Have you ever heard a sermon on this passage?
This is some different stuff from Jesus. It’s almost rambly. But there is some interesting stuff within.
Often, when thinking about Jesus and condemnation (or the lack thereof), we jump rightly to John 3:17 - God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
But here in chapter 12, he says it again, and even more directly: If people hear my words and don’t keep them, I don’t judge them.
So…if he doesn’t, why would we?
Why aren’t Christians simply in the business of announcing salvation? …good news?
It really is confounding.
John 12:44-50
Jesus shouted, “Whoever believes in me doesn’t believe in me but in the one who sent me. Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I have come as a light into the world so that everyone who believes in me won’t live in darkness. If people hear my words and don’t keep them, I don’t judge them. I didn’t come to judge the world but to save it. Whoever rejects me and doesn’t receive my words will be judged at the last day by the word I have spoken. I don’t speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me regarding what I should speak and say. I know that his commandment is eternal life. Therefore, whatever I say is just as the Father has said to me.”
Prayer
God,
I do wonder what it looks like to only announce salvation. What does salvation look like if we don’t acknowledge or talk about those things from which we are saved? I think I know the answer, but the scare tactics of the 1970s “Christian” film industry (1990s books, too) and those that predate them, like that 1741 sermon about sinners in your [angry] hands…they are still strong, God.
And I continue to see people who claim to be serving you declare the damnation of particular peoples. This is all not to mention that it’s not even a productive strategy these days.
So help me, God: I don’t want to be any more wrongly judgmental than those things I’m naming right now. So indeed, just help me to focus on your grace and to shake the very heavy dust of condemnation off and move on.
Even today: Help me make today a day of announcing good news, whether it’s the sight of a butterfly to my child, a smile toward a stranger, or even the opportunity that could arise in sharing the love of Jesus tangibly or audibly with someone.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
Amen