Summary of Jesus’ Teaching (Jn. 12:44-50)

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, 45 and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. 46 I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. 48 Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, 49 because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

Some of the themes of Jesus’ discourses were recapped in this passage.  Whoever receives Jesus receives the one who sent him (Jn. 13:20; v. 44).  Whoever sees Jesus sees the Father (Jn. 14:7-9; v. 45).  Jesus came into the world to be the light of the world (Jn. 8:12; v. 46).  He was sent by God, and he proclaimed the Word of God.  He came to save the world not to condemn the world (Jn. 3:17; v. 47).  Jesus came to give eternal life (Jn. 3:15; v. 50)

Jesus was sent by God, he proclaimed the Word of God and brought people out of darkness into the light.  Anyone who listened to his words and rejected him was rejecting God.  Jesus is one with the Father and Jesus gives life to the world (Jn. 1:3).  We will be judged based on whether we accept or reject what Jesus has revealed to us (Jn. 3:18).  Jesus Christ will judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42).

Almighty God, help us to assent to your will and to cooperate with your grace so that when we are judged we may be found worthy of the eternal life Jesus earned for us on the Cross.  This we pray through the same Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.

                Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.