John 12:27-50
Monday, 12 June 2021
“…But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” – John 12:27-28
John’s Gospel is so unique in its presentation of Jesus, the Person and His Work. The purpose of John’s gospel is clearly stated: “…that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30). The several signs and discourses in John point to this purpose.
In our text, as Jesus was preparing for His crucifixion, we have quite a few statements that lead to Jesus’ purpose on coming to this earth. As a voice from heaven ratified what He was speaking- the glory He would bring to God through His death. In looking through the statement of Jesus in V.27: “But for this purpose I came to this hour”—we can see three other statements connected to the purpose for which He came.
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” (V.32)
This again speaks of Jesus’ death on the cross, where He would be hung, bearing the sins of man so that He would bear the wrath of God for man’s sin. This brings to our mind the picture of the bronze serpent which was lifted on a pole in the wilderness when the wickedness of the people brought fiery serpents to bite them; God provided an escape from death for those bitten—if they looked to that bronze serpent, they would live(Numbers 21:6-9). Dear friend, can you understand that the bite of sin will cause you to die—eternally separated from God, unless you take an antivenin—the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross to cleanse you? Look to Jesus who is lifted up for you that you can call on Him and be saved from eternal death!
“I have come as a light into the world…”(V.46)
In John 8:123 Jesus declared: “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” The world is covered with the darkness of men’s evil deeds and forces of wickedness that is pulling those who do not believe in God into the quagmire of ever increasing darkness. Where do you stand? Are you groping in the dark alleys of sin, trying to find a way out? Come to the LIGHT mentioned above; He will lead you to into the truth and give you the Light of life! You will not have to fumble anymore as His light will guide you all your life and lead you to eternal life.
“..for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” (V.47)
Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world! He came to save you and me from the judgment on all mankind on that day when God will judge the world—the separation of those who have believed in His Son and those who haven’t. 1 John 5:19 reminds us: “…the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” Would you rather choose to perish with the wicked or receive salvation that is still available this day? Jesus died for our sin but rose again validating all that He said and did. God has given Him the seal of approval by appointing Him to judge the world. See what Acts 17:31 says: “…because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” But today in His grace He offers to save you. Would you heed?
Dear friends, the purpose for which Christ Jesus came to the world is very clear. The question is: what have you done with what you know? The choice to trust Him for salvation is yours!
Think on: The purpose of the Bible is simply to proclaim God’s plan to save His children. It asserts that man is lost and needs to be saved. And it communicates the message that Jesus is the God in the flesh sent to save His children. ~ Max Lucado