Choosing Light Over Darkness and Recognizing Divine Authority
John 12:44–50 (NKJV)
44 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
Message
I. Choosing Light Over Darkness (44-45)
See v44-45.
44 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.
In v44, Jesus emphasized that it was the Sender of the Son, the Father who they believed when they believed Jesus. Also, it is the Sender of the Son, the Father whom they see when they see Jesus. So, it is not about choosing a group of men called the Pharisees or a man Jesus. It is about choosing darkness or light, the devil or God. Choosing Jesus is choosing God. If they choose something else than Jesus, they chose the devil instead of God. See v46.
46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
Jesus is the light of the world. This means that His believers will no longer remain in darkness (See John 12:46 NLT). Choosing Jesus is choosing the light. Choosing something else than Jesus is choosing darkness. Jesus said He had come as ‘a’ light but He is the true light (John 1:9) when there are many false lights. Without Jesus the true light, the world is in darkness. So, it is important to believe in Him so as not to abide in darkness. People who believe the darkness or a false light as their light, their darkness is great (Matthew 6:23b). The devil tries to make ‘the truth’ ‘a lie’ and ‘a lie’ ‘the truth’ (Genesis 3:4). I found an Old-Testament-version of Matthew 6:23b. It is Isaiah 8:20. See Isaiah 8:20 NLT.
20 Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.
Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1, Revelation 19:13). Eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:9) would bring death and was forbidden by God (Genesis 2:17). The person eating its fruit represents someone living in moral autonomy, who decides good and evil without referring to the Word of God. As a result, this person will sin because he may do things his heart likes or it says ‘good’ but the Word of God may condemn those who do such things. Moses knew they were prone to following their own desires and defiling themselves instead of remembering and obeying all the commands of the Lord (Numbers 15:39 NLT). The ‘following the desires of one’s own stubborn heart’ is exactly what would lead to utter ruin! (Deuteronomy 29:19 NLT b). When Jesus said, ‘He who loves his life will lose it’ (John 12:25 NKJV a ), ‘love his life’ means
- ‘like to follow one’s own desires and defile oneself’ (Numbers 15:39 NLT)
- ‘like to follow the desires of one’s own stubborn heart’ (Deuteronomy 29:19 NLT b)
Therefore, the Holy Bible teaches,
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
as written in Matthew 4:4 NKJV and Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV.
II. Jesus’ Words with God’s Authority and Eternal Life bring Salvation or Final Judgment (47-50)
See v47.
47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
The unbelief on His words is subject to judgment. But Jesus does not judge the unbeliever. It is because Jesus did not come to judge the world but to save the world. See v48.
48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
The words Jesus has spoken will judge him who rejects Him and does not receive His words. See v49.
49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
The words of Jesus have the authority of God. See v50
50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
God’s command brings (causes) everlasting life (50a). Eternal life is defined in John 17:3 as ‘the experiential relationship with the only true God and Jesus Christ whom God has sent’. All Jesus spoke are just as the Father has told Jesus (50b).
