If you don’t believe in Jesus (John 12d)

John 12:37-50
Key verse 12:48-49

On September 4, 2018, a professor at Penn State University showed a slide to his sociology class. It read, “45 million, 24 hours.” He asked hundreds of his students if they knew what the numbers meant. A student said that it could be the number of newborn babies in a day. But it was not the answer the professor looked for. Then a girl said that probably it was a new record-breaking number of views of a music video but she didn’t know whose song it was. Then the professor said that 45 million was the new record-breaking number of a music video viewed in 24 hours from Youtube the week before and the music video was made by BTS, a Korean boyband. The professor said that it was kind of a shame that many American students who should compete in the global market did not know BTS yet because BTS was trending globally. The reason the professor introduced BTS to his students was for education purposes for sure. Let me briefly introduce BTS to you for those of you who don’t know BTS yet.

BTS is a Korean boyband of seven members. BTS hit No. 1 on Billboard 200, last year and this year. And BTS has been chosen as one of "Next Generation Leaders” by Time Magazine. They are so popular and were even invited to the UN for a speech. BTS has been on a world tour in the US, Canada, England, Netherlands, German and now in France. You will be surprised to see thousands of young people waiting for days outside the concert hall to get best seats. They don’t care about how much the admission tickets are. Some flew from other countries to see the BTS concert, spending so much money. The fans call themselves ARMY. They are worldwide from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. They enjoy all of BTS – their concerts, their songs, and their daily life videos. The fans are really crazy. Some fans fainted while watching the BTS concert. They cried out when they finally could buy the concert tickets (usually concert tickets are sold out in hours) or when they luckily saw the members in person. The fans learned Korean to understand BTS’s songs since their songs are mostly written in Korean. Many worldwide famous celebrities are members of ARMY and entertainment producers try to invite BTS to their programs.

As a Korean, I am so proud of them since they have introduced Korea to the world. But I am also sad that such a large number of young people do not respond to the gospel as they do to BTS. The BTS fans say that they are much encouraged by the theme of BTS’s songs, which is “Love yourself.” They confess that they could overcome their problems by the message of BTS. Why then do they not respond to the message of the gospel – “God loves you?” My wife and I often go out to the campus together for preaching. Most of students we meet reject our invitation to the gospel. Some students give us wrong phone numbers or wrong email addresses.  That is a typical response of this generation to Jesus. Even if you don’t know BTS, you are fine. (Actually, there are something unbiblical in their dresses, gestures, and their song lyrics.) But if you don’t know Jesus, you will be in big trouble. Why? It is because rejecting Jesus will bring serious consequences. Today, I am going to talk about the unbelief of the world and Jesus’ cry to such a world. I hope that they may hear his cry and respond. The title of my message is “If you don’t believe in Jesus.”

In the previous passage, Jesus indicated his upcoming death and its meaning. His death would be like a kernel of wheat that falls to the ground and dies and then produces many seeds. By his death, he would save many people and render glory to God. However, still many Jews did not believe in him, wondering if he was really the Messiah, though Jesus had shown them many signs. Jesus would leave them soon because he would finish his work on earth and go back to God. So, he urged them to believe in the light, which referred to himself. Then he left the crowd and hid himself from them. This indicated the completion of his public ministry and God’s coming judgment on their unbelief. Today’s passage is the concluding remarks by John the author and by Jesus on Jesus’ public ministry. John points out their unbelief in Jesus and Jesus warns them about the consequences of their unbelief. If you don’t believe in Jesus yet or you are not sure of Jesus yet, I pray that you can seriously consider the consequences of your unbelief and hesitation before God who is living and will judge you.

John’s comments on their unbelief – the prediction of Scripture

37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

This is John’s concluding remark on their unbelief. Here “they” may refer to the unbelieving crowd in the previous passage, but this likely refers to the nation of Israel in general. Here “would not believe” is in the imperfect tense, meaning that they had not believed in Jesus and did not believe and would not believe. This was very disappointing. Even though Jesus had performed many signs for them, they did not believe in Jesus. But this was already foreseen in Isaiah 53:1.

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?”

This was what Isaiah said about the Israelites in his time. Isaiah preached the Messiah who would suffer and then would be glorified. But no one would believe this. The Israelites in Jesus’ time were like the Israelites in the time of Isaiah. Actually, they not only heard about Jesus the Messiah but also saw many signs he performed. But they were so stubborn and foolish that they did not believe Jesus’ message and so did not see the power of God.

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.”

This was what God said after Isaiah saw God’s glory in the temple. (Isaiah 6:10) The nation of Israel during the rule of king Uzziah prospered. But the people became more corrupt and rebellious to God. God was so sad and grieved about this. He looked for a person who would go to them and deliver his message. Then he called Isaiah. But surprisingly God told Isaiah that they would not listen to him.

9 He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

They could not believe since God blinded their eyes and made their ears dull. Someone might ask why God hardened their hearts and they could not understand. What God said did not mean that the Israelites could not believe though they wanted. God never hardens our hearts so that we can’t understand and believe him. For example, in the book of Exodus, we can see many times that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart. (Ex 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10.1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8, 17) But we also see that Pharaoh himself hardened his own heart. (Ex 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8, 17) God can harden someone’s heart as condemnation because the person already hardens his or her heart. The more we reject God’s grace the more our heart is hardened. So the Israelites’ unbelief was their choice.

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

This verse can be understood in two ways. Isaiah saw the glory of God who sat on the throne. (Isaiah 6:1) But John says that Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus instead. Why? Earlier in 1:18, John said that he saw the glory of God in Jesus. So, in that sense, he might have said that Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory. But we should understand this verse in connection with their unbelief since John is talking about it now. It is likely that he talks about Jesus’ glory through his suffering and death, which was directly caused by their rejection and unbelief as Isaiah prophesized. Isaiah saw Jesus’ suffering and death due to their rejection. John 1:11 alludes to this: “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” HIs people did not believe in him. Yet, Jesus would be glorified nevertheless by his resurrection. So, Isaiah says in 52:13,

See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

The author John concludes that by and large the people of Israel did not believe in Jesus and rejected him as the Messiah. Jesus the Creator was rejected by his own. This generation is crazy. They reject Jesus who saves their life and loves them so much, but blindly welcome someone else, sometimes even one who says lies. As you know, it is very difficult to find one person who looks for God and hears our message. But we should not be discouraged because that was how our Lord Jesus was treated and that was what the Bible says about the world. Our rejection from people is nothing in comparison with Jesus’. But our rejection, our suffering is not meaningless at all. It is no waste at all because God surely uses our rejection and suffering for his glory.

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.

Though the majority of the Israelites did not believe in Jesus, still many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear of excommunication. For example, Nicodemus and Joseph Arimathaea believed in Jesus but did not come out until Jesus died. John comments that the real reason they did not openly acknowledge their faith was that they loved human praise more than praise from God. If they confessed their faith, they would be put out of the synagogue, which meant they would be socially and religiously excluded by his own people. These kinds of people were better than those who did not believe, but their faith was not pleasing to God. If you believe in Jesus, you should confess your faith openly. Otherwise, your faith could be incomplete and you could not truly see the power of God. You may have fear of people. But you have to decide whether you look for praise from people or praise from God. You may lose human praise if you show your faith in Jesus to people, but you will receive praise from God. Do not hide your faith. Show your faith to the world and render glory to God.

As such, though the Israelites saw many signs performed by Jesus, they would not believe in him as foreseen by Isaiah. Because of that, Jesus would suffer and die. Yet, he would be exalted and glorified. However, those who did not believe in Jesus would face serious consequences. Why?

Jesus’ final challenge and warning

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.

As he was ending his public ministry, Jesus cried out and warned about their unbelief. He said that whoever believes in him does not believe in him only but in God and that seeing Jesus is seeing God. By saying this, he meant that Jesus is God’s agent and the exact representation of God. John 1:18 says,

”No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”

Hebrews 1:3a also says,

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being,”

God sent Jesus as the light so that we humans can come out of the darkness and have life. (1:4-5; 12:35-36) Jesus is God’s greatest gift for the human race. And Jesus is God’s final offer for man to come out of darkness of sin and death. So, believing in Jesus means accepting God’s love, grace, and his sovereignty and honoring him as God. But what will happen to those who reject Jesus?

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.

Here “hears my words but does not keep them” means not believing what Jesus says. What would Jesus do with those who rejected his word? Jesus himself does not judge them now because he came to save the world. But he warned about God’s judgment on those who rejected him and his words. They should not be mistaken that they would be okay even if they reject Jesus. No, they will face horrible consequences for their unbelief. At the last day, Jesus’ word spoken to them would condemn them and they will not be able to make any excuses. God will judge them accordingly.

Here we can learn that hearing and accepting Jesus’ word is so important. Believing in Jesus means accepting his word as God’s word. So, we should pay attention to the word of God and study it diligently.

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.”

Jesus explained why God would judge those who rejected Jesus and his word. It is God who sent Jesus and Jesus spoke God’s command. His command leads to eternal life. In other words, if we accept Jesus’ word, we actually accept God’s command and his authority and power, which leads us to eternal life. But if we reject Jesus and his word, we actually reject God and his will and authority. Then what will be left for us? It is inevitable that we will face his judgment at the last day. Therefore, again studying the word of God is very crucial for our salvation. By his word, each one will be judged.

In today’s passage, we have learned what consequences we will face if we do not believe in Jesus and why. Sadly, the people of Israel rejected Jesus’ word and did not believe in him. Rather, they killed him and incurred God’s wrath upon them. This generation is the same. By and large, this generation does not believe in Jesus and rejects his word. Jesus said in Mark 9:19,

19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?”

There are many people who say, “I believe in Jesus” but do not accept his word. What is believing in Jesus? It is not believing that he was a great man in history. It is not favoring Christianity over other religions. It is truly accepting Jesus as the Son of God and living according to his word. Do you believe in Jesus? Do you openly reveal your faith? Do you live according to his word? I pray that God may enlighten our hearts and minds to see Jesus as God and accept his word. And lastly do not hide your faith but make a commitment to Jesus, and God will be pleased and will bless you so much. May the name of Jesus be upon your mouth and upon your heart. Jesus came to save this world and he is looking for ones who accept his word and believe in him. I pray that many young people may respond to Jesus’ word with their excitement as they have shown to BTS or other celebrities and believe in him so that they can be saved from sin and death. 

by David Yun