The Unbelief of the People
37But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.38This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:
“Lord, who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?”
39But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,
40“The Lord has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts—so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and have me heal them.”
41Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory.42Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.43For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.
44Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me.45For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me.46I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.47I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it.48But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.49I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.50And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”
Jesus is quickly coming to the end of his mission. In this passage he is basically telling us that he has preached his sermons and done his miracles and now was the time of decision. Now was the time to either believe, or not believe. John quotes the prophet Isaiah who clearly predicted the Messiah would be rejected by many. The second quotation from Isaiah says that their hearts had been hardened by God. I’ll admit I find this somewhat confusing. I think when we come into the presence of God, and reject him, our hearts are hardened by that experience, but I don’t know if that totally explains the verse. I also believe God has the right to reveal himself to whomever he chooses that doesn’t totally make this clear either. This is a difficult verse that we simply must accept.
But what does it all mean to us, right now? The fact that you are reading this shows you are in the presence of the Light of the World through the Word. You and I, because of this, are called to walk with Jesus in that light every day of our lives. We are to know him, and know the Father through the indwelling Holy Spirit. If we, who are in the light, reject this calling and try to live a worldly life, our hearts will harden.
Lord, open my eyes to your Word so I can understand it better and help me to accept those things I do not understand. Help me to boldly walk in your light and live in your love and. Soften my heart Lord, change me. *obbs*
