FEAR OF MAN KEEPS US FROM FAITHFULNESS – 12:42-43:

    The motivation for this lack of obedience, this lack of confession in our context (ver. 43) is that these men loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. I want you to notice that the word “approval” (NASV) is actually the Greek word for “glory.” In other words, Isaiah saw the “glory” of Christ but these Jews loved the “glory” from men rather than the “glory” that comes from obedience to God. How can we overemphasize that our highest conviction and desire must be the approval of God, before anyone or anything else (see Gal. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:4)?

    May God help us to love His message supremely and stay faithful to it.

TRUST IN JESUS MEANS TRUST IN GOD – 12:44-46:

    Notice in verse 45 that Jesus associates Himself in His essence with God the Father: “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.” That is a statement regarding the very nature of Jesus Christ. Rachel and I are one because we are married, but it is not true that if you have seen me, you’ve seen Rachel. We are too different for that statement to be true. But it is true with Jesus and the Father. See Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3. 

    You and I have a different perspective on this world because we walk in the light of Jesus Christ. The less we study the life and teachings of Jesus, the more we will be overwhelmed by the darkness of this world. We need to be careful that we do not allow uninspired man to influence us more than inspired men, Jesus and His apostles and prophets.

THE SAYINGS OF JESUS GIVE US LIFE – 12:47-50:

    Why is Jesus’ words so important? Because in verse 49 we are told that He did not speak on His own initiative, but God the Father commanded Jesus what to say and what to speak.

    If Jesus did not take any initiative in teaching something new, nor should I. If Jesus only taught what the Father commanded Him to teach then I should only teach what Jesus has commanded me to teach. And the only way to do that is to use book, chapter, and verse and only interpreted correctly in their own context. 

    On the way to the cross, Jesus taught us we should stay faithful despite our fears; we should trust Jesus because He is one with the Father; and we should follow Jesus’ sayings because they will give us life. 

Paul Holland