John 12:34-43

John 12:34-43

1. We may learn the duty of using present opportunities.
2. We may learn the desperate hardness of the human heart.
3. We may learn the amazing power which the love of the world has over men and women.

"Light is about us and around us and near us on every side. Let us each resolve to walk in the light while we have it, lest we find ourselves at length cast out into outer darkness forever. It is a true saying of an old divine, that the recollection of lost and misspent opportunities will be the very essence of hell."

"The prevalence of unbelief and indifference in the present day ought not to surprise us. It is just one of the evidences of that mighty foundation doctrine, the total corruption and fall of humanity."

"And so they go on from year to year secretly ill at ease and dissatisfied with themselves, knowing too much of truth to be happy in the world and clinging too much to the world to enjoy any faith."

Questions:

1. Jesus talks about walking in the light while we still have the light. Ryle applies this to walking in the truths we find in the Scriptures and seeking to further God's kingdom on earth while the door of grace is still open. How are we using our time, talent, and treasures? In what ways are we walking in the light today?
2. Many heard Jesus preach and never believed, and Ryle exhorts us that we should not be surprised when people hear us speak and preach and don't believe. Even so, is our confidence in being faithful to what God has said, or are we tempted to find a 'miracle' that will convince others to believe?
3. We see that many rulers believed but refused to confess that Jesus was the Christ for fear of man. Ryle says that such people go year after year secretly ill at ease and dissatisfied with themselves because they know too much truth to be happy in the world and cling too much to the world to enjoy any faith. Where are we on this spectrum? Are we miserable knowing too much truth to enjoy the world or are we clinging too much to the world to enjoy any faith? Either way, would we pray that God would increase our faith?