So we're picking up where we left off last Sunday, as usual, in the Gospel of John.
We're in John chapter 12.
The passages will be on the screen, but also if you have your Bible, you're welcome to open it up and follow along.
There's also Bibles in front of you in the seats there, the black books, which you can use if you'd like to do that.
We've heard about how Jesus came into Jerusalem, the triumphal entry.
Then there were those Greeks who wanted to see Jesus and meet with him.
Then we heard how Jesus was deeply troubled.
In his words, the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Jesus talked a little bit about how he must die.
And then he prayed out loud to God the Father.
And amazingly, God answered from heaven in an audible voice.
Some of the people denied that it was a voice, claiming instead that it was thunder.
And now we pick up the conversation in John chapter 12, verse 30.
John chapter 12, verse 30.
Jesus said,
This voice was for your benefit, not mine.
Now is the time for judgment on this world.
Now the prince of this world will be driven out.
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
So Jesus makes it clear that God chose in this moment to speak in an audible voice from heaven
for the benefit of the people who were standing there.
It was a sign, a confirmation, a testimony from God.
If these people walk away from this moment and do not believe in Jesus,
it's not because of a lack of evidence.
God's not expecting them to, in the words of our world, just take a blind leap of faith.
They heard with their own ears God answering Jesus from heaven.
And so if they do not believe Jesus is the Messiah or the Son of God,
it's because they don't want to believe it.
It's because they're choosing not to believe it.
And as Jesus speaks about how these words were for them,
he goes on to make three very serious statements about the significance of this hour,
this moment that he is about to go through.
He says,
Now is the time for judgment on this world.
Now the prince of this world will be driven out,
and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
I think we know as we hear these words that they're very important.
And yet, what does Jesus mean by them?
Let's consider the first statement.
Now is the time for judgment on this world.
Literally, now is the judgment of this world.
What does that mean?
I spent quite a few hours this week just mulling on this and thinking about it.
And to be honest, I have an idea, maybe,
but I'm not totally sure.
I don't have complete certainty what Jesus means by this.
There's a couple things that we can rule out pretty easily.
Obviously, Jesus doesn't mean that now is the final judgment.
Jesus said earlier in John chapter 5
that the Father has entrusted all judgment to him.
And we learn from other places in the Bible
that there is coming a day of final judgment
where Jesus himself will sit on the judge's seat
and judge the world
according to what they have done,
each person what they have done.
This hour that Jesus is about to go through
is obviously not that.
Another way that this word judgment is sometimes used
is specifically to refer to punishment.
But now is the punishment of this world?
That doesn't seem to fit either.
Here too, the Bible is clear
that there is a final day of punishment coming for the world.
A day in which all who are guilty in our world
will receive what they deserve
for their wickedness and sin.
But this hour of Jesus is obviously not that either.
The book of Revelation,
which comes much later in the New Testament,
describes a little bit of what it will look like
when that final day of global punishment comes.
So what does Jesus mean?
Now is the judgment of the world.
Commentaries and Bible scholars
have made all kinds of statements about this.
Many of those don't really have me convinced.
One of those statements is that
the judgment of this world
and the driving out of the prince of this world
is basically the same thing.
In the words of J. Ramsey Michaels,
the second sentence explains the first.
He says,
the world is now judged in that
its ruler is now to be driven out.
The language, he says,
can easily be read as the language of exorcism,
especially with the ruler of this world as its object.
And he kind of goes on to explain
how judgment of this world
is basically the exorcism of the world.
How just like Jesus cast demons out of people,
he is now about to cast out the prince of demons
out of the whole world.
Well, that certainly has some logic and reason in it,
but is that what Jesus meant
when he said,
now is the judgment of this world?
Another similar statement is that
now is the judgment of this world
means that the kingdom of this world
is about to fall.
In the words of Robert Mounts,
Satan may have been the prince of this world,
but his kingdom is about to come tumbling down.
Is that what Jesus means?
By now is the judgment of this world?
That Satan's kingdom is about to come tumbling down?
Well, as I've already said,
I don't know for sure what Jesus means.
Here's my best guess though.
There's a few commentators and scholars out there
who I found out later this week
were thinking along the same lines as I was.
Here's my thought,
and I hold it with a very open hand,
and you're welcome to do that too.
Maybe the world is the world,
and there are two statements here.
One about the world,
and one about the devil.
And maybe the judgment of the world
means the identifying or the differentiation
of the people of this world.
Because it does kind of seem like
it's here in this hour
that it becomes clear
who are the wheat,
and who are the weeds.
Who are the true sheep,
and who are the imposters.
Who loves what is right and good,
and who loves what is wicked and evil.
And the parable of the wheat and the weeds
that Jesus told,
I think is a helpful analogy.
You'll remember in that parable
that it was the enemy of the field owner
who snuck in at night
and went and planted,
scattered weed seeds.
Not like weed,
but like the seeds of weeds
in the field.
Some of you are still awake.
And not just any weeds,
but actually darnel,
false wheat.
So,
I won't tell the whole parable,
but for a time,
these
darnel seeds
sprouted up together
with the wheat seeds.
And it was not obvious
which was which.
They look very much alike.
But eventually,
there comes this moment
when it is obvious,
where the plant reaches
that stage of development
in which it comes out,
uh-oh,
we've got two different things
here in the field.
The physical differences emerge.
Could it be that this hour
that Jesus is about to go through,
the cross,
is that stage of development
in the plan of God
which will make it
crystal clear
who are the wheat
and who are the imposters,
who are the true sons of the kingdom
and who are not.
This seems to fit
with other places
where Jesus has told us
that
he has to
come to,
that
he's told us
that he's come to judge.
And I think he means that
in the sense of identify
or expose
or clarify.
Let's reflect back
to what we've heard
earlier in the gospel,
John 3, verse 17.
For God did not send
his son into the world
to condemn the world,
but to save the world
through him.
So this is a rescue mission
that Jesus is on.
And God's chief intention
is not for Jesus
at this coming
to sit on the judgment seat
and take up the gavel.
He will do that
at the end.
But there are all
these little hints
along the way
that even as Jesus
does what he does
and says what he says,
it's having this kind
of judging effect,
this exposing effect,
this revealing,
identifying,
who's who effect.
John 3, verse 19,
just a couple verses
down in chapter 3.
This is the verdict
or the judgment.
Light has come
into the world,
but people loved darkness
instead of light
because their deeds
were evil.
Everyone who does evil
hates the light
and will not come
into the light
for fear that their deeds
will be exposed.
But whoever lives
by the truth
comes into the light
so that it may be
seen plainly
that what they have done
has been done
in the sight of God.
So John tells us here
that Jesus came
as the light
of the world
and his light
in all its goodness
also exposes
what's being done
in the darkness,
the evil deeds
of people.
As Jesus speaks,
it's like the light
is shining on people.
The truth is coming
to them.
It's becoming evident
in response
to Jesus' words
where people stand
or where they are
choosing to stand.
Some are coming
to him.
They are coming
into the light.
They are confessing
their sins.
They are being reconciled
with God
and yet others
are turning away
from the light.
They want to keep it
at a distance.
They hate the light.
They are choosing
instead to cherish
and cling to
their wicked ways.
They want the light
to go away.
They are even plotting
to extinguish
the light.
John chapter 9
verse 39
Jesus says here
for judgment
I have come
into this world
but notice
the kind of judgment
so that the blind
will see
and those who see
will become blind.
Again
here
Jesus almost
seems to describe
himself as
light
as the one
who enables
those who are
blind to see
and the one
who blinds
those who
think they can see.
As we just heard
they think
they can see
but they really
don't like the light.
They prefer
to be in darkness.
Their blindness
is something
that they are
choosing for
themselves.
Do you remember
what Simeon
prophesied
over the
child
Jesus
when
Mary and
Joseph
took Jesus
to the temple
in Jerusalem?
Back in Luke
chapter 2
verse 34
he said to
Mary
this child
is destined
to cause
the falling
and rising
of many
in Israel
and to be
a sign
that will be
spoken against
here's the key
line
so that the
thoughts
of many
hearts
will be
revealed.
So there is
a kind of
judgment
a kind of
verdict
about people
that's
being arrived
at simply
by Jesus
being here
and doing
his ministry.
He is exposing
he's bringing
to light
the thoughts
of many
hearts
and for
some
it's exposing
a soft
and repentant
heart
and for
others
it's exposing
a hard
and unrepentant
heart
and Jesus
seems to be
fully aware
that his
coming
his speaking
is having
this effect
on people
as we just
heard in
John 9
39
for judgment
I have come
into this
world
we hear
the same
thing
in Matthew
chapter 10
verse 34
where Jesus
says
do not
suppose
that I
have come
to bring
peace
to the
earth
I did
not come
to bring
peace
but a
sword
for I
have come
to turn
a man
against
his father
a daughter
against
her mother
a daughter
in law
against her
mother
in law
a man's
enemies
will be
the members
of his
own
household
and similarly
in Luke
12
verse 51
Jesus
says
do you
think
I
came
to
bring
peace
on
earth
no
I
tell you
but
division
from now
on there
will be
five in
one family
divided
against
each other
three
against
two
and two
against
three
they will
be
divided
father
against
son
and son
against
father
and it
goes
on
you know
we've seen
in our
own
times
how
divisive
some
of
these
current
issues
can
be
probably
many
of you
have
at least
one
relative
or two
that you
don't see
eye to
eye with
on the
issues
of our
day
whether
it's
covid
or convoy
or whatever
sadly
it's
had this
effect
it's
turned
people
against
one
another
even
members
of
people's
own
family
Jesus
knows
that his
being
here
and the
things
that he
is saying
and doing
is having
the same
effect
also
he states
it pretty
strongly
I have
come
to bring
a sword
division
to turn
members of
people's
family
against
each other
but listen
the difference
is
it's not
as though
Jesus
wants
in his
heart of
hearts
for this
to happen
in families
it's
not as
though
Jesus
wants
people
to
reject
the
truth
that
he's
speaking
and to
oppose
him
as some
of them
are
he would
far
rather
that they
repent
that they
acknowledge
the truth
of his
words
and come
into the
light
I mean
we've
heard this
so many
times
in the
gospel
of John
already
how Jesus
patiently
pleads
with people
but at
the same
time
he knows
how this
is going
to go
there is
a kind
of
judgment
an exposing
an identifying
a differentiating
that's inherently
bound up
in his
mission
it was
Jesus
who reminded
his opponents
of what the
scriptures
said long
ago
haven't you
read the
passage of
scripture
he said
the stone
the builders
rejected
has become
the corner
stone
two totally
different
responses
to Jesus
the apostle
Peter picked
up on this
in his
letter
as well
he describes
Jesus
there as
the corner
stone
of the
spiritual
house
that God
is building
and yet
at the
same
time
a stone
that causes
some
to stumble
and to
fall
and again
it's not
that Jesus
desires for
people to
respond
negatively
to his
message
and his
ministry
think of
what happened
as he
rode into
Jerusalem
Luke tells
us that
Jesus
wept
as he
approached
the city
if you
even you
had only
known on
this day
what would
bring you
peace
he said
and another
time
Jerusalem
you who
kill the
prophets
and stone
those sent
to you
how often
I have
longed
to gather
your
children
together
as a
hen
gathers
her chicks
under
her wings
and you
were not
willing
do you
hear Jesus
heart
for the
very people
who will
reject him
so maybe
this gives
light to
what Jesus
means
when he
says
now is
the time
for judgment
on this
world
it's
kind of
already
been
happening
with
Jesus
ministry
perhaps
here at
the cross
all of
this
comes
to
its
ultimate
head
the
hearts
of
Jesus
enemies
will
be
most
deeply
exposed
and
we
will
see
the
hatred
the
jealousy
the
rage
that's
been
boiling
beneath
the
surface
in so
many
of
them
it's
going
to
erupt
as
they
capture
him
treat
him
terribly
and
put
him
to
death
the
deeds
which
expose
their
unbelieving
and
unrepentant
wicked
hearts
are about
to be
done
the
deeds
which
tell
who
they
really
are
not
true
sons
of
the
kingdom
but
rather
children
of
their
father
the
devil
so
this
hour
that
Jesus
is
about
to
go
through
it's
not
the
final
judgment
day
but
maybe
what
Jesus
means
is
that
the
final
judgment
day
will
point
back
to
this
hour
the
hour
that
most
clearly
proves
that
the
condemnation
of the
world
of those
who
rejected
Jesus
is
deserved
that's
my best
guess
at what
Jesus
means
when
he
says
now
is
the
time
for
judgment
on
this
world
maybe
it's
that
this
hour
what
he's
about
to
go
through
right
now
it's
this
that
will
show
who
is
who
are
the
wheat
who
are
the
weeds
who
are
the
true
sons
of
the
kingdom
and
who
are
the
imposters
so
Jesus
makes
this
first
statement
now
is
the
time
for
judgment
on
this
world
but
then
he
makes
a
second
statement
he
says
now
the
prince
of
this
world
will
be
driven
out
what
does
Jesus
mean
by
this
I
think
everybody
who
reads
this
recognizes
that
who
the
prince
of
this
world
is
the
devil
Satan
let's
consider
these
words
carefully
too
the
prince
of
this
world
does
it
chill
you
to
think
that
Jesus
referred
to
the
devil
as
the
prince
of
this
world
you
know
if
the
devil
up
until
this
point
in
the
story
had
no
real
power
or
authority
at
all
I
think
Jesus
would
have
just
said
so
but
no
Jesus
doesn't
say
that
in
fact
the
opposite
by
calling
the
devil
the
prince
of
this
world
he
acknowledges
that
yes
he
has
had
some
real
authority
and
power
in
this
world
he
has
ruled
but
also
notice
that
Jesus
calls
him
prince
or
ruler
and
not
king
Jesus
doesn't
deny
that
the
devil
has
real
authority
and
power
but
he
also
by
this
title
implies
that
there
is
a
higher
authority
a
higher
power
still
this
earthly
throne
on
which
the
devil
sits
doesn't
belong
to
him
he
sat
on
it
only
as
a
prince
I
can't
help
but
think
of
the
last
time
I've
been
reading
through
the
Old
Testament
and
I'm
not
sure
I
can't
remember
exactly
where
this
shift
occurs
sometime
after
the
return
from
exile
but
at
some
point
in
the
Old
Testament
prophets
Jesus
sorry
the
father
stops
referring
to
the
ruler
in
Israel
as
the
king
and
instead
is
calling
them
princes
I
can't
help
but
see
a
bit
of
a
message
there
these
men
who
are
now
governing
in
Israel
after
the
exile
are
not
the
king
they
are
not
kings
as
David
was
a
king
they
were
not
kings
as
someday
the
Messiah
would
be
king
that's
what I
think
about
here
the
devil
has
been
the
prince
of
this
world
but
the
true
king
of
this
world
to
whom
the
throne
belongs
he's
about
to
unseat
him
and
I
love
this
now
the
prince
of
this
world
will
be
driven
out
in
this
hour
something
is
about
to
happen
with
Jesus
which
will
push
the
devil
off
of
his
throne
again
it's
difficult
to know
for certain
exactly
what
Jesus
means
here
it
doesn't
seem
to
mean
that
the
devil
will
be
completely
powerless
after
this
nor
does
it
seem
to
mean
that
Satan
will
be
kicked
right
off
of
planet
earth
and
not
allowed
to
be
here
anymore
or
that
he
will
lose
all
semblance
of
authority
here
on
earth
here's
why
years
later
Peter
wrote
to
the
churches
be
alert
and
of
sober
mind
your
enemy
the
devil
prowls
around
like a
roaring
lion
looking
for
someone
to
devour
so
even
after
this
hour
of
Jesus
the
devil
is
still
here
on
earth
he's
still
on
the
prowl
or
revelation
chapter
2
verses
12
and
13
this
is
Jesus
dictating
the contents
of a
letter
to the
apostle
John
for the
church
in
Pergamum
he says
to the
angel
of the
church
in
Pergamum
write
these
are
the
words
of
him
who
has
the
sharp
double
edged
sword
I
know
where
you
live
where
Satan
has
his
throne
yet
you
remain
true
to
my
name
you
did
not
renounce
your
faith
in
me
not
even
in
the
days
of
Antipas
my
faithful
witness
who
was
put
to
death
in
your
city
where
Satan
lives
I
don't
know
just
what
Pergamum
but
it
suggests
at the
least
that
Satan's
power
and
influence
and
control
are
still
present
in
some
measure
even
60
years
after
Jesus
died
rose
and
ascended
so
what
does
it
mean
then
that
now
the
prince
of
this
world
will
be
driven
out
my
best
guess
is
that
it
means
this
hour
that
Jesus
is
about
to
go
through
is
the
beginning
of
the
end
for
the
devil's
rule
in
this
world
just
like
for
the
judgment
of
this
world
it's
not
the
final
judgment
it's
perhaps
the
foundation
and
the
basis
for
the
final
judgment
that
Jesus
is
about
to
lay
here
in
the
same
way
neither
is
this
the
final
doom
for
Satan
but
perhaps
the
basis
and
the
foundation
for
it
this
verse
comes
to
mind
in
Hebrews
chapter
2
verse
14
and 15
since the
children
have
flesh
and blood
he
too
that's
Jesus
shared
in their
humanity
so that
by his
death
he might
break
the power
of him
who holds
the power
of death
that is
the devil
and free
those who
all their
lives were
held
in slavery
by their
fear of
death
now that's a
whole nother
passage and
discussion
there but
at least
one thing
is clear
Jesus
by his
death
broke
the power
of him
who holds
the power
of death
the devil
there was a
kind of
slavery that
all humanity
was inevitably
born into
and the devil
seems to have
had us
in his
sway
but what
will happen
in this
hour for
Jesus
at the
cross
will forever
change
that
and strip
that power
from the
devil
the devil
had legitimate
grounds
to accuse
us
because of
our sins
but he
will have
those grounds
removed
forever
through Jesus
death on the
cross
justice will
be done
and we
through faith
in him
can be set
free forever
in the courts
of heaven
I love to
think about
this
the devil
has had
his
time
on the
throne of
this
world
but what
Jesus is
about to
go through
will change
that forever
what did
Jesus say
again and
again he
said the
kingdom of
heaven is
near
I was
reading in
Daniel again
this week
the vision
that Nebuchadnezzar
had of the
statue with
the head of
gold
representing his
great kingdom
of Babylon
and then comes
the large stone
cut without
human hands
and smashes
the whole
statue to
pieces and
all the
kingdoms that
it represents
in our
world story
and then this
stone grows
into a
mountain and
fills the
whole earth
representing the
kingdom of
God and
of Christ
the cross
was the
beginning of
the end
for the
devil
and the
devil will
have a last
stand
or two
depending on
your
interpretation
of
revelation
but his
grounds for
an accusation
against God's
people
against us
who believe
are now
gone
because of
Jesus'
death
on our
behalf
finally we
come to
Jesus'
third
statement
he says
and I
when I
am lifted
up from
the earth
will draw
all people
to myself
he said
this to
show the
kind of
death
he was
going to
die
when we
hear these
words lifted
up from
the earth
we might
be tempted
to think
about
Jesus'
ascension
lifted up
from the
earth
but John
makes it
clear
no when
Jesus said
that he
meant to
show the
kind of
death he
was going
to die
as in
literally
lifted up
from the
ground
on the
cross
to die
and what
will this
death
achieve
Jesus
says
when I
am lifted
up from
the earth
I will
draw all
people
to myself
I will
draw all
people to
myself
what does
that mean
well there's
one translation
of the
Bible that
picks up
on some
subtle details
in the
original
language
the new
king
james
version
all
peoples
all
peoples
it says
in fact
the word
people
or peoples
isn't even
there in
the original
language but
it is
implied
the word
all is
plural
which requires
a plural
object
so all
peoples
is actually
a very good
way of
saying it
in English
it's a little
blurred
we now
finally come
to Jesus
acknowledging
the Greeks
this is
where it
all
started
this is
what
triggered
all
of
this
the
coming
of the
Greeks
they're
seeking
after
Jesus
you remember
the hesitation
of Philip
and Andrew
about whether
Jesus
should meet
with
the Greeks
whether he
can be
their Messiah
too
and here
now
Jesus
makes it
clear
yes
of
Gentiles
too
in this
hour
I will
be lifted
up
I will
die
and I
will draw
all
peoples
to
myself
Jew
and
Gentile
as
Revelation
makes
clear
from
every
tribe
nation
tongue
and
people
not
every
individual
as we've
already
heard
will
appreciate
the death
of
Jesus
the
cross
of
Christ
as we
heard
earlier
there
will
be
this
judging
this
exposing
effect
there
will
be
some
who
see
the
cross
as
foolishness
or
even
a sign
that
he
was
not
the
Messiah
but
there
will
be
others
who
see
it
as
the
very
power
of
God
as
that
which
displays
the
mercy
and
grace
and
love
of
God
so
for
following
what
Jesus
is
saying
this
is
the
most
important
hour
of
Jesus
story
what's
about
to
happen
with
Jesus
here
will
set
the
future
it
will
pave
the
foundation
for
the
very
end
of
the
story
the
final
judgment
the
final
kingdom
and
the
final
people
of
God
and
so
I
want
to
encourage
us
not
to
be
too
quick
to
move
on
from
this
hour
as
I
was
thinking
about
this
I
couldn't
help
but
think
you
know
these
pages
in
our
Bibles
Jesus
suffering
his
death
should
be
the
most
well
worn
pages
in
the
whole
book
I
mean
I
don't
want
to
pit
them
against
the
rest
of
the
Bible
it's
all
important
how
can
we
understand
it
without
all
that's
been
said
before
and
after
but
it's
here
that
the
greatest
realities
in our
universe
are set
with what
Jesus is
about to
go through
the final
judgment
the
final
kingdom
and the
final
people
of
God
let's
pray
father
in
heaven
we
tremble
at the
thought
of what
Jesus
went
through
in that
hour
because
we know
the rest
of the
story
we
thank you
that
many of
us in
this
room
love
Jesus
have
come
into
the
light
have
been
made
right
with
you
but
we
can't
help
but
think
of
all
those
people
out
there
who
have
not
and
told
us
that
this
is
how
it
will
go
that
some
will
not
accept
but
we
look
to
you
in
hope
and
we
pray
for
those
who
do
not
know
you
we
think
of
all
the
people
in
turmoil
in
our
world
today
we
think
of
the
people
in
this
community
Lord
and
we
pray
and
ask
that
you
would
yet
soften
their
hearts
and
draw
them
in
that
they
would
be
saved
that
they
would
put
their
trust
in
you
and
that
they
too
would
be
included
in
your
family
we
ask
this
in
Jesus
name
amen