John 12:44-50

THE IMPERATIVE WORDS

Text 12:44-50

44

And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.

45

And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me.

46

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness.

47

And if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

48

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.

49

For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

50

And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak.

Queries

a.

Why is Jesus repeating in John 12:44-46what He has said so many times before?

b.

How shall we reconcile John 12:47-48 with John 9:39?

c.

What is the commandment which the Father had given to Jesus to speak?

Paraphrase

And Jesus cried aloud and said, Every man who believes in me, is in reality believing in Him who sent me; and every man who beholds my words and works and nature is beholding Him who sent me. I have come into the world as the Light and whoever continues to believe in me will not abide in the darkness of ignorance and sin, Yet, if anyone hear my teachings and does not keep them, I do not judge him now, for I have not come now to judge the world but to save the world. But every man who rejects me and will not accept my teachings certainly will be judgedand the very words that I have spoken will be his judge at the last day when I shall come again. For I have not spoken on my own authority: the Father sent me and He has given me a commandment and told me what I should teach and speak. And I know that His commandment is the only way to eternal life. Therefore, the doctrines which I speak are exactly the commandments which the Father has given me.

Summary

This cry from the heart of Jesus is a last public appeal for men to believe in Him and obey His teachings before the judgment comes, It is almost a summary of His whole public teaching.

Comment

It seems most probable that this cry of Jesus is directly related to the terrible unbelief just manifested by the Jews. It also is a fitting climax to His public ministry. What Jesus says in these last few verses are a concise summary to all that He taught publicly: (a) His equality with the Father; (b) His coming into the world to be the Light of the world; (c) His primary purpose in the first advent was to save the world; (d) rejection of His teaching brings eventual judgment; (e) His message was given to Him by the Father.

For comments on John 12:44see our comments on John 7:16. For parallel teaching on these verses see our comments on John 5:1-47; John 7:1-53; John 8:1-59. For comments on John 12:47, see our comments on John 9:39. There is no contradiction here. Jesus did not come into the world the first time to judge the world, but to save the world. However, the mere fact that He came, inevitably involves judgment. Every man must answer the question, What think ye of Christ? Every man shows what he is by his attitude toward Jesus and, therefore, judges himself. Jesus is God's touchstone of judgment. By a man's attitude to Jesus a man himself stands revealed for what he truthfully isby his reaction to Jesus and His teaching, man passes judgment on himself.

But whoever rejects the person of Christ and will not obey His teachings will be judged by the teachings of Christ on the last day. The word that Christ has preached and that which He inspired the apostles to teach (His atoning death, His oneness with the Father, that He is the only way of salvation), will be that standard by which the world will be judged in the last day (cf. Romans 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

That which Jesus taught was exactly the scheme of redemption which God the Father had planned before the foundation of the world. The Son became the Great Apostle (One sent) of the commandment which was eternal life. But what is that commandment? And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 3:23). So in this one great commandment is a summary of the whole public ministry of Jesus.

Thus the self-revelation of Christ to the Jews has now been concluded. The remainder of the gospel of John records Christ's revelation to His disciples in a special way. R. C. Foster summarizes in this manner:
I.

The Self-revelation of Christ to the World, John 1:19, John 12:50

a.

The Proclamation, John 1:19, John 4:54

b.

The Conflict, John 5:1, John 12:50

II.

The Self-revelation of Christ to the Disciples, John 13:1, John 21:23

a.

The Last Ministry of Love, ch. 13-17

b.

The Victory Through Death and Resurrection, ch. 18-20

c.

Epilogue, 21

We especially like the comments of Barnes here, It is such a close as all his ministers should desire to makea solemn, deliberate, firm exhibition of the truth of God, under a belief that on it was depending the eternal salvation of his hearers, and uttering without fear the solemn message of the Most High to a lost world.

Quiz

1.

What apparently made Jesus cry out this closing discourse?

2.

Make a list of the things which summarize the ministry of Jesus in these verses.

3.

How did Jesus-' coming judge men?

4.

What will the standard of judgment be for the world in the last day?

5.

What is the great commandment which the Father gave to the Son?