Petrified Hearts

Turn with me, if you will, to the Gospel of John, chapter 12. And as you find your spot, let me remind you that we have been going through the Gospel of John together, and that John approaches writing His Gospel, much like an attorney would present the case at a trial...

Last week, Jesus was explaining to the people the manner that He was going to die, and we saw the paradox of the cross, that in the cross of Jesus there is both shame and glory, there is judgment and freedom, defeat and victory. And as we talked about these things, I was reminding you of the centrality of the cross in the Gospel of Jesus Christ...

We were talking about Jesus coming as the light of the world that shines into the midst of the darkness, and that the only way out of our darkness is to come and live in the light, that to be a child of the light you have to believe in the light, and spend your life walking in the light.

And last week, we ended on ,

John 12:37 NASB95

But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.

We were talking about the brilliance of light shining into darkness, how it is almost more than you can take, and how those that love darkness reject light. They don’t want to be in it.

And so this morning, we’re picking up right where we left off. We’re actually going to read verse 37 again as we start this morning, but let’s turn to -

John 12:37–43 NASB95

But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.” These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him. Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

PRAY:

Thank you, you may be seated. This morning, beloved, our text draws us to a place of alarm. As we consider these things, our hearts should be drawn to a place of alarm and fear. It is a healthy fear to be afraid of unbelief.

We should be afraid, brothers and sisters, because the unbelief that we see in this passage isn’t from among the gentiles. It isn’t the teaming masses that birth this unbelief. it is among the people of God.

What we see in this passage is an indictment. It is an indictment against those that have no excuse for not seeing the truth. And this morning there are three very clear points for us that lead us to this indictment and to a warning. and the first of these points is this:

Jesus is plainly and clearly revealed to God’s people as the Messiah

John charges that, at this point, the people of God and we, who are reading, should have no doubt that Jesus is the Son of God, because the evidence is right in front of us. And John gives us no less than two reasons that we should have seen this truth for ourselves.

Look at verse 37

John 12:37 NASB95

But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.

First,

1. Jesus’ identity is revealed by His many miracles

Is it not astounding, the miracles of Jesus Christ…Don’t they boggle the mind?

Turning water to wine, Multiplying loaves and fish; healing the sick, the blind, and the lame; walking on water, seeing things happening in other places, casting out demons, raising the dead, and John tells us that there isn’t space to write down all the miracles Jesus worked.

His miracles are truly overwhelming. And though you and I can’t see them, we read of them in first hand accounts by men who died refusing to deny what they saw from Him. Even Josephus, the Jewish Historian for Rome writes of the reports of Christ’s miracles.

Jesus did things that no one but God can do. Tell me, what man has power over life and death? What power in heaven or on earth does God have that Christ does not demonstrate? Even oceans and waves bow at His feet... What need was presented that He could not meet? What illness that He could not heal...

What need was presented that He could not meet? What illness that He could not heal? And yet the great marvel of it all is that a people always eager for a sign couldn’t see it.

And yet the great marvel of it all is that a people always eager for a sign couldn’t see it. That though He showed them more miracles than they could count, they still wouldn’t believe.

Jesus’ identity is revealed by His many miracles. There is no doubt of it. But there is more. Look at verse 38:

J

John 12:38 NASB95

This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

What is he saying? What is John quoting here? He points us to Isaiah, the prophet. Let’s look at

Isaiah 53:1–3 NASB95

Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

The second way we see Jesus revealed is that

2. Jesus’ identity is revealed by the prophets.

John quotes , a passage seen as messianic by the Jews, even at the time of Christ. And what does it tell us of our Savior?

It tells us that He would be a man of humility…humble birth, house, and presentation

It tells us that He would be hated by man and it goes on to say in

Isaiah 53:5 NASB95

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.

Jesus’ identity was clearly revealed in the writings of the prophets, and yet Isaiah begins so clearly with what Jesus quotes in our passage: who has believed? Who believes what God has revealed?

What is the source of our healing? Is it not Jesus? How are we saved? Is it not through faith in Christ? Is it not through belief in the Son of God? And here we see that in prophecy and in miracles, the Son of God was so clearly revealed.

Jesus was clearly shown to them as the Son of God, that what you would expect to see here is a story of mass conversions (the Gospel among God’s people should equal changed lives).

But, there, in the city of God, among the people who should have been the closest to God, among those who were the religious, what we find is unbelief. And it turns out that this is not a new problem. Look with me, if you will at verse 39:

John 12:39–41 NASB95

For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.” These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.

Now, we look at these verses, and we say, wait a minute! Does this mean that God doesn’t want them to believe? Does this mean that God blinds them and hardens their hearts so they can’t believe?

John 12:38–41 NASB95

This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.” These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.

To really answer this, we have to talk about Isaiah for a moment. This verse comes out of Isaiah, chapter 6.

In the beginning of Isaiah chapter 6, the prophet Isaiah has a vision. He is whisked into heaven before the throne of God. He sees the glory and splendor of God...

Isaiah 6:5 NASB95

Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

In light of who God is, Isaiah, realizes his own sin. He realizes how far short of God’s glory He and all of God’s people fall. But God cleanses him.

And God asks who will go to the people, and Isaiah volunteers, and as we pick up in verse 8,

Isaiah 6:8–10 NASB95

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.’ “Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.”

God sent Isaiah to His people to warn them, to tell them the truth, to turn their hearts back to God.

But God knew that they wouldn’t listen. He knew that they would hear the truth, but it wouldn’t change anything. Israel heard God’s Word. They heard His message, His commands. They saw His wonders, and they changed NOTHING.

And verse 40 tells us that the same thing that was true in the day of Isaiah was true in the day of Christ as well. And our second main point is this: that

Those who dull to the truth, become hardened against it.

The word for hardened in verse 40 means to petrify or to turn into stone.

Look at this photo with me. This photo is from Petrified Forest National Park. This rock was once a living tree. It was a vibrant, living thing that has been hardened by time and its environment into solid rock.

Have you ever heard a truth spoken and done nothing about it? Your doctor said you needed to lose weight or it would affect your health? Your parents or your banker encouraged you to save money for the future or for emergencies, but you didn’t listen. And pretty soon, as you heard the same truth over and over again, you stopped listening to it. You stopped hearing it. Did it stop being true? No! You just had become unable to respond to it.

and then one day, the truth caught up to you but it was too late to do anything about it.

When the people of God hear the truth of God and don’t respond to it, when they don’t change because of it, when they just keep on living as though they didn’t get the message, the result is a hardened heart that is unable to respond to the truth. These people were just a bunch of hardened rocks. Petrified, unable to live.

Beloved, when you hear the truth of God, do you respond to it, or are you sitting there turning to rock?

See the truth this morning. See the glory of God in Christ Jesus! Revel in who He is! Rejoice in Him, be changed by Him! Give Him your everything. Begin to Live in His power. And never be the same again!

Verse 41 says that Isaiah said these things because He had seen the glory of the Lord. It is impossible to truly see the glory of the Lord and to remain the same as you are, unless your hardened heart of stone prevent you from seeing what is right in front of you.

It gave Isaiah no joy to say this to the people. It gave Jesus no joy to see it in them. It gave John no joy to record it in his gospel.

Let’s not be the same! As the people of God, let’s not be a bunch of rocks! Let’s live in the glory of our Lord.

Let’s continue in our text. Verse 42

John 12:42–43 NASB95

Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

Here, in these last two verses we find John’s final point in this passage. He shows us that Jesus was clearly revealed by miracles and prophecy, but that the people didn’t believe. GOD’S PEOPLE DIDN’T BELIEVE.

Some didn’t believe because they had grown so dull to the truth, they didn’t see it in front of them.

But the lot we’re looking at here are different… They fail to believe because this world was more important to them. They claimed to love God, but when it came down to it, to choosing between Him and what they might have to give up, what we find is a different story. You see,

Loving this world leads to rejection of Jesus

And you say, pastor, what do you mean? We have already turned from the cares of the world. We are here, aren’t we? We are God’s people, aren’t we? And I would say to you, beloved, that these in our passage were of the people of God. At least they claimed to be.

But don’t think that we are immune to falling into worldly trappings, even in the name of being Godly. Let me show you two ways that happens here.

John 12:42 NASB95

Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;

1. Some reject Jesus for fear of what they may lose

1. Some reject Jesus for fear of what they may lose

Jesus was leading them somewhere different. It was something new, and following Him might mean letting go of the familiar. The Pharisees weren’t going to like it.

We face this, don’t we? We’re called to do things differently, God leads us into a different direction than we’ve gone before, and the “Pharisees” cross their arms, and puff their chests.

Now, mind you, we’re moving in line with Scripture, it’s just not something the Pharisees like. They want things the same. The way it has been, and they’re not happy just being unhappy themselves, they have to threaten others too.

And they make it sound holy, oh yes. They come out with spiritual-sound reasons why they’re right to resist.

And then we get scared, and we miss what our Savior is calling us to.

Let me ask you something, friends. What if God is in that thing that you disapprove of? What if God is the one doing that thing you are complaining about? What if God is the one driving that big change that you refuse to be a part of?

What if God is the one calling you to step out in faith, but you won’t do it because either you are a Pharisee or you are afraid of a Pharisee?

What is ironic in this verse is that the people believe, but because they are afraid, they end up losing the very thing they were trying to hold onto. They wanted to be in the Temple, and friends the Temple’s Name is Jesus.

Don’t be the one that misses because of what you might lose.

Secondly, verse 43

John 12:43 NASB95

for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

2. Some reject Him to find the approval of others

You, know, fear and the love of approval are different things. They are related. They go hand in hand, but they aren’t the same thing.

All of us want to be liked. I can tell you, I want you to like me. I want you to love me. I love you! I want to be liked.

I want you to approve of the things I’m doing. I want you to. But, ultimately, I’m not answering to you. I’m answering to God. He is the one I must follow. He is the One I must lead you to.

And Sometimes it means I have to make unpopular decisions. And it means that not everyone is going to like me. In fact, some people are going to hate me. Some people are going to smile to my face, and speak ill of me when they walk outside.

And I have to make the decision, am I worried about pleasing men or am I worried about pleasing God.

And the same is true for you. Jesus said in ,

John 15:18 NASB95

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

We shouldn’t be surprised, friends, that loving Jesus and following Jesus leads us to a place that people don’t like us.

And what you need to understand this morning is that you are going to have to choose. You are going to choose which approval matters more: mans or Gods.

Because you can’t have them both. And sometimes, that is even going to be true at church. Friends, the people that John is speaking about this morning were all among God’s people.

Sometimes men and women among Christ’s body aren’t going to want to follow where He is leading us, and they are going to get mad at those who do, and we have to keep loving them, but we also need to make a choice of who it is we are here to please.

Because who you seek to please will drive what you fear. If you want to please men, you will fear failing them and what they might take from you. If you want to please God, you will fear a hardened heart and the place of the outcast more than you do the threats of men.

There is an indictment from John in these verses towards Israel, God’s chosen nation. There is a single charge against them, and in the end, it is the only one that matters, and it is this:

Indictment: God’s people chose hardened hearts and their own desires over Him.

Jesus is the Son of God. He has clearly demonstrated it to us. This morning, you are being called to believe, and to follow. Don’t be a rock. Don’t let your heart become petrified. Don’t sit where you’ve always sat and remain unmoved by what God is calling you to.

Don’t just sit there this morning, to attached to your own desires and fears to be moved from where you are and into a closer walk with Jesus this morning.

I can’t speak, for you, but I don’t want Isaiah’s words to ring true in my life, that I would hear and not perceive, that I would see and not understand. I don’t want to be blind and deaf to what the One TRUE God is showing us, only at the end of the race to find that what I was chasing was a god I fashioned in my own image.

This morning, Jesus is calling on hearts all around this room. He is calling you today. He is calling to break up that heart of stone. He is calling you to seek a new kind of approval. Beloved, if today, you hear Him calling, harden not your hearts.

Would you pray with me? Lord, Jesus we come to you this morning on our knees, with out hearts in our hands, and we lift them up before You because we don’t want to have hearts of stone. We don’t want to be among those who could have been healed, that could have been saved, but that were too comfortable to allow You to change us; that were too proud, and concerned with what others think of us to receive Your truth that will change us from the inside out. We are here today to follow Jesus. We want to believe, and to follow. We want to be changed. Lord, would today be the day! Jesus, would you help us to believe. It is in Your Name that we pray, Amen.

10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 [h]seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories [i]to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to [j]look.