The Gospel of John. Preparation For The Coming Hour ~ Part 5 John 12:37-50

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1 The Gospel of John Preparation For The Coming Hour ~ Part 5 John 12:37-50 I N HIS INTRODUCTION TO HIS COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 53, Sanford Mills expresses his views on the importance of Isaiah by giving the following account. An account of Isaiah s death is thus described in the rabbinical writings: It is related in the Talmud that Rabbi Simeon ben Azzi found in Jerusalem an account wherein it was written that Manasseh killed Isaiah. Manasseh said to Isaiah, Moses, thy master, said, There shall no man see God and live (Ex. 33:20, Hebrew); but thou hast said, I saw the Lord seated upon his throne (Isa. 6:1, Hebrew), and went on to point out other contradictions, as between Deut. 4:7 and Isaiah. 55:6. Isaiah thought: I know that he will not accept my explanations; why should I increase his guilt? He then uttered the Unpronounceable Name ( ), a cedar-tree opened, and Isaiah disappeared within it. Then Manasseh ordered the cedar to be sawn asunder, and when the saw reached his mouth Isaiah died; thus was he punished for having said, I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips (Yeb. 49b). A somewhat different version of this legend is given in the Uerushalmi (Sanhedrin Y). According to that version Isaiah, fearing Manasseh, hid himself in a cedar-tree, but his presence was betrayed by the fringes of his garment, and Manasseh caused the tree to be sawn in half. The Jewish Encyclopedia, Funk & Wagnalls, Co., New York, Page 636. The Rabbis think that in greatness Isaiah is placed second only to Moses. To me Isaiah is the greatest of all Old Testament Prophets. He is even more than a prophet. He is the Old Testament Evangelist. He is to the Old Testament what the Apostle John and John the Baptist are to the New Testament. 1 What is ironic about this is, while acknowledging Isaiah s greatness, of all scripture Judaism finds this section of Isaiah probably the most difficult to handle. This is most obvious quoting the words of one Orthodox Rabbi to Mills. If I accept the Old Testament as I should, I must confess that you are right. It does portray many facets in the life of Jesus Christ. But since I do not believe in Jesus, I do not accept this portion of Isaiah. 2 Mills responds by saying: Did you ever run across reasoning more illogical and circuitous than this? 3 VII The Christ Revealed to Israel Chapter 2:1-12:50 U. The Countdown To Passover Chapter 12: Day 5 Verses a. Christ s Entry Verses b. Christ s Hour Verses c. Christ s Rejection Verses Mills, Sanford C., A Hebrew Christian Looks at Isaiah Fifty-Three, American Board of Missions to the Jews, New York, NY, 1971, p. iii-vi. 2 Ibid., p. vii. 3 Ibid.

2 Introduction: So since I didn t finish up this section last week I had a bit of a problem. I didn t want to start Chapter 13 in conjunction with this one because I want to give the Passover celebration the attention it s due. Accordingly I had to figure out what I could touch on that would flow into the balance of Chapter 12. As we move on to the Last Supper and into Passion Week the focus is on the Suffering Messiah. As the culture around us deteriorates we have the opportunity to present the magnitude of God s love to this pagan society as we show them the Messiah. And Presentation of truth is our calling, regardless of the response. And with what we ve seen in this chapter, the general rejection of Jesus, we simultaneously we also see individuals come to Him. But more on that in a moment. c. Christ s Rejection: i. The Sovereignty of God: One of the truths of the Gospel is the fact God planned for it from before the beginning of time. We know this but sometimes I think we take it for granted. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel (Gen 3:15 ESV). But John didn t take these truths for granted in that he shows how Isaiah, who wrote almost 800 plus years earlier, presented such a clear picture of the Messiah that much later Jewish theologians would have to rewrite their understanding of scripture in order to ignore Him. Buksbazen reminds us of this when he says: Generally there is little difference between Jewish and Christian translations of this majestic passage of Isaiah, apart from a few words of secondary importance. However, there is a profound and basic difference in the interpretation of the text. Ancient Jewish tradition has for many centuries seen in Isaiah 53 the portrait of the suffering servant of God, the Messiah, a view which still is held to this day by most Orthodox Jews. However, at the end of the 11th century A.D., Jewish commentators began to assert that Isaiah had in mind Israel who suffers innocently for the sins of all nations. 4 What caused this radical change in the rabbinical position? Behind this change lies the tragic Jewish experience during the Crusades. After the end of the First Crusade in 1096 A.D., when the Crusaders, in their misguided zeal attempted to wrest the Holy Sepulcher from the Muslims, became aware that the infidels were not only the pagan Muslims in far away Palestine, but also the Christ-killing Jews who were living in their very midst, in so-called Christian Europe. Encouraged by their fanatical leaders and frequently incited by high-ranking clerics, the Crusaders massacred the Jews, especially those who lived in France, Italy, and Germany. Thousands were butchered, their synagogues burned and their possessions pillaged. This horrible experience, which lasted for almost two centuries, left a traumatic impact on the Jews, comparable only to their later experience under Hitler. From that time on, their revulsion against everything that the Christians believed or represented became more violent and hostile than ever before. And since the Christians in their frequent disputes with the Jews used Isaiah 53 as one of their main arguments for the Messiahship of Jesus, the Jews felt impelled to reinterpret this prophecy in such a way as to blunt the Christian argument. 4 Buksbazen, Victor, The Prophet Isaiah, In Two Volumes, The Spearhead Press, Collingswood, NJ, 1971, p ) 300 (

3 Another compelling reason for the abandonment was the fact that many Jews themselves became convinced that there is a cogent and strong argument for the Christian position. In fact many Jews actually converted to the Christian faith as a result of the Christian-Jewish disputations of the Middle Ages. 5 Christians following Jewish tradition, have from the very beginning, maintained that Isaiah 53 is an amazing prophecy concerning Jesus, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world John 1:29. 6 Let s stop for a moment and meditate on this. It isn t just that the whole plan of salvation was put in place before Creation. God has chosen us before Creation as well. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will (Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:5, 11 ESV). For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10 ESV). And so God is in control from the very beginning, including drawing those to Him who are called and hardening the hearts of those who have already rejected Him. Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in front of them. But they still would not believe in him. This happened as Isaiah the prophet had said it would. He had said, Lord, who has believed what we ve been saying? Who has seen the Lord s saving power? For this reason, they could not believe. As Isaiah says in another place, The Lord has blinded their eyes. He has closed their minds. So they can t see with their eyes. They can t understand with their minds. They can t turn to the Lord. If they could, he would heal them. Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus glory and spoke about him. At the same time that Jesus did those miracles, many of the leaders believed in him. (John 12:37 42 NIRV). ii. Recap: Now I want to recap what we ve already seen in this last section of John Chapter 12. John describes the reality of what Isaiah had prophesied many years before. God s Messiah was to be rejected by the very people He came to save. He was rejected because the powers that be had become so hardened that they were closed to the truth. But even this was used by God because their rejection was part of the path leading to the Cross. But even though we are told by John that the national rejection was inevitable, as foretold by Isaiah, there were still individuals from all strata of life. 5 Ibid, p Ibid, p ) 301 (

4 Verses 44-50: It is a bit unclear as to the context of these last words. Since John says Jesus cried out it may be that these are the last words He gave to the crowd as He was living. It also may be that John simply chooses these words as a summary of Jesus Messianic claims in general. In any case, Jesus say that belief in Him is belief in God. This is consistent with 1 st John. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son (1 John 5:10 ESV). The incarnation s purpose was: to allow the world to see the Father in seeing Christ; to be a testimony to God s righteousness, but primarily to be the sacrifice for the sin of mankind. He came to say what the Father has called Him to say because with the incarnation He chose to be submissive to the Father and the Father had said many years before I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. (Deuteronomy 18:18 ESV). Accordingly, at the first coming Jesus had no intention of judging people but to save them. This isn t to say those who reject Christ won t be judged. They will be judged during the final judgment at the Great White Throne. And the underlying reason for this judgment, says Christ, is in rejecting Him they reject he Father. And so Jesus kept the Father s command. According to Adam Clark in this case a better choice of word would be commission rather than command. He spoke as the Father directed. And His words are the words of eternal life. To accept them brings eternal life and to rejected means eternal death that is eternal separation from the Father. Conclusion: Probably one of the most important truths when dealing with difficult passages related to God s hardening hearts is to remember God is righteous and just. And while we may not understand His actions, we are not to judge them by human standards. Even if God actually did choose not to allow people to come to Him, which I don t think is the case, He would not do so unless it was a righteous act. God is our creator and can do no wrong. All He does is to His own glory and in keeping with His Character. This is just as true here as it was the case in God s treatment of Pharaoh. Or as Paul put it. What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills (Romans 9:14 18 ESV). ) 302 (

5 We have faith in God because He has demonstrated His faithfulness. We trust Him because He was willing to humble Himself, suffer, and die for us! These are the foundational truths we must remember as we share the Gospel and are told I would never follow a god who would! Remember, though we are to witness to unbelievers most will remain hardened in their rejection. Second, even though most reject the Gospel some are saved. Third, it is the Holy Spirit who brings people under conviction and saves, not us. And fourth, even those who reject the Gospel will judged because of that rejection. God s word always accomplishes His purposes. His purposes are defined by Him, not by us. so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11 ESV). Finally, even when God closes eyes and hardens hearts, no one is lost who desires to be saved. In other words, God hardens hearts in the direction those hearts have already chosen. Our responsibility is first to live the truth. We are not to be like those who, because they were part of the Sanhedrin kept their faith quiet. It doesn t matter if American culture says faith is personal and doesn t belong in the public market place. The Biblical Culture, Jesus says You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (Mat 5:14 16 ESV). And it is only as we strive to live the truth, and I know we don t always succeed, that we have the credibility to give the truth which, even if it is the Sprit who saves, is necessary. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, The righteous shall live by faith (Romans 1:16 17 ESV). How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation (Isaiah 52:7 ESV). ) 303 (

6 The Gospel of John Preparation For The Coming Hour ~ Part 5 John 12:37-50 VII The Christ Revealed to Israel Chapter 2:1-12:50 U. The Countdown To Passover Chapter 12: Day 5 Verses a. Christ s Entry Verses b. Christ s Hour Verses c. Christ s Rejection Verses Introduction: c. Christ s Rejection: i. The Sovereignty of God: (Genesis 3:15; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:5, 11, 2:10; John 12:37 42)

7 ii. Recap: Verses 44-50: (1 John 5:10; Deuteronomy 18:18) Conclusion: (Romans 9:14 18; Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 5:14 16; Romans 1:16 17; Isaiah 52:7) Personal Application: This week meditate on and praise God for the truth that He chose you personally for salvation before He even created the universe. Prayer for the Week: Lord help me live in a way that is consistent with the blessing of You knowing me before the beginning of time. In Jesus name, amen.