Verses 37-41 Jesus performed so many miracles that proved his mission and power, and yet the unbelief is astounding here. People questioned him more.
The most powerful miracle cannot force faith in a prejudiced heart. Belief is a choice. One has to see the cross as God’s grace and then surrender to its power in their life.
Most of us want more answers and information, but when we get it, our doubtful heart questions it.
The Unbelief Of The People
Though their unbelief dishonors Jesus, it actually honors the Old Testament prophets who foretold this would happen back in Isaiah 53:1 and 6:10.
Isaiah said that God blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts. Why? Because they had rejected the light. Their stubborn hearts held tightly to their opinions and arguments, and they refused to allow themselves to believe.
Consequences To Unbelief
When we resist the light of Jesus, blatantly persist in rebellion against God’s law, and refuse to repent, God will blind our eyes to the Truth as just punishment, and give us over to the lusts of our flesh. This aversion to God will allow the evil spirit of Satan to do his work with those who discard the Spirit of Jesus. God gives us over to our idolatry, desires, and delusions, and denies his grace to us when we refuse to surrender to any belief in a Sovereign God outside of ourselves.
Outside Our Control
Everything about the kingdom of God is conceding that we do not have control. We did not create this world. We cannot contrive, command, or contain the course of life; it always escapes our carefully thought-out plans. Our flesh wants to determine the outcomes. But in order to see God, we must surrender to the idea that we are ultimately powerless, and that outcomes and fates are under the jurisdiction of a higher power outside ourselves.
When we surrender to God, we can discern the reality of divine things. When we accept Jesus as God, the Holy Spirit will reveal His work, help apply itself to their hearts, give understanding, and lead to repentance. Then God will purify our desires, pardon our sins, and heal our diseases.
If a person persists in pursuing darkness, eventually God will confirm his desire. (Exodus 4:21).
Following Fear Keeps Us From The Father
Verses 42-43 Many rulers believed in Jesus, but fear of retaliation kept them from confessing Him. The Pharisees would kick out any believer in Jesus from the synagogue.
The Truth is always being revealed, but many choose not to speak up for fear of being alone or ostracized from their community. We can question the sincerity of faith when we remain silent or live in fear. We are called to speak up about our faith. (Matthew 10:32-33)
Acceptance From Man
These rulers were unwilling to go public with their belief in Jesus because they loved human praise more than praise from God (the people looked at followers of Jesus as worthless). The rulers enjoyed the limelight, the reputation, being seen in all the right places, and being accepted by the chief priests (which is idolatry) more than being accepted by God.
The rulers would rather be right in the opinions of others than be right with God. When we allow fear or reasoning to run our lives, it prevents Truth from penetrating our lives. It is hypocritical to love religion when it is in fashion and people are watching. We will always come up short of the glory of God when we value the accolades and applause of others over God.
Jesus’ Mission In The World
Verses 44-45 Sometime later, Jesus makes another public appearance, which becomes his farewell sermon for the Jews. In these verses, Jesus summarizes his mission in coming into this world.
Jesus is not merely man, but equal in power and glory with the Father. Our faith does not end in Jesus on the cross but carries on to the heavens, where Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. We believe in God through Jesus as our Mediator. Whoever gets acquainted with Jesus comes to the knowledge of God. God makes himself known in the face of Jesus. And Jesus reveals to us God the Father through his Word and Spirit. Jesus is the image of the Father, his representative of divine light, law, and love. When we see Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we will see God the Father as Creator and Ruler over all.
Verse 46 When we say we believe in Jesus, we do not act or tolerate darkness. We find no comfort, joy, or hope outside of Jesus- his Word and his ways. Whatever stirs up fear, anxiety, pain, and suffering in our souls, Jesus makes a way for us to throw off the feelings and not accept them or make decisions based on them, or act in agreement with them. He delivers us from the perpetual darkness, where it seems like there is not even a bit of hope.
Judgment Is Coming
Verses 47-48 Jesus warns us about continuing to live in unbelief. It may seem like persisting infidelities, unfaithfulness, and injustices are going unpunished, but God will judge us one day.
Jesus did not come to judge the world, but to save it from the strongholds of sin. One day, God will judge those who hear Jesus’ words and yet do not believe them or continue on in their wickedness and sin. Judgment of unbelievers is unavoidable. The day of revelation of our righteous God is coming.
Jesus Comes With Patience & Grace
Jesus came to save us from these sins while we still have time. He is not quick to dismiss people who refuse to accept his grace. Jesus is patient with us and waits to be gracious. Even though he had the authority to judge, he suspended his own authority to do so. He came with his arms wide open instead of a clenched fist. He came to abolish sin with his sacrifice. In his humility to take our place, judgment for our sin is on hold for a short time.
Jesus doesn’t even need to accuse us of going wayward. Our days are miserable if Jesus, our advocate, is not involved in them.
Accountability Is Coming
God will judge everyone according to the light of His Word revealed. If we know the right thing to do and choose the evil things, we will face God’s wrath. Whatever methods God uses to introduce His word in our lives, we have a choice. We either obey or become enemies. Those who reject him will experience judgment on the last day.
Nothing causes greater suffering than abused patience, and grace being trampled on.
When we see people getting away with their sins, it may seem like mercy is triumphing over judgment now. Unfortunately, it’s an illusion from the devil. He is blinding people from the Truth. Time is running out and Judgment Day is coming, where the Divine Judge and the words of Jesus will deliver justice and sentence wrongdoers without mercy.
God’s word is a testimony against sinners and will reveal evidence of their crimes and convict them.
God’s Word On The Throne
Verse 49 Almighty God commissioned His Son to come into the world with authority to deliver His Word. This is not just Jesus’ word, a human’s word, a man’s opinion or thoughts. It’s the Father’s Word. Jesus, our Mediator, spoke intimately with His Father, received counsel, and faithfully delivered all that he heard. God directed His Son to be an agent of peace between God’s people and the Righteous Judge.
Jesus is God’s ambassador in this world.
Jesus learned and lived obedience to His Father before he ever taught it to us. God tried commanding obedience from the first man, Adam. But his disobedience ruined us. God commanded obedience from the second Adam, Jesus, and by his obedience, he saved us.
Rejecting Jesus Is Rejecting God
To reject Jesus Christ, the son of God, is to reject the Father who sent him. The one who believes in Jesus believes in the One who sent him. You cannot say you believe in God while simultaneously rejecting Jesus. We only truly come to God through the belief that His son came and died for our sins.
Those who reject or disobey Jesus and his word will perish. They clearly despise eternal life. Their own words will judge them.
Verse 50 The words God gave to Jesus deliver and draw out the fruit in our lives. It leads to and reveals eternal life. (1 John 5:11)
Prayer
Jesus, Miracle-Worker, your work surrounds me, and yet I know there are days I don’t recognize it. I’m prone to get caught up in this world and I forget the incredible blessings you are continually pouring out daily in my life. Jesus on the cross is your grace on my life and yet even that I forget to acknowledge some days. Wake up my soul, Holy Spirit. Help me see with the eyes of faith and put the questions to rest as your blessings flow through my life. I want to hold my opinions loosely and cling to your Truth. Have mercy on me, Jesus. Rebellion runs deep in my blood. I don’t want a hardened heart to the Truth, but I see the many times you’ve called me to repentance, and I disregarded the call to follow my own desires. I need your help, Holy Spirit. Keep me soft to all that you’ve done in my life. Purify my thoughts, Jesus. You are in control, not me.
I’m praying for the stubborn hearts that refuse to see you, believe in you, acknowledge you, Jesus. (Name them) Holy Spirit, I believe you are faithful to reveal yourself to them (name), giving him/her grace upon grace to see you. Soften their hearts, open their minds, and break through the walls and strongholds holding them back. Help him/her apply your word to their lives, give him/her understanding, and repent.
Help me speak Truth and not hold back in fear, Jesus. I hold your opinion of me, God, higher than all the others. Protect me from the sin of hypocrisy and chasing religion when it’s in vogue with crowds I’m around. I throw off reasoning or fear so that the Truth may break through.
Jesus, my faith lives with you in heaven on the right-hand side of God the Father. You are my Mediator, my Savior, my Truth. Reveal yourself to me, Father, through Jesus, through your Word, and your Spirit. Find a home, a resting place in my heart. Let your light break through in my life. I want to live with a view of eternity in all I say and do.
You are my hope! I do not have to listen to or tolerate darkness, anxieties, or worry. You are so patient with me, Jesus, and wait to be gracious. Help me accept this grace today and not live under the strongholds of sin. Save me from my flesh today, Jesus. I don’t want to take your grace for granted and abuse the mercy you hold for me.
Thank you for your obedience to the Father, Jesus. For being faithful even in the hard things. You hold authority and submit to authority. Thank you for this peace in my soul when I rest in your Truth. You are my hiding place. Let your fruit flow from this life of submission to you, Jesus. Draw out the fruit of your word in my life for your glory, Lord. May it reveal eternity with You, God the Father and God the Son, to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.