John 12: 36-43

 

36While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.’

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them. 37Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 38This was to fulfil the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

‘Lord, who has believed our message,
  and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’
39And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said,
40 ‘He has blinded their eyes
  and hardened their heart,
so that they might not look with their eyes,
  and understand with their heart and turn—
  and I would heal them.’

41Isaiah said this because* he saw his glory and spoke about him.42Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God.

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Reflection:

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Whenever a new baby is around, we often hear, “Who does she look like?” “She is the spittin’ image of her daddy,” or “he has his mother’s eyes.” Children do grow to reflect their parents in appearance, certain behaviors, or personality traits. If we have come to believe in Jesus, as His children, we reflect Jesus. 

In the Old Testament we read of the nation of Israel rejecting God many times over their history. In this quote from Isaiah, Isaiah is speaking to his contemporaries while prophesying of Jesus and the Jewish nation of His time. This is a very difficult passage and takes more time for study.

It isn’t surprising to read many of the Jews actually believed after the many signs Jesus had performed and ways He had shown His deity. But as John points out, their fear of their own rejections kept them from acknowledging to others their belief in Jesus as Messiah. What might have occurred if they had? After all of the many ways God has loved and rescued this nation of Israel, His chosen people, they still can’t turn their hearts over to God. 

The children of Israel are not unique. If we are honest with ourselves, it is likely we might have done the same thing - or are doing the same thing. When are the times you find it difficult to fully turn your heart over to God? When is it hard to trust Him rather than seek to control things with our power? What do you need to trust Him with today?