12:37 Although Jesus had performed so many miraculous signs before them, they still refused to believe in him
12:42 Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they would not confess Jesus to be the Christ
For the Gospel of John, the resurrection of Lazarus was the last miracle. After this chapter will be the Last Supper. This is the time if anyone want to believe in Jesus, but people had made up their mind to refuse Him. Their unbelief received their judgment , they would not be able to believe anymore.
For the Gospel of John, the resurrection of Lazarus was the last miracle. After this chapter will be the Last Supper. This is the time if anyone want to believe in Jesus, but people had made up their mind to refuse Him. Their unbelief received their judgment , they would not be able to believe anymore.
v.39 For this reason they could not believe...
12:40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
so that they would not see with their eyes
and understand with their heart,
and turn to me, and I would heal them.”
(BKC) Because they constantly rejected God’s revelation, He had punished them with judicial blindness and deadened … hearts. People in Jesus’ day, like those in Isaiah’s day, refused to believe. They “would not believe” (John 12:37); therefore they could not believe (v. 39). Similar illustrations of God’s punishing of persistent sin by hardening are common (Ex. 9:12; Rom. 1:24, 26, 28; 2 Thes. 2:8–12).
and hardened their heart,
so that they would not see with their eyes
and understand with their heart,
and turn to me, and I would heal them.”
(BKC) Because they constantly rejected God’s revelation, He had punished them with judicial blindness and deadened … hearts. People in Jesus’ day, like those in Isaiah’s day, refused to believe. They “would not believe” (John 12:37); therefore they could not believe (v. 39). Similar illustrations of God’s punishing of persistent sin by hardening are common (Ex. 9:12; Rom. 1:24, 26, 28; 2 Thes. 2:8–12).
Reflection: Pray for our loved ones that they would not reject God's message up to the point that God would punished them and let them unable to believe.
God would only bear with unbelief to a certain limit and then judgment would come. Do we have any unbelief in our hearts? Do we have any unbelief in our action?
Audrey
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