31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”
Message: The Moment of Judgment and Salvation
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is teaching, possibly the Greeks from verse 20. Jesus speaks about his future death and how He will die and we need to lose our lives to find fruit and abundant life. Jesus admits he is troubled about future judgment before God and yet God has a purpose for people, to give them assurance and Jesus submits to this.
Jesus has heard the voice of the Father from heaven. Jesus remarks in verse 31 that "judgment is upon this world." It is certain.
"The ruler of this world will be cast out." Jesus announces the ruler of this world, Satan, will be cast out upon being judged.
And Jesus will be "lifted up from the earth" and "draw all men to Himself (Myself)."
As such, Charles Ellicott (1819-1905), an English theologian, writes this summary:
(1) the judgment (condemnatory) of this world; (2) the casting out of the prince of this world; (3) the establishment of His spiritual kingdom.
(1) Jesus has mentioned this judgment back in John 3:17-18 - "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Natural man rejects Jesus. Judgment is certain for all. But there is a different result for those that have believed in Jesus. John 5:29 states, "those who did the good to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil to a resurrection of judgment."
(2) Satan's title of "the prince of the world" was the Rabbinic title of Satan, the ruler over Gentiles. But Satan more completely is the ruler of the unbelieving world. Unbelief crucifies Jesus. Joseph Benson (1749-1821) comments that "the devil, who has so long reigned in the hearts of the children of disobedience, is about to be dethroned." At the time of the resurrection and ascension is the declaration that Jesus is indeed the Son of God and Satan's control of the minds of the disobedience would begin to vanish. His kingdom begins to decline. He is cast out. At the cross, Satan throws everything at Jesus but Jesus passes through death and is resurrected, defeating death and Satan.
(3) And as Satan is cast out, conversely Jesus is "lifted up," drawing men to Himself in setting up His kingdom on earth and in heaven. Up to this point, the ruler has drawn all people to himself, but now Jesus will draw all men to Himself. Some have been believing up to this point (like in John 10:42). Jesus has been speaking his message and some have believed. His message has been primarily to the Jewish people. But once resurrected, in contrast, all will the opportunity to believe. The resurrection and ascension will signal a huge birth of the Church. And now people from all kinds of backgrounds, from every tribe and tongue, from every culture, will now come to Jesus and the kingdom will grow.
Summary: The Father has a purpose at judgment and that is to cast out the prince of this world, Satan, and Jesus by his resurrection and ascension will draw men to Himself at an alarming rate.
Promise: There is no longer any distinction in the people that will be drawn to Him upon the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. All will have an opportunity.
Prayer: Lord, you have taught me something today, that brings some truths together, regarding how through your resurrection and ascension all people will be drawn to you. In your time walking this earth, your mission was primarily to Jews though some Greeks slipped in, but following your death, burial and resurrection all will come to know You Jesus as Savior and Lord. All will believe in You. The Truth of You will be more clearly seen. Thank you for this lesson and walking me through it. Help us to continue to be confident and excited about those that are coming to know You, maybe not simply on our American soil but many throughout the World still, in other parts of this world. Lord, be glorified.
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