God’s plan to save the world was not what people expected. The Jews expected a conquering hero that would come in and drive out the Romans and set up David’s throne in Jerusalem and then there would be peace, prosperity, and happiness.
Jesus’ message was “Believe in Me and I’ll save you.” He stated “The one who believes in Me, does not believe only in Me, but also in Him who sent Me. 45 And the one who sees Me sees Him who sent Me” (John 12:44-45). If you believe in Jesus then you believe in God.
So the Jewish leaders did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. They asked Jesus several times to tell them plainly if he was the Christ. Jesus responded that he had told them – but they didn’t listen.
Jesus continued, “I have come as light into the world, so that no one who believes in Me will remain in darkness” (John 12:47). Jesus was the “light of the world.” We know light enables us to see when it’s dark. It reveals what is hidden. It allows us to see. So Jesus continues in verses 48-49, that those who refuse to see
So Jesus continues in verses 48-49, that those who refuse to see the light, those who do not believe, are left in darkness. Darkness is a figurative term for being in sin and living without God.
Jesus came to save the world. God loves all people. But God gave us a choice. We can chose to believe or reject Jesus. We are told that God desires that everyone be saved (1 Tim. 2:4) but Peter adds that God’s love comes with a warning – a day of judgment (2 Peter 3:9-10). It is up to each person to make a decision to believe and be saved or reject and face the judgment.
Jesus continued his plea for them to believe on him in verses 49-50, when he said that he was the faithful messenger. The people were amazed at how Jesus taught and Matthew’s comment was that “he taught as one having authority” (Matt. 7:28-29).
When Jesus cleansed the temple, the leaders came to him the next day and demanded to know where he got his “authority.” Jesus responded by asking them a question to which they refused to answer, so Jesus refused to answer their question. But he did continue by saying that he was speaking what God ...
