BELIEVING IN JESUS

 John 12:37-50 / Keywords 12:46

 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

 

 Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

12:37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message

    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”[h]

39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

40 “He has blinded their eyes

    and hardened their hearts,

so they can neither see with their eyes,

    nor understand with their hearts,

    nor turn—and I would heal them.”[i]

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. 49 For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Footnotes

h. John 12:38 Isaiah 53:1

i. John 12:40 Isaiah 6:10

1. In its Greek and Latin roots, “believe” means “to put one’s faith in.” It is more a matter of heart than a matter of intellectual acknowledgment of doctrine. Although Jesus performed many signs, people still refused to put their faith in Jesus. He represented God very differently than what was understood at the time, and even those who did believe were afraid to challenge the religious authorities.

 

2. Believing in Jesus is not an easy thing to do. There are many things in the world that conflict with the way that Jesus lived and taught. Jesus challenges us to be born again. Even as Christians, we can be born again. I need to daily believe and give my heart to a God of grace and love, who sought to serve rather than be served, to save rather than to judge, and to give his life rather than protect it. Believing in Jesus is living in the light of his grace. In him is eternal life.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to put my faith in you and know God who has great mercy on me. May I entrust my life in your loving hands.

One Word Believe in Jesus