Alderwood Community Church October 26, The Danger And Tragedy Of Unbelief John 12:37-50 (pg. 1066)

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1 1 Alderwood Community Church October 26, 2008 The Danger And Tragedy Of Unbelief John 12:37-50 (pg. 1066) Intro: There is something that happens to a man s hands when he works at manual labor over a period of time. As his fingers rub against the handle of a hammer or the handle of a shovel they become calloused. His hands lose their sensitivity because the friction between his hands and the tools of his trade create a callous. Our word callous comes from a Latin word meaning hard skin. These people in Jesus day had become hard hearted a callous had formed over their hearts. They were not sensitive or responsive to what Jesus was doing. The natural consequence of resisting God is spiritual insensitivity and hardness of heart. Context: John 12 records a significant transition in the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus. This is the last public teaching of Jesus recorded in John s gospel and the last of his public ministry of healing and miracles. Beginning in John 13, Jesus now just days away from his crucifixion, focus his ministry on his disciples trying to prepare them for his departure and their future ministry after his resurrection. Here at the end of John 12, John (a) explains to us the reason for the widespread unbelief on the part of the Jews, and also (b) summarizes Jesus public teaching from chapters Big Idea: Jesus Christ came to deliver people out of spiritual darkness (46) and save people from their sins (47). Read: John 12:37-50 (pg. 1066) 1. Beware of the tragic consequences of not believing in Jesus Christ! (vrs ) A. The O.T. prophet Isaiah predicted this judicial hardening. (vrs.37-41)(isaiah 53:1, Isaiah 6:10) See also: Matt. 13:14-15, Mark 4:12, Luke 8:10, Acts 28:25-28, Romans 1:24, 26, 28; 11:8 Vrs. 37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe him. (This summarizes this paragraph, vrs ) All these miracles - 1. Water into wine (2) 2. Heal officials son (4) 3. Heal cripple by the pool of Bethsaida (5) 4. Fed 5,000 (6) 5. Walked on water (6) 6. Healed blind man (9) 7. Raised Lazarus from the dead (11) John began his gospel by telling his readers that He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. John 1:11 Vrs. 38 This (unbelievable unbelief ) was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet.

2 2 This widespread, national unbelief on the part of the Jewish nation was a fulfillment of prophecy. Just as God called Isaiah to speak to the nation of Israel and forewarned him that his words would fall on deaf ears and be rejected, that the people of Isaiah s time would hear but fail to understand and believe Jehovah, God predicted through Isaiah that the nation of Israel would also reject their Messiah, Jesus Christ. Vrs For this reason they could not believe He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts. So they can neither see with their eyes nor understand with their hearts. It would be easy to draw the conclusion that these people didn t stand a chance. It seems that God has predetermined that they would not be allowed to believe because of this blindness and hardening that is caused by God Himself. This action taken by God is actually a judicial blindness but it does not dismiss human responsibility, rather it is the consequence of the human choice of unbelief. Verse 37 clearly presumes that there is human culpability! They have had many opportunities to believe but they have chosen not to. They wouldn t believe (37) therefore they couldn t believe (39). In the Synoptic Gospels (Matt, Mark, Luke) Jesus quotes this same prophecy from Isaiah 6:9-10, illustrating the principle that people who are unbelieving hear the outward words of the parables Jesus taught but they do not discern their inner meaning. In Acts 28 Paul refers again to this same judicial hardening of Isaiah 6 and tells us that the unbelief of the Jews was the reason that God s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles. When the Jews rejected Christ, Jesus then turned his focus to the rest of the world. This judicial blindness or judicial hardening settles on people who are already guilty of unbelief. When the revelation of God s truth comes we must believe. But if we refuse to believe, thus spurning God s grace, the light disappears (12:35-36). The consequence then is that God gives people over to their sinful instincts. And they plunge themselves further into sin. Read: Romans 1:24-29 (pg. 1112) This is exactly what Jesus was warning about in John 12: B. Some people secretly believe yet refuse to confess their faith in Christ because of the fear of social consequences. (vrs ) Here, there are consequences for believing. (See also: 9:21-22, Blind man s parents were afraid) There is a chance that these people were genuine secret believers. Some commentators think so, but I don t. I think they are like the superficial believers mentioned in other places in the

3 3 Scriptures, like John 6:66 when we learn From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (See also John 2:23-25 and 8:30, the parable of the soils- Matt. 13) John tells us in vrs. 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. But Jesus said How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? John 5:44 Jesus also said I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God Luke 12:8-9 Someone has said that Secret discipleship is a contradiction. For either the secrecy kills the discipleship or else the discipleship kills the secrecy. But God s heart is that all men would be saved and enter into a covenant relationship with him through faith in his Son Jesus Christ. This hardness of heart breaks the heart of God. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 2. Weigh Jesus words carefully! (vrs ) This section is a summation of his public teaching in the first 12 chapters of his gospel. Why is Jesus worthy of your belief? A. Because Jesus is God. (vrs. 44, 45 and 41) In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:1-3 He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. John 5:23 Vrs. 44 If you believe in Jesus, you believe are believing in God. To trust in one is to trust in the other. Vrs. 45 If you look at Jesus, you have looked at God. When you contemplate on the Son, you are contemplating on the Father.

4 4 The importance of the deity of Jesus Christ is that God has chosen to reveal Himself to his creation through his human Son, Jesus Christ. Do you really want to know what God is like? Then carefully study the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Vrs. 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus glory and spoke about Him. In the famous passage in Isaiah 6 when Isaiah says, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple and they (the angels) were calling together Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory. John now tells us that Isaiah is referring to Jesus Christ. John makes no distinction between Yahweh and Jesus. Jesus is Yahweh! Jesus is God Almighty Himself! B. Because Jesus words are the very words of God. (vrs ) Jesus is implying with the strongest possible terms that the saving word did not originate in any human source. It is God the Father who commanded Jesus to speak the words of eternal life. C. Because Jesus words with either condemn you (47-48) or liberate (46, 50) you based on your belief in them. This is a serious warning: Jesus does not mince his words! There will be a day of judgment! You cannot merely brush Jesus aside. If you reject Jesus gracious words now, you will have to face these very words in a future day, where these words will actually judge you. At that judgment day, you will answer for everything you have done and said. Illus: After the September 11th there was the investigation. Did the CIA, FBI, NSA have warning about the attacks? If so why was it not acted upon. If there was evidence that people were warned about it before but where ignored, then that would be enough to condemn those who had been warned. The results of the investigation found this was not the case, there was not enough evidence to prepare for the attacks on our country that day. But the point is, that if a warning is given and ignored, then the warning itself stands as a judge against those who ignored it. Whoever believes the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God s wrath remains on him. John 3:36 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderer, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. (Hell) Revelation 21:8 Put your trust in the Light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light. John 12:36

5 5 Joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12b-14 Application: 1. Believe in Jesus Christ while you still have a chance! Put your trust in the Light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light. John 12:36 Illus: Many years ago a man conned his way into the orchestra of the emperor of China although he could not play a note. Whenever the group practiced or performed, he would hold his flute against his lips, pretending to play but not making a sound. He received a modest salary and enjoyed a comfortable living. Then one day the emperor requested a solo from each musician. The flutist got nervous. There wasn t enough time to learn the instrument. He pretended to be sick, but the royal physician wasn t fooled. On the day of his solo performance, the impostor took poison and killed himself. The explanation of his suicide led to a phrase that found its way into the English language: He refused to face the music. (Just Like Jesus; Max Lucado) Today you can pretend to be a part of God s orchestra by just blending in with the crowd and going through the motions. No one notices here, because you say the right things, go to the right places, and hang out with the right people. And you can enjoy the comfort of being accepted by the crowd of your choice. But there will come a day when you must face the music, one day you will be separated from everything. On that day you will stand alone before God and give an account for your life, your decisions, and whether you believed in Jesus or not. How will you answer God on that day? What will you say when God asks you, What right do you have to come into my heaven? Will you say, I have done many good things? God will answer, Not good enough, my standard is perfection. (Rom. 3:23) Or will you say instead, I come not on my own merit but solely on the merit of Jesus Christ, who died for me. I have nothing in myself by which to commend myself to you. But Jesus died in my place. He paid the price of my sin. He bore the punishment for my transgression. 2. Share the words of Jesus Christ with a sense of urgency! Think about what is at stake! How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching (proclaiming) to them?. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! Romans 10: Live as children of light! Jesus is not only worthy of our belief, but He is worthy of our obedience.

6 6 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness. Ephesians 5:8-11 Our character is to reflect our relationship with God as His children. You are the light of the world Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14, 16 Our behavior is to reflect our relationship with God as His children.