John 12:44-50 NRSVue

⁴⁴Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. ⁴⁵And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. ⁴⁶I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. ⁴⁷I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world but to save the world. ⁴⁸The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, ⁴⁹for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. ⁵⁰And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.”

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
From within the human, Jesus points us to something more than human. Humanity is lit up by him, enlightened by its creator, so that we know that within our human personality is the spark of divinity. Jesus became like us so that we might become like him. The light of God shines through all creation, bringing life, compassion, justice. It is a caring light, caring for humanity, caring for creation.

Reflection
This is a sort of summary of the message of Jesus. No time or place is given for this speech. He speaks of our faith in God and that he is the light of the world. That we can accept or reject him, and that his word is the word of his Father-God. This is a sort of summary of Johns' earlier prologue announcing that he word was made flesh.

Reflection
Jesus cried out aloud. He knows that the Father's commandment, which he is carrying out, 'is eternal life' and he wants his voice to rise above the babble of other voices around him in the Temple portico. He wants to be heard in the darkness of every age. His voice is the voice of one who desires to save, not to judge.

Reflection
I listen for the saving voice of Jesus above the other voices that surround me.

Reflection
Jesus comes as light, making clear the reality of God. I let the light of Jesus reach any dark are shadowy areas in me so that I may be saved.

Reflection
Jesus knew he spoke for the Father. He trusts me, in turn, to act in his name. I pray now that I may receive light from God and that I may pass it on to the world around me.