Pastor Carl (John 12:36-41) January 1, 2023
A Fulfilled Task
The RESULT of revealing Christ as the Messiah
36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,
The REALITY of hardening the heart
38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 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.”
41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
The RATIONALIZING of the truth
Have you ever disobeyed God’s direction in order to meet the approval of others?
CHALLENGE: We must share the gospel without expectation, but with obedience to God’s will and trust that the Holy Spirit does the work in the hearts of men.