John 12:42-46 (WEL) Nevertheless, even of the leaders many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees, they did not publicly acknowledge him, lest they should be thrown out of the synagogue. 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 44 But Jesus shouted and said, “The one who believes in me doesn’t just believe in me, but in the one who sent me. 45 “And the one who sees me sees the one who sent me. 46 “I have come as a light into the world, that anyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.
V42 Nevertheless, even of the leaders many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees, they did not publicly acknowledge him, lest they should be thrown out of the synagogue.
These words are incredibly sad. They believed that Jesus is the promised Messiah, but they will not acknowledge it. Compare Matthew 10:32, Romans 10:9, 1 John 4:15.
Principle: Fear God not man. See Proverbs 29:25, Matthew 10:28, and Hebrews 13:5-6.
In this context, denying they know that this is Messiah, it is not a loss of faith. Many, even today, might deny that they are a Christian but God is faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).
But when a Christian denies Jesus, rejects Jesus, refuses to believe anymore for today, this week, this month, this year, this decade, until the end of life, then that denial is a loss of salvation.
Peter denied Jesus 3 times but that was not a loss of salvation because he repented (tears—Luke 22:62) and preached that Jesus is Messiah and only savior for the rest of his life.
If a person hides that they are a Christian because of fear of life, etc., that person may or may not be a Christian. Fear itself is not a loss of salvation.
If someone puts a knife to our throat and demands that we curse Jesus and start following _____(name of a god, person, or religion) and they deny, then that MAY be an indication of either never being a Christian or a true denial and rejection of Him.
V43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
John informs us the reason these people will not confess Jesus is Messiah. This doesn’t mean they are not believers; they just do not have the commitment to truth or to Jesus.
I’m afraid many today do the same. May God help us.
“The motives for persecution (Dictionary of Bible Themes)
Envy—Acts 5:17-18
Fear—Luke 22:2
Hatred—John 7:7
“The means of persecution
Deception—Psalm 38:12 and Matthew 5:11
Threats—John 9:22
Ridicule—Nehemiah 1:1-3
Ostracism—Matthew 10:22
Violence—Matthew 10:17
V44 But Jesus shouted and said, “The one who believes in me doesn’t just believe in me, but in the one who sent me.
In essence, Jesus states that if they do not believe and confess Him, then they also do not believe or confess YHWH of Israel. This is a stern warning.
The Greek word for shouted is G2896 κράζω krazō, which means (Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains (Louw & Nida)) “to shout or cry out, with the possible implication of the unpleasant nature of the sound – to shout, to scream.”
Principle: Either we are for God (God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) or against Him.
V45 “And the one who sees me sees the one who sent me.
The Greek word for see is G2334 θεωρέω theōréō, which means (KJV Word Study Bible Notes) (Mark 12:41; John 6:19; John 12:45; John 14:17; Acts 17:22) “The word means to view attentively, perceive, gaze at continuously for a prolonged time. This is looking with intent and interest, not passive seeing. The words “theater” and “theory” are derived from this word. This is the type of seeing wherein people recognize that Jesus is the Son of God: “He that seeth me seeth him that sent me” (John 12:45). When we gaze at Jesus with this intensity, we will truly know Him, as Mary did at the tomb.”
The one who recognizes that Jesus is Messiah also recognizes God the Father. It refers to recognize with acceptance and worship.
V46 “I have come as a light into the world, that anyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.
Either we believe Jesus or die in our sins.
When we are born, we are born in spiritual darkness (Ephesians 2:1 and Acts 26:18). God must initiate salvation (John 16:8 and John 6:44). Darkness is ignorance and unable to know the true state of our soul unless God opens our eyes and mind to what we really are (Acts 16:14).
Albert Barnes: “In gross and dangerous errors. Darkness is put for error as well as for sin, John 3:19; 1 Jon 1:5.”
We learn:
- The dangers of not acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah.
- Jesus came to bring light (truth) of who and what we really are spiritually—evil and under God’s wrath.
Questions:
- Would you confess Jesus Christ in the face of danger?
- Do you live in the truths of Jesus Christ publicly and privately?