1. The Tragedy of Unbelief (37-41)
John 12:37-38 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, to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
John 12:39-41 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.” 40 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.
What does it mean that they could not believe? Did God prevent them from believing?
Slide- They could not, because they would not.
God does not need to cause unbelief. All he has to do is withhold His grace in extending the gift of faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
God does not need to blind someone spiritually because they are already spiritually blind.
John 9:39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Romans 1:18-25 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
The worst judgment God can bring down upon an individual, is to let them go their own way.
There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” -CS Lewis
2. The Fear of Man Over the Fear of God (44-46)
John 12:42 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.
Matthew 10:32-33 Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
Conviction and confession go hand in hand.
You may be convinced, but are you committed?
It is impossible to be a secret disciple. Either the secrecy will kill discipleship, or discipleship will kill the secrecy.
Revelation 21:7-8 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
3. Christ’s’ Final Public Cry (v 44–46)
John 12:44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.
John 12:46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
4. The Paradox of Salvation and Judgment (v. 47–50)
John 12:47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
John 12:48 The one who rejects me and does notreceive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
John 12: 49 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. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
What are you doing with the light you’ve already been given?
