John 12:35, commentary and pictures

Christ Himself present with them was the light that would be with them only a little while before His death and departure, and to walk while having it meant to receive, believe and obey Him and the truth already given instead of resisting it. Whoever so walks becomes a child of light and receives ever greater light until the path is plain to the city of God, while whoever refuses to walk is overtaken by darkness and no longer knows where he is going. That darkness is unbelief and hardness of heart that grows with every refusal until light refused becomes darkness proportionate to the light rejected, blinding perception so that error is taken for truth. Because the time of light and probation is very short and may end at any moment, the light must be acted on at once without waiting for mysteries to be solved or for more favorable opportunity, for evidence rejected may never be repeated.

Historical Setting and Hearers

These words were spoken just before betrayal and death, at the final departure from the temple. That leaving marked the withdrawal of God's presence from the building, so that its ceremonies and services were thereafter meaningless.

They were addressed to the Jews and the crowd around Him who resisted the light He offered. He spoke them in answer to their question about how the Son of man must be lifted up when the law says Christ abides forever. They sought in this to provoke controversy with Him in order to accuse Him, and a conspiracy to put Him to death was already formed.

Before them He had done many miracles as evidence of His divine mission, including raising Lazarus from the dead, yet they believed not and nothing could lighten their darkness. The light set before them was clear evidence that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, so that no one need remain in the darkness of error while it is offered. Those who rejected Him through blindness, pride, superstition, or ignorance of Scripture groped without the Sun of Righteousness, and their prejudice against Him brought ruin and destroyed their hope of everlasting life.

What was said to the Jews applies to all who have not accepted Him. His revelations of love and grace and the opportunities He provides lose their sacred value when they are not appreciated, accepted, responded to, passed on to others, and used. The warning also measures the shortness of human life and the passing of opportunities to receive abundant mercy and blessing.

The hardness of the Jews did not come from God arbitrarily blinding them, but from resisting Christ's work and transgressing until the love and fear of God departed. Prophecy foretold what God knew would happen, but it did not determine character or choice. They acted by free will, either under God's molding or under Satan's rule, as God tested whether they would believe His Son or heed the false charges of the Pharisees meant to block divine light.

Meaning of Light and Darkness

The light that was to remain only a little while was Christ Himself present among men, in His perfect life and obedience, His redeeming work, His miracles and His words, giving humanity vantage ground and power to obey righteousness. To walk in that light while it could be had was to believe and follow Him before darkness came, for he who walks in darkness knows not where he goes.

He is the Sun of Righteousness, whose rays bring life and light, so that turning to Him, looking to Him and living by His light lead to life. Receiving that light involves speaking of Jesus, dwelling on His character, and taking freely of the bread and water of life. The light is also God's Holy Spirit moving upon hearts to bring them to acknowledge Him in all their ways so that He may direct their paths. With that moving Jesus Himself is present as the greatest Teacher, calling the laboring and heavy laden to come for rest and knocking at the door of hearts to enter and sup with those who open, and true duty is to respond to that present light rather than hold a false idea of duty that resists it.

The light is the truth already received, the warnings, reproofs, instruction, encouragement and messages sent in mercy for good, every lesson from God and every ray of truth flashing around the mind, especially around those in school and those handling sacred things. It is the known truth about duty, sin and self-denial, and the truth made plain by miracle-working power in the past half century of experience, which is to be obeyed whole-heartedly with no subterfuge covering crooked ways with false religious show. To walk while having it is to heed those words, open mind and heart to receive them, treasure them as of inestimable value like jewels of gold, let them be planted as seed in good soil, appropriate them and improve upon them by decided advancement with fruit in grace and knowledge, personally acting to take in knowledge and grace, bring forth fruit unto eternal life and perfect Christian character. Believing in the light while it is present makes men children of light, which is the same way of life described as walking as children of light.

The darkness that comes upon those who fail to walk is unbelief encompassing those who set their hearts against Him, following their own ideas contrary to God's Word instead of following Christ. He who walks in darkness does not know where he goes or what he may stumble over. He may think he is at his journey's end when far from his goal, and find at last that he did not take up his cross and follow Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life and so has missed the road, while following Jesus makes the road plain with no uncertainty as to its direction or termination to the mansions He has gone to prepare for those who love Him. To walk in darkness is to stop making God the trust and following His known will and to choose a course of one's own, whereupon another leader seizes leadership as soon as self is chosen and guides into by and forbidden paths even when resolutions are good and purposes strong and the person flatters himself the path is safe, so that he is controlled by a stronger will than his own and does not know where his steps are tending. Walking in darkness is also listening to the deceptive sophistries of the last days and turning from the true Counselor, mistaking error for truth and truth for error, not discerning that objectionable theories of satanic origin have been planted as seed in soil prepared by that turning, taking one wrong turning after another while insisting he is not led astray and even preaching theories of truth while mystified about what truth is, until he cuts the bands binding him in specious errors and cuts away from men whose study of scientific problems opens the door to confusion of mind and judgment in spiritual things.

Urgency of Present Opportunity

The light remains only a little while and must be walked in while it is possessed, for failure to walk brings darkness that overtakes the traveler so he loses his way and no longer knows where he goes. The light now available will not continue indefinitely, and the warning is not to go farther on a wrong path already entered but to follow Christ's light while it can be had, since Christians and churches shine to others only by reflecting glory received from heaven and not from any light of their own.
The time of light is very short and must be used now to prepare for eternity, for lifetime is given as probation to seek eternal life and even seventy years is short to work out salvation compared with the life that measures with the life of God. The period of testing and proving may end at any time, another day may not come, and life is nearing the close of probation, so great earnestness is required to overcome the low sinful nature, be conformed to the image of Christ, put away habits that retard spiritual growth, gain a realizing sense of the shortness of time, make daily preparation, squander not one moment, follow the light God gives each day, and secure a clear title to a home in the earth made new.
The warning belongs to the closing scenes of earth's history and the solemn reality of the judgment, and those convicted of the truth should decide to follow the light before it goes out for them. The time for waiting and watching is short because the end is near, probation is about ended and only a little while of light remains, so self must be denied and gratification of desires waited for a little rather than spent on selfish indulgence, that if saved in the kingdom of God there may be the richest music of heaven through the ceaseless ages of eternity.
Action must be at once upon the light while present, obeying as soon as convinced it is true, following and obeying the light as it shines on the path rather than delaying decision. Obedience must not wait until every mystery is solved, every shadow of uncertainty removed, every doubt removed, more certain evidence given, or more favorable opportunities come, for God requires faith resting on the weight of evidence and not perfect knowledge, and those who accept the light must obey God's voice even when many other voices cry out against it, which requires discernment. Those who refuse to act when called and defer obedience to warnings and reproofs will walk in darkness because the light will be withdrawn, while walking forward in the light brings increasing clarity until the path is made plain and refusing the first rays keeps a person from seeing the greater light that follows. Those who hear the truth and receive strong evidence need moral courage to follow it promptly, for darkness comes when truth is not appreciated and decision is delayed.
Evidence given one day, if rejected, may never be repeated, for light loses its value to those who do not appreciate and accept it, respond to it, and pass it on to others in God's abundant mercy and Christ's blessings, and this applies both to the Jews who resisted the light Jesus offered in His brief presence and to the shortness of human life and passing opportunity. God gives no greater light until people acknowledge the light they have received, and those who delay obedience while waiting for greater certainty or better opportunities risk having the light withdrawn and then walking in darkness unable to see where they are going.
Rejoicing in the light and gladly receiving messages is not enough, for increased light will not be given until the light already given is used, appropriated, heeded, and improved upon with decided advancement and fruit in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. To walk while having the light is to look to the light set before them in the warnings, reproofs, instruction, encouragement, and messages the Lord in mercy has sent for their good, rather than looking to a human messenger to lift them into the light, lest darkness come upon those who fail to walk.
Walking while having the light means opening mind and heart to receive Christ's words, every lesson from God, and every ray of truth flashing around the mind, especially around those in school and those handling sacred things, treasuring it as of inestimable value like jewels of gold, letting it be planted as seed in good soil, and personally acting on it to take in knowledge and grace, bring forth fruit unto eternal life, and perfect Christian character. Not one ray of light can be afforded to be lost, for the time to act on truth is short and urgent and all must obey the heavenly light while present or darkness will come, and those who have seen and heard the way of righteousness must repent afterward and believe and do the Father's will like the first son who repented and went and like the publicans and harlots who believed John, rather than profess to obey while disobeying and lose a place in the kingdom of God. Refusing this personal benefit is dangerous to the soul, for every sentence read and every flash of light left in the outer court hardens the heart and brings condemnation proportionate to its importance, while the melting love of Jesus must burn out dross to make fit for the inheritance of light.
While the light is present it must be believed, eagerly grasped, and walked in by acknowledging it in actions and moving in accordance with the light already given, looking unto Jesus instead of looking to self and talking of self and feelings, and talking light and faith with not one word of unbelief. Doing this cooperates with God and the heavenly ministering angels appointed for the salvation of the soul and brings freedom, while failing to do this leaves the light shining and flashing in vain even if a thousandfold more light should shine.

Promise and Warning in Response

Those who sincerely seek to do God's will and heed the light already given receive greater light to guide them into truth, for they must follow the light while it is available or be left in darkness and lose their way, and turning from known light or neglecting to seek it brings spiritual darkness. Refusing the first rays keeps a person from seeing the greater light that follows, while walking forward brings increasing clarity and brightness until the path is made plain. Walking in the light means receiving and living by the truth already given, and further light then comes from God the source of all light. Christ's disciples also transmit this light through words and actions, and the light they share does not go out for those who walk in it.

Those who refuse to walk in the light they have received are overtaken by darkness and lose their way. Those who neglect the light fall into spiritual darkness, and the greater the light given the greater the darkness, weakness and condemnation that follow when it is refused. People who reject the light God mercifully sends do not know where they are going, but harden in impenitence and step by step leave the right path, come under Satan's influence, and move toward perdition.

As they persist in unbelief their hearts harden, their understanding is blinded, and darkness closes around them until they can no longer see the evidence for Jesus. Every refusal to receive the light makes the heart harder and less able to feel, so they hear without a sanctified mind and miss the real meaning of truth. This warning applies to those who profess to know truth but are not sanctified by it, who are satisfied with their own religious understanding and refuse the true showing of their spiritual condition, bringing darkness by their own course until Jesus withdraws from them and they do not know where they are going.

Light refused becomes darkness to the refuser, leaving him unable to see where he is going and to lose his way. The darkness is proportionate to the light rejected, and the light slighted makes that darkness greater. Greater light brings greater responsibility, so people must follow the truth they understand and let it guide words and works through faithful obedience as the prophets were faithful, being accountable for grace received and meeting God's righteous claims, or that light will judge and condemn them. Accepting truth may involve a cross, but the safe course is to obey the light rather than remain undecided. Recovery from rejecting light as a dangerous first step requires accepting the truth previously refused, even when doing so humbles the soul.

Refusing to heed God's requirements and entertaining doubt can blind perception until darkness appears to be light and light appears to be darkness. Those who have received light must live by it, for refusing to do so brings spiritual darkness so that the light they had becomes darkness and their judgment of what is right is reversed. Those who reject further light become spiritually darkened, lose their way, and can lead others away from peace, joy and righteousness, while receiving the light of life brings people out of darkness into God's marvelous light. Progress in following the light God gives is therefore required.

The light reveals errors hidden in darkness, and receiving more light brings greater duty so that life and character must change to agree with the truth. Sins once committed in ignorance cannot continue to be indulged without guilt after the light exposes them. Those who do not reform as light increases become more stubborn and face condemnation in the judgment.

God requires faith that rests on the weight of evidence, not perfect knowledge, and those who accept the light must obey His voice even when many other voices cry out against it, which requires discernment. Those who refuse to act when called, deferring obedience to warnings and reproofs until every shadow of uncertainty is removed and waiting for more certain evidence and more favorable opportunities, will walk in darkness because the light will be withdrawn and evidence given one day, if rejected, may never be repeated. He requires His people to render perfect obedience to His commandments, which are always reasonable and just, and failure to walk in the light separates from God with darkness coming as a sure result in the same proportion as light has shone upon the pathway. This was the state of the Jewish people, who had accumulated light through patriarch and prophet and the plainly revealed will of God yet did not obey it, and so were separated from God with darkness coming upon them.

Those who neglect, misapply, or stumble over the light as the Jews did are left behind, blinded and confused. Christ's followers must walk in the light He gives rather than treat it with indifference, misuse it, or stumble over it as the Jews did, but must follow Christ and continue to learn and receive the truth God gives. Christ's light is present for a limited time and must be followed while available, otherwise a person is overtaken by darkness and loses direction.

Keeping walking in the light while present means having the eyes of understanding opened to see the pathway plainly defined to spiritual vision. That lighted pathway leads surely through the strait gate to the city of God and is the only path Christ marked out to the mansions He has gone to prepare for all who love and serve Him with all the capabilities of heart and mind and soul. The Christian hope found on that path never disappoints the seeker, while multitudes outside it walk in the darkness of the broad road.

Lessons from Past Rejections

The warning falls on those who see the truth clearly yet will not stand for it because they fear losing position, status, and human approval, and fear the disapproval of leaders, choosing the approval of men above the approval of God. As conviction is resisted the light in the mind dims, error takes its place, and continued resistance ends in spiritual blindness and unbelief with no true direction. The light to be followed while it remains includes the truth urged by the Holy Spirit through the Minneapolis message, and continued rejection of it hardens the heart until the power to discern it is lost. The same warning reaches every age, for all who receive light and then turn from it, as the two brethren in Adelaide did when they joined together against it, risk being left to walk in darkness.

It reaches those who profess to know the truth but are not sanctified by it, who are satisfied with their own religious understanding and refuse a true showing of their spiritual condition. Their darkness comes by their own course, for every refusal makes the heart harder and less able to feel, so they hear without a sanctified mind, miss the real meaning of truth, do not know where they are going, and Jesus withdraws from them. Rejecting Christ through unbelief, misrepresentation, self-glorification, and listening to fables perverts the power to discern spiritual realities and places those decidedly arrayed against Him under the control of the father of lies, as with the unbelieving Jews. If His perfect life, obedience, redeeming work, miracles, and words, which gave humanity vantage ground and power to obey righteousness, failed to convince the Jews of the divinity of His mission, the words of ministers today will not convince those who have set their hearts to disobey present truth nor lead them to humble confession.

After 1844 the Advent people must walk while they have the light of the midnight cry, given at the beginning of the straight narrow path lifted high above the world and shining all along it to the city so that feet do not stumble. Jesus goes just before His people to lead them forward, and while eyes stay fixed on Him they are safe, and when weary they are encouraged by light from His glorious right arm. Those who rashly deny the light behind them, saying God did not lead them so far, lose that light behind them, are left with feet in perfect darkness, stumble, lose sight of Jesus and the mark, and fall off the path down into the dark wicked world below. Battle Creek has been granted greater light from heaven than any place on earth, with beams shining on the way to be trodden even more than Jerusalem of old was favored, and those who have it must walk in its full radiance by faithful obedience serving God night and day. Neglect brings a sickly dwarfed religion, for energy and love increase by exercise and the Christian graces grow only by careful cultivation. The Caledonia church had received light but failed to improve it or live by it while it was available.

Those who have had light and truth but turn from the waymarks God established to accept Satan's deceptions and a spurious holiness walk in darkness without knowing their destination, and their course marks a position foretold in prophecy. Applied to the church, the withered fig tree shows the fate of a pretentious but fruitless people under God's judgment unless they respond and reform while light remains. The call is to those who have seen and heard the way of righteousness to repent afterward, believe, and do the Father's will, like the first son who repented and went and like the publicans and harlots who believed John, rather than profess obedience while disobeying and losing a place in the kingdom, for the time to act is short and not one ray can be afforded to be lost. It applies to one surrounded by truth yet choosing his own way instead of following God, to one far from God and ignorant of His will who is in complete darkness and must not be followed, and to Dr. Sanderson, whose pride and refusal to accept a position alongside another physician leave him walking in darkness, dazed and unable to change course.

It is a decided urgent appeal to those grown cold and backslidden to use the light while still with them, to seek the Lord more earnestly at once, confess coldness, and turn from backsliding, so that the Spirit comes with blessing, comfort, joy, peace, and refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Walking in the light means seeking and receiving Christ and the truth He gives rather than resisting it, for rejecting it brings darkness that leaves people unable to discern where they are going. The warning therefore applies to those who criticize and oppose the work of God's Spirit, call light darkness, or reject the truths of the third angel's message as error, while those who receive the light are to let it shine for others.

Faithfulness in Daily Life

Walking in the light is overcoming the low, sinful nature and being conformed to the image of Christ, using the very short time of light now to prepare for eternity with daily preparation and not a moment to squander. Lifetime is granted as probation to seek eternal life, and even seventy years is short to work out salvation compared with the life that measures with the life of God, because the period of test and proving may end at any time. Great earnestness is therefore needed to secure a clear title to a home in the earth made new, putting away habits that have retarded spiritual growth and gaining a realizing sense of the shortness of time.

It is whole-hearted, hearty and loving endeavor to please God and obey His commandments and the truth made plain by His miracle-working power in the past half century of experience, catching the divine rays from the instruction Christ has given. There is to be no subterfuge to cover crooked ways with false religious show. Those who so walk are blessed with assurance, comfort and hopefulness attending their unselfish desires, with graces of heavenly origin developed and matured by exercise. Their life becomes so clean and pure and glad in heartfelt assurance that trembling, loitering others are attracted and impelled by the example to walk the same way Christ walks.

It means coming to Jesus just as one is and asking forgiveness for wasting life, following one's own way, doing one's own will, and not walking in the light. The light is the known truth about duty, sin and self-denial, and to walk in it is to practice that truth, receive it into the inmost life, and yield hurtful sinful indulgence such as the idol of tobacco instead of placing it before the Saviour and staying aloof from the church. Knowing the truth without practicing it is refusing the light, leaving the person unconverted, unsanctified, enslaved to habit and unable to claim God-given freedom. Continued delay and clinging to the idol until every soul's case is decided brings darkness and leaves one shipwrecked without God and without hope.

It means making thorough work of repentance without delay while Jesus knocks at the door of the heart during probationary time. This is taking back words spoken against brethren, confessing and forsaking evil speaking, turning to the Lord with heartfelt contrition, unlearning wrong education, and surrendering soul and body and spirit to Christ, lest delay bring darkness in which a person no longer knows where he goes. It is obedient, holy living that elevates the standard of righteousness, purifies self even as Christ is pure, seeks things above and sets affections on heavenly things. It refuses former lusts of ignorance and is holy in all conduct because God is holy, as Bible Christians who do not disregard plain instruction or erect a false standard but obey all God's requirements, prove genuine faith by good fruit, and learn meekness and lowliness from Christ.

It means daily conversion, humility and obedience under the Holy Spirit, for those who refuse the light become confused and darkness shapes their actions. Following the path of obedience makes God's wisdom and goodness shine more clearly, and walking in the light is receiving the light, redeeming the time because the days are evil, being led by the Holy Spirit with a burden for souls and a heavenly message of Christ for this last time. It puts away Gentile speech and follows on in true obedience, and then wisdom and goodness of God as revealed in His word become brighter and brighter and all the righteous demands of God are met through sanctification of the Holy Spirit.

It means following Christ and responding to the Spirit's leading through active growth and faithful service, for Christ's light is present only for a limited time and those who fail to use their opportunities risk losing direction in spiritual darkness. It is being a doer of God's Word and serving faithfully while the light remains, since darkness will come ending the opportunity to work. It is seeking and following God's counsel, understanding His word, accepting it and putting it into practice, and living for the good of others, letting one's light shine and remembering responsibility to serve as a steward of Christ's grace. A heart not refreshed by heaven misreads and fails to use both God's mercies and His judgments, so those who have the truth must work without delay to bring the warning message to others. Walking in the light is living and working in the truth rather than turning inward or neglecting the work entrusted, for the one who walks in darkness loses direction, forgets he is a steward of grace, and fails to use light to bless others.

The opportunity to share the light of truth is brief and must be used while it remains, with God's law and present truth not hidden but made known to the world by words and example to direct people to the way of salvation. A lifetime is short, and believers are to work urgently for their own salvation and for others, moving forward in the light God shines on their pathway and carrying it as light-bearers to a world lying in midnight darkness. Those who refuse to go forward will have their light turn to darkness and will themselves be lost in the blackness around them, losing their place as light-bearers. Walking in the light means ever keeping God's high, perfect standard before them and holding it up by precept and example high above Satan's false standard, which brings misery, degradation, disease and death to both body and soul. It means being stanch and true to every ray already received, practicing the truths of health reform in one's own life, and reaching people where they are by example and precept to show them the beauties of the better way, whereupon followers of the light receive strength and power and the blessing of God and become anxious to place these truths before those who do not know them.

Applied to business, every transaction with workers, whatever their position, whether responsible or low-ranking, must be conducted in a way God approves, with mercy and justice. Employers are to pay wages that reflect the value of the work rather than spending more heavily on buildings while underpaying, spending less on buildings if needed to pay workers fairly. Just treatment is not to be delayed, for the opportunity to act in Christ's light is limited and darkness can come leaving men unable to see where they are going. For children and youth, walking in the light means submitting the will to God and refusing to join sinners in wrongdoing, following Christ's light while it is available before darkness comes and leaves them without direction. Disobedience brings no peace and leads away from eternal life, and an evil course brings unfavorable reflections upon parents who love them and long for their salvation.

Applied to health reform and temperance, walking in the light means acting at once on the light God has given, learning true principles, practicing temperance in all things, and teaching them by precept and consistent example at large gatherings and through publications. It is living by the truth already received and by the whole message rather than rejecting parts that condemn preferred habits or favorite indulgences, for practicing temperance is necessary to be receptive to truth's sanctifying influence. Refusing to improve the light and knowledge within reach means rejecting a means God has provided for spiritual and physical life. Those who claim to believe in health reform but do not follow its principles in daily life act against that light, harm their own souls and welfare, work against church welfare, and give wrong impressions to believers and unbelievers. Obedience to God's laws of nature promotes development of mind, soul and body, happiness in this life and preparation for the life to come, while failure to practice professed health-reform instruction injures the soul, sets a harmful example and leaves one increasingly estranged from truth and righteousness.

Those awakened to need of reformation will believe and obey Christ's words, but refusing the truth because it condemns the way of life leaves them in darkness without knowing where they are going. Ministers and believers who have received light on health reform must act on it and share it rather than stand apart or work against those advancing the work God has given them, lest the light they possess become darkness. The verse warns not to continue farther along a wrong path entered, but to resist deception by following God's Word in practice, to reject deception, to stop the course and come to the light. Every person is to seek the Lord for himself and keep walking while the light remains, obeying the light including His words of warning, for allowing darkness to overtake means losing hold upon God and present truth, while God will be with those who walk with Him. It is an urgent call to repent, be converted and diligently carry out the King's work because time is short, responding to the light while it is present before darkness comes.

Conference leaders and all given great light are especially called to obey Christ's word and do His works faithfully while they have it, otherwise darkness will come leaving them without direction. Those who fail to cultivate spirituality and walk in that light will find it become darkness and drift farther from God, and every soul is in danger from refusal of light. Following the given light instead of strenuously holding to one's own ideas makes service in religious work more effectual and more personally satisfying. People must walk in the light while it is available by making a decided move to obey without delay the truth received, living according to the light each day since another day may not come and life is nearing the close of probation. The light must be improved through faithful obedience as the prophets were faithful to the light given them, with thorough response on the shining path, for people are accountable for grace and light received and must meet God's righteous claims, while neglecting that light brings spiritual darkness and unbelief.

God gives wisdom to the humble and contrite, while spiritual blindness is linked to pride and self-conceit so that those who think themselves wise miss what would bring them peace, and those willing to learn from Christ receive His care, comfort and grace. Refusing to walk in given light gives Satan place to work until confusion pervades the soul and shapes the whole course of action, hardening in impenitence step by step under his influence toward perdition, with slighted light making darkness greater. The light is the precious light God lets shine in messages of warning, caution and reproof, and those handling sacred things must believe in the light to be children of light; those who turn away and fail to believe and act upon what has been given bring darkness upon themselves and would not believe even if greater light were shed. Refusing to improve within-reach light and knowledge rejects God's provision. Each person must put abilities to work for God during the short probation, for neglecting light leaves people unable to see where they are going. Truth comes from its Author and must be written on the heart so it is not forgotten or erased. Walking in the light means accepting truth even when it rebukes cherished wrongs, while rejecting such light works against personal and church welfare.