John Chapter 12 Verses 44-50
Today’s devotional is a continuation of yesterday’s narrative. Jesus had been talking to people about His death and some people in the crowd didn’t believe Him, many did, but most of them were too afraid of the consequences to acknowledge it publicly. Verses 44-46 read,
“And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”
Jesus cried out. He didn’t sit calmly while so many dismissed the chance to have a relationship with the Father through Him. He wanted them to believe. He loved them and the knowledge that they were going to die without salvation hurt Him. He encouraged those who were afraid to confess their belief publicly. He said, “it isn’t just me you put faith in if you belief I’m the Messiah, it is the Father.” It is God fully that we believe and trust when we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. That is possible because who ever saw Jesus, saw God. She saw the Son and because the Son is a perfect representation of the Father, she saw the Father too, and because the Spirit was with, on, and in Jesus, she saw Him as well. Through Jesus, the Son of God, our Savior we can know God, the Father, Son, and Spirit. We can know Him fully. Jesus came into the world as light.
As light, Jesus reveals what can’t be seen in the dark. God can’t be in the dark. He is light. Jesus as light shows us who God is. Every act, word, and miracle Jesus did was in obedience to the Father and revelation of God. Jesus is the Word of God, God’s will manifested. So when we come to know Jesus, we come to know God. Jesus, like the Father didn’t want anyone to remain ignorant of God. He wanted everyone to come to salvation and have a relationship with Him.
Jesus continued in verse 47-48.
“If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
The believers in the crowd were afraid to say they were believers, because they would be judged and excommunicated from the synagogue and probably from their friends and families. They would lose everything they knew. There were death threats against Jesus and some of His followers like Lazarus. They were very much afraid of the judgment of the Pharisees, the priests, and the high council. But Jesus said to them, “listen if you understand what I’m saying and you don’t take it to heart and act, I’m not going to judge you. You’re already judged. I’m here to save you from that judgment. You’ll remember on the last day, I gave you a choice, you chose. It is that choice that will judge you.”
Then Jesus reminded them it was God they were talking about. It was God giving them the choice, it was God they were receiving or denying. Verses 49-50 say,
“For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
You had a choice. You either chose to believe and follow Jesus, or you chose to reject Jesus. My guess is that because you are reading this, you probably made the choice to follow Him and you are seeking to know Him more deeply. But maybe you didn’t. Maybe you are trying to decide right now.
When you elect to follow Jesus, your sins are forgiven, your old self dies and you are made completely new. (2 Corinthians 5:12). The Holy Spirit enters you and He begins transforming you to the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18). So if you are a new creation and are being transformed to the image of Christ, when people meet you they should be meeting Jesus. Whoever sees you, should see Him that sent you
Desiring to please God means wanting what He wants. He wants everyone to come to salvation. (1 Timothy 2:4). Like Jesus is the Light, you are a light! Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” You are supposed to be revealing God to the world. Jesus came to save. Don’t people deserve to have the choice to believe or reject? If they never have the chance to opportunity to accept the truth, they are condemned.
You are a light. Be a light just like Jesus is light. How do you do that? By giving your whole life to God and obeying Him completely. Make your words and your actions those that God gives you. Jesus depended completely on the Father for His words and actions. He did everything in love. So should we.
Today’s devotional is a continuation of yesterday’s narrative. Jesus had been talking to people about His death and some people in the crowd didn’t believe Him, many did, but most of them were too afraid of the consequences to acknowledge it publicly. Verses 44-46 read,
“And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”
Jesus cried out. He didn’t sit calmly while so many dismissed the chance to have a relationship with the Father through Him. He wanted them to believe. He loved them and the knowledge that they were going to die without salvation hurt Him. He encouraged those who were afraid to confess their belief publicly. He said, “it isn’t just me you put faith in if you belief I’m the Messiah, it is the Father.” It is God fully that we believe and trust when we trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. That is possible because who ever saw Jesus, saw God. She saw the Son and because the Son is a perfect representation of the Father, she saw the Father too, and because the Spirit was with, on, and in Jesus, she saw Him as well. Through Jesus, the Son of God, our Savior we can know God, the Father, Son, and Spirit. We can know Him fully. Jesus came into the world as light.
As light, Jesus reveals what can’t be seen in the dark. God can’t be in the dark. He is light. Jesus as light shows us who God is. Every act, word, and miracle Jesus did was in obedience to the Father and revelation of God. Jesus is the Word of God, God’s will manifested. So when we come to know Jesus, we come to know God. Jesus, like the Father didn’t want anyone to remain ignorant of God. He wanted everyone to come to salvation and have a relationship with Him.
Jesus continued in verse 47-48.
“If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
The believers in the crowd were afraid to say they were believers, because they would be judged and excommunicated from the synagogue and probably from their friends and families. They would lose everything they knew. There were death threats against Jesus and some of His followers like Lazarus. They were very much afraid of the judgment of the Pharisees, the priests, and the high council. But Jesus said to them, “listen if you understand what I’m saying and you don’t take it to heart and act, I’m not going to judge you. You’re already judged. I’m here to save you from that judgment. You’ll remember on the last day, I gave you a choice, you chose. It is that choice that will judge you.”
Then Jesus reminded them it was God they were talking about. It was God giving them the choice, it was God they were receiving or denying. Verses 49-50 say,
“For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
You had a choice. You either chose to believe and follow Jesus, or you chose to reject Jesus. My guess is that because you are reading this, you probably made the choice to follow Him and you are seeking to know Him more deeply. But maybe you didn’t. Maybe you are trying to decide right now.
When you elect to follow Jesus, your sins are forgiven, your old self dies and you are made completely new. (2 Corinthians 5:12). The Holy Spirit enters you and He begins transforming you to the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18). So if you are a new creation and are being transformed to the image of Christ, when people meet you they should be meeting Jesus. Whoever sees you, should see Him that sent you
Desiring to please God means wanting what He wants. He wants everyone to come to salvation. (1 Timothy 2:4). Like Jesus is the Light, you are a light! Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” You are supposed to be revealing God to the world. Jesus came to save. Don’t people deserve to have the choice to believe or reject? If they never have the chance to opportunity to accept the truth, they are condemned.
You are a light. Be a light just like Jesus is light. How do you do that? By giving your whole life to God and obeying Him completely. Make your words and your actions those that God gives you. Jesus depended completely on the Father for His words and actions. He did everything in love. So should we.
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