The Gospel of John: John 12.37-50

Read and meditate on John 12.47, 48.
As Jesus had previously said, He had not come to judge the world, but to save it (v. 47; cf. Jn. 3.17). But salvation would not be salvation, were there not something from which we must be saved!

                                        ⁴⁷“Just
so, anyone hears My words, but does
not trust in Me, I do not judge, because
I did not come to judge the world, but to
deliver it.⁴⁸He who rejects Me, who
does not receive My words, yet has this as
his judge – the words I speak will on the last
day judge him.”

- John 12.47, 48

Reflect
1.  We need to analyze these two verses carefully, so that we don’t come away thinking Jesus is speaking out of both sides of His mouth. First, Jesus holds out the possibility that some people who hear His words will not believe. Why not? Why would anyone, hearing these glorious promises, from such a glorious Savior, not believe in Him? Complete this prayer: Salvation is a gift, Lord, but not everyone is interested. Nevertheless, I must…

2.  Jesus’ mission to earth was not to condemn, but to redeem. He came to save the world, sent by the Father Who loves the world which He created (Jn. 3.16). By finishing His work and glorifying the Father, Jesus is now reconciling the world to God (2 Cor. 5.17-20), and while this includes the world of people, it implies more than this. What is suggested here about the “great salvation” (Heb. 2.3) Jesus brought to the world, as far as its scope, reach, and power? How should we think about what it means to be “saved”? Thank You, Lord, for saving me. Give me grace each day to know more of Your great salvation, and to…

3.  Jesus said He did not judge those who heard His words but did not believe. That would have been outside the scope of His mission. But this does not mean that such people are not judged. Explain. Lord, many people I know are living under judgment, and don’t realize it. Thank You for delivering me from judgment; use me…

4.  Jesus judged no one, but only gave people the opportunity of receiving salvation by believing in Him. Jesus equated not receiving His words with rejecting Him (v. 48). Those who will not receive the offer of salvation, which Jesus speaks to them, thus reject Him, and leave themselves outside the reach of His salvation. Is it possible that Christians do this, too? That we who profess to believe in Jesus nonetheless reject His words for one reason or another? Where does this leave us when this happens? Lord, I don’t always find your Word agreeable or convenient, and I sometimes make excuses for not obeying You. But Your Word is always true, and I need to remember that…

5.  A day of judgment is coming – “the last day.” That day is not yet. There is a sense in which people who reject Jesus’ words are already living under judgment (Rom. 1.18-32), but this is not the final judgment, after which the opportunity for salvation is permanently lost. Judgment goes on now, but only on “the last day” will that judgment be final. Should we include this word of judgment in our presentation of theGospel? How would you do that? Bring together into one your prayers from questions 1-4.

Summary
“Those who refuse to hear Jesus and accept saving faith will condemn themselves, for he who came to illumine came not to judge but to save. Therefore, he who disobeys and subjects himself to the greatest miseries can only blame himself as justly punished.” Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD)

Like Jesus, we are not called to pronounce judgment, but to announce it. What’s the difference?

Closing Prayer
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised
In the city of our God,
In His holy mountain.
Beautiful in elevation,
The joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
God is in her palaces;
He is known as her refuge.
For behold, the kings assembled,
They passed by together.
They saw it, and so they marveled;
They were troubled, they hastened away.
Fear took hold of them there,
And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs,
As when You break the ships of Tarshish
With an east wind.
As we have heard,
So we have seen
In the city of the LORD of hosts,
In the city of our God:
God will establish it forever.
Selah
We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness,
In the midst of Your temple.
According to Your name, O God,
So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;
Your right hand is full of righteousness.

Psalm 48.1-10

Psalm 48.1-11 (Cwm Rhondda: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah)
Great is God, now greatly praise Him in the city of the Lord.
Holy she, His lovely mountain, great and glorious by His Word!
God her King is great within her, He, her Stronghold ever sure!
He, her Stronghold ever sure!

Earthly kings, amazed and wond’ring, look upon the Church with fear.
See them flee in dread and anguish, knowing that the Lord is near.
For the city of the Savior God will keep forevermore!
God will keep forevermore!

For Your grace and lovingkindness we proclaim Your matchless worth!
As Your Name is, great and boundless, let Your praise fill all the earth.
Let Your people sing rejoicing for the judgment of Your truth;
For the judgment of Your truth.
           
T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.