The Truth of God's Word (John 12:44-50)

Today's scripture: John 12:44-50

Have I mentioned how much I love God's word? It answers every question, calms every fear, encourages every uncertainty. It combats the lies of the enemy, addresses every argument, silences every disagreement.

We've talked about this before, but one argument that often comes up is that Jesus never claimed to be God. This is just so blatantly untrue. Many times (we've seen them in our study of John), Jesus said He and the Father were one. He makes this claim again in today's verses. When commenting on verse 44, Adam Clarke (one of my favorite commentators) wrote:

Here he asserts again his indivisible unity with the Father: he who believes on the Son believes on the Father; he who hath seen the Son hath seen the Father; he who honors the Son honors the Father. Though it was for asserting this (his oneness with God) that they were going to crucify him, yet he retracts nothing of what he had spoken, but strongly reasserts it, in the very jaws of death!

Jesus is God the Son. He is part of the triune God. He claimed it, and anyone who says differently hasn't read God's word.

Jesus goes on to talk about His being light in darkness, a metaphor I discussed last week. Then, in verse 50, Jesus speaks of His purpose. Again, I look to the wise words of Clarke for clarity:

This is the record, that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life. God‘s commandment or commission is, Preach salvation to a lost world, and give thyself a ransom for all; and whosoever believeth on thee shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Every word of Christ, properly credited, and carefully applied, leads to peace and happiness here, and to glory hereafter. What an amiable view of the Gospel of the grace of God does this give us? It is a system of eternal life, Divinely calculated to answer every important purpose to dying, miserable man. This sacred truth Jesus witnessed with his last breath.

God's word, written through the pens of men, is relevant and true. It is, as the author of Hebrews wrote, "living and active" (4:12). It is inspired by God to be used to teach, for reproof, to correct, to train (2 Timothy3:16).

It is all we need to live godly lives, serving Him and others, and bringing glory to Him. Take time in His word today. And every day.