Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus therefore said to them, “Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, that darkness doesn’t overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going.
- KJV Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; also, the one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.
- NLT Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus, the light, will only be present a little longer, so He urges people to walk in the light before darkness overtakes them. It matters because the time to respond to Him is now, not indefinite.
Overview
As His public ministry closes, Jesus warns that opportunity to believe is limited; to walk in darkness is to lose one's way spiritually. He presents Himself as the light of the world (cf. 8:12), the only sure guide. The gospel call is urgent: receive Christ while He may be found, for those without Him stumble in spiritual blindness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 23
- John 12:46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
- John 16:16In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me.”
- 1 Jn 1:6–7If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
- Eph 5:8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
- John 8:12Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- John 11:10But if anyone walks at night, he will stumble, because he has no light.”
- John 9:4–5While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
- John 12:36While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them.
- Jer 13:16–17Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness.
- Isa 2:5Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
- John 7:33So Jesus said, “I am with you only a little while longer, and then I am going to the One who sent Me.
- John 12:39–40For this reason they were unable to believe. For again, Isaiah says:
- John 1:5–9The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
- 1 Th 5:5–8For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
- 1 Jn 2:8–11Then again, I am also writing to you a new commandment, which is true in Him and also in you. For the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining.
- Isa 42:6–7“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,
- Ps 69:22–28May their table become a snare; may it be a retribution and a trap.
- Eph 5:14–15So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
- Rom 13:12–14The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
- Rom 11:7–10What then? What Israel was seeking, it failed to obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,
- 2 Cor 3:14But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
- Prov 4:19But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
- Heb 3:7–8Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice,
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
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Original language
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