Studies in John's Gospel. Pt. 66 The Danger of Unbelief & the Glory of Believing!

 Good morning..

We were blessed with a wonderful Lord's Day service with our church family. Pastor preached a powerful message on John 8 that you will certainly want to hear if you are able to. The link to his sermon is in a separate post. 

In this lesson we move closer to the end of John 12. We will see the sadness of stubborn unbelief and a defiant attitude of the religious leaders even though Jesus did many powerful miracles. 

Jewish unbelief was clearly  foretold. 

John 12:37-41  But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38) That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39) Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40) He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41)  These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. 

John gave a sober commentary as to the unbelieving religious leaders. In spite of Jesus doing so many miracles in their presence they refused to believe on Him. The word "many" means that Jesus did a vast number of wonders and John tells us later there were so many miracles that all the books written could not record them all! (John 21:25) A miracle refers to mighty works of God that authenticate those who are speaking for Him. 

It is fitting then, that John included the theme of Israel's national unbelief in his prologue because the Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees mounted persistent opposition to Christ. 

John 1:11 He came unto his own and his own received him not. 

John described for us the sad reality of the Son of God coming to His own people to bring them the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. He tirelessly  ministered to the Jewish people but the religious leaders vehemently rejected their Messiah. They did not receive or welcome Jesus as King, Messiah and Savior.

Jesus repeatedly said that all the miracles and wonders that He did were the specific works that the Father gave Him to do(See for example, John 5:16-30). Thus, in rejecting Jesus Christ the Jews also rejected the Father. I think we have to term this level of unbelief as illogical and completely irrational because the powerful proofs Jesus offered to confirm His deity could not be disputed. 

John goes on to tie Israel's general unbelief to a fulfillment of a prophecy Isaiah made about 800 years before Christ was born. Some may feel that God was too harsh on Israel because their eyes were blinded to the truth and their hearts were hardened to Christ. However, there was a Divine purpose in Israel's rejection of their Messiah. 

The glorious side of Israel's unbelief!

Romans 11:25-27  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26) And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27) For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 

God had a purpose behind Israel's blinded eyes and hardened hearts. First, God foreknew that Israel would reject Jesus as Messiah so that He  would die on the cross to pay for all our sins. This was God's plan set in motion before Creation as we have noted many times.  

Second, in permitting the blindness of Israel God was free to open the doors of His kingdom to the non-Jewish people of the world. Remember that the Gentiles of the world had been cut off from the promises of God after the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. Instead, God chose one man Abraham and his seed, Isaac, Jacob and the nation Israel to be the conduit of God's blessings and salvation to the world. 

Currently in the age of the New Testament church the primary focus has been the gospel of Christ being preached to Gentiles all around the world. Some Jews have responded to the gospel but during this time frame many more Gentiles are being born again compared to the number of Jews professing faith in Christ.

However, when the age of the church is complete, God will turn to His people once again to save them for His own special treasure. He will honor the covenant that He established with Abraham (Genesis 12; 15; 17).

At the time the Father ends the age of the church it will signal the beginning of God's final judgment upon a Christ rejecting world know as the tribulation Period (See Revelation). 

They loved the praise of man rather than from God!

John 12:42-43  Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: 43) For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 

What a fascinating note John recorded for us. Many of the chief rulers (like Nicodemus) believed on Jesus Christ. However, because the Pharisees excommunicated anyone who did believe on Christ, they did not confess Him. They refused to agree with what the Father said about His Son. Confession is very similar to making a profession of faith. 

These believers were afraid of being booted out of the synagogue and they loved the praise of men. Remember that Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees for focusing on the externals while their hearts remained unchanged, darkened and wicked. (See Matthew 6:1-8; 16-18 for examples).

The last call from Jesus.

John 12:44-50  44) Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.  45) And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.  46) I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.  47) And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.  48) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49) For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.  50) And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. 

Jesus cried out which is the idea of speaking loudly with authority that the people needed to heed. The issues before the nation and the rejection of Christ were serious ones with lasting impact. 

Jesus Christ is the fullest expression of God. 

John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

John's prologue gave the foundation for what Christ is saying in John 12. No one sees the Father but the Father is revealed by His son, Jesus Christ. Look to Jesus if you wish to see the Father because in Christ dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily (See John 14:8-11 and Colossians 1:12-19; 2:9).

Jesus said that those who believe and see Him are believing and seeing the Father who sent His Son into the world. Jesus said many times that He was one with the Father. We have only one object of our faith. When they saw Jesus they saw the Father and when they believed on Jesus they believed on the Father.  

There are two kingdoms. The kingdom of darkness which is the domain of the devil and the kingdom of Light which is the domain of the Son of God. Jesus is calling them to believe on Him in order to be moved from the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God. 

Jesus made it clear He came to save the world but all who do not receive Him and all who reject His word will be judged and condemned by the very words of Christ. The message Jesus Christ taught and preached is the message the Father gave Him to share with mankind. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

We have a Holy Spirit inspired record from the apostle John warning us about the dangers of unbelief. Unbelief means that you are stuck in the kingdom of darkness, under the power of the devil and without any hope. It means a life of sin, its consequences  and misery. It means spending eternity in outer darkness.

John also shares the powerful proofs of Jesus Christ's deity so that we might believe. God's purpose in giving us John's gospel is that we might believe on Christ and be born again. 

The fundamental question we must answer is "Am I believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, or am I unbelieving in spirit?" Some of the religious leaders did not profess their faith in Christ because they loved men's praise instead of God's. Do not let the fear of man or pride stand in the way of coming to Christ for salvation through repentant faith. 

John also showed us the vast power of God in redemption where He turned Israel's unbelief into sending salvation to the Gentiles of the world. 

Finally, John is helping us to see that Jesus Christ and the Father are One. When Christ spoke, it was the Father speaking and the works Jesus did were the Father's works.

God sent His Son into the world to save the world not to condemn it. However, you must believe and be born again. I pray for all of our Readers located around the world, that this is their heart's desire. To commit their own lives to Christ and experience a new life, a fresh beginning and hope that floods into a soul that used to be darkened by sin. And, to help others come to Christ by sharing His word with them. 

May God use His Word in a mighty way in each of our lives. I pray we honor Him by receiving and believing His Word today.

Bob