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256. The Jews Response to Jesus’ Final Attempt

Isaiah 6:9-13, John 12:38-50
Key Verse: Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in Him."
John 12:37

Back in the parable of "The Rich Man And Lazarus," (Luke 16:19-31 ) The rich man had begged Father Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to talk to his five brothers so that they would believe and not end up suffering the same fate as he. Abraham responded, "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rise from the dead." (Luke 16:31) It's hard to accept, but there are those who will refuse to believe no matter what they see, hear, or experience. They have a willful, hardness of heart that can explain everything away.

This is nothing new. God warned Isaiah about this attitude of willfulness more than seven hundred years before. "For this reason they could not believe,” because, as Isaiah says, "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn and I would heal them." (Isa. 6:10-11) Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him." (John 12:39-41). Isaiah had just witnessed something amazing, God, in the temple, with the train of His glory filling the space. The vision moved him to commit himself to the call of God. In Contrast, there are those who willfully refuse to see what is before them. The leaders had witnessed the miracles, the compassion, and heard the teachings, but it only drove them to anger and rejection of Jesus and the Truth.

Then, there are the fearful who are convicted, but afraid to move out of their comfort zone to follow. This is so much of the church today who say "Yes, I believe,” but do not back up their statement with action. Even in the leadership, this was a problem. It is their indifference.  It is their fear and unbelief that hold Jesus back from accomplishing more for His people. So, now, as Jesus will soon cry out, "It is finished," from the cross, we hear His final, impassioned public plea for all to believe and follow. From this point on, He will save Himself for His closest friends, and for us.

"Then Jesus cried out, "when anyone believes in Me, he does not believe in Me only, but in the one who sent Me. When he looks at Me, he sees the One who sent Me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in the dark." (John 12:44-46) For John, this is the other book end. In the beginning, John said of Jesus, "In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (John 1:4-5) How frustrating that after three years of walking among them, the leadership that is, the same is still true.

"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent Me commanded Me what to say and how to say it. I know that His command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told Me to say." (John 12:47-50)

And with these words, Jesus’ public ministry is at an end. Now, His passion begins in earnest.

Hymn: "I Love To Tell the Story" 

I Love to Tell the Story  Alan Jackson

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