Blinded to the Light

John 12:37 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,

Have you ever had to prove your case to someone and no matter what you do or how convincing you are or how much proof you show, they still don’t believe you? Sometimes it is a very painful situation and still no one will listen or believe.

Have you ever doubted God and searched to prove him real or true? Why or why not? If you have, why did you? If you have not searched Him out, why not? We are to search and know our salvation is true.

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Do you want to go to heaven? Do you want to be in the presence of God? Do you want the hope Jesus promised? Then let your faith show by working it/figuring it out.

Fear here = reverence or respect, work it out means to continually work towards completion or fruition. Do you know you are still missing the mark? Work to be better. The term in church is sanctification toward righteousness.

Are you afraid of what God can do when you sin/do wrong things? Good, you are on the right path, now do something about it through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit.

James 1:22–25 ESV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

John 12:38 ESV

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?”

Did you ever hear the truth and promptly forget it? Did you ever know to act and fail to do it?

They (the Jews) COULD NOT believe

What’s the question here? You should always ask, “Why!”

John 12:39–40 ESV

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.”

John 12:41–43 ESV

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.

Why!?!

Why would God do that to the people he claimed were his chosen people?

There are may reasons.

Isaiah 49:6 ESV

6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Who is the Lord speaking to?

Israel

Who is the Lord speaking about?

Israel and Jesus. Both are described.

Who were we just

reading about in John 12?

What are we, Believers, called to be?

Salt and light.

Matthew 5:13–15 ESV

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

How often are we like Israel?

Jesus has been revealed. He is right in our face. Are you salt and light or are you afraid to tell people about Jesus because you love the praise of men rather than praise from God.

Guilty!!!

I am guilty.

How many relatives or friends do you have that live immoral, ungodly lives and you have never called them on it or introduced them to Jesus.

I have a friend that I really like. She, and yes, Lisa knows her, she doesn’t believe in God or organized religion because of religious people. I am trying to build a relationship so she cares what I say and will listen. She has heard about Jesus, relationship, and the need to know him from me. Why, because I will never tell her to, “Go to hell!” That is not meant as a curse word, it illustrates what we do when we are more afraid of mankind than we are of God.

Do you know someone like that, that you pray for and tell about Jesus in a humble loving way?

If not, why not.

Live out your faith the way you are told to.

Make disciples by building relationships with people who need to know him!

That is what you are saved to do.

Did you know that?

Jesus came as a sacrifice so we could be saved.

Once you are saved you have a job, a command, to tell others.

Be the seasoning that the world needs to help it find Jesus.

Be the light that shines to being others out of the darkness.

Those people that say mean things to you because of your faith. Take it as a compliment. You are doing what you were told to do and you are showing the greatest love to another person that can be shown. Don’t be scared, don’t back down, tell them about Christ.

Israel had an excuse, they were blinded to the light.

What’s your excuse.