Blind
Believers: Fearful Believers - John 12:37-50
Jonathan Stephen -
In these
verses, John provides an epilogue to Jesus' public ministry, which had been
brought to a close in verse 36. From verses 44-50, he summarises the main
content of Jesus' teaching (verse 44 should begin with 'And', rather than the
somewhat misleading 'Then'). But, as this is, necessarily, repeating previously
considered truths, we shall concentrate on verses 37-50. In this passage, John
explains why Jesus' ministry appears to have been so 'unsuccessful'. Read verse
37. In fact, even those who professed some kind of faith would not confess it,
and could not therefore be regarded as true converts (verse 42; compare Luke
12:8-9).
All this
merely echoes the truth of 1:10-11; but now John wants to give a biblical and
theological explanation. The two reasons he provides are essentially the same
reasons people fail to trust Jesus for salvation today:
Unbelief is a matter of human depravity: they 'would
not believe' (verse 37)
When we
read verses 42-43, we do not need to guess what Jesus thought of those who
cared more about the opinion of their fellow sinners than they did about God.
See 5:44. James puts the position very strongly (James 4:4-6). This is simply
an example of the terrible choice we will always make because of our depravity
(3: 18-19). If we fail to trust Christ for salvation: we only have ourselves to
blame. It is entirely our responsibility if, even after all Jesus has done for
us (verse 37), we still refuse him.
Unbelief is a matter of divine sovereignty: they
'could not believe' (verse 39)
Read verses
37-38. John is telling us that we that this famous chapter is all about Jesus.
We should not
be surprised that Jesus was ‘despised and rejected by men’(Isaiah
53:3), because that was what was prophesied about him. But John goes further in
verses 39-40. In this quotation from Isaiah 6, we are taught that God hardens
those who harden themselves against him. Compare Matthew 13:10-17 and Acts
28:23-28, where these same verses are quoted to the same effect by Jesus
himself and the apostle Paul. God is sovereign in this whole process. Even
Isaiah found it hard to cope with (Isaiah 63:17). He spoke of the Lord's
'strange work' and 'alien task' (Isaiah 28:21). We need to remember that from
the point of view of justice alone, we are all condemned already. Consider also
that it was only through the judicial hardening of
A theophany (verse
41)
Verse 41
confirms that, just like Isaiah 53, Isaiah 6 is also all about the Lord Jesus.
John tells us that 'the King, the Lord Almighty' whom
the prophet saw seated on his throne in glory, was none other than Jesus. We
call such appearances of the Son of God in the Old Testament 'theophanies'. What a testimony to the deity of Christ! This
was entirely consistent with John's own thinking (1 :18).
(No wonder Jesus would shortly be disappointed with Philip's lack of
discernment in 14:8-9). As John meditates on Isaiah's vision of the Lord 'high
and exalted', he must have reflected on how Jesus regarded himself being lifted
up in glory on the cross (12:23-33).
The summary of Jesus' public ministry (verse
44-50)
The gospel
is enshrined in John's summary of Jesus' teaching in verses 44-50. We must all
beware that the words of Jesus do not return to judge us on 'the last day'
(verse 48). That's why Jesus does not simply invite us to enter eternal
life - he commands us (verse 50). Have you obeyed the command?