Hardened Hearts and the Fear of Man
December 27, 2021
Commentary
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 (NET)
37 Although Jesus had performed so many miraculous signs before them, they still refused to believe in him, 38 so that the word of the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled. He said, “Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, because again Isaiah said,
40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and understand with their heart, and turn to me, and I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said these things because he saw Christ’s glory, and spoke about him.
42 Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they would not confess Jesus to be the Christ, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue. 43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
44 But Jesus shouted out, “The one who believes in me does not believe in me, but in the one who sent me, 45 and the one who sees me sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day. 49 For I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Thus the things I say, I say just as the Father has told me.”
Illustration: George Patton’s Solution to his Fears
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 sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn’t so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands.” Years later, when Patton’s autobiography was published, it contained this significant statement by the general, “I learned very early in my life never to let my fears take control of me.” (Source unknown).