John 12:36
“believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”
God is In Control: Hardened Hearts and The Praise of Man
John 12:37-43
37 Even though he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet, who said:�Lord, who has believed our message?�And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? (John 12:37-38)
39 This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said:
40 He has blinded their eyes�and hardened their hearts,�so that they would not see with their eyes�or understand with their hearts,�and turn,�and I would heal them.
41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke about him. (John 12:39-41)
42 Nevertheless, many did believe in him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, so that they would not be banned from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise more than praise from God. (John 12:42-43)
37 Even though he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet, who said:�Lord, who has believed our message?�And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? (John 12:37-38)
The Seven Miraculous Signs Record in John’s Gospel
Turning Water into Wine (John 2:1–11)
1
Cleansing the Temple (John 2:12–17)
2
Healing the Nobleman’s Son (John 4:46–54)
3
Healing the Lame Man (John 5:1–15)
4
Feeding the Multitude (5000) (John 6:1–15)
5
Healing the Blind Man (John 9)
6
Raising Lazarus (John 11)
7
John 20:30
“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.”
37 Even though he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet, who said:�Lord, who has believed our message?�And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? (John 12:37-38)
37 Even though he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet, who said:�Lord, who has believed our message?�And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? (John 12:37-38)
John 12:38 = Isaiah 53:1
Isaiah 53:2-3
“2 He grew up before him like a young plant�and like a root out of dry ground.�He didn’t have an impressive form�or majesty that we should look at him,�no appearance that we should desire him.�3 He was despised and rejected by men,�a man of suffering who knew what sickness was.�He was like someone people turned away from; �he was despised, and we didn’t value him.
37 Even though he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet, who said:�Lord, who has believed our message?�And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? (John 12:37-38)
John Piper, Desiring God
“It was in dying that he became the Savior of the world — my Savior, yours. The unbelief of Israel — Jesus’s rejection by his own people — was the path that God planned for him so that he would die in our place and make salvation possible for the whole world.”
39 This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said:
40 He has blinded their eyes�and hardened their hearts,�so that they would not see with their eyes�or understand with their hearts,�and turn,�and I would heal them.
41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke about him. (John 12:39-41)
John 12:40 = Isaiah 6:10
Isaiah 6:8-10
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking:
Who will I send?�Who will go for us?
I said:
Here I am. Send me.
9 And he replied:
Go! Say to these people:�Keep listening, but do not understand;�keep looking, but do not perceive.�10 Make the minds of these people dull;�deafen their ears and blind their eyes;�otherwise they might see with their eyes�and hear with their ears,�understand with their minds,�turn back, and be healed.
39 This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said:
40 He has blinded their eyes�and hardened their hearts,�so that they would not see with their eyes�or understand with their hearts,�and turn,�and I would heal them.
41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke about him. (John 12:39-41)
John Piper
“In other words, it looks like the way God planned to blind and harden many in Israel was by sending them a Messiah whom he knew they were wired to reject. They did not want his lowliness and they did not want his pretensions to glorious deity. But that’s what they would get, and God knew the effect that it would have, and he sent him anyway, and thus blinded them with the human weakness and divine glory of Jesus.”
1.) The Hardening of Man’s Heart and God’s Sovereignty�
John 12:38-40
Ex. 4:21
The Lord instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, make sure you do before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he won’t let the people go.
1Samuel 9:16
“Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When he afflicted them, didn’t they send Israel away, and Israel left?”
Kenneth Laing Harris, ESV Study Bible Commentary
“The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is referred to throughout chs. 4–14 with the implication that Pharaoh is answerable for his own actions – �“But when Pharaoh saw there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.” (Ex. 8:15)
John 3:18
“Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.”
What This Text is NOT SAYING
God knows who are saved and who are not saved, so there’s no point in sharing the Gospel.
Your trials and challenges do not mean that God has rejected you. (James 1:2)
Facing challenges does not mean that God has hardened your heart.
We accountable for the revelation given to us.
Application
For anyone who has yet to pull their full trust in Jesus, you are without excuse today. You must respond:
For all here who proclaim faith and trust in Christ:
42 Nevertheless, many did believe in him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, so that they would not be banned from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise more than praise from God. (John 12:42-43)
2.) The Love of Human Praise More than the Praise that Comes from God.�
John 12:42-43
42 Nevertheless, many did believe in him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, so that they would not be banned from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise more than praise from God. (John 12:42-43)
42 Nevertheless, many did believe in him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, so that they would not be banned from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise more than praise from God. (John 12:42-43)
John 9:21-22
21 “But we don’t know how he now sees, and we don’t know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he’s of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed him as the Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue.
John 5:44
“44 How can you believe, since you accept glory from one another but don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?”
Matthew 10:32-33
32 “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven.
The Sacrifice and Display of a Being a Christian
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.” (Romans 12:1)
Colossians 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.
1Peter 3:14-15
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
Application
Reject a passive faith.
Be on display for Christ.
You are an ambassador for Christ. Does the world know it? Be ready to give an account for your hope.
Recap
Remember God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Responsibility
Pursue the Praise of God More than the Praise of Man.
Let’s Discuss
What is your takeaway from today’s message?
What is your greatest learning or challenge from the first or second point today?