John 12:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not mine.

NIV: Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.

NASB: Jesus responded and said, 'This voice has not come for My sake, but for yours.

CSB: Jesus responded, "This voice came, not for me, but for you.

NLT: Then Jesus told them, 'The voice was for your benefit, not mine.

KJV: Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

NKJV: Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.

The gospel of John refers to Jesus' miracles using the Greek term semion, which means "sign." When we see a "sign" by the side of a road, in a hallway, or on the door of a building, we know that there is a message being given. The sign does not exist for its own sake—it's there to tell people something. The evidence Jesus provides during His earthly ministry does the same thing, pointing people to truth (John 20:30–31). Of course, people often ignore signs, for various reasons. They also ignore God's signs.

While speaking to a crowd in Jerusalem (John 12:20–22), Jesus is answered by a voice from heaven (John 12:28). This is as literal and direct a "message from God" as any skeptic could hope for. In fact, some critics of faith often claim that it would take an incident just like this to convince them. That, of course, is not true. Evidence is not the problem, the problem is a spirit that's deliberately stubborn and disbelieving (Romans 1:18–20; John 5:39–40; Luke 16:31). Some of those hearing this voice—in the presence of a man who recently raised the dead (John 11:40–43)—dismiss it as meaningless natural noise (John 11:29).

Jesus' comment here specifically refers to that audible voice from heaven. It also applies, generally, to all the evidence God offers humanity. This message is urgent: each person's time is short (James 4:14), and those who ignore the truth risk being lost for eternity (John 3:16–18). After this encounter, the gospel of John will make it clear that spiritual rebellion is at the heart of disbelief (John 12:37–40).

John 12:27–43 represents the end of Jesus' public ministry in the gospel of John. After being approached by non-Jewish people who believed in God, Jesus seems agitated as He anticipates His impending death. A voice from heaven affirms His mission, but to most people it simply sounds like noise or thunder. What Jesus means as a reference to crucifixion is misinterpreted by many as a prediction that He'll be exalted: to be ''lifted up.'' The people struggle to understand His message, and Jesus will leave them after warning that their time is short. This confirms Old Testament prophecies and reiterates how far some people will go in order to defy evidence of God.

Jesus is treated to an honorary dinner at the home of Lazarus, whom He has recently raised from death. At this dinner, Lazarus' sister, Mary, anoints Jesus with expensive oil. Jesus then enters Jerusalem to great fanfare, stoking fears that His popularity will attract the anger of the Roman Empire. That anger even inspires a murder plot against Lazarus. After being approached by non-Jewish seekers, Jesus offers a final plea for people to understand His ministry. In effect, these are the last public words spoken by Jesus in the gospel of John.

In the prior chapter, Jesus spectacularly raised Lazarus from death in front of a crowd of witnesses. This inspired local religious leaders to commit to having Him killed. Here, after a celebratory dinner where Jesus is anointed with oil, He will fulfill prophecy by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, celebrated with shouts of ''Hosanna'' and a massive crowd. This leads to a group of curious non-Jews approaching Him. Christ then offers a final plea for belief in Him and His message. After this, His ministry will turn to preparing the disciples for His impending death and resurrection. The next several chapters of the gospel of John are almost entirely made up of his teachings to these men.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.