42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
"44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”"
John 12:42-50
We are told in these verses that there were many among the rulers that did believe on Jesus, but who, for fear of the Pharisees, could not face what taking a stand for Him would inevitably mean. They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. What an indictment this is, and how often it is true even today, when hearts consent to the truth of the gospel and the rightness of the testimony, yet will not make the decisive break that true faith demands. The last few verses of the chapter (44ff) must be regarded as a summary and synopsis of Jesus' teaching - we have already been told in 36 that Jesus had withdrawn Himself from the people, and could hardly be thought to have begun teaching again. The chapter ends chronologically at 36. Marsh, in the Pelican Gospel Commentary says, 'Then follows a series of statements meant to summarize the situation at the end of the ministry. Jesus has come. He affirms, as light into the world. The light enables some to 'see' and those who thus become believers are not 'in the dark'. To reject the teaching of Jesus is not to incur condemnation from Him, for His whole purpose is to bring salvation. But, to be faced by Jesus Christ is to be faced with judgment, and what the judgment is, becomes known by a man's acceptance or rejection of Christ. In the final issue it is the response of men to the claims of Jesus that will determine their standing. This could not be true if Jesus were to speak and make His claims on His own authority; then He would be but another claimant on the loyalties of men. But Jesus does not speak on His own authority, but on that of His Father. It is His words that Jesus speaks. So the words of Jesus are, as Peter had said, eternal life. This gift Jesus offers to men at the Father's bidding. The word that Jesus has spoken, then, will be man's judgment at the last day. It is what he has done with that word that is of final importance. If it has found lodgment and response in his heart, all will be well; if it has been resisted and repudiated, it will judge him at the last day. In view of this, it is little wonder that Jesus spoke with such urgency in 35c'.