MMwM Episode 2022-1

John 12:36–50 ESV

36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 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, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 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.” 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. 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. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 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. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 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.”

vv 36-43 John’s Narrative

Jesus is NOT the Problem with Unbelief

He did many signs

THEY did not believe - then first OT passage from Isaiah 53:1

Isaiah 53:1 ESV

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Then LIKE PHAROAH The situation is moved from THEIR unwillingness to believe to God’s Judicial Hardening. John quotes Isaiah 6:10

Isaiah 6:10 ESV

10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

So Once again we are reminded that during this Age of Grace, or as some call it the Church Age, the central matter is whether or not we are persuaded and as a result do we believe?

IF we do not believe, we, like those Jews who did not believe MAY receive additional hardening from God.

Isaiah was speaking and making it clear that hardening does not rob God of His Glory. The Problem IS NOT GOD. The Problem IS NOT JESUS - it is we who may refuse to hear and be persuaded thus choosing to live in unbelief.

BUT, Always Hold out for the GOOD NEWS - notice “nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him...”

Was their belief perfect? No, they still harbored fear, they still trusted in earthly/manmade glory more than God’s glory or literally that glory that proceeds from God.

It was belief, but there were imperfections, impurities… this reminds me of the time when Peter begs of Jesus, “Lord, help my unbelief...”

You and I are no different. There are imperfections and impurities in our belief. yet, somehow God who expects more will deal with us as believers.

It is those who refuse to be convinced that He casts aside and hardens. Sometimes to their ultimate destruction as with Pharoah, and sometimes to their deliverance as with Nebuchadnezzar

vv. 44-50 By What Standard Are They (and we) Judged?

Jesus now moves our understanding forward so that we understand the STANDARD by which those who refuse to be persuaded and thus believe are to be judged.

Notice how He reminds us that He has come into the word as a light, so that whoever - there we have it again - anyone that believes in Him may not remain in darkness.

When you shift your allegiance to Christ through belief in Him, you are in the PRESENCE of light. Your sin, your world, your circumstance, your word-view, your private thoughts are all now illuminated.

This alone should cause those who truly believe to daily praise God, because all of those things are demonstrations of how weak we truly are.

Back to our text, v. 47 - “if you hear my words and do not keep them” This is not as some think “simple doing/actions” no it is rather guard, be a sentinel - protect in relationship to one’s self. So this is that we keep them in focus, primary in our life...

But moving on to v. 48 the person who does not guard them, moves on to rejection… notice not of the words, but rather because they did not guard His words, they reject HIM - the idea is to declare Him invalid, to nullify Him - to CANCEL HIM in their life, and do not RECEIVE His words

They have a judge… On that Last day HIS WORDS which were not guarded WILL JUDGE.

Jesus, in His earthly ministry has spoken the commandment of eternal life - which is believe on him - which are the words come down from the Heavenly Father.

Be careful. GUARD the words of Christ in your life. Do not Cancel Jesus and do not reject or throw away His Words - for if you do THEY will be your judge in the last day.

Believe on Jesus, Take to no trust in your own deeds and merit. Stay in the light by Abiding in Christ, for our Master is gentle and desires our salvation.

God bless, see you next Monday, Lord willing.