The Gospel of John: John 12.27-36

Read and meditate on John 12.29-31.
Jesus demonstrated keen insight to the spiritual world. He indicated that His being glorified, and God the Father being glorified in Him, meant the casting out of one ruler, and his replacement by Another.

                                  ²⁹The people, therefore, who
stood by and heard the voice, remarked unto
each other that it thundered. Others said,
“An angel has conversed with Him instead.”
³⁰But Jesus answered, “Not because of Me
has this voice come, but for your sake. ³¹For see,
the judgment of the world is come, and now
the ruler of this world will be cast out.

- John 12.29-31

Reflect
1.  People standing by Jesus heard something when the voice from heaven came to Him. What is suggested about the voice from heaven by their varying responses to what they heard? Complete this prayer: Lord, whenever I hear You speaking to me from Your Word, let it be like…

2.  Let’s step aside for a moment to a scene later in John’s ministry. Look at Revelation 10.1-4. In this passage, both responses of the people in John 12.29 appear. Somehow, John understood what the “seven thunders” were saying, and was about to write it down. Should we expect to hear the “voice” of God speaking in created things (cf. Ps. 19.1-4)? Explain. What is the relationship between the revelation of God in Scripture and the revelation of God in creation? Lord, I know You are continuously speaking to me, but I don’t often take the time to listen. Help me…

3.  Jesus explained that the voice from heaven was not for His sake, but for the sake of those who heard it. What did He mean by this? Whenever You speak, Lord, it is always “for our sake,” so that…

4.  What was Jesus referring to by “the ruler of this world”? Look at Luke 4.5, 6. When was this ruler “given” this authority? What had been the effect of his rule, prior to the coming of Jesus? How does the appearance of bright angels out of a dark night sky symbolize the world into which Jesus was born, and the significance of His birth (Lk. 2.8-14)? Look at Matthew 12.22-29. What did Jesus mean by this? When did this occur?

5.  Finally, look at Revelation 12. What happens to Satan in verses 7-9? Is this different from what Jesus described in Matthew 12.22-29? What event immediately preceded this (Rev. 12.5, 6)? Apparently, prior to this event, Satan had some access yet within the heavenly realm, as is suggested in Job 1.6 and 2.1, and Zechariah 3.1-5. Why did this event signal his final expulsion from heaven? What did Jesus mean by saying that the ruler of this world was being “cast out” by His being glorified? How should the binding and the casting out of Satan encourage us? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote for questions 1-4.

Summary
“The Lord, therefore, was foretelling what he already knew, that after his own passion and glorification, many nations throughout the whole world, in whose hearts the devil lived as an inmate, would become believers, and the devil when thus renounced by faith would be cast out. But someone might ask: Wasn’t the devil cast out of the hearts of the patriarchs and prophets and the righteous people of old? Certainly he was. How then can it be said that now he shall be cast out? Then it was done in the case of a few individuals, but now it is foretold that it will take place rapidly and among many people and mighty nations.… But someone might further ask: Since the devil is cast out of the hearts of believers, does he now stop tempting the faithful? No, he has not stopped tempting. But it is one thing to reign within and another to lay siege from without.” Augustine (354-430 AD)

The glorification of Christ – the hour for which He came – was accelerated at Calvary, illuminated by His resurrection, enhanced by His exaltation and enthronement, is expressed by His rule in and through the lives of His people, and will culminate in His return. Christ will not share His glory with another, so Satan was made to relinquish any access to God he enjoyed in heaven, and was cast out to stalk and prowl about on earth. How do we keep the banished ruler from governing our lives, so that we can live under the exalted Ruler’s grace and truth and glory?

Closing Prayer
Teach me Your way, O LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.
I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And I will glorify Your name forevermore.
For great is Your mercy toward me,
And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
O God, the proud have risen against me,
And a mob of violent men have sought my life,
And have not set You before them.
But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me!
Give Your strength to Your servant,
And save the son of Your maidservant.
Show me a sign for good,
That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
Because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Psalm 86.11-17

Psalm 86.10-17 (Andrews: Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven)
For You are great, You wondrous deeds do;
You are the only and sovereign Lord.
Teach me Your way, let me give heed to,
With all my heart, Savior, all Your Word!
Lord, be gracious to me, Lord, be gracious to me,
Praise Your Name forever, Lord!

Great is Your mercy, Lord, toward me;
You have delivered my soul from hell.
Though dreadful foes and threats arrayed be,
You will Your grace and Your mercy tell!
Lord, be gracious to me, Lord, be gracious to me,
Slow to anger, loving well!

Turn to me, Lord; be gracious to me;
Grant me Your strength; save Your servant, Lord!
Let me a sign of something good see;
Shame all who hate me beneath Your Word.
Lord, be gracious to me, Lord, be gracious to me,
For You help me, sovereign Lord!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore..