If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.1
Jesus said the Father commanded him to speak, and theses commands lead to eternal life. The word for command used in most of the new testament is entolḗ (en, "in," and télos, "reach the end, consummation") – properly, "in the end," focusing on the end-result (objective) of a command.2 This word highlights the nature of a specific order, charge, its in-context objective. Today the primary definition of command is different, it is to give an authoritative order, to have authority and control over, to deserve or be able to get or receive.3 But God focuses on the end result of his commands and as good leaders and Christians we are to keep the end in mind, the end-result.
We see in the story Jesus told of the father who gave commands to two sons, one said yes, and did not do, the other said no and later went and did; the second was more righteous. We see in the story of the prodigal son, the older son had followed all the father's commands but did not love his brother, the consummation of his father's commands, thus he did not love his father. We see in the rich young ruler, he followed all of the ten commandments since he was a boy, but the consummation of God's commands, the end result, loving God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength he did not obey, he loved his riches more. We are warned by Jesus to question whether we know him or not, if I know him it is reflective in how I follow his commands, consummation, how I love him and others, the least of these. If everything I do without love is nothing then love is the end result of everything I do.
To love God and others is the consummation of following his commands and of knowing him, it sums up the law. We can see the change in how we define the word command today. It is similar to how other words have changed meaning; words like lord, love, and grace. How we use these words today can have a tremendous impact on how we reach and spread His word; bad is good, cool is hot, good news becomes bad news... The enemy works to confuse words. The word command today, primarily focuses on position and authority whereas the original word focused on the end result, the objective, consummation. This is similar to how we can focus on the ten commandments themselves and forget the consummation of the commandments; loving God and our neighbor, this is the end result or sums up the law.
What was the end result of Jesus coming? In this passage there where certain Greeks who came to worship at the feast, the disciples relayed the message, they came to see Jesus. Greeks not Jews came to see him, his response was, The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. He then predicts he must die so that all people in him might live. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. There would be the fulfillment of prophecy to unite his people scattered abroad, all people would now be drawn to God, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.
Jesus made it clear his words focus on the end-result, they were commands from the Father, For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. It is interesting to note that many do not look at the words of Jesus as commands, they will follow the ten commandments but do not obey his commands, which are from the Father. The law does not give life, but the words of Jesus are life. Jesus accused the religious leaders of his day of justifying themselves by following the law, doctrines, and traditions of men. Jesus only spoke what the Father willed or commanded, this would produce its end result.
Jesus is the word of God who was in the beginning with God and was God, through his words all things were created. His words are alive and produce everlasting life. The name of Jesus will be glorified, the stones will cry out to him if we don't. What was the end result of his death? to glorify God by giving us life? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name. He commands us to follow him, to follow him we must die, but the end result of this death is life, he who esteems less his life in this world will guard it for eternal life. The word for guard here is phylássō (akin to phýlaks, "a military guard") – properly, preserve by "having an eye on", referring to the uninterrupted vigilance shepherds show in keeping their flock.7
We are to have an eye on everlasting life by esteeming our life less, this is the command to follow Jesus. We are to esteem life less for him, to be vigilant at guarding or keeping an eye on everlasting life. Jesus was commanded to die, the end result of this command was life, he lives and gives life, such glorifies God. If we serve him we are commanded to die. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If we die for him the end result is that we will be honored by the Father. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
Death is not an easy thing, Jesus struggled with His death, Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name. This was part of his suffering, as it is part of ours. If you submit your life to death, you will be surprised how the flesh will resist. He knew the end result, we would receive everlasting life, it was for the joy set before him, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to myself.
New Man
Jesus said the Father commanded him to speak, and theses commands lead to eternal life. The word for command used in most of the new testament is entolḗ (en, "in," and télos, "reach the end, consummation") – properly, "in the end," focusing on the end-result (objective) of a command.2 This word highlights the nature of a specific order, charge, its in-context objective. Today the primary definition of command is different, it is to give an authoritative order, to have authority and control over, to deserve or be able to get or receive.3 But God focuses on the end result of his commands and as good leaders and Christians we are to keep the end in mind, the end-result.
We see in the story Jesus told of the father who gave commands to two sons, one said yes, and did not do, the other said no and later went and did; the second was more righteous. We see in the story of the prodigal son, the older son had followed all the father's commands but did not love his brother, the consummation of his father's commands, thus he did not love his father. We see in the rich young ruler, he followed all of the ten commandments since he was a boy, but the consummation of God's commands, the end result, loving God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength he did not obey, he loved his riches more. We are warned by Jesus to question whether we know him or not, if I know him it is reflective in how I follow his commands, consummation, how I love him and others, the least of these. If everything I do without love is nothing then love is the end result of everything I do.
To love God and others is the consummation of following his commands and of knowing him, it sums up the law. We can see the change in how we define the word command today. It is similar to how other words have changed meaning; words like lord, love, and grace. How we use these words today can have a tremendous impact on how we reach and spread His word; bad is good, cool is hot, good news becomes bad news... The enemy works to confuse words. The word command today, primarily focuses on position and authority whereas the original word focused on the end result, the objective, consummation. This is similar to how we can focus on the ten commandments themselves and forget the consummation of the commandments; loving God and our neighbor, this is the end result or sums up the law.
What was the end result of Jesus coming? In this passage there where certain Greeks who came to worship at the feast, the disciples relayed the message, they came to see Jesus. Greeks not Jews came to see him, his response was, The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. He then predicts he must die so that all people in him might live. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. There would be the fulfillment of prophecy to unite his people scattered abroad, all people would now be drawn to God, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.
Jesus made it clear his words focus on the end-result, they were commands from the Father, For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. It is interesting to note that many do not look at the words of Jesus as commands, they will follow the ten commandments but do not obey his commands, which are from the Father. The law does not give life, but the words of Jesus are life. Jesus accused the religious leaders of his day of justifying themselves by following the law, doctrines, and traditions of men. Jesus only spoke what the Father willed or commanded, this would produce its end result.
Jesus is the word of God who was in the beginning with God and was God, through his words all things were created. His words are alive and produce everlasting life. The name of Jesus will be glorified, the stones will cry out to him if we don't. What was the end result of his death? to glorify God by giving us life? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name. He commands us to follow him, to follow him we must die, but the end result of this death is life, he who esteems less his life in this world will guard it for eternal life. The word for guard here is phylássō (akin to phýlaks, "a military guard") – properly, preserve by "having an eye on", referring to the uninterrupted vigilance shepherds show in keeping their flock.7
We are to have an eye on everlasting life by esteeming our life less, this is the command to follow Jesus. We are to esteem life less for him, to be vigilant at guarding or keeping an eye on everlasting life. Jesus was commanded to die, the end result of this command was life, he lives and gives life, such glorifies God. If we serve him we are commanded to die. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If we die for him the end result is that we will be honored by the Father. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
Death is not an easy thing, Jesus struggled with His death, Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name. This was part of his suffering, as it is part of ours. If you submit your life to death, you will be surprised how the flesh will resist. He knew the end result, we would receive everlasting life, it was for the joy set before him, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to myself.
New Man