NIV Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 53
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12:25
tMt 10:39; Mk 8:35
12:26
14:3; 17:24
uJn
12:27
26:38,39
11:25
xver 23
vMt
wMt
12:28
3:17
yMt
12:30
zJn 11:42
12:31
16:11
14:30; 16:11
aJn
bJn
12:32
cver 34; Jn 3:14;
8:28
dJn 6:44
12:33
eJn 18:32
12:34
fPs 110:4; Isa 9:7;
Eze 37:25; Da 7:14
gMt 8:20
hJn 3:14
12:35
iver 46
jEph 5:8
k1Jn 2:11
12:36
lLk 16:8
mJn 8:59
12:37
nJn 2:11
12:38
oIsa 53:1; Ro 10:16
12:40
pIsa 6:10; Mt 13:13,15
12:41
qIsa 6:1-4
rLk 24:27
12:42
sver 11; Jn 7:48
tJn 7:13
uJn 9:22
12:43
5:44
vJn
•
J ohn 1 2 : 4 3
seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25Anyone who loves their life will lose it,
while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it t for eternal life. 26Whoever
serves me must follow me; and w
here I am, my servant also will be. u My Father will
honor the one who serves me.
27“Now my soul is troubled, v and what shall I say? ‘Father, w save me from this hour’? x
No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!”
gain.” 29The
Then a v
oice came from heaven, y “I have glorified it, and will glorify it a
crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spo
ken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, z not mine. 31Now is the time for judg
ment on this world; a now the prince of this world b will be driven out. 32And I, when I
am lifted up a from the earth, c will draw all people to myself.” d 33He said this to show
the kind of death he was going to die. e
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain for
ever, f so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man g must be lifted up’? h Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light i just a little while longer. Walk
while you have the light, j before darkness overtakes you. k Whoever walks in the dark
does not know where they are going. 36Believe in the light while you have the l ight, so
that you may become children of light.” l When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and
hid himself from them. m
Most of the People Do Not Believe in Jesus (186 )
37 Even after Jesus had performed so many s
igns n in their presence, they still would
not believe in him. 38This 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?” b o
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.” c p
41 Isaiah
said this because he saw Jesus’ glory q and spoke about him. r
at the same time many even a
mong the leaders believed in him. s But because
of the Pharisees t they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be
put out of the synagogue; u 43for they loved human praise more than praise from God. v
42 Yet
a
32 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted. b 38 Isaiah 53:1 c 40 Isaiah 6:10
12:32-34 The crowd could not believe what Jesus was saying about a
Messiah who would die. They were waving palm branches for a victorious
Messiah who would set up a political, earthly kingdom that would never
end. From their reading of certain Scriptures, they thought the Messiah
would never die (Psalms 89:35-36; 110:4; Isaiah 9:7). Other passages,
however, showed that he would (Isaiah 53:5-9). Jesus’ words did not
mesh with their concept of the Messiah; they were more interested in an
immediate victory over Rome than an eternal victory over evil and death.
First he had to suffer and die—then he would one day set up his eternal
kingdom. What kind of Messiah, or Savior, are you seeking? Beware of
trying to force Jesus into your own mold. He won’t fit.
12:35-36 Jesus said he would be with them in person for only a short
time, and they should benefit from being in his presence while they had
it. Like a light shining in a dark place, he would point out the way they
should walk. If they walked in his light, they would become “children of
light,” revealing the truth and pointing people to God. As Christians, we are
to be Christ’s light bearers, letting his light shine through us. How brightly
is your light shining? Can others see Jesus in your actions?
12:37-38 Jesus had performed many miracles, but most people still
didn’t believe in him. Likewise, many today won’t believe despite all God
does. Don’t be discouraged if your witness for Jesus doesn’t turn as many
to him as you’d like. Continue as a faithful witness. You are responsible for
reaching out to others, but they are responsible for their own decisions.
12:39-41 People in Jesus’ time, like those in the time of Isaiah, would
not believe despite the evidence (12:37). As a result, God hardened their
hearts. Does that mean God intentionally prevented these people from
believing in him? No, he simply confirmed their own choices. After a
lifetime of resisting God, they had become so set in their ways that they
wouldn’t even try to understand Jesus’ message. For such people, it is
virtually impossible to come to God—by their own choosing, their hearts
have become permanently set against him. Other instances of hardened
hearts because of constant stubbornness are recorded in Exodus 9:12;
Romans 1:24-28; and 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12.
12:42-43 Along with those who refused to believe, many believed but
refused to admit it. Ultimately this did no good, and Jesus had strong
words for such people (see Matthew 10:32-33). Those who will not
take a stand for Jesus are usually afraid of rejection or ridicule and how
that might affect their relationships or livelihood. Many Jewish leaders
wouldn’t admit to faith in Jesus because they feared excommunication
from the synagogue, which would end many of their long-standing
relationships and impact their livelihood by causing them to lose their
prestigious place in the community. But the praise of others is fickle and