John 12:42-5042Nevertheless 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: 43For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 44Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 45And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. 46I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 47And 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. 48He 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. 49For 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. 50And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. (John 12:42‑50)
Although the Lord Jesus knew well the men were watching to make Him a prisoner, it seemed He must again give all the opportunity to believe on Him. We read, “Jesus cried (spoke out loudly),
“He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me.”
He was once more telling them that He was from God, and for them to believe His words as One sent by God, even if they did not understand Who He was.
Then He said, “If any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not.” The word “judge” meant to give sentence or punishment. And He said, “I came not to judge (punish) the world, but to save the world.”
He knew their sins and the sins of all the world, yet He had not come to punish, but by His own death to save all who would believe Him.
“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.”
Now we can not see the Lord on earth, nor the great miracles He did, yet we can hear His words which He said, by the writings. And we have the same words of God of the Old Testament, as those men had, so if any one does not believe those words, he will have the same “judge” as Jesus told the people then, His words.
He called so often for all to believe Him; and all His promises are to whoever will believe, but especially to believe His death as the words most of us know so well,
“Even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have ever, lasting life.”
The words of the Lord Jesus written in this twelfth chapter of the book of John seem to have been His very last words to the people. His words written in the next chapters were said to His disciples alone, then a few words to the soldiers who took Him, and to the high priest and Pilate.
“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.”
The “rulers” seem to have been men who had charge or duties when the people met together, in the temple, or in the synagogues in their towns, who would all be in Jerusalem at that time.
“The Pharisees” were men who kept many rules made by themselves and leaders before them, though they said they kept God’s laws. They were against any who believed Jesus was the Christ.
ML 12/22/1946