For This Reason, They Did Not Believe

It was the end of Jesus’ public ministry (Jn 12:36). The Apostle John introduced Jesus at the beginning of his Gospel, as the One who was Light, not comprehended by the darkness (Jn 1:5). Now, at the end, Jesus warned the crowd to believe in the Light (Jn 12:36). Jesus had previously taught that He was the Light of the world (Jn 8:12). The promise was that those who came to Him would no longer walk in darkness. Instead, they would have the Light of Life (Jesus Himself).

John’s Gospel presents a series of eyewitnesses to the miraculous healings and even resurrections from the dead (Jn 5, 9, 11). The witnesses to the identity and validity of Jesus Messiah were listed in John 5 by Jesus Himself. Still, people were not believing in Him (Jn 12:37). They heard His teaching and saw His godliness (for He was God incarnate — John 1:14); but they did not believe He was Messiah, the Son of God, sent to them by Yahweh.

Each person is conceived in sin (Ps 51:5; Rom 5:12), born an unbeliever (1 Cor 2:14), into a world of unbelief (2 Cor 4:4). He must hear the preacher proclaiming Christ crucified (1 Cor 1:18, 23; 2:2, 4), for faith comes by hearing (Rom 10:17). God’s elect, redeemed are brought forth by the Word of God (Jas 1:18), which is planted in the good soil of his regenerated heart (Ezek 36:26; Mt 13:8, 23). He is born again (Jn 3:1–8; Eph 1:13; 1 Pet 1:3), that is, made alive from the dead by the Spirit of truth (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13). The Spirit of Christ, now indwelling those to whom He gave life (Jn 6:63), employs the Word of truth to sanctify us (Jn 17:17; Rom 15:16; 1 Cor 6:11; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2).

John goes on to quote the prophet Isaiah (c. 700 B.C.), regarding those who did not believe in Jesus Christ (Jn 12:37). During His earthly ministry, Jesus Messiah came to His own people, the Jews; but they did not receive Him (Jn 1:11; 12:37). They did not believe His report (Is 53:1). Now, John quotes Isaiah again in declaring they could not believe in Jesus (Jn 12:38–40). We remember Isaiah being undone at his view to “Him” who sits on the throne (Is 6:5). John identifies “Him” as the pre-incarnate Christ (Jn 12:41).

Isaiah saw Christ’s glory; and during Jesus’ incarnate earthly ministry, Israel beheld Messiah’s glory through godliness, teaching, and miracles. All Jesus did was to perfection. His life was the Light for men to see the truth. They did not see, however, because they could not see, save for a remnant.

The Apostle John notes that “many even of the rulers believed in Him (Jn 12:42);” but they were learning that it is costly to follow Jesus. John notes two costly deterrents to true discipleship (Jn 12:42–43). Men do not approve of Jesus (Rom 1:30; Jn 7:7; 15:18–25), so one loses the approval of men when he commits to following Christ (Jn 12:43).

Second, there is the fear of being ostracized from positions of privilege and prominence. For the Jews, they would be excommunicated from the synagogue for confessing faith in Jesus (Jn 9:22; 16:2). Synagogues were the center of community life. To be put out of the synagogue had familial, social, and economic repercussions. One would be losing his life in order to follow Christ.

With every exposure to Christ, the accountability factor rises. God’s Law demands compliance, but only the deluded imagine God is happy with his or her obedience. Only Jesus, the only begotten Son, ever received commendation from Yahweh (Mt 3:17; 17:5; Mk 1:11; Lk 3:22; 2 Pet 1:17). Only Jesus merited righteousness (right standing before the holy God). He was like us, yet without sin (Heb 4:15).

God commands all people, everywhere to repent of their sinful rebellion against Him, by turning in faith to Christ (Acts 16:31; 17:30). He calls all people to trust Christ (Prv 3:5–6). It is their responsibility to pay for their sins (crimes against God’s Law). Only Jesus can pay the ransom price to release a person from their sins, however (Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45). The blood of His cross is the only acceptable currency with Yahweh.

If a man is blind, he cannot see light. If a man is lame, he cannot walk. If a man is deceived, he does not have the truth. If a man is dead, he can do nothing. Apart from Christ (who is Life — Jn 14:6), you can do nothing pleasing to God (Jn 15:5). It requires faith in Jesus in order to please God (Heb 11:6).

The ambition of the Christian is to please God because those who received Christ have also received the gift of faith to believe in Him (2 Cor 5:9; Eph 2:8–9; Phil 1:29). The gift of God to His elect, redeemed people is the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Jn 14:17; Acts 2:38; 10:45; Rom 8:9, 11). The Spirit is the token of God’s love (2 Cor 5:5), which is poured out in one’s heart (Rom 5:5), when the Father and the Son send the Spirit to that one (Jn 14:26; 15:26), causing him to be born again of God (1 Pet 1:3).

The Holy Spirit is sent to those who belong to Christ (1 Cor 3:23). Those who belong to Christ were given to Him by God the Father before the world began (Jn 6:37; 17:2, 6, 24; 2 Tim 1:9; Rev 13:8; 17:8; 21:27). Christ purchased God’s chosen ones with His blood for a price (Acts 20:28; 1 Cor 6:20; 7:23). He redeemed them (Gal 3:13; 4:5; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet 1:19). He ransomed them (Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45). They are His people, the sheep of His pasture, and He is their God (Ps 23; Jer 31:33; Jn 10).

By giving them a heart transplant (Ezek 36:26) and by giving them sight to see He is Light and Life, they now have the truth that sets them free from bondage to pleasing men and loving the world (Jn 12:43; 1 Jn 2:15). Christ has done all of this for His beloved bride, His church, who belongs to Him (1 Cor 3:23; Eph 5:25). The others do not believe in Jesus for this reason…they do not belong to Him (Jn 10:26).

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

March 3, 2024

John 12:37–43