Read and believe in Jesus

“Many even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it so they would not be put out of the synagogue.” John 12:12

The Gospel according to John

REVIEW – Jesus reveals that He knows how He will die (crucifixion), which only shows how quickly the crowd is turning against Him in unbelief. Jesus warns them that “the Light” will be with them only a short time longer … to walk in it while they can … and to believe in the Light. He warns them of the coming darkness, but they don’t understand or care.

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John 12:37-41

After that beginning of taunting, Jesus slips away through the crowd.

Although Jesus has spoken nothing but truth to them and demonstrated sign after miraculous sign, these hard-hearted people “did not believe in Him.” Although prophets of old, as well as John the Baptist, had spoken of Him and pointed to Him as the Messiah of God, they did not, would not, believe.

The gospel writer quotes Isaiah 53:1, “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

And Isaiah 6:10, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”

These are hard words for us: that God blinds eyes and hardens hearts in order to prevent understanding, repentance, and salvation. We don’t understand. We can’t understand. We try to make excuses: “Well, they had their chance and turned away…like Pharaoh in Egypt.”

But this was Israel, the chosen people. The seed of the promise to Eve (and the world) runs clear through the Jewish line – Noah, Abraham, Judah, King David, Zerubbabel, until Jesus’ mother, Mary. And yet their hearts were hardened towards Jesus. Hardened by God…but only for a season. In Revelation, we see that their eyes will be opened again, and as a nation they will receive their Messiah.

But for now, in God’s abundant grace, He is going to open the door for His “other sheep” to enter. The lost Gentiles. WE get a chance to SEE with eyes of faith and believe.

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John 12:42-43

“Nevertheless.”

Despite this national closing of eyes and hardening of hearts, “MANY of the authorities believed in Jesus.” Their faith was very weak and hindered by fear. (It wasn’t until after His death that Nicodemus and Joseph stepped forward to reveal their faith and love for their crucified Lord.)

They were afraid of losing their place in the synagogue. (Remember what happened to the man born blind that Jesus healed?) And, sadly, they were afraid of losing the “glory” and honor that came from their position in the eyes of “man.” (Thankfully, we saw Nick and Joe in a better light later, when God’s glory became foremost in their minds.)

But think of the conflict within that these believing authorities struggled with. Think of OUR OWN struggle to speak up in a crowd of our fellows who are unbelievers. WHY, or why, is it so hard? Jesus endured the wrath of God for us. Jesus endured the shame and taunts, and then died a despicable, horrific death. And WE can’t say, “I believe in Jesus, and you should too,” to a few friends?

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John 12:44-50

This last plea of Jesus reminds me of what he said at the Feast of Tabernacles, when He called out, “Ho! If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” (John 7:37-38)

Now, He tells the people of His close connection with the Father. “Whoever believes in Me, believes not in Me, but in Him who sent me. Whoever sees Me, sees Him who sent me.”

And, “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.”

And, “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. His commandment is eternal life.”

Repeat John 3:16 to yourself here…

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These were the last words Jesus spoke to the public (in John’s gospel). Now, He gathers his own Twelve (well, eleven), shows them His love, and teaches them the last intimate things they should know about Him and themselves. It begins when they gather together for the Passover supper.