Main point: The unbelief of the crowd was shown in what they said to Jesus, “We have heard from the law...How can you say…?” v.34 (NET) Of the passages mentioned, Ps 89:36–37 is the most likely candidate. This verse speaks of David’s “seed” remaining forever.
They can only see 1 side of the fact. Messiah’s rulership is forever, but He was also predicted to die for us in the OT. Jesus knew more clearly about the fact than the crowd. However, they did not see their limitations, and refused to believe in Jesus. Their unbelief was seen by Jesus and therefore in His answer He repeated and said, “Walk while you have the light...While you have the light, believe in the light… v.35-36.”
From v.37-43, this kind of unbelief was not reasonable because Jesus had already performed so many signs and they still refused to believe v.37. It is just like what the people in Isaiah’s time had done. In Isaiah, The Lord had shown His power (the arm of the Lord), but no one believed v.38. As a result of their unbelief they could not believe. Now, Jesus had shown His glory and no one believed v.41. (NET) On the basis of statements like 1:14 in the prologue, the author probably put no great distinction between the two [Yahweh and Jesus]. Since the author presents Jesus as fully God (cf. John 1:1), it presents no problem to him to take words originally spoken by Isaiah of Yahweh himself and apply them to Jesus.
Reflection: Am I short-sighted of my limitations and do not submit to God when He showed me otherwise? Is my heart soft to be changed by God when He wants me to do something else?
Those who do not believe would be punished and could not believe. They would not see and would not understand. That is a serious warning.
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