Listening to Jesus without the aid of the Holy Spirit must have been frustrating. Aren’t we glad we have the Spirit in our lives?!

²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

As we continue to look at what Jesus revealed about Himself, He will try two more times in chapter 12 by exhorting the people to believe in Him,

³⁵ Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. ³⁶ Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Who is the light about which He is talking? Himself, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Jesus encouraged them to walk with Him and to believe in Him. Look at the promise: “so that you may become children of light.” They could become His children!

In Jesus’ last attempt to persuade the crowd, Jesus identified Himself with God once again and as the light once again.

⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. ⁴⁵ The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

A little later, in the upper room, Jesus said this to Philip, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father…Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?” (John 14:9-10). It wasn’t like Jesus was talking in riddles; He was using the metaphor of light based upon their knowledge of OT Scripture, namely Isaiah 9:2. Light can stand for illumination of thought, for knowledge, and for understanding. Jesus is all of these and gives all of these to those who look away from the darkness and come to the light, who is Jesus.

Jesus was speaking plainly, but the people still had a veil over their minds and hearts (John 12:40 and 2 Corinthians 3:14). It wouldn’t be until Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit that people’s minds would be opened to the truth He had been sharing with them–even the disciples (John 2:22, Luke 24:45)!

We have the Holy Spirit available to us to explain the Scriptures to us just like He did with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:27). May we take full advantage of so great a Resource!

Abba, we need our hearts enlightened with Your truth, Your illumination of thought, Your knowledge and Your understanding. May You be our Guide even as You light our path. Amen.