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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Reflection on John 12:44-50
Inspiration from 2026-04-29 Daily Prayer
A saying of Saint Catherine of Siena was, “Where we see sins, God sees weakness”. She points to the reality that many people try to do their best but find their faults and failings often overcome them. God sees the heart and sees our efforts to do good, even though these efforts do not always succeed. God’s Spirit, given with many gifts and energies for the world, also brings the gift of Divine forgiveness.
I approach the Scripture not only with my mind, but also with my heart, trying to figure out and understand. The word of God is spoken to my heart and comes to life when I respect the revelations and insights that God gives to me in simple ways.
Further 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.
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.
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.
I listen for the saving voice of Jesus above the other voices that surround me.
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.