“The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day. For I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Thus the things I say, I say just as the Father has told me.” —John 12:48–50
God spoke decisively and finally through His Son. To reject the Word of Jesus is be to reject the Word of God the Father. Jesus said the following regarding this truth:
“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own initiative, but the Father residing in me performs his miraculous deeds.” —John 14:10
The writer of Hebrews tells us:
“After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.” —Hebrews 1:1–2
Jesus gave proof of His union with the Father in three ways—through His character, through His words, and through the miracles He performed. Our obedience to Jesus will grow out of our love for Him. He tells us that if we love Him, we will obey Him. When we obey Him, the Father and the Holy Spirit abide with us—equipping us to both hear and heed the His will.
Jesus came first to offer salvation to the whole world. We are at fault if we reject this truth. Nothing is more dreadful than abused patience and grace that is constantly trampled on. There will be a certain and unavoidable future judgment on those refusing to believe the teaching of Jesus—the day of the righteous judgment of God. The very words Christ spoke will themselves judge those who willingly choose not to believe them. The idea behind the word “reject” in our verses for today is one of despising—deliberating refusing to acknowledge Him as the Messiah in spite of all he taught and all the miracles He performed. The rejection and unbelief of those who despise our Lord will not go unpunished no matter what people choose to believe.
It will be impossible to deny the truth and wisdom and mercy of Jesus’ words on the last day and they will be used against those who despise Him. This will be speechless, unanswerable to the words of Christ. Be assured, the words of Christ never fall to the ground—they are always operative. Scripture tells us:
“In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. No, it is realized as I desire and is fulfilled as I intend.” —Isaiah 55:11
The writer of Hebrews states this truth as well:
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart. And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.” —Hebrews 4:12–13
Become More
Our Lord warns us that it is a serious sin to refuse His words. We are to take heed. These were not our Lord’s words alone, but the very words of God the Father. Jesus was sent to this earth with a commission of what to say and speak to men. He spoke the true counsel of the most holy God.
“For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher. Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day.” —2 Timothy 1:11–12
Peter was thoroughly convinced that Jesus’ words lead to life and rightly confessed:
“Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God!” — John 6:68–69
We must live as those who believe in the truth of the judgment, and of heaven, and of hell. Jesus deserves our all! We can never serve God too much! Christ died for us—nothing is too great for us to do for Him.
Further Reflections
“Pray that your eyes may be opened, that you may receive sight, that you may know yourself and be brought to God’s feet, and that you may see the glory of God and Christ, may be raised from the dead, and have the love of Christ shed abroad in your heart. Those that have most of these things still need to pray for them; for there so much blindness and hardness and pride and death remaining that they still need to have that work of God upon them, further to enlighten and enliven them. This will be a further bringing out of darkness into God’s marvelous light, and a kind of new conversion.” —Jonathan Edwards, Advice to Young Converts
“The person who does not love me does not obey my words. And the word you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.” —John 14:24