IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Jesus' Command Leads to Eternal Life

Date: May. 31, 2018

Passage

John 12:37-50 (ESV)

37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

  “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40   “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their heart,
  lest they see with their eyes,
    and understand with their heart, and turn,
    and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

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

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 12:50

And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

1. Unbelievers and secret believers (37-43)

Though Jesus performed many miracles, revealing his identity as the Messiah, people refused to believe in him. This fulfilled Isaiah 53:1 - those to whom God's arm was revealed, were also those who did not believe. Their eyes were blinded and their hearts hardened to Christ. Many Jewish leaders believed in Jesus, but they would not openly say so. They were afraid of the social ramifications. They loved praise from men more than praise from God.

2. See God through Christ (44-50)

When we believe in Jesus, we also believe in God the Father who sent him. We see God through Christ. Jesus does not want to leave us in spiritual darkness. Jesus did not speak on his own but only what his Father told him to say. Jesus' word leads to eternal life when we accept them. Those who hear Jesus' words but do not keep them are not immediately judged. God the Father will judge them on the last day.

Prayer: Lord, I believe in you. Thank you for your word that leads to eternal life. Help me to share your life-giving word with someone today.

One Word: Jesus' word leads to eternal life

Daily Bread

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2 Chronicles 11:1-23

Key Verse: 11:4

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