Last time we met we asked the question of whose glory is more important, today we read from John 12: 44-50.
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.”
I read these words , “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. I had to pause and think on them a spell. Belief in Jesus isn’t just about Jesus… it’s also about belief in the ONE WHO SENT HIM. Just think on that a spell. I needed to.
God sent Jesus to earth. The heidelberg catechism we are reading right now is teaching us about how Jesus is God’s only begotten son, and the whole fact about Jesus’s humanity didn’t negate his divinity. Jesus was so VERY human, and yet, remain completely divine. It’s a mind boggling idea and yet… Jesus was still SENT. Like an obedient servant he WENT. So belief in him, since he went on the Lord God’s behest, also means believing in the one who sent him.
Jesus goes on to expand on this idea a bit longer. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. So basically…know Jesus, know God the Father. We’ve heard this message before from Jesus. It is just another sign of his divinity eh? God the father is God, Jesus just shows us another aspect of God’s divinity. (I may not be saying that quite right, but I hope you get my meaning).
Jesus continues teaching, 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. Jesus purpose…. to bring light into the world.
Jesus’ words lead us on, helping us to understand exactly what his job was: It wasn’t to judge, but to save. That’s his job. Salvation. That’s it. Now, if people choose to reject what he has to say, that’s their choice. Their choice is their judgement. He will say what he needs to say because he is on a mission, doing a service on the behest of God. The words he says are the words he’s supposed to say. It was a commandment of God. What else could he do? A command given, service on God’s behest, words spoken. So believe in him.. be saved. Don’t believe in him, know you will be judged on the last day.
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.”
The clarity of this passage eh? Jesus’ obedience, God’s command, the turning faith to God, the showing where our faith truly ends up. Jesus acted on the behest of God, so of course, faith must ultimately end up being in God the Father. Makes sense doesn’t it? I wonder why more people don’t see it? As I’ve heard it you know “believe in Jesus, he’s the only one that matters”. Failing to see how Jesus ALWAYS leads us back to the Father. Every single time. He emphasizes this over and over and over again, and yet, yet we miss it. Why do we do that?
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