"Invisible Christian"
John 12:37-50
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus is said to have done many signs before them, but the people still did not believe. This was to fulfill a prophecy from Isaiah stating the people’s eyes would be blinded and their hearts hardened. Some however, did believe but were afraid to confess faith in Jesus publicly because they were afraid they would be kicked out of the synagogue. John reveals that these who were afraid, were loved the glory that comes from man rather than God. Jesus begins to speak again declaring that whoever believes in him believes in the one who sent him. Jesus contrasts light with darkness and that he himself does not come to judge. He comes to give light. However, when people choose to not believe in Jesus they have judgment because they reject Jesus’ own words. He reminds the people that what he says, he says because the Father has given him authority to say those words. This points to Jesus’ submission to his Father.
1)"When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,”
a)Is Jesus doing signs before you and you still do not believe?
i)The signs that Jesus performed were done so that it would lead the people to faith. The people however were blind to see the purpose of the signs. Be careful if you have seen evidence of God reaching out to you and you still do not yet believe. Do not harden your heart but ask God to change your heart so that you may believe. Do not reject the evidence as truth.
b)If you are a child of God are there patterns in your life that give evidence of disbelief in Jesus after all that he has done for you? Are there patterns in your life that give evidence of disobedience to Christ after what he has done for you?
c)What patterns should be present in your life as a result of being saved through Christ’s atoning work of the cross.
i)Galatians 5:22-23:But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
ii)Galatians 2:20:I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
iii)1 Thessalonians 4:3: For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
iv)2 Corinthians 5:17:Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come
v)Colossians 3:6: Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry
2)"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”
a)What do you think this statement means?
i)God decreed that the prophet Isaiah’s ministry would have a hardening effect on his own generation. In the same way Jesus’ ministry would have a hardening effect on his own generation as we are seeing in John 12:37.
ii)It may seem mysterious and strange to us that God will use the proclamation of his words through Isaiah and Jesus would harden people. We must understand that God’s ways are not our ways and we must trust him that both the softening the hearts of some and hardening the hearts of others is good and just and according to his perfect will.
iii)The openness of faith in one’s heart is a gift of grace from God. But the unresponsive hearer hardens his heart more when God’s message is preached.
iv)Paul struggles with God’s choice of his elect in Romans 9.
v)Romans 9:1 – “I am speaking the truth in Christ – I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit – that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accused and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”
vi)Paul suffers from anguish because of his unsaved Jewish kinsmen even to the point that he wishes he was unsaved so that they may be saved. But he knows that only Christ can be a person’s substitute to bear God’s wrath.
vii)Romans 9:14 – “…for he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
viii)How can God be just if he doesn’t have mercy on some? Because God doesn’t have to save anyone and salvation is only due to God’s mercy.
ix)Romans 9:20-21– “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?”
x)Paul wrestles with God’s choice to harden the hearts of some and not others but he declares we cannot demand answers of God regarding whom he saves. He has the right to save whom he will. Although even the apostle Paul struggles with this urges Paul to be zealous for preaching the gospel to many throughout his life. Are you also feeling a sense of urgency for the lost?
xi)The fact that God chose to save us should fill us with gratitude and appreciation for what he has done on the cross for us. It should humble us that even though he didn’t have to die for us he willingly chose to do so.
3)"Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that that they would not be put out of the synagogue;”
a)Ultimately, what does John point to as the reason that those who believed did not confess Jesus publicly?
i)Verse 43 says, “for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”
b)Do you fear man more than God?
c)Do you seek the approval of those around you (co-workers, friends, family, strangers on social media) instead of the approval of God?
i)Seek man’s approval instead of God’s is an indication that you fear man more than God. This is idolatry because you have elevated those around you and their temporary opinions weigh heavier than God and his eternal factual statements about who you are.
d)Do you avoid preaching the gospel and sharing God to others around you because you are afraid of being thrown out of your clique?
e)How can you be a better disciple when others are watching?
f)How can you be a better disciple when no one is watching?
4)"Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.”
a)What does it mean to believe in Jesus?
i)Believing in Jesus does not mean praying a prayer, or going up to an altar call, or accepting Christ as your Savior. These are all means to an end. God may use these methods sometimes to truly save people but believing in Jesus is deeper than this.
ii)Believing in Jesus means you believe in his name – essentially in who he says he is.
b)Do you believe in who Jesus is?
c)Do you believe he is the son of God?
i)John 5:25
d)Do you believe by him everything was made which is made?
i)Colossians 1:16
e)Do you believe that Jesus IS GOD?
i)John 1:1; John 5:18; John 8:24; John 8:58; John 10:30-33; John 20:28; Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:5-8;
f)Do you believe that Jesus reconciles men to God?
i)2 Corinthians 5:21
g)Do you believe Jesus died in your place so you could be accepted by God?
i)2 Corinthians 5:21
h)Do you believe Jesus is the Messiah? God’s only solution to your disease called sin?
i)Ephesians 1:7
i)Do you believe that in Jesus you have eternal life?
i)Believing in Jesus means more than just saying a prayer. Believing in Jesus means that you really believe that he is who he says he is – Savior, Messiah, God, Reconciler, Substitue on the Cross, Redeemer, Healer and you really believe you are who he says you are – a sinner in deep need of all that He is.
ii)Believing in Jesus means we put our trust in his righteousness lived out while on earth and in his bearing of our sins and paid the price for our sins. He died in our place so we wouldn’t have to,
iii)Read about Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus in John 3 regarding what it means to be saved or be “born again.”