Church Fathers Commentary John 12:34-36

"The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them." — John 12:34-36 (ASV)

St. Augustine of Hippo: When the Jews understood that our Lord was speaking of His own death, they asked how that could be. The people answered Him, We have heard from the law that the Christ abides forever; and how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man? Although our Lord did not call Himself the Son of Man here, they remembered that He often called Himself so, as He had just before: The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. They remembered this and asked how, if the Christ abides forever, He could be lifted up from the earth—that is, how He could die upon the cross.

St. John Chrysostom: From this we see that they understood many of the things He spoke in parables. As He had spoken about death a short time before, they now saw what was meant by His being lifted up.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Or, they interpreted the word according to their own intended act. It was not imparted wisdom, but a disturbed conscience, that disclosed its meaning to them.

St. John Chrysostom: And see how maliciously they pose the question. They do not say, “We have heard from the law that the Christ does not suffer”—for in many places of Scripture His passion and resurrection are spoken of together—but they only mention that He abides forever. And yet, His immortality was not inconsistent with the fact of His suffering. However, they thought this proved He was not the Christ.

Then they ask, Who is this Son of Man?—another malicious question, as if to say, “Do not accuse us of asking this out of hatred for you; we are simply asking for information.” In His answer, Christ shows them that His passion does not prevent Him from abiding forever. Then Jesus said to them, Yet a little while is the light with you, as if His death were merely a departure for a time, just as the sun’s light only sets to rise again.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Yet a little while is the light with you. This is why you understand that the Christ abides forever. Therefore, walk while you have the light; approach and understand the whole matter: that the Christ will both die and live forever. Do this while you have the light.

St. John Chrysostom: He does not mean only the time before His crucifixion, but the entirety of their lives, for many believed in Him after His crucifixion. Lest darkness come upon you.

St. Augustine of Hippo: That is, if you believe in the eternity of Christ in such a way that you deny His humiliation and death.

St. John Chrysostom: What things the Jews do now, not knowing what they are doing! They are like people in the dark, thinking they are on the right road while they are actually taking the completely wrong one. Therefore He adds, While you have the light, believe in the light.

St. Augustine of Hippo: That is: while you have any truth, believe in the truth, so that you may be born again of the truth—that you may be the children of the light.

St. John Chrysostom: That is, "My children." In the beginning of the Gospel it is said, Born of God—that is, of the Father. But here He Himself is the one who begets. The same act belongs to both the Father and the Son.

St. Augustine of Hippo: He hid Himself not from those who were beginning to believe in and love Him, but from those who saw and envied Him. When He hid Himself, He was accommodating our weakness; He did not detract from His own power.

St. John Chrysostom: But why did He hide Himself, when they neither took up stones to throw at Him, nor blasphemed? He did so because He saw into their hearts and knew the fury they were feeling. Therefore, He did not wait until they acted on it, but withdrew to give their envy time to subside.