Day 31 – Not judging but saving

John 12:37-50

Even though Jesus had done so many miraculous signs before them, they didn’t believe in him. This fulfilled the word of Isaiah the prophet, who said:

“Lord, who has believed our news?
To whom has the strong arm of the Lord been revealed?”

Because of this, they couldn’t believe, for Isaiah said again:

“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
so they won’t see with their eyes,
or understand with their hearts,
or change their direction;
or else I would heal them.”

Isaiah said these things because he saw Christ’s glory, and spoke about him. Nevertheless, many, even among the rulers, believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they didn’t declare it in public, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue - for they loved the honour of people more than the honour of God.

But Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not only in me, but in the one who sent me. Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I have come as a light into the world, so that whoever believes in me will not remain in the darkness. If anyone listens to my words and does not keep them, I don’t judge them. For I didn’t come to judge the world, but to save the world. Whoever rejects me, and doesn’t receive my words, does have a judge. The message that I spoke will judge them on the last day. For I have not spoken by my own authority, but the Father who sent me gave me orders about what I should speak out and say. I know that his order is eternal life. So what I say is what the Father has told me to say.”

For reflection

What does it mean to you that Jesus came to save and not judge, and yet his message can still produce judgement or change in us?