John 9:1-12
Contentment in Any Circumstance
John 9:13-23
Trouble with the Jewish Leaders
John 9:24-34
The Testimony of the Healed Man
John 9:35-41
The Pharisees Blindless
John 10:14-30
The Good Shepherd Knows His Sheep
John 10:22-30
Rejected by the Religious Leaders
John 10:31-42
Renewed Efforts to Stone Jesus
John 11:1-6
News of Lazarus’ Death
John 11:7-16
The Disciples Warn Jesus About Going to Judea
John 11:17-27
Jesus at the home of Mary and Martha
John 11:28-37
Emotions of Jesus
John 11:38-44
Jesus Calls Lazarus Forth From the Grave
John 11:45-52
The Sanhedrin plot to kill Jesus
John 11:53-57
The People arrive for the Passover
John 12:1-11
Mary Anoints Jesus’ Feet
John 12:12-19
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem
John 12:20-26
Some Greeks Seek Jesus
John 12:27-36
Jesus Predicts His Death
John 12:37-50
Hardened Hearts and the Fear of Man
John 13:1-11
Humbleness, Holiness and Happiness
John 13:12-20
Happiness Comes by Serving Others
John 13:21-30
Jesus Prediction of His Betrayal
John 13:31-38
Christ’s Farewell Sermon to His Disciples
John 14:1-7
Jesus Encourages the Troubled Disciples
John 14:8-14
The Measure, Means, and Might of Prayer
John 14:15-24
The Holy Spirit’s Dwelling in Believers
John 14:25-31
The Disciple’s Question
John 15:1-11
The Pruning Process
Hardened Hearts and the Fear of Man
John 12:37–50
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During World War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in Sicily. When he praised Patton highly for his courage and bravery, the general replied, “Sir, I am not a brave man ... The truth is, I am a coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in … More
In this passage, there were those who would not believe and there were those who would not openly confess Christ even though they had believed. The first group, despite all Jesus’ miraculous signs, still would not believe in Him (vv. 37-38). This rejection had been prophesied by Isaiah (v.38). They rejected both what they had heard and what they had seen. When a person refuses to believe God’s Word, something begins to change within them, and they come to the place where they cannot believe. Their eyes are blinded (vv. 39-41). God never prevents people from being converted, but He may sometimes harden the heart. Therefore, it is a serious thing to treat God’s Word lightly.
Then there were those who some would classify as “secret believers.” They wanted the best of both worlds. They believed on Jesus, but for fear of being put out of the synagogue, they did not openly confess Him (v. 42). They feared men’s opinions and loved men’s praise (v. 43). Many people reject the truth simply because of the fear of man. Someone has said, “It is better to fear God and go to heaven than to fear men and go to hell!” Knowing Christ means knowing the Father. Seeing Christ means seeing the Father (vv. 44-45).
Jesus said that no one who has faith in Him would be in the dark (v. 46). His purpose is not to judge but to save (John 3:18), but if the sinner will not trust the Savior, the Savior must become the judge (v. 47). It is an awesome thought that the unbeliever will face at the Great White Throne judgment every bit of Scripture that he has ever read or heard (v. 48). Jesus explained how He only said what the father had told Him to say (vv. 48-50). The Father’s commands lead to eternal life.
Application
What are some of the fears that hold me back from sharing my faith with others? It doesn’t matter what people think; it is what God knows that counts. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (II Tim. 1:7).
John 12:37-50 (English Standard Version)
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