John chapter 12

vs 42

John is telling us that people did believe in Jesus, even people among the religious leadership, but that they were too afraid of the social consequences of expressing such a belief. And you get the feeling that John thinks this doesn't really make them much of a believer at all, if they aren't prepared to stand up for Christ.

vs 43

This verse uses very strong language. It shows that these people, even though they believed in Jesus' claims, were more worried about their social status than about a relationship with God. That's pretty damning.

vs 44

So Jesus is making it plain - belief in him is belief in God also. These people, especially the religious leaders who feel convicted about him, must realise that a rejection of God's Son is a rejection of God himself.

vs 45

This statement is pretty much the same thing in this context, or more of a reasoning for why the rejection is so complete. But it has much wider ranging implications. It is yet another statement of Christ's deity. It means that when we want to know what God is like, we can look at Jesus. That's a very bold statement.

vs 46

Once again Jesus is the light. Perhaps in this scenario, social pressure is the darkness. Jesus has drawn a line in the sand - you can have God, and believe and accept Jesus, or you can have your social standing, but at the expense not only of the Messiah, but of the God who sent him as well.

vs 47

Jesus at this present time is not on the world to judge it (a popular misconception about the role of the Messiah in his coming, shared probably by even John the Baptist!). He is saying that at the present time, he is in the world to save it. There will be judgement - oh what judgement will there be! - but not at this time.

vs 48

But Jesus does not even need to be judge - the words that he has spoken can be enough to find us guilty of ignoring or, worse yet, betraying the Christ. He has told the people who he is. He has told them what he's doing. Those who listen, those who believe, those who act on it, will be fine.

vs 49

But Jesus' words are given even more weight, because they are in fact the words of God. They are his command, and the commands of God are given special privilege, even (perhaps especially) among the Jews and Pharisees. If they want to follow God's commands, they should be following Jesus' words.

vs 50

And by inference, whatever he says will lead to eternal life.