By Sarah Morris
Read
And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 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. 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. 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. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” – John 12:44-50 (ESV)
Reflect
These verses mark the end of Jesus’ public ministry and bring John’s message about Jesus full circle. John began his Gospel by declaring that Jesus is the light of the world (1:5), and this is Jesus’ final public plea for unbelievers to turn from darkness to light and believe in Him. How intense this moment must have been! Imagine Jesus “crying out,” hearing the urgency and compassion in His voice. He longs for us to listen and understand that He and the Father are One. He came to reveal the Trinity, to save us from darkness, to offer us eternal life in Himself, and to display the absolute sovereignty and authority of God over all things, even death. Jesus IS God, and there will come a day when every knee shall bow before Him (Philippians 2:10-11).
As John Piper says about this passage, “We know Jesus, and we know the Father, and we are saved, and we have eternal life through the words of Jesus because they are the very words of God, and they have the unique, divine power to bring Jesus himself to the human soul.”
Apply
So today and throughout this week, let us lean into His words. May we believe in Him with all our hearts and set our sights on Jesus alone. May we live in the light, listen to and obey His words, and receive His salvation and eternal life.
Pray
Jesus, thank you for coming to save us. You came to be our light, to lead us to believe in You and have life in Your Name. Please soften our hearts to receive Your words and believe fully that You are God. Help us to keep Your Words and obey Your commands, just as You obeyed the Father at all costs. Fill us with hope and joy in Your promise of eternal life with You, and help us to share Your light with others. We praise You and give You all the glory forever and ever.
In Jesus’s holy name, we pray. Amen.
