Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

HOOK

Last Friday right here at “The Message” there were plenty of souls who either profess their faith Jesus for the first time, or re-affirmed their faith in Him

When Jesus predicted His death, the narrative from the events and conversation that took place taught us that

I WILL WALK WITH JESUS TO FULFILL THE FATHER’S WILL FOR MY LIFE

It also led us to the most important question you’ll ever encounter..

DO YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS?

After this, John wrote about the “Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

We will split this section of this chapter into two, today and tomorrow, then on Wednesday, we shall start with Chapter 13 [Yehey!]

Open your Bible to JOHN 12:37-43, and you know what to do when you get there, type Amen!

CHARACTER, COMMAND, PROMISES, CONVICTIONS, EXAMPLES, CHALLENGES AND ENCOURAGEMENT

Read JOHN 12:37-43

BOOK

John 12:37–43 NIV

37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. 42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

LOOK

THEY STILL WOULD NOT BELIEVE HIM

Even after Jesus had performed so many signs— Why?

THIS WAS TO FULFILL THE WORD OF ISAIAH THE PROPHET

John quoted exactly what Isaiah said in his prophecy about Jesus in ISAIAH 53:1 & ISAIAH 6:10

HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HARDENED THEIR HEARTS

This quote from Isaiah follows Isaiah’s prophetic warnings

The people have already been warned, but they ignored the prophet yet again— so God will no longer tell them His will

These people have perpetually choses to disobey God’s will

God uses their disobedience for greater purpose

MANY EVEN AMONG THE LEADERS BELIEVE IN HIM

But because of the Pharisees, they would not openly acknowledge their faith, why?— because of fear that they would be put out of the synagogue

What is a Synagogue— SHOW HOME SYNAGOGUE

FOR THEY LOVED HUMAN PRAISE MORE THAN PRAISE FROM GOD

This character is something we all inherited from birth

We all have the natural tendency of earning praises from people rather than praises from God

But look, Paul said something about this in GALATIANS 1:10

TOOK

I WILL PROFESS MY FAITH IN GOD EVEN PEOPLE REJECTS ME

I WILL PLEASE GOD RATHER THAN PLEASE PEOPLE