John 12:37-43 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40 "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." 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 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.
First, let's get a little context here. Isaiah is quoted twice in this passage. First from chapter 53, then from chapter 6. Both instances reference disbelief in the face of hearing and seeing. The quote from chapter 53 directly precedes the prophetic passage about Jesus coming and dying for the sins of the world. It was prophesied that people would see this and still not believe. This clearly is happening in the above passage. The quote from chapter 6 comes right after Isaiah is called as a prophet. He sees the glory of God in the temple and is blown away by His holiness, then he is given this message. People would continue to hear and see, but not believe. They are responsible for these actions, but it is also clear that God has a hand in this hardening. (Again, the paradox of God's sovereignty and human responsibility... It is everywhere in Scripture.) This has been dissected by many, but at the core we see that the people could not because they would not. Which came first and why and how are beyond me, but I do see these 3 points as warnings for us.
1. They did not believe what they saw
37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,
I'm not saying "seeing is believing". We believe many things without seeing them (Space, Gravity, Wind...etc). But these people clearly saw they evidence of Jesus' divinity and still rejected Him. The first 1/2 of John's gospel is dedicated to signs that Jesus is God. They saw these (water to wine, blind seeing, dead rising), and would not believe.
We see God at work too. It might not be as direct, but it is no less clear. Do we believe?
2. They did not believe what they heard
38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
We'll see more on the severity of this next week when we talk about the words of Jesus judging those who reject Him. But here we see that they heard Him speak truth. He proclaimed man's need for salvation and His plan to save them, but they would not believe. He proclaimed the gospel--the good news: we are sinners destined for Hell, but Jesus (God incarnate) came as the only possible sacrifice, died for our sins, rose again, and saves all who believe and trust in Him. If you're reading these words, you've heard this message. I have heard this message. We cannot reject this and think ourselves "off the hook".
As I said in the morning lesson, it is easy to say we believe and hard to live it. I know this myself.
3. They loved people more than God
43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
Here's the issue. The truth was not less true for them; they just saw it less important. They loved people more. This belief was intellectual only, and not saving faith. I understand the temptation of wanting praise. But Jesus gave up His glory in Heaven for my filthy sinful life. Can't I give up my vain glory for Him? He gave everything. I lose nothing worth gaining.
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