Words of the Son, words of the Father

"I have not spoken of myself ; but he who sent me, the Father, commanded me what I should say and how I had to speak ... So what I say, I say as the Father told me." Reading Jean 12. 44-50

The Lord has just finished his public ministry (John 12:36). In the brief paragraph from which these two verses are quoted, he summarizes the foundations of his service : his subordination to the Father and his perfect identification with the One who had sent him. His divine nature was revealed by each of his acts and each of his words. Revealed in the Gospel according to John as the Word, he is the author of all that was created (1: 3), become flesh (= man on earth) in order to make known the "only true God" eternal life (1. 18, 17. 3); each of his words had a divine and human character.

Jesus alone was able to affirm : "I know him (the Father) and keep his word" (8:55) ; "I do nothing of myself, but I speak according as the Father taught me" (8:28). His communion with God being perfectly intimate, his words faithfully conform to the will of the Father : "I say it, as the Father has told me" (12:50). In conclusion, his words are those of the Father and some have had to admit it : "Never man has spoken like this man" (7:46).

It follows that to alter the words of the Son of God, to question them, to reject them or to assimilate them to those of a man is an outrage against him but also towards God. It is by this word that the unbeliever will be "judged on the last day" (12:48). On the other hand, for the Christian who receives them as the absolute truth (17:17) and with reverence (17: 8), they are an inexhaustible source of life and blessings.

With complete certainty, the believer can accept Peter's statement : "Lord, to whom shall we go ? You have the words of eternal life ; and we believe and know that you are the Holy One of God" (6, 68, 69).

Source (To pleasing the Lord)