Joh 12:35-36, 46 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 35. Yet a little while is the light with you . Jesus did not reply directly to may their question. He saw that they were offended by the mention of his death, and he endeavoured to arrive at the same thing indirectly . He tells them, therefore, that the light would be with them a little while, and that they ought to improve the opportunity while they had it to listen to his instructions, to inquire with candour, and thus to forsake their false notions respecting the Messiah. The light . . It is probable that they understood this as denoting the Messiah. See "I am the light of the world;" Walk , &c. . Whatever you have to do, do it while you enjoy this light. Make good use of your privileges before they are removed. That is, while the Messiah is with you, avail yourselves of his instructions and learn the way to life. Lest darkness . Lest God should take away all your mercies, remove all light and instruction from you, and leave you to ignorance, blindness, and woe. This was true that darkness and calamity were to come upon the Jewish people when the Messiah was removed; and it is also true that God leaves a sinner to darkness and misery when he has long rejected the gospel. For he , &c. See . (m) "the light" (n) "with you"

John 12:35-36

Verse 35. Yet a little while is the light with you. Jesus did not reply directly to may their question. He saw that they were offended by the mention of his death, and he endeavoured to arrive at the same thing indirectly. He tells them, therefore, that the light would be with them a little while, and that they ought to improve the opportunity while they had it to listen to his instructions, to inquire with candour, and thus to forsake their false notions respecting the Messiah.

The light. Jn 1:4. It is probable that they understood this as denoting the Messiah. See Jn 8:12 "I am the light of the world;" Jn 9:4

Walk, &c. Jn 11:9. Whatever you have to do, do it while you enjoy this light. Make good use of your privileges before they are removed. That is, while the Messiah is with you, avail yourselves of his instructions and learn the way to life.

Lest darkness. Lest God should take away all your mercies, remove all light and instruction from you, and leave you to ignorance, blindness, and woe. This was true that darkness and calamity were to come upon the Jewish people when the Messiah was removed; and it is also true that God leaves a sinner to darkness and misery when he has long rejected the gospel.

For he, &c. See Jn 11:10.

(m) "the light" Jn 8:32 (n) "with you" Jer 13:16 Verse 36. While ye have light. This implied two things:

1st. That he was the light, or was the Messiah.

2nd. That he was soon to be taken away by death. In this manner he answered their question--not directly, but in a way to convey the truth to their minds, and at the same time to administer to them a useful admonition. Jesus never aroused the prejudices of men unnecessarily, yet he never shrank from declaring to them the truth in some way, however unpalatable it might be.

Believe in the light. That is, in the Messiah, who is the light of the world.

That ye may be the children, &c. That ye may the friends and followers of the Messiah. Mt 1:1. Comp. Jn 8:12 Eph 5:8: "Now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light."

Did hide himself from them. Jn 8:59. He went out to Bethany, where he commonly passed the night, Lk 21:37.

(p) "be the children of light" Eph 5:8

John 12:46

Verse 46. A light unto the world. Jn 13:12, 1:9, 3:19.

Walk in darkness. In gross and dangerous errors. Darkness is put for error as well as for sin Jn 3:19, 1Jn 1:5. It is also used to denote the state when the comforts of religion are withdrawn from the soul Isa 8:22, Joel 2:2, Is 59:9, Jn 8:12.

(w) "I am come a light" Jn 1:5, 3:19