John 12:42-50

May 22, 2014

Were in our study of John and were in chapter twelve. The main point in the
whole book is that Jesus is the Son of God and that those who believe in Him have
eternal life. I want to remind you of the importance of chapter twelve and of the
fact that John doesnt waste words in his gospel. Hes still working towards His
main goal and what we read today should convince us even further that Jesus is
the Christ.

Now, the context is that Jesus is preparing His disciples for His death. They dont
see it coming but all this will make sense to them when they look back at it in
hindsight. But we need to be careful limiting our definition of disciples to just the
twelve (eleven really) men who are following Him. He had many other disciples
and some of those were high-powered rulers (Jn. 19:39). They would also need
convincing that Jesus is worth following and that He didnt fail in His mission.

Its important that we come into this text with this in mind because there are a lot
of sermons that are too hard on these other disciples. We just shake our heads and
cluck our tongues that these men loved the praises of men more than of God, and
we use them as example of what not to be. But theyre only people and to make
this passage all about their failure misses the point. They were naturally full of
doubt and fear and every other emotion that every disciple ever since has felt.
Christs goal is not to bring shame onto them or scare them into confessing His
name, but to convince them as their King that He is worthy of honor. He wants to
convince them that He didnt fail so Hes giving them something to think about
after they hear of His resurrection.

When we left off last time we saw that the crowd didnt believe despite His
miracles and He hid Himself from them:

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because
of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the
synagogue:
43
For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

So heres our point of tension and the reason for what Christ says next. These men
did believe but they had to weigh their options; they had to count the cost. Picture
them sitting in their thinking chairs late at night. Yes, I believe, but if I tell people
that theyll throw me out. Ill lose everything Ive got, and my family will be
shamed by the whole community. I wont be able to go to Gods house anymore.
What if Im wrong? Can so many of my colleagues and mentors be wrong?

And so the question is whether following Jesus is worth the cost. But then He dies,
and doesnt that change everything? Doesnt that answer the question? I can almost
see them sighing in relief: Im so glad I didnt come out and say anything! I was so
close to identifying with Him, but now we know Hes not the Messiah!

And so Jesus preempts those thoughts and prepares these fearful disciples for
whats coming:

44
Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on
him that sent me.
45
And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

If you follow me, then you also follow God. If you see me, then you also see God.
The leaders arent denying just one man. When they say Jesus is a liar, they are
calling God a liar! This is an important foundation for these other disciples because
theyre faced with the question of allegiance. When it comes right down to it will
they put their friends and associates before their God?

Its not a question of works or self-effort. Jesus gives the answer in His next
statement:

46
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should
not abide in darkness.

If these rulers believe on Christ then they cant continue to live in darkness. If they
believe that Hes more than a rabble-rouser or that Hes not lying then they cant
stay comfortably in that place of non-confession. What fellowship does light have
with darkness (II Cor. 6:14)? When Christ comes He shines into the darkness and
those who believe come to the light that their deeds might be exposed because
they are done by God. Those who dont believe hate the light and will not come to
it (Jn. 3:20-21). There is no fellowship.

And so its necessary that these mens lives will change. What they fear must come
true. They must be cast out of the system of legalism and self-righteousness. And
for this to happen to them is for their good. They will not dwell in darkness!

But what about His death? Doesnt it prove that these unbelievers are victorious?

47
And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came
not to judge the world, but to save the world.

Here are these leaders wondering about how to or if they should confess Christ
publicly. Well, how will His death influence their decision? Once Hes gone theres
no way theyll feel any need to think on it anymore. Theyll only be relieved they
didnt come out publically. But Jesus gives them something to think about in that
time: Im not here to set up my kingdom against Rome. Those who oppose me now
wont be judged. This is my first coming as a Lamb and as a Savior. Im not here to
judge; Im here to save.

But that doesnt mean theyre off the hook:

48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth
him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

You see, a day is coming when He will return. And in that day Hes a roaring lion.
In that day Hes a conquering king with a sword in His hand. In that day His
words will be used against them because they heard and disobeyed.

Its the same thing that happened with the people in Noahs day just before the
flood. Peter says, But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be
not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15
But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16
Having a good
conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be
ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17
For it is better, if
the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
18
For Christ
also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to
God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19
By which also
he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20
Which sometime were
disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while
the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water (I Pt.
3:14-20).

Unbelievers reigned in Peters day, but he reminded his readers to think about
Noahs day for comfort. They didnt believe then either and it sure looked like they
would never suffer judgment. But then that Day of Judgment came, didnt it? The
waters rose and they drowned. And then Christ stood in front of them preaching
this testimony of their disobedience. They heard but rejected. They thought they
were getting away with it, but in the end they were proved wrong.

The unbelieving rulers in John have the same fate. They look to be right but they
will be proved wrong. They are rulers today, but one day theyll answer to the
Ruler:

49
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me
a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

All these words come as a commandment from the Father. No man has the right to
change it or to soften it. When they disregard Jesus, they disregard God.

50
And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak
therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

To obey Jesus is to obey God and to obey God is life everlasting. Thats the
promise; the ones with clean hands and hearts can ascend his holy hill (Ps. 24:3).
Its not those leaders who have any right to Gods inheritance: Blessed is the man
that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and
in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3
And he shall be like a tree planted by
the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not
wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
4
The ungodly are not so: but are
like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand
in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6
For
the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall
perish (Ps. 1:1-6).

And so, Jesus has prepared these elect children for what will come. Hes planted
the seed that we know will bear fruit and now Hell take His closest twelve into
the upper room. Well pick up there next time, but we can close today with a few
points of application for ourselves:

#1- Christ promises to return again and to make His dominion clear over all
creation.
#2- Christ allows unbelievers to prosper now, but ultimately He will judge them.
#3- Christ allows believers to suffer now, but ultimately He will save us.
#4- Christ deals patiently with His disciples in our unbelief and works proactively
to bring us out of darkness.

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