12:37-50 Belief and unbelief

March 27, 2021

Read John 12:37-50

Despite the many signs Jesus had done most of the Jews “would not believe in him” (37), just as Isaiah had foretold (38; Isaiah 53:1). In fact, says John, based on Isaiah 6:9-10 they “could not” (39-40; Matt.13:14-15; Acts 28:26-27). This does not mean that the Jews were predestined to reject Jesus, for John has already emphasised that the choice was theirs (3:19-21). However, even human responsibility is ultimately subject to God’s purpose. In this case, the result of Jewish unbelief was that “God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles” (Acts 28:28).

Amazingly, John now claims that what Isaiah saw was the glory of Jesus, a prominent theme in this section (41; 11:4,40; 12:16,23,28; Isaiah 6:1-3). Many of the Jewish leaders recognised his glory and “believed in him” (42; 1:14) – clearly those who were willing to believe could do so. But willingness was very costly for those who “loved human praise (literally glory) more than praise (glory) from God” (43). The tragedy was that most of them rejected the glory of God revealed in Jesus rather than risk being rejected by their fellow men. We too can make the same mistake.

A final challenging conclusion declares that Jesus had come from the Father (45) and therefore to believe in Jesus is to believe in the Father himself (44-45). Those who believe will know light instead of darkness (46; 8:12). Though the coming of Jesus inevitably means judgment for those who reject and disobey him, it is people’s own action in response to his words that causes their judgment; the purpose of Jesus is not to judge the world but to save it (47-48; 3:17-18). He can do that because he has come from the Father, speaking the Father’s words (49). So to all who believe what Jesus says, God gives eternal life (50; 20:31).