praise from God.

Jesus Came To Save the World

44 In a loud voice Jesus said:

Everyone who has faith in me also has faith in the one who sent me. 45 And everyone who has seen me has seen the one who sent me. 46 I am the light that has come into the world. No one who has faith in me will stay in the dark.

47 I am not the one who will judge those who refuse to obey my teachings. I came to save the people of this world, not to be their judge. 48 But everyone who rejects me and my teachings will be judged on the last day[d] by what I have said. 49 I don't speak on my own. I say only what the Father who sent me has told me to say. 50 I know that his commands will bring eternal life. This is why I tell you exactly what the Father has told me.

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Footnotes

  1. 12.31 world: In the Gospel of John “world” sometimes refers to the people who live in this world and to the evil forces that control their lives.
  2. 12.37 miracles: See the note at 2.11.
  3. 12.41 he saw the glory of Jesus and spoke about him: Or “he saw the glory of God and spoke about Jesus.”
  4. 12.48 the last day: See the note at 6.39.

27 “Now my soul is troubled,(A) and what shall I say? ‘Father,(B) save me from this hour’?(C) No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven,(D) “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit,(E) not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world;(F) now the prince of this world(G) will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[a] from the earth,(H) will draw all people to myself.”(I) 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.(J)

34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law(K) that the Messiah will remain forever,(L) so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man(M) must be lifted up’?(N) Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light(O) just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,(P) before darkness overtakes you.(Q) 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.”(R) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.(S)

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs(T) 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?”[b](U)

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.”[c](V)

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory(W) and spoke about him.(X)

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.(Y) But because of the Pharisees(Z) they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;(AA) 43 for they loved human praise(AB) more than praise from God.(AC)

44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.(AD) 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.(AE) 46 I have come into the world as a light,(AF) so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

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.(AG) 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(AH) at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me(AI) to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life.(AJ) So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”(AK)

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Footnotes

  1. John 12:32 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
  2. John 12:38 Isaiah 53:1
  3. John 12:40 Isaiah 6:10