Jesus the Evangelist - John 12:44-50
This morning, we’re wrapping up the first twelve chapters of John which is often referred to as “the book of signs,” while chapters 13-21 are referred to as “the book of glory.”
If you remember from last week, John quoted two passages from Isaiah. One from Isaiah 53 and the other from Isaiah 6, and the reason John quoted from those passages was in order to demonstrate that the Jewish people’s rejection of Jesus was exactly what the prophet foretold. As confusing as it may sound, what was happening to Jesus was going exactly according to God’s plan.
But despite the hardening of the people of Israel, Jesus continues to share the good news of the gospel with them. He was speaking the words of God, which would lead on to eternal life.
What we see in this passage is that Jesus is a faithful evangelist, continually appealing to the people of Israel. And it’s here that we learn three things: first, faith in God requires you to have faith in Jesus (vv. 44-45), second, faith in Jesus will lead you out of darkness (vv. 46-48), and lastly, faith in Jesus brings eternal life (vv. 49-50)
Impossible to believe in God but not in Jesus (vv. 44-45)
There have been brilliant arguments that have been made throughout history that attempt to prove the existence of God.
There’s one argument that’s pretty popular is the cosmological or “first cause” argument and it goes like this: Whatever begins to exist has a cause. The Universe began to exist. Therefore, the Universe had a cause.
It’s simple enough and it gets the ball rolling but falls short in a few obvious ways like, it proves too much. It doesn’t necessarily prove that the God of the Bible exists. And even worse than that, it leaves Jesus completely out of the equation.
Because as we just read in our passage, according to Jesus himself, he cannot be left out of the equation.
Faith in God requires you to have faith in Jesus Christ. It’s precisely what he says in verse 44.
“Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.”
Obviously, Jesus is referring to his relationship to God the Father and they are inextricably tied together. Notice too, that Jesus directly connects one’s faith in him to faith and God and vice versa. Faith in God requires faith in Jesus. They go together.
You cannot divide your faith in Jesus Christ from your faith in God or your faith in God from your faith in Jesus Christ. They are one and the same. And if you’ve been around the church hopefully you can figure out why that is: the Trinity!
I’ve always appreciated how some of the ancient creeds of the faith articulate trinitarian theology so well. We’re going to recite the Nicene Creed this morning, but hopefully you’ll notice how it is completely centered around the Trinity.
It begins with God the Father, “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.” Secondly, it speaks of Jesus, “And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God.” And lastly it makes reference to the Holy Spirit: “And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified.”
The whole creed is expounding upon the Trinity.
We always loved watching those great infomercials selling incredible products. The MyPillow guy would really wear you down. The first time I saw the sheets advertised, I thought that’s so silly. The next time, I thought, well people are getting better sleep. Then eventually, I was like, I think I need some new sheets.
And these things are always better when it’s a BOGO offer. Why settle for one Shamwow, when you can have two? Or why just buy one Snuggie when you and your wife can both have your own Snuggies! After all, you don’t want to lose money, you want to save it!
It’s cheesy and simplistic but belief in the one true God is a package deal.
And Jesus is a required component of the deal. If your faith isn’t in Jesus, then you’re not a Christian and you don’t believe in God. It’s that simple. Because in order to believe in God, you must believe in Jesus. The Christian faith isn't a buffet line where you get to pick. You must believe in Jesus Christ.
That’s why I’m always unsettled by super generic professions of faith. We’ve all heard a guy who hasn’t been to church in twenty years, and never opened the Bible before in his life will quickly tell you that he’s “man of faith.”Or perhaps even that same person will say, “I believe in god.”
What does that mean? What faith? What kind of faith? What religion? What god? And does Jesus have a role in your faith?
Simply saying, “I believe in god” isn’t going to cut it on judgment day. This is what Jesus is telling us in this passage! Jesus is central to what we believe, of course, because he’s God. I hope you understand that. But it’s not just that he’s God, he’s how we can experience peace with God.
You have to rest in Christ’s atoning work on the cross. That his sacrifice on the cross was enough to pay for your sins so you can have communion with the living God.
Faith in Jesus will lead you out of darkness (vv. 46-48)
But not only does Jesus give you peace with God, he’ll lead you out of darkness!
I know many of you have seen that video from Alister Begg that pretty much went viral in Christian circles. The one from Alister Begg where he talked about the man on the middle cross?
Because the thief on the cross never went to a Bible study, never was baptized, didn’t know anything about church membership, and yet, he made it to heaven! And Begg plays out this conversation between the angels and the thief: “sir, do you know the doctrine of justification by faith?” “Nope.” On what grounds are you here? Well, the man on the middle cross said I could come!
It’s just an incredibly powerful clip from one of his sermons. If you haven’t seen it, go look it up. And obviously, he’s exactly right! The thief is in heaven because of Jesus.
But at a conference Ligon Duncan was talking about Alister Begg’s man on the middle cross illustration, and how powerful it is. But he made this point: hypothetically, if Jesus would have said to him “you’ll be in paradise,” and then by some miracle God had taken that thief off of the cross and given him an additional twenty years of life, things would have looked very different for him.
He would have been on the journey that we’re all on right now! Trying to grow in holiness and righteousness. I hope he’d try to learn something about the doctrine of justification by faith, or the doctrine of Scripture.
Is that precisely what we see there in verses 46? “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”
The comparison of light and darkness is a theme that runs throughout the gospel of John. And obviously, Jesus is the light and sin and worldly pleasure is darkness.
But what is he really getting at? Growth in godliness. Living a righteous life. Sanctification. Isn’t that what we’re really getting at when we talk about living in the light? We’re talking about living, as the Book of Common Prayer says, “a godly, righteous, and sober life.”
I like the way NASB translates verse 46. “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.” The NASB better captures the strength of what Jesus is saying there.
In other words, you cannot be saved, you cannot be a Christian, and idly remain in sin and worldliness.
The light and the darkness cannot peacefully coexist. The light will overcome the darkness. It’s why we instinctively turn on the overhead lights whenever we walk into a dark room.
You never think, “I hope this overhead light helps me see in here…” We know the moment the light comes on, we’ll be able to see exactly where we’re going.
Again, this is a picture for the Christian life. Because a life that’s united to Christ by faith is marked by holiness and righteousness. It’s a life that shines bright!
If you’re a Christian you cannot remain in the darkness, because the moment you become a believer, boom, suddenly the light switch is flipped on. Obviously if your light switch has been flipped on, if you’ve been born again, if your heart has been regenerated by the work of the Holy Spirit you cannot turn yourself over to sin and worldly living because you want to please God.
But there’s a stern warning for those that simply hear his word, and fail to keep them. Look at verses 47-48.
“If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.”
It’s what Jesus says in John 14, if you love me you will keep my commandments. Or in James 1 when he tells us, “that we cannot simply be hearers of the word, but must be doers” as well.
If God had taken the thief off of the cross and he returned to a life of sin, crime, and worldliness could we sit here in good faith and call him a Christian?
In other words, can you call yourself a Christian if there is no discernable fruit?
No doubt, there are core beliefs that Christians must hold to, like we’re saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, even the thief got that one right even if he didn’t know how to articulate it.
But what you believe as a Christian cannot simply be facts, data, and information! The truths of the gospel and God’s word must bury itself deep into your heart and transform every aspect of your life.
After all, the main reason Jesus came into the world wasn’t to condemn it, but to save it.
It’s what John says in chapter 3 verse 17: “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
That’s what Jesus means in verse 47 when he says, “he didn’t come to judge the world.” That wasn’t his primary reason for taking on flesh and becoming man. His primary purpose was for taking on flesh and becoming man was to redeem his people. It was all about salvation, that was his primary mission.
In reality, Jesus doesn’t need to judge you if you reject what he says, because you’ve judged yourself. You’re heaping condemnation upon yourself.
Verse 48: “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
His words will judge you. One commentator said, “...the same message that proclaims life and forgiveness to the believer proclaims condemnation and wrath to the unbeliever, and this judgment on the world is now impending.”
The good news of Jesus Christ has a twofold effect: it saves some and condemns others. Rejecting the gospel is inviting condemnation upon yourself.
It’s the quote from Spurgeon I referred to last week, “The same sun which melts wax hardens clay. And the same Gospel which melts some persons to repentance hardens others in their sins.”
It’s incredibly true isn’t it? Some of you have experienced brokenness over your personal sin struggles but the glorious hope that comes through faith in Christ.
While for some, the gospel message hardens their heart. Their hearts are like lumps of clay that’s baked out in the hot sun for hours.
It’s important that we remember who Jesus is speaking to here: he’s speaking to a crowd of unbelieving Jews.
But here’s really the message that’s relevant for all of us. Faith in Jesus Christ puts your feet on the right path. Faith in Christ is going to take you in the right direction. Following his words will lead you to glory.
But the opposite is true as well. A rejection of Christ will put your feet on a path that will lead you to destruction.
I’ve been reading through 1 Kings in my devotions and I was recently struck by this.
In 1 Kings 12, King Rehoboam takes the advice of his friends instead of his wise, senior counselors. He listened to his friends’ advice, which revealed something about his heart and it turned out to be a bad decision to increase the labor load upon the people. Ultimately, the people revolted, which led to the division of the kingdom of Israel, between Judah and Israel, the northern and southern kingdoms.
Rehoboam was no doubt a evil foolish king, but all of us can relate to being torn between conflicting pieces of advice.
And you just hope and pray that you make the right decision. That’s the sort of stuff we face in our day to day lives. Wrestling through decisions and from time to time not knowing where to turn or who to listen to.
But that’s not the case with the words of Jesus, he might not tell us what exactly we’re to do in every situation, but we can and should trust his words even when it seems like everything is falling apart all around us.
You can trust that following his words will not only be for your salvation, but for your sanctification too! Trusting him will certainly get you to glory, but they will sanctify you here and now.
Faith in Jesus brings eternal life (vv. 49-50)
And we can have great confidence in the words of Jesus, not because he was just spouting off his personal opinions like we see people do everyday on the cable news, but we can have great confidence in what he says because his words have divine origins. His words come directly from God. Look at verses 49-50 with me.
For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
The difference between what Jesus says here in verse 49 and what he said in verse 44, has to do with his humanity. Because he’s God in the flesh on earth speaking the words of God. And you can trust his words, you can have faith in what he says that his words will lead you to eternal life because his words are God’s words.
What Jesus says, God says. And the commandment that Jesus received is to preach the gospel. To preach the good news concerning himself. And obviously he was being led by God where to go, who to talk to, how to communicate the message. But the gospel message is what leads one to eternal life.
What we see at the end of chapter 12, is Jesus making a final appeal. He’s telling the Jewish people to trust in him. To receive his words, follow the light and flee from darkness. To listen to him, because his words contained eternal life.
Because Jesus was, after all, an evangelist. Proselytizing is now a dirty word, but it’s precisely what Jesus was doing. He was sharing the gospel.
Whenever we think about great evangelists we think of success, don’t we? I think of people flooding down to the stage at a Billy Graham crusade.But what exactly made Jesus such an amazing evangelist? For one, it doesn’t boil down to success.
Because here we have a picture of Jesus, “unsuccessfully” sharing the gospel. Obviously, this was all a part of God’s plan, but what we have here isn’t a Billy Graham crusade.
He preached the gospel knowing it would fall on deaf ears. He was appealing to a people who were, for all intents and purposes, a lost cause. You might even say, they were a waste of his time. He was preaching to people that would reject him. And of course, he knew that!
And yet here he is at the end of chapter 12, shortly before he heads to the cross, making another appeal to them. And I think there’s something really important for all of us to receive here this morning: Jesus was willing to tell the truth regardless of the outcome. He shared the gospel, evangelized, proselytized, preached, despite knowing it would be to no avail.
That’s what makes a great evangelist! Because it’s certainly not about the fruit. We don’t have the power to make hearts of stone hearts of flesh.
What makes you or me a great evangelist will be determined by our willingness to tell the truth regardless of the outcome. That’s the measuring rod you and I must use on ourselves.
You know, we all want to see the fruits of evangelism, don’t we? We want to see people come to Christ. We want to see people transformed by the power of the gospel and we will certainly pray to that end. Because it’s always so encouraging! Who doesn’t love to see it?
Lives transformed by the power of the Spirit is one of the greatest things we have the privilege of witnessing… but we’re not promised it are we? We’re not promised transformed lives. We’re not promised conversions. We’re not promised any of it.
In my mind, it raises a very simple question: is sharing your faith worth it, is evangelism worth it, even if you don’t expect to see fruit? In other words, is it worth it, to take the time, share the gospel, sink hours of time pleading with someone even if you don’t think they’re going to receive it?
Jesus answers that question for us, doesn’t he? But he’s the difference between us and Jesus: He knew the outcome, but we don’t!
Because we all have those family members that we’ve given up on! We think there’s no point, they’re a lost cause! Perhaps you’ve prayed and prayed and prayed, and shared and shared and shared to no avail. And you’re exhausted and left wondering, is it even worth it?
And the answer is of course, yes! That is still worth it! It’s never a waste of your time!
How can I say that? Well Jesus does it right here doesn’t it? He takes the time to share with this crowd the gospel message, that his words are God’s words and they’ll lead them to eternal life.
Ladies and gentlemen, we don’t know who the lost causes are, but far too often we act like we do. I know some of you are in incredibly difficult circumstances with an unbelieving spouse, a sibling, or children who have walked away from the faith altogether.
How thankful are you that we worship a Savior that relentlessly pursued you? We worship a Savior who preaches and preaches and preaches and preaches. Just look around this room. None of us deserve to be here! None of us deserve the love of God, and yet, here we are.
Don’t stop praying and never doubt the effectiveness, usefulness, or power of the gospel. Let’s pray.
