"Why Don’t People Believe In Jesus?”
John 12: 37-50
This morning’s text brings us to the end of the public ministry of Jesus and forces us to examine the question, “Why didn’t more people believe and accept Jesus as the Messiah when He came?” Sure, He had a few faithful followers, but even the inner circle of Twelve were not very solid. Judas would betray Him; Peter would deny Him and they all would desert Him in His time of great-est need.
For most of us as Christians today, we have accepted the fact that the Church is composed of mostly Gentiles. But for the Apostles it was much more difficult. They knew that the Jews were God’s chosen people and that God had sent His Messiah to them. So why didn’t the Jews welcome Jesus? This was a problem that the Apostle Paul said that caused him “great sorrow and unceasing grief” (Romans 9:2). Paul devoted Romans chapter nine through eleven to answering the question, “Why had Israel rejected Jesus?” Paul struggled with understanding why his people who had been entrusted with the Word of God, who were God’s chosen people, who were actively looking for the coming of the Messiah, fail to recognize that Jesus was the answer.
In this text John is doing his part to deal with this question. His answer is not as comprehensive as Paul’s, but both clearly emphasize God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility.
Let me set the stage by backing up just a bit to our last text in John where we were told that people did not believe in Jesus because they rejected the light they were given. In verse thirty-five we read, “Then Jesus said to them, ‘A little while long-er the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. (36) While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.”
Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12) He exhorted the Jews to believe in Him and receive the light while they had the opportunity, but because they did not believe, He went away and “hid Him-self” – ended his public ministry (v. 36).
But why would people reject the light of God? John answered that question previously in John 3:19-20, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”
People did not appreciate that the light exposed their sins, (and still don’t) because they loved their sin. Paul said something similar in his letter to the church in Rome. In Romans 1:18-21, he shows that God has clearly revealed his eternal power and divine nature through creation. But because people do not want to be accountable to God for their sin, they suppress or hold down the truth of God as the Creator of all things and choose to believe in ridiculous and unsubstantiated myths so that they can continue in their sin.
Now beginning in verse thirty-seven we read, “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, (38) that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"(39) Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: (40) "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them." (41) These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him. (42) Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue;(43)
for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. (44) Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. (45) And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. (46) I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.(47) And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. (48) He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (49) For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. (50) And I know that His command is ever-lasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."
Notice with me three factors about unbelief.
First, The Characteristics of Unbelief. (12:37-41)
Have you ever stopped and asked yourself why people will believe anything they are told except the Gospel? They are willing to believe that aliens from another world were the forefathers of the human race based on preposterous leaps of logic and yet they will reject out of hand that a loving God is our Creator!
• Unmoved by the Signs. (vv. 37-38)
? The Unbelief was Persistent. (37)
“But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him.”
John begins dealing with Israel’s unbelief by drawing attention to the miracle (John calls them “signs”) that Jesus did. John only records seven of those miracles, but he explains later in 20:30-31, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; (31) but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
The Jews to whom John is writing have seen these signs with their own eyes. Since Jesus had done such great things in their very midst, you would have expected that they would have believed and received Jesus with great joy. But they did not! But this reception had not caught God by surprise.
? It was Prophesied. (38) (Isa. 53. 1)
The prophet Isaiah had spoken words relevant to this situation and John quotes him twice in verse thirty-eight, “that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" The rejection of the messengers of God was anything but new. Although the Jews say that they respect the writings of the prophets and they read them in their worship service each Sabbath; but when these prophets were alive, they were abused, persecuted and even killed.
• Hardened in their Hearts. (vv. 39-41)
The second quote from Isaiah (Isa. 6:9-10) is the most troubling. Verse thirty-nine says, “…that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"(39) Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: (40) "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them. (41) These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.”
These words hit us hard! Surely God doesn’t mean this. Does Isaiah mean that it was God who hardened their hearts? I think he does. You might remember in the story of Moses before Pharoah in the book of Exodus, Moses is told before he ever goes before Pharaoh for the first time, “I will harden his (Pharoah’s) heart so that he will not let my people go.” (‘Exodus 4:21) We read this and our immediate response is, “Hey, that’s not fair!”
The Apostle Paul addresses that very question when he says in Romans 9:18-21, “Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. (19) You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?"(20) But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" (21) Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?”
I want you to listen to this passage the way that Eugene Peterson paraphrases this passage in “The Message” because it makes it more under-standable to me. He writes, “All we're saying is that God has the first word, initiating the action in which we play our part for good or ill. (19) Are you going to object, "So how can God blame us for anything since he's in charge of everything? If the big decisions are already made, what say do we have in it?"(20) Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn't talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, "Why did you shape me like this?" (21) Isn't it obvious that a potter has a perfect right to shape one lump of clay into a vase for holding flowers and another into a pot for cooking beans? (22) If God needs one style of pottery especially designed to show his angry displeasure (23) and another style carefully crafted to show his glorious goodness, isn't that all right?” (Romans 9:18-23)
In other words, God has the right to do what He does. The reason we sometimes don’t under-stand what He is doing is because He is still in the process, which leads to the second thing about His process. God can already see the finished product. We can’t but in the mind of the potter He already has a picture of what He want that lump of clay to become, isn’t good to know in the mind and in the heart of God He already has a picture of what you and I are going to become in Christ.
The problem is right now we are still under construction. When you look at me, I want you to remember I’m not the finished product (God’s still working on me) I have a lot of flaws and imper-fections. But the good news is God’s not through with me yet and he’s not through with you yet. We are still in process. This is a little song that most of us learned as children which says,
He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be, He's still working on me.
There really ought to be a sign upon the heart,
Don't judge him yet, there's an unfinished part.
But I'll be perfect just according to His plan
Fashioned by the Master's loving hands.
In the mirror of His Word reflections that I see.
Makes me wonder why He never gave up on me.
He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray
Remember He's the Potter, I'm the clay.
(He's Still Working On Me -by: Joel Hemphill)
Beyond the Characteristics of Unbelief we see..
Second, The Cause of Unbelief. (12:42-43)
“Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the syna-gogue; (43) for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
According to verse forty-one there were some Secret Believers – there were some believers “even among the rulers.” John does not say exactly who these rulers were, but two men come to mind,
First, there was Nicodemus, who came to Jesus in secret with his questions (John 3:1-2). And Joseph of Arimathea, who provided the tomb for the burial of Jesus (John 19:38-42). Neither of these men openly identified with Jesus during his lifetime though I believe their subsequent actions showed their faith was genuine. The problem was that the Pharisees were ready to put anyone out of the synagogue who allied with Jesus (v. 42). Since the synagogue was the center of Jewish life; and because it served as a school, a place where comm-unity affairs were discussed and a place of worship. Being excluded from the synagogue was a very harsh punishment and one that they were not ready to endure. So, because they were afraid of what others would think and do against them, they were not willing to openly declare (“confess”) their commitment to and trust in Jesus.
However, before we condemn these men for their silence, we need to ask ourselves, “Are we really that different?” The world around us cares very little about what we as Christians believe as long as we remain silent about it! Many, if not most, Christians struggle with the temptation to just blend in with world in our manner of living. Which raises the question, “Is it possible to be a secret believer in Jesus?” Perhaps, but one writer puts it, “only temporarily for either the secrecy will cancel out the belief or belief will cancel out the secrecy” [David Guzik. David Guzik Commentary on the Bible; John 12. www.studylight.org/guz/john-12. html]
From the Cause of Unbelief we move to …
Third, The Consequences of Unbelief. (12:44-50)
John draws a strong contrast between how these so-called believers who said nothing about their real beliefs and kept them secret with how Jesus spoke loudly and openly saying, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me.”
• Reasons for Belief. (vv. 44-46)
? He Spoke for God. (44)
“Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me.”
There are only five places where the Gospel records that Jesus” cried out.” Tw0 them occur as a result of His sufferings on the cross (Matt 27:46, 50; Mark 15:34). Another occurs when Jesus appealed to the crowd at the Feast of the Taber-nacles offering Himself as the “living water” (John 7:37). The fourth was at the tomb of Lazarus when He called him back to life (John 11: 43). And the fifth is found here at the end of Jesus public ministry occasioned by the final rejection of Him as the Messiah.
`Jesus now in a final call to belief He begins to give the overwhelming reasons why they should have believed. First, Jesus emphasized His unity with God the Father. To believe in Jesus was to put faith in Him who sent Jesus.
? He Revealed God. (45)
“And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.”
John in explaining the Incarnation in Chapter one, verse eighteen wrote, “No one has seen God at any time, The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” Here John says that Jesus has “declared” God. The word “declared” is (exegesto) that word that we get exegete from, to exegete means to explain. Jesus is the explanation or revelation of all that God the Father is.
? He Brought the Light. (46)
“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.”
Jesus as the Light of the world is repeatedly stressed in this Gospel (John 3:19-21, 8:12,9:5, 12:35-36) Three crucial truths, are seen here; the world is in darkness, Jesus is the light, and it is possible to be delivered from darkness.
• Responsible for Unbelief. (vv. 47-48)
The result of unbelief is to be judged and condemned. In verse forty-seven Jesus says, “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.” Which is has confused many because that there are other passages that clearly says that Jesus will “the judge of the living and the dead.” (1 Tim. 4:1) Jesus himself said, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. (32) All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.” (Matt. 25:31-32) But He is not now denying His role in the future judgement. It is the message that they have rejected that will judge them, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (v. 48)
“Rejects” (atheteo) is not a single rejection but is in present tense indicating one who contin-ually rejects Jesus. It must be noted that there is no category called "middle ground." A failure to believe (passive) is the same as actively and rebelliously rejecting Jesus.
Jesus plainly says in v.48 that there will be a “last day” and that it will be a day of judgement. Unbelievers will be held accountable for their unbelief. A. W. Pink wrote, “Every man who hears the Gospel ought to believe in Christ and those who don’t will yet be punished for this unbelief.” [A.W. Pink. “Expositions of the Gospel of John.” (Grand Rapids, Zondervan: 1975) p. 695]
Man, typically believes certain truths that they happen to like and reject other truths that they find offensive; even though the Bible clearly teaches both truths. Man is ready to believe God that God is love, because we like that truth, but reject that God is absolutely holy and righteous and He will judge people for their sins because we don’t like that!
To hear the Gospel is to be responsible to God for your response. As I already stated there will be a “last day” and there will be a Day of Judgment.But Jesus also offered a sure way of escape of that awful day. John wrote, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)
Ray Stedman deals with a question that we often hear, “Sometimes people ask, "What about those who have never heard?" But that is not the real issue. God does not condemn us for what we have not heard, but for ignoring what we have heard. The final judge is the word we have heard, the sayings of Jesus we already know. This means that those who are condemned on that day are self-condemned. They stand silent before the throne, rendered speechless by their guilty knowledge of truth they have not obeyed.”
• The Justification of Jesus. (vv. 49-50)
Notice now Jesus in His final words of His
public ministry.
? By the Authority of the Message. (49)
“For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.”
The word translated “for” can also be trans-lated “because.” Jesus says that the reason for this judgment is because the words that He speaks comes from the Father. Jesus underscores that God the Father is the ultimate and final authority.
? By the Content of the Message. (50)
“And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
Jesus stresses that He speaks what the Father has “commanded.” Jesus is not just offering divine suggestions or helpful hints on how to “Live your best life now!” Jesus has spoken in obedience “…just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” Jesus says that His command is everlasting life.” But what command is this? What commandment has everlasting life? That which the Apostle Paul so clearly summarizes in his advice given to the Philippian jailor, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” (Acts 15:331)
