Letters to the Prison - Week 146

Last week, Jesus reminded his audience (and us) to “believe in the light” (John 12:36).

John makes an observation about belief and how important it is in the verses that follow:

• Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, -John 12:37

This brings us back to what we observed last week:  For those who don’t believe, there isn’t enough proof in the world.  Jesus stood before these people, in the flesh, performing astonishing public miracles… healing the blind, feeding thousands, raising the dead… and still they did not believe.  John goes on to observe that this unbelief fulfills prophecy (John 12:38).  So, God knew this unbelief would persist… even predicted it through the prophet Isaiah.  Worse… look what John says next:

• Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”-John 12:39-40

An urgent, alarming question arises from this observation:  Did God really plan for the Jews to reject Jesus?  The (terrifying) answer is:  Yes. It was God’s will that the Jewish nation would reject, scorn, and crucify his Son. They “could not believe” because God “blinded their eyes and hardened their heart.”  What are we supposed to do with this reality? We could spend years considering the answer to this question. But let’s just briefly consider what Scripture says.  Paul, aware of this dire question, has much to say about this subject:

• What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For [God] says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” -Roman 9:14-15
• I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. -Romans 11:1-2

And:

• So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!-Romans 11:11-12

God mercifully chose to extend his offer of salvation to everyone through Israel’s rejection of Jesus. And yet there are Jews like Paul and countless others who believe in Jesus and have salvation through him. There was a plan for the Israelite nation, but individual Jews within the nation had a choice to make:  A choice about belief in Jesus.  John has more to observe about this. We’ll continue our study next week.  We love you!  

Dean A.