Flashback Episode — The Challenging Side-Note: John 12:37-50

Part way through Jesus’ ministry, the gospel of John adds a side-note that gives us a glimpse into the mindset of the religious leaders living in the first century. In this side-note, John tells us two prophecies that Isaiah gave which were unfortunately fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry.

I wonder if John wrote this side-note with these prophecies to not only give us a perspective on the Jewish leaders, but to also challenge us to not make the same mistake as they did.

Let’s read what John wrote, from the gospel of John, chapter 12, using the Good News Translation. Starting in verse 37, John tells us that:

³⁷ Even though he [Jesus] had performed all these miracles in their presence, they did not believe in him, ³⁸ so that what the prophet Isaiah had said might come true:

“Lord, who believed the message we told?
    To whom did the Lord reveal his power?”

³⁹ And so they were not able to believe, because Isaiah also said,

⁴⁰ “God has blinded their eyes
    and closed their minds,
so that their eyes would not see,
    and their minds would not understand,
    and they would not turn to me, says God,
    for me to heal them.”

⁴¹ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

Let’s pause reading here to draw our attention to an important point. A simple reading might make us think that God did not want the Jewish leaders to believe in Jesus. However, this was far from the truth. While God is seen as the active agent in the second prophecy, He is likely not needed at all in this prophecy since the leaders easily closed themselves off to Jesus – likely without God’s help at all.

I believe the reason Isaiah tells us that God blinded these leaders’ eyes is that it was the ministry of Jesus, specifically the way Jesus focused and directed His ministry, that pushed them away. The light, love, and warmth Jesus radiated throughout His time on earth melted hearts that were receptive to His love, but it also hardened hearts that were defensive to Him and His message. It is like saying that the same sun will either melt butter or harden clay. What matters most in the polarizing effect that Jesus had is the state of the person’s heart.

Let’s continue reading, because we will learn of a third group of people. While the first group openly followed Jesus and believed in Him, and the second group openly rejected Him with hard hearts, there is a third group that John tells us about. Picking back up in verse 42, we read:

⁴² Even then, many Jewish authorities believed in Jesus; but because of the Pharisees they did not talk about it openly, so as not to be expelled from the synagogue. ⁴³ They loved human approval rather than the approval of God.

Let’s pause again to focus on something that was just said. John tells us that there was a group of Jewish leaders who believed in Jesus, but “They loved human approval rather than the approval of God.” (v. 43)

These leaders were “secret followers” because they feared the Pharisees and did not want to be expelled from their synagogues. Some of us might fit into this group of people, because this group is known as people who believe in God, but they don’t let or want their belief to be visible in their lives.

The fearful, secret followers of Jesus, we could describe as spiritual chameleons; these believers actively adapt into whatever social setting they are in. In a worldly setting, they act to fit in, but in church on the weekend, they act differently in order to fit in as well. While they may believe they are being a light, they miss the idea that a light is only as good as how brightly seen it is. By blending in, secret followers of Jesus dim their lights and they cheapen their witness.

However, while John is finished sharing the side-note, he picks back up sharing a powerful statement Jesus says to the crowd which likely was filled with each of the three types of people we have been talking about. Continuing in verse 44, we read:

⁴⁴ Jesus said in a loud voice, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in him who sent me. ⁴⁵ Whoever sees me sees also him who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. ⁴⁷ If people hear my message and do not obey it, I will not judge them. I came, not to judge the world, but to save it. ⁴⁸ Those who reject me and do not accept my message have one who will judge them. The words I have spoken will be their judge on the last day! ⁴⁹ This is true, because I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has commanded me what I must say and speak. ⁵⁰ And I know that his command brings eternal life. What I say, then, is what the Father has told me to say.”

Jesus’ big promise to us here is that He is not the one who will judge. While this might ease our minds a little, Jesus is quick to point out that just because He isn’t the judge doesn’t mean that there won’t be a judge. Jesus directly states that His words and His message will judge them, and it isn’t because He said them, it is because His words and His message came from the Father.

Note here that the emphasis is not simply on hearing Jesus’ message. The emphasis is on obeying it. Rejecting Jesus and His message is the same as hearing it and not obeying it. These people fall under judgment, because they reject the free gift that Jesus has offered.

Jesus closes His message here by saying that He knows that God’s message and His commands bring eternal life, and that the things He says – which presumably include what He just finished saying – are what the Father has told Him to say.

God did not send Jesus into the world to fill the role of judge. The world has too many people in it claiming that role. Instead, Jesus came into the world as a Messenger, a Healer, and a Savior. Jesus came into this world to show us what God is really like.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always open by challenging you, intentionally seek God first in your life and purposefully pay attention to the things He has commanded. When discovering something that God has commanded, resolve to apply what you learned into your life. Seek to grow towards God and ask Him to melt your heart rather than harden it.

Also, as I regularly challenge you to do, choose to personally pray and study the Bible for yourself to learn what God has commanded, and what God has laid as a foundation for our faith and belief in Him. While other people have opinions, God wants to reveal His truth to you that is found only through personally studying the Bible.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or walk away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!