John Bible Study - Lesson 34

John Bible Study - Lesson 34

Read the passage below using the 2 different Bible translations:

John 12:37-50 New International Version (NIV)

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

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?”^[a]

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.”^[b]

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.”

John 12:37-50 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Unbelief of the People

³⁷ But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. ³⁸ This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:

“Lord, who has believed our message?
    To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?”^[a]

³⁹ But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,

⁴⁰ “The Lord has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts—
so that their eyes cannot see,
    and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
    and have me heal them.”^[b]

⁴¹ Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. ⁴² Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. ⁴³ For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

⁴⁴ Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. ⁴⁵ For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. ⁴⁷ I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. ⁴⁸ But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. ⁴⁹ I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. ⁵⁰ And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”

Note:

Here are the 3 questions for you to answer. I have given some basic answers below the questions to help you understand the passage. Answer the questions first yourself before you look at my answers. Take a moment before you begin and ask God to help you understand what you are reading.

3 questions to answer:

1.    Content: What is this passage about?

2.    Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

3.    Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

Answers to the questions above and some background:

Content: What is this passage about?

·        Despite all the miraculous signs Jesus performed many still did not believe in Him.

·        The prophet Isaiah predicted many would reject the Messiah.

·        Many people did believe in Jesus and some of those were the Jewish leaders.

·        The Jewish leaders who believed in Jesus would not admit their belief out of fear of being expelled from the synagogue.  The Jewish leaders loved human praise more than the praise of God.

·        Jesus, speaking to the crowds reminded them that those who believed in Him also believed in the Father who sent Him.

·        Jesus again reminds the people that He has come as the light and that whoever believes in Him will no longer live in darkness.

·        Jesus tells the crowd that He has come to save the world and not to judge it. However, Jesus also tells them when He returns He will return to judge the unbelieving world.

·        Jesus has been given authority from the Father to speak about His mission and purpose and what will happen to believers and non-believers.

·        Jesus said that only faith and belief in Him lead to eternal life and that He says whatever the Father commands Him to say. 

Lesson: What do I learn from this passage?

·        The Prophets from the Bible like Isaiah foretell what is going to happen with amazing accuracy.

·        God uses prophecy to send a message to His people reminding them that they can trust God and His plan for their lives.

·        God sent Jesus to fulfill His plan of salvation.

·        Jesus used miraculous signs to help people believe in what God had promised about His plan. Even with amount of Jesus’ miraculous signs proving that God had truly sent the Messiah and that Messiah was Jesus, many were still not convinced of this fact.

·        People hardened their hearts due to the fact the Jewish leaders had convinced them the Messiah had not yet come.

·        People’s lives in that day were centered on the synagogue and the Jewish community. That is why people feared believing in Jesus because they knew they would be expelled from the Synagogue and would be scorned by the Jewish community. This same fear exists today in every community. Those that do believe live in fear of persecution.

God’s Word tells us to not be ashamed of the gospel:

Romans 1:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. ¹⁷ This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

God’s Word exhorts us to share the hope we have:

1 Peter 3:15-16 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

·        Those who reveal their faith do so with courage and conviction and are willing to be persecuted for the sake of the gospel.

·        Part of the human condition is to seek the praise of men over the praise of God. Many seek to have fame and fortune even at the cost of losing their own soul.

God’s Word explains why it is important not to forfeit ones relationship with God over gaining the things of this world:

Matthew 16:25-26 New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁵ If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. ²⁶ And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

Jesus has authority from God to deliver and carry out His plan of salvation. God sent Jesus the Messiah to save His people:

Luke 9:35 New International Version (NIV)

A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

John 3:16 New International Version (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 Timothy 2:1-4New International Version (NIV)

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Acts 2:22-24 New International Version (NIV)

²² “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. ²³ This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,^[a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. ²⁴ But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

John 1:12-13 New International Version (NIV)

¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Jesus is the light of the world:

John 8:12 New International Version (NIV)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

We are to put our trust in God:

Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

God has a good purpose and plan for those who love him:

Romans 8:28 New International Version (NIV)

 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Jesus came to save us now. Judgement will come when He returns and we will be judged according to our deeds:

John 3:16-17 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Acts 17:30-31 New Living Translation (NLT)

³⁰ “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. ³¹ For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

Matthew 16:27 New Living Translation (NLT)

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.

Application: How can I apply what I have learned to my life?

·        Take to heart all God has commanded from His people.

·        Two of the greatest commandments are love God and love your neighbor.  

·        Be thankful that God provided a way for people to be saved.

·        Share the hope you have with others.

·        Do not fear persecution as God will never leave you nor forsake you.

Don’t forget:

John’s main purpose in writing this Gospel:

·        To tell the world that Jesus is the Messiah for the Jews and Gentiles

·        The events were recorded so that we might believe and have eternal life

John 20:30-31 New International Version (NIV)

The Purpose of John’s Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Questions to ponder:

·        How are you living set apart to God?

·        What is motivating your fear if any of following Jesus?

·        Do you trust God to provide and equip you to fulfill His purpose in your life?

·        What do you center your life on?

·        What is your foundation?

·        Do you live with an eternal perspective?

Have a great week…………….Dave