Follow the Leader
John 12:34-50
"I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say."
(John 12:50)
Jesus always displayed courage and obedience in the face of opposition. Here, before the Jewish rulers who again press Him about His identity (though they refuse to believe what He has already told them), He does not back down. His words are the Father's words, which lead to eternal life. Everything Jesus did was of the Father. His words and His works were given to Him by the Father (John 5:36; 10:25, 32; 14:10; 17:8). His words and works were meant to glorify God and lead us to eternal life in Him.
On earth He was fully obedient to the Father in declaring Him. Now Jesus has charged us to bring the Gospel to the world and make disciples. It seems daunting, but He has promised that He will never leave us (Matthew 28:19-20). He has left us the Holy Spirit (John 16:7) to empower us and our efforts. Despite whatever opposition may come in this world, Jesus has charged us to live courageously and obediently, glorifying Him among men and women as to save others, grabbing them out of the fire (Jude 23).
INSIGHT
"THIS IS LOVE FOR GOD: TO OBEY HIS COMMANDS. AND HIS COMMANDS ARE NOT BURDENSOME."
(1 JOHN 5:3)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Isaiah 29-30
Psalm 85
Acts 7
John 12:34-50
New Living Translation (NLT)
34 The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture[a] that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”
35 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. 36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”
After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.
The Unbelief of the People
37 But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. 38 This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:
“Lord, who has believed our message?
To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?”[b]
39 But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,
40 “The Lord has blinded their eyes
and hardened their hearts—
so that their eyes cannot see,
and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
and have me heal them.”[c]
41 Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. 42 Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.
44 Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. 45 For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 47 I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 48 But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. 49 I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”
Footnotes:
a. John 12:34 Greek from the law.
b. John 12:38 Isa 53:1.
c. John 12:40 Isa 6:10.
MONEY THROUGH THE JESUS LENS [PART 1]
with Dr. Ben Witherington
How are your finances? Does your heart swell with pride or sink with fear at the topic? No matter who you are, Jesus has something vitally important to say to you about money.
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