John 12:44-50

John 12:44-50 - Daily Devotion - 25 August 2026 St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me. 45 And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.47 As for anyone who hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.49 I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”REFLECTIONSWritten by Paul BoggToday’s passage marks the last words that Jesus proclaims in his public ministry in the gospel of John.  Although Jesus had performed many signs in full public view, many still did not believe him. So when he cries out in verse 44, my first reflection is that you can really get the sense that he is making one last concerted effort to anyone who is still listening: “Believe in me! Believe in my words. I have come, from the Father, to save and to be a light for all, so that no one who believes remains in darkness.”In a world that continues to live in great darkness, Jesus is that light. His words have the power to save. The time of judgment is not yet – but there will be a time when God will hand down judgment, on that last day. But for today: salvation is available for anyone who receives the words of Jesus.So as a follower of Jesus, what should my response be to today’s passage? I think it is to continue to do exactly what Jesus did: speak what the Father has told Jesus to say. For me, that means to go and proclaim the news the Jesus is the Christ, the saviour of the world, the light that you can come into out of the darkness. Whisper it or cry it out, but share the hope that this brings with someone you know, that they too might believe in Jesus as Lord. ABOUT THE AUTHORPaul is a member of our Bossley Park morning congregation.