Thoughts on the Gospel of John (115) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, An angel has spoken to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice did not come because of me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples unto myself. This he said, signifying by what death he would die.
John 12:29-33.

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (115)
Troubled in His soul, Jesus had prayed to His heavenly Father and received an answer from heaven immediately. The multitude present couldn't fathom that unusual voice. The Lord explained to them that the voice was a warning: His death would bring judgment upon the world and its prince, the devil.

Satan would be "cast out"; this would occur in various stages:

1. Satan has already been vanquished; his power was overcome through the death of Jesus (cf. ch.
16:11; Hebrews 2:14; Colossians 2:15).
2. In the future tribulation he will be cast out of the heavens (Revelation 12:9.10).
3. Before the millennium he will be cast into the bottom­less pit (Revelation 20:3).
4. After the millennium he will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).

In the Roman Empire death sentences on non-Roman citizens were frequently carried out by crucifixion. This callous, shameful means of death complied with the bitter enmity that Jesus encountered from His own people. He was "lifted up from the earth" to be removed despicably from their midst. The result was, in fact, the very opposite: the crucified One became the point of attraction for all. Everyone can obtain eternal salvation in Him.

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 3:1-17 · 2 Timothy 1:9-18