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John 12:44–50 (ESV)
44 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. 47 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. 49 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.”
If you knew that you only had one more opportunity to speak to someone, what would you say? What would you want them to know?
Many years ago, I was serving in a church where a beloved member of the congregation was going through dialysis. After a time, the dialysis was no longer effective, and this man made the decision to stop treatment and go home to be with Jesus.
However, as the end of his life drew near, he had a unique request. He asked if he could live out his last days in a room in the church so that he could meet with people and encourage the people that he loved so dearly and served for many years. It was his opportunity to say one last thing to the people he loved. The church granted his request, and many were greatly blessed and encouraged in his final days.
This passage contains Jesus’ last word to the world in John’s Gospel. Obviously, there are other words that follow (to the disciples, to those who will arrest Him, to the chief priest, and to Pilate—but this is the last time Jesus makes a public address). We don’t know the context of Jesus' address as there is no specified audience, but it is safe to believe that Jesus’ last words here are for everyone.
He cries out, it is His final plea for people to believe. We must be careful here to be generous and thoughtful in our reading. It’s easy to see the words about judgment and get caught up in that line of thinking, but don’t you do it!
Jesus says clearly that His purpose is one saving, not judging (a repeat from John 3.16-17).
Jesus’ plea is nothing short of a loving cry from the Father’s heart, through Jesus, to His creation, for all of us to be saved. Please let that be your focus.
Once again, Jesus makes it clear that in listening to His words, we are listening to the very words of His Father. I love how Dale Bruner framed this in his commentary on John’s Gospel, “We are getting the pure Word of God in the historical words of Jesus.”
Jesus is the literal translation of God’s love and grace to us wrapped in human flesh and His words are the words of light and life.
God loves you. Never lose sight of that reality.
God bless you and know that you are constantly in my prayers.
Scott
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