34
The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say,
‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35
Then Jesus told them,
“You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.
36
Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.
38
This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39
For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.”
41
Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
42
Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;
43
for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
44
Then Jesus cried out,
“Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.