Read
37He had worked a lot of miracles among the people, but they were still not willing to have faith in him. 38 This happened so that what the prophet Isaiah had said would come true,
“Lord, who has believed
our message?
And who has seen
your mighty strength?”
39The people could not have faith in Jesus, because Isaiah had also said,
40 “The Lord has blinded
the eyes of the people,
and he has made
the people stubborn.
He did this so that they
could not see
or understand,
and so that they
would not turn to the Lord
and be healed.”
41Isaiah said this, because he saw the glory of Jesus and spoke about him. 42Even then, many of the leaders put their faith in Jesus, but they did not tell anyone about it. The Pharisees had already given orders for the people not to have anything to do with anyone who had faith in Jesus. 43And besides, the leaders liked praise from others more than they liked praise from God.
Jesus Came To Save
44In a loud voice Jesus said:
Everyone who has faith in me also has faith in the one who sent me. 45And everyone who has seen me has seen the one who sent me. 46I am the light that has come into the world. No one who has faith in me will stay in the dark.
47I am not the one who will judge those who refuse to obey my teachings. I came to save the people of this world, not to be their judge. 48But everyone who rejects me and my teachings will be judged on the last day by what I have said. 49I don't speak on my own. I say only what the Father who sent me has told me to say. 50I know that his commands will bring eternal life. This is why I tell you exactly what the Father has told me.
Reflect
With his ministry over and all the miracles and teaching done, Jesus’ (paraphrased) challenge is, “You have all the evidence. Now, make your choice!”
Indeed, what more do you need to choose Christ?
Fresh miracles today won’t do. Jesus fed 5,000 people with two loaves of bread and two fish. He healed diseases, walked on water, changed water into wine, calmed storms, and raised the dead. People were impressed, but most didn’t believe.
Better preaching won’t do. Jesus drew great crowds with his preaching and teaching, but most listeners didn’t believe.
Even God’s direct promptings won’t do. The rich young ruler walked away from Jesus when he told him what he didn’t want to hear.
Why do we so stubbornly resist belief? John quotes Isaiah to explain why, saying God makes people blind and stubborn. But neither Isaiah nor John is blaming God. God only makes people blind and stubborn in the sense that he allows them to harden their hearts, making belief virtually impossible. But God wants everyone to believe (2 Peter 3:9).
And that brings us to the point of Jesus’ ministry. You either believe in him or you don’t. Jesus lays out the stark choice, and avoiding a decision is choosing not to believe. Will you, or will you not, respond to Jesus?
John wrote his gospel specifically to bring you to this decision (20:31).
If you haven’t yet responded to God’s love for you, will you?
If you have responded, will you allow the Holy Spirit to develop you to reflect God’s character?
Today is decision day. Set aside whatever holds you back, bask in God’s love, and write yourself into theStory as it continues to unfold.
Respond
My Saviour, you humbly came to earth to live, die and rise again so I could live eternally as God’s friend. I believe, but help me in my unbelief so that I may represent you well, and help others come to belief too. In your name, Amen.
John Pellowe
John Pellowe is the CEO of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities, an association of 3,200 Christian churches and agencies. His passion is to help ministry leaders reflect on the application of their faith to their leadership practices in order that how ministries operate is as much a presentation of the Gospel as what they do.