Ruler of this World

The ruler of this world will be cast out

JOHN 12 BIBLE STUDY ◄
John 12:27-30 Father, Glorify Your Name

John 12:31-36 Ruler Of This World

John 12:37-43 Prophet Isaiah

JOHN 12:31-32 31 “Now is the judgment of 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 peoples to Myself.”

Who is "the ruler of this world” (John 12:31)?
Satan.

What did Jesus call Satan earlier?
"The devil" (John 8:44, see Father Abraham).

So, why does Jesus now call Satan "the ruler of this world"?
This phrase was the well-recognized short form of "the ruler of the darkness of this world," which Judaism used to refer to Satan, with "the darkness" referring to the world outside of Judaism; the Jews believed that Satan rules over the gentiles but not them.

What "world" was Jesus referring to when He said, "Now is the judgment of this world" (John 12:31)?
The entire world, of both gentiles and Jews.

So what was Jesus saying above?
To a crowd of both Jews and gentiles (see the hour has come), Jesus was declaring that the Jews are not immune to Satan's rule over sinners but that He - Jesus - will end Satan's rule and "draw all peoples to Myself" (John 12:32).

How?
As long as people remain guilty of their sins, Satan retains his grip on humanity. When Jesus pays on the cross - "lifted up from the earth" (John 12:32) - the death penalty due for those sins, Satan's grip will be cast off and Christians from "all peoples" will be drawn to Jesus for salvation that is in and through Him.

JOHN 12:33-34 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die. 34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

What do the people mean by, "We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever" (John 12:34)?
They are referring to a prophecy given through the prophet Isaiah, "Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this" (Isaiah 9:7).

What does John 12:34 indicate the people to have understood about Jesus' statement in John 12:32?
That being "lift up" meant death.

What two things didn't they know?
That Jesus would rise from the dead, and prophet Daniel's Son of Man reference to Jesus.

JOHN 12:35-36 35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

To what "light" is Jesus referring in John 12:35?
Himself and His teaching: "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it" (John 1:4-5).

Does Jesus answer their question from John 12:34?
Yes, but indirectly. Instead of saying, "It's Me!" He tells them to "walk" while the light is still shining and showing them the way since that would soon change.

Why didn't Jesus give them a direct answer and why did He then depart, being "hidden from them" (John 12:36)?
Much like the crowd that chased after Jesus following His feeding miracle (see Jesus king), this crowd had come to make Him king to lead a revolt against the Romans.