John 12:34-50 (NRSV)
Read John 12:34-50 on biblegateway.com
Verse 34The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" Verse 35Jesus said to them, "The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. Verse 36While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light." After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.
Verse 37Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. Verse 38This was to fulfill the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" Verse 39And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said, Verse 40"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not look with their eyes, and understand with their heart and turn- and I would heal them." Verse 41Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him.
Verse 42Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; Verse 43for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God.
Verse 44Then Jesus cried aloud: "Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. Verse 45And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. Verse 46I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. Verse 47I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. Verse 48The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, Verse 49for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. Verse 50And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me."
Devotion
Jesus is coming to the end of his public ministry. He has predicted his own death and his soul is troubled. Jesus knows many have dismissed him and others are plotting against him. But his reputation is not what concerns him. Jesus is troubled because there is little time left in his life and many still do not yet know of God’s love for them. What was most important to Jesus was how much God loved those for whom he would soon die. His whole life was centered on embodying God’s love for all of us. He preached, he healed, he loved. Following Jesus is not about looking good in the eyes of the world. It is about loving as God in Jesus Christ has first loved us. It is about being on the road of life, living out of this love, wherever life’s winding road takes us.
Prayer
Companion God, we walk with you as you lead us on all our life roads. Amen.