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. 46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 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. 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. 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. 50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. John 12:44-50 KJV.
In this scripture, Jesus, as in other scripture, puts the focus on God, the Father. To believe in Jesus or to “put in trust with” (1) Jesus is to believe or “put in trust with” God, the Father.
We are to “see” or “come to know” (2) Jesus as we “see” or “come to know” God, the Father.
Jesus’ light or fire (1) and our belief in Jesus’ light is that His light comes that we “should not abide in darkness” or obscurity (1) as Jesus comes as “a light into the world” to adorn (1) or to “beautify” (2) the world (v. 46).
The text goes on to say that even if one does not believe or put their trust in Jesus, Jesus will not judge or avenge or esteem (1) that person since Jesus continually saves us or makes us whole (1). However, if one rejects or is to “be willing” or “rest content” (1) to not receive or “get hold of” (1) the words of Jesus, i.e., the commandments of God the Father, that that one shall be judged or condemned (1) “in the last day” (v. 48). One has until the “last day” (1) which could be the “day” or as “the time space between dawn and dark” (1) as of the last day of one’s life or “judgment” (1) as of the end of the age (“age”), (1) or on judgment day. “The word” (v. 48) or “logos” or “Christ” or “the revealed will of God” (3) shall judge those that do not receive the “words” or utterance (1) of Jesus “in the last day.”
God, the Father gave Jesus a commandment or “an authoritative prescription” (1) [prescription meaning “the action of laying down authoritative rules or directions” (2)] as to “what (Jesus) should speak” or “preach” (1), (v. 49). That God, the Father’s “commandment is life” (v. 50) or vitality (“life”), (1) [vitality meaning “the power or ability of something to continue to live” (2)] everlasting or forever (1), (v. 50).
Jesus speaks as God, the Father has spoken to Jesus. Jesus’ “words” or utterance (1) is of that of the utterance of God, the Father.
(1) The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible by James Strong, LL,D., S.T.D.
(2) Merriam-Webster Dictionary
(3) Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary Of Old And New Testament Words by W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr.
Brenda A. McGee has attended New York Theological Seminary in New York, NY, and Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA as a Master of Divinity student.