John 12:35–36

In these verses we have Christs answer unto, and carriage upon, this objection, so closing this whole purpose. And first, He will not answer any more directly to their cavilling objection, nor will he insist to clear how his suffering and abiding for ever are consistent, having already abundantly cleared all doubts, by his former doctrine and miracles. Only he indirectly points at what his former doctrine and miracles had proven; To wit, that he is the Messiah and light of the world, (of which we heard, chap 8.12.) And that by his doctrine and Ministry they had the true means of grace to direct them to heaven. And presseth upon them to walk in that light, rather then to bark against it, which afterward, ver. 36. he expounds to be their beleeving in him, and answerable walking. Secondly, He subjoines reasons to enforce this exhortation. As, 1. They were to have but a little while of this light, his person first, and then the Gospel holding him out, being to be removed from them; And therefore they had need to emprove the opportunity better, then to carp and dispute themselves from their happinesse. 2. Upon the removal of this light, darknesse of ignorance and misery would follow, and then they should wander like men in the dark. 3. If they beleeve and walk in the light, they shall be the children of light, and his true followers. And by these subjoined to the exhortation, he clears also that, however it be a truth, that he is to abide for ever, yet not as they understood it. For he was not to abide for ever with the Jewes in person, far less was it his errand among them to set up a worldly Kingdome: But he came for a while, to purchase eternal redemption, that sinners might beleeve in him, and so become children of the light, and heirs of an heavenly Kingdome. Thirdly, Christ having said this, leaves off his preaching, and gets away from them. This he did, partly, to avoid danger, because he saw them begin to heat against him, and knew that his enemies were waiting for his life: And partly, to begin the verification of that threatning of the lights departing from them. And however Christ preached and debated much in publike, at this his last entry to Jerusalem, which is noted by the other Evangelists; yet not much after this. And however it was, yet John mentions no more of his publike preaching after this, save only a little in the close of this Chapter. All the rest which followeth being only spoken unto, and with the disciples.

From verse 35. Learn, 1. Albeit Christ be very tender of weak ones, who wander, and hath commanded that they be instructed in meeknesse who oppose, 2 Tim. 2.25. Yet when he hath clearly confirmed his truth, he looks upon the continued carpings of men, as a testimony of their malicious disposition, which is neither to be dallied nor debated with: Therefore will he not insist to answer to their cavil and objection, but puts them to their duty upon their peril. 2. As cavillations and disputes against the truth are an evidence that mens hearts are dead, and that they are idle in point of practice; So the best way of dealing with such, after the truth is cleared, is, to presse the practice of godlinesse upon them, and to let them see the danger of opposing that truth upon which they should be feeding; Therefore doth he, instead of answering, presse them to walk while they have the light, and points out the hazard of their ill emproving of their time 3. As Christ is the true light of the world, however he be despised by unbeleevers; Somers sleighting of him doth not diminish his estimation of his own worth, nor should beleevers think the lesse of him; for, whatever their cavillations were, he proposeth himselfe to be esteemed of as the light. 4. So long as men enjoy Christ and the means of grace, they enjoy light and a sweet estate, if it be well emproven, be their outward condition never so sad; for, it may still be said in such a case, the light is with you. 5. It is a short while, for most part, that men enjoy the occasion of the means of grace; Either they are taken away from the means, or the means are taken from them, by persecution, or because of their abuse thereof for, saith he, yet a little while is the light with you. 6. Albeit Christ will not at first give up with despisers; Yet when men who enjoy the means, in stead of emproving thereof, do fall a wearying of, and carping at truth, it is a token they will enjoy them but short while, unlesse they repent; for, unto these carpers it is said, yet a little while is the light with you, intimating his mercy, that it was not yet away, and the danger of a sad and speedy change, if they persisted. And however the Lord continue them with such for a time, yet they may be so hardened, as not to profit thereby. 7. It may stir up men to emprove the opportunity of the means of grace, when they consider, how short while they may enjoy them, and that their neglecting of the opportunity may shorten it; for, it clearly followeth yet a little while is the light with you, therefore walk while ye have the light. 8. Such as do rightly emprove an offer of Christ, and the means of grace, will be so far from carping thereat, that they will not rest satisfied with any notional estimation thereof, unlesse they reduce their knowledge into practice, and in the use of means be advanced in their way to heaven; for, it is required, they walk while they have the light as men make use of the day-light, to do their businesse or travel in. 9. Such as neglect opportunity, and abuse the means of grace, are justly deprived of that light, and punished with darknesse of ignorance and wandring in sinful courses, and of affliction and judgements; for, that is the certification, lost darknesse come upon you, when the light is removed, And that is sadder, then if they had never enjoyed the light. 10. When Christ is provoked to desert profane despisers of him; Yet he will not want some to shine upon in the world; for, the threatning is particular, darknesse upon you. For when he removed his bodily presence from them, and the Gospel also, yet he took not this light from the world. 11. As it is the great mercy of those who enjoy and emprove the Gospel, that they know what they are doing, and what to do in every condition, (for, they are as men in day light, who see their way), So it is a sad judgement on despisers, who provoke God to take away the means, that they wander in darknesse, stumbling on sinful courses, and walking by guesse in very step, and that in affliction they know not whither to turn them; for, so much is imported in this reason, for he that walketh in darknesse, knoweth not whither he goeth.

From verse 36. Learn, 1. Sinners can never enough be admonished of, or ponder the danger of their neglecting an opportunity of the means of grace, and their duty to make use of it; Therefore doth Christ again repeat the exhortation, insinuating the short time they were like to have the opportunity, while ye have the light, beleeve in the light, 2. Before there can be any answerable walking to an offer of Christ, or any use made of truth, use must be made of faith to close with the truth, and with Christ offered in it; Therefore, is their walking, expounded here, beleeve in the light, or the truth of the Gospel, and in Christ shining in it. 3. Such as make use of the means of grace, do reap fair advantage thereby, in getting, and evidencing a good condition; for, they are to do this, that ye may be the children of light. A name given to Saints, Luk 16.8. Eph. 5.8. 1 Thes. 5.8. and elsewhere; And the meaning of this encouragement, is. That by emproving this opportunity, they shall be translated out of the power of darknesse, into the Kingdome of Christ, which is a Kingdome of light; They shall become the Sonnes of God, who is the Father of lights, Jam. 1.17. and participate of sweet effects of Christs being the light of the world; And, by so doing, they shall also evidence themselves to be children of light, illuminated by divine light, to discern right and wrong, what is their true happinesse, and real misery; to be men who come to the light with their actions, and who are thirsting after that eternal light of glory. 4. Christ is not only terrible, but even meek also to his opposers, if they would submit to him; And all his scope in shewing himselfe terrible, is, to drive them to his mercy, and to partake of the fruits of his meeknesse; for, all his threatnings are sweetned with this, that his scope in them is, to drive them to duty, that they may be children of light. 5. There is hope, even concerning those who wickedly oppose Christ and his truth, that they may partake of his mercy, if they will cast away their weapons, and submit; for, even to such it is offered here, that if they will do duty, they may be the children of light. 6. It is needful not only to deal freely with wicked opposers, but to discountenance them also, to see what that may work; for, these things said Jesus, and departed, that is, he went away at night to Bethany, as the other Evangelists observe, and by this means also he did avoid their fury and plots within the City. 7. Convictions and offers do oft-times so little prevail with wicked men that they do but heighten their malice; for, Christ behooved to hide himselfe, after this doctrine. 8. In cases of hazard from malicious men, it is lawful to preserve our own lives, by ordinary and lawful means; for, Jesus hid himselfe from them. 9. Christs servants must not weary of frequency of trials, in discharge of their duty; and to be put to it again and again, even to save themselves from extream violence; for, Christ hath sanctified this lot in his own person, who was often put to hide himselfe.