Why Did Some People Accept Jesus, and Others Reject Him?

I anticipate many of us are troubled by John 12:37-42.

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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?”

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.”

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.

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Why didn’t more of the Jews believe in Jesus?

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When Isaiah the prophet was called by God (around 700 B.C.), God tells him to expect constant rejection from his people. So, when John reflects on the ministry of Jesus, he remembers that Isaiah was also rejected. In fact, the rejection was so complete that it was as if God had hardened the hearts of the Israelites to make it impossible for them to respond. Now, why would God set Isaiah up to fail? That’s the wrong way to think about it; it’s not that God set Isaiah up to fail, but that God knew that Isaiah’s ministry would be very difficult, and that though Israel would not listen, Isaiah is to preach to them anyway.

In the same way, Jesus came performing many signs and many people still refused to accept him. It’s as if God has hardened their hearts—why else would they refuse to believe?

But, John also tells us that the rejection was not total; actually, there were many people who believed, and some believed secretly.

So, John wants us to understand that the mighty works of Jesus were not enough to convince everyone of his identity. Some people were so stubborn that nothing would make them believe: it was as if God made their hearts hard and eyes blind.

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I think this means 2 things for us:

1. We should not be surprised when people in our day reject Jesus.

2. But, we should also expect people to accept him in our day.

How can you tell which group is which?

You can’t—you have to sow the seed as widely as possible with the expectation that though it might not take root everywhere, it will take root somewhere.

Today’s Scripture

John 12:20-50

Worship Must Always Be First

When Mary of Bethany—sister of Lazarus—uses priceless perfume to anoint Jesus, Judas complains that the money should have been spent on the poor instead of “wasted” in worship. In reply, Jesus rebukes him and tells him that what Mary did was right.

The temptation for us to ignore worship and move to “practical” and “important” matters is always with us, and always wrong.

Worship must always be first, because God is always first. To care more for the created things than we do for praising the Creator is to get things exactly backwards. In fact, the surest way to honor and care for the things of this world is to make worship our first priority. When God is first, then everything has a place, and everything will be “very good.” But, when we decide what we think is most important and should be first, then the world becomes disordered and broken. The reason the world is the way it is is precisely because we decide that we know better than God that which should be first.

Put God first, and the rest falls into place.

How do you need to re-order your world today?

Today’s Scripture

John 12:1-19

He Had No Idea What He Was Saying

Jerusalem was under Roman occupation at the time of Jesus, but the Jews were permitted a degree of autonomy with regard to religious matters. So, the Jewish leaders are nervous at the crowds’ enthusiasm for Jesus, because they are worried he will upset the delicate balance they had achieved with the Romans. That’s the background for this comment from Caiaphas, the high priest:

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“Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. [This is Mary, the sister of Lazarus, and John is referring to the raising of Lazarus. —AF] But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. [John 11:45-52]

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He had no idea what he was saying and he didn’t mean it in the way it happened, but that’s exactly what Jesus did: one man died for the people.

Amazing.

Today’s Scripture

John 11:45-57

No Good Options

Here’s what you need to understand about Jesus and Lazarus:

Jesus has just had to flee Jerusalem and take refuge out in the wilderness, beyond the Jordan River, because the people in Jerusalem tried to stone him. (See the immediately preceding chapter, John 10:31-39).

Then, he gets word that Lazarus, who lives right outside Jerusalem, is sick to the point of death. Here’s the problem:

• If he goes to Lazarus, he will be going to his own death;

• If he doesn’t go to Lazarus, then Lazarus will die.

It’s one or the other.

So, this is why John says:

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “‘Let us go back to Judea.’

“‘But Rabbi,’” they said, “‘a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?’”

He waits two days, but then decides to go anyway, knowing he’s going to his death.

Which prompts this reaction from Thomas:

“Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’”

At the Last Supper, Jesus will tell his disciples that the greatest love one person can show another is to lay down his life for him. With Lazarus, Jesus demonstrates the principle: he saves Lazarus, but ensures his own death.

Today’s Scripture

John 11:1-44

Jesus Celebrated Hanukkah

The “Festival of Dedication” is Hanukkah, which celebrates that rededication of the Temple under the Maccabees, about 200 years before the time of Jesus. Jesus celebrated Hanukkah. How cool is that?!

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“Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” —John 10:37-38

I think what Jesus says here makes so much sense: you can decide you don’t believe him, but you can’t deny his works. The Resurrection is hard to explain away!

Today’s Scripture

John 10:22-42

Good Shepherd or Hireling?

Jesus says that the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep, whereas the hireling flees at the first sign of danger, since he was never there for the sheep, but only to receive his wages.

Jesus is obviously The Good Shepherd, but I think the distinction he makes here is a useful one for us also.

Good leaders are like good shepherds—they give of themselves for their people.

Bad leaders are like hirelings—they are only in it for the position.

Today, keep your eyes open—is this or that person a good shepherd, or a hireling?

Today’s Scripture

John 10:1-21

One of the Coolest Guys in the Bible

You read this and tell me how it’s possible to NOT love this unnamed man, born blind and healed by Jesus at age 38.

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A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”

Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”

The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”

Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

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What a cool guy! May we all have his stubborn, commonsense courage.

Today’s Scripture

John 9:24-41

Evil Makes God's Glory Greater

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

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I like what Andreas Köstenberger has to say about this:

“The thought here is that even evil ultimately contributes to the greater glory of God. This is true supremely of human sinfulness resulting in Christ’s crucifixion…. Another instance of this dynamic is Pharaoh at the exodus.”

—Andreas J. Kostenberger, John (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

Today’s Scripture

John 9:1-23

1 Personal Note and 2 Quick Thoughts on Today's Reading

Happy Thanksgiving!

One of the things I’m thankful for is that you folks actually read these little posts every day. There’s just one month left—let’s finish strong!

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“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

-John 8:31-32

Notice the reoccurring theme?

1. True disciples are those who actually do what Jesus said;

2. If you do what he says, then you’ll know the truth.

Obey first, and gain insight second.

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“‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’ At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.”

-John 8:58

The reason they get so angry is because “I Am” is how God identifies himself to Moses on Exodus chapter 3. Jesus is here claiming to be Israel’s God, which the Jews take to be blasphemy.

Here’s the question:

If you had been a devout Jew at the time of Jesus, how would you have responded to him?

Today’s Scripture

John 8:31-59

Jesus Makes Everything Make Sense

In the dark, it’s hard to see things clearly. What looks like a monster in your bedroom at night turns out to be only that old rocking chair in the morning.

Jesus is the light of the world, and one of the things he does is shine light into confusing and dark places.

In fact, John wants us to understand that reality itself only makes sense in the light of the Word made flesh. Even the Crucifixion makes sense, in light of the Resurrection.

Where in your life do you need the light of Christ to shine today?

Today’s Scripture

John 8:12-30

"Go and Sin No More"

Jesus’s words to the woman caught in the act of adultery remind me of John 3:17:

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Jesus knows that if the woman persists in sin, it will go badly for her, and his desire is that she would have eternal life.

He wants the same thing for you, which is why he also wants you to turn away from sin and toward him.

What sin can you turn aside from today?

Today’s Scripture

John 7:53-8:11

The Pharisees Should Come to Munger on Xmas Eve

Some quick geographic notes. Galilee is the northern part of Israel; Jerusalem is in Judea, which is separated from the Galilee by Samaria. Bethlehem is a little town near Jerusalem.

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The Old Testament prophets had foretold that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem; Jesus, however, was raised in Nazareth in Galilee, and did much of his ministry there. So, this is why the Pharisees are sure that Jesus can’t be the Messiah—since he’s from Galilee. But, we know what they don’t: that he was raised in Galilee, but born in Bethlehem.

The Pharisees should come to Munger on Christmas Eve, and then they would hear the Christmas story:

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. [Luke 2:1-7]

Today’s Scripture

John 7:45-52

Rivers of Living Water

It’s a dramatic scene: on the last day of the Festival of Tabernacles, after keeping a low profile, Jesus stands up in the midst of the crowds in the Temple Courts and shouts:

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” —John 7:37-38

What a beautiful image of life in the Holy Spirit—when he is at work in your life, it feels as if an inexhaustible source of refreshment and joy is flowing through you.

Yes, Lord!

Today’s Scripture

John 7:32-44

The Only Way to Know If What Jesus Says Is True

Jesus says that there is only one way to know if what he says is true:

You just have to do it.

“Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” —John 7:17

We wish it were vice versa, but it isn’t. We wish we could somehow find out if what he says is true before trying to actually do what he says, but that’s not how it works.

Just do it. And then you’ll know.

Today’s Scripture

John 7:14-31

Tent Camping in the Bible

A little background on today’s passage:

When the Lord brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before eventually entering the Promised Land. During that 40 year period, they lived in tents, and at the center of the encampment was the tabernacle, the place where God’s presence manifested itself. (You can read about this in the Book of Exodus.)

As the Lord prepared the people to enter the Promised Land, he gave them a series of laws to guide their national life. One set of laws dealt with religious holidays. The last holiday mentioned was the Festival of Booths or Tabernacles, which was meant to remind the Israelites of their time wandering in the desert:

“‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”

Leviticus 23:39-43

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Even today, Jews in Jerusalem will move out of their houses and apartments for a week and live in temporary shelters, in observance of The Festival of Tabernacles.

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Today’s Scripture

John 7:1-13

"Where Would We Go?"

Somehow we enlightened modern Americans think we’re the only ones who’ve ever been offended by Jesus.

In fact, Jesus has always been offensive.

Now, it’s true that Jesus offends different cultures in different ways. But, it’s very clear that Jesus has been offensive since the very beginning.

(Why else would they have wanted to kill him?)

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After Jesus has driven off lots of his followers because of his offensive statements on eating his body and drinking his blood (seriously, he said that!), he turns to the Twelve and asks,

“Are you going to leave, too?”

I love Simon Peter’s response:

“Where would we go?”

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What else is there? Where would we go, if we left?

Politics?

Socialism?

Hedonism?

Commercialism?

Career success?

New Age philosophy?

Eastern spirituality?

Where would we go?

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Jesus is life. And there’s nothing else.

Today’s Scripture

John 6:60-71

Bread of Life

There are whole libraries to be said about this passage, but I also think the basic meaning is clear:

food and drink are things that become a part of who you are.

When Jesus is saying that he is the bread of life, he is saying that his followers need to incorporate him into every part of their lives.

Today’s Scripture

John 6:25-59

The Sea of Galilee

For the rest of my life, I will never read of Jesus on the Sea of Galilee and not SEE it, having been there earlier this year. Jesus actually walked on this water!

Today’s Scripture

John 6:16-24

Pickled Fish

Apparently, they were probably pickled fish. The “two small fish” that the boy had? The word John uses here to tell us about the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 is a word that implies that they were probably small, pickled fish, meant to be eaten as a side dish on small barley cakes.

There’s something about that detail that makes the story vividly real to me.

A small boy with two little pickled fish….

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I love Andrew’s question, when he presents the five barley loaves and the two small fish to Jesus:

“But what are they among so many"?”

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Chances are you feel you don’t have enough today:

• not enough time;

• not enough money;

• not enough influence;

• not enough love;

• not enough patience;

• etc.

In the face of THAT, how is what I have enough?

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The answer: even what we have is enough when we give it to the Lord.

What do you need to put in the Lord’s hands today?

Today’s Scripture

John 6:1-15

Good Short Summary of John 5

Andreas Kostenberger has a good summary of John 5, which we finish reading today:

“For John, then, this fourth sign by Jesus [the healing of the lame man] points beyond itself to who Jesus is: the eternal life-giver. Tragically, Jesus’ opponents, in their concern for legal obedience, miss the coming of the one who is life itself; in their concern for the study of the Scriptures, they miss the coming of the one of whom the Scriptures spoke (5:39-40, 45-47); and their discipleship of Moses keeps them from following their Messiah (9:28).”

—Andreas J. Kostenberger, John (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament)

Today’s Scripture

John 5:31-47