They Saw the Light. Why Didn’t they Believe?

As Jesus’ public ministry draws to a close in John 12, we encounter a troubling question: Why did people reject Jesus when the Light of the World stood before them?

Focus Engagement: John 12:27-36

Golden Passages:

*Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified… Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. John 12:23, 31–32, NIV.

Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them. John 12:35-36 NKJV.*

The Winning Side

We’re at a turning point here in John’s Gospel. As Jesus’ public ministry draws to a close, His words and signs have testified to who He is. Yet many still refuse to believe.

The triumphal entry is the beginning of the reality of John 3:16 : For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The life will be given, and the beautiful gift of eternal life is at hand.

Still, they do not believe

Believe: Place your trust in God’s truth; take Him at His word and trust Him for salvation. Trusting Him with a saving faith – trusting with the will as well as the mind.

The crowds gathered around Jesus to see what He would do – to hear what He would say. It was not in vain. Even a voice from heaven – the voice of the Father confirmed that this was the time. Father would be glorified in the Son.

How?

Jesus is taking that decisive step to do just that by His death, resurrection, and finally ascending to the Father. Pentecost will come, and the Church will be born. In all, the Father will be glorified.

God’s goodness prevails over sin and death in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Just a little while longer, they would see it.

What do they see?

Blind: Darkness symbolizes our ignorance of God’s will and is associated with sin. Darkness represents error, evil, and the works of the evil one.

This generation sees the glory of the Lord as never before. They will see not just a man who taught well, but one who died tragically. They will see and hear God’s will for all mankind: to draw all to Himself in power, goodness, and love.

But will they open their eyes to see and ears to hear?

The triumph of the obedient Son would bring life, peace, joy, and the indwelling Holy Spirit. It was the time of judgment and salvation. The time that the true light that gives light to everyone was there and they saw it.

Or did they?

The Blind Can’t See

The Word became flesh and dwelt among them. The Light of the world was with them. But with open eyes the refused to see it. A closed soul and hard heart missis the most treasured moments.

If the blind weren’t told they were blind, then would they know it? The truth is the deaf do not know what they cannot hear.

Preferring the darkness blinded them, and their hard heart made them deaf.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men…This was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:1-4 & 9-12 NKJV

Such a sobering picture of what is happening here in Scripture. He came to His own, and they did not know Him nor receive Him. Doubt clouded their perspective of the truth. If we just kept our eyes on this, we too would feel dreadful and hopeless.

But we know what they don’t know: After His resurrection, many would come to see and believe. The truth they could not understand before the cross would become clear to those who received Him.

Light: Opposite of darkness. Symbol of God’s presence and righteous activity. It is also associated with the presence of truth and redemption God brings. Light represents truth, goodness, and God’s redemptive work.

Believe or not to believe?

But not now, right before their eyes, Jesus will be lifted up, and they will not understand. Until they come to see with hearts believing and souls receiving, then and only then will they see to believe.

Whoever walks in darkness stumbles because they don’t know where they’re going. Just a little while longer they see, but not now. Here was the Light that overtakes the darkness, and they could not see it.

Why could they not believe? Scripture reveals both their unwillingness to receive the Light and the terrible consequences of hardened hearts. They loved darkness rather than light, and their refusal left them spiritually blind.

Their depraved mind and corrupt soul could not see beyond themselves. They preferred darkness over light. They could not hear, for they preferred the silence. To see – to hear requires action – turning away from darkness to move into the light.

Sadly, darkness prevails over the blind and silence hovers over the deaf.

Today, we live by faith

Faith: Belief in or a confident attitude toward God involving commitment to His will for your life. It is a key element of life with God.

But did you miss it? I almost did. After He had presented the truth, He hid Himself. They came to see what they could not see because of their unbelief. They came to hear what they could not hear because of their doubt. Even a voice from heaven could not persuade them.

So, he hid Himself until He was lifted up to draw all humankind to Him.

Today, we see Him and know Him intimately. Faith has prevailed, and the good of the Lord is with us. By faith we walk in the light as He is in the Light. By faith and spiritual insight, we honestly see Jesus.

By faith we feel His touch on our soul and hear His voice in our ear. By faith, we know His presence, hear His truth through His Word, and learn to recognize the leading of the Holy Spirit.

He wants to be Seen, Heard, and Known:

Faith: Genuine faith is “saving faith,” and it is personal. It is reliance on Christ and honest commitment to Him. Saving faith is depending on the finished work of Christ’s sacrifice, forgiveness of sin, and eternal life. It moves to follow and obey our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Honestly, even today, Jesus wants to be seen, known, and heard. He makes Himself known to the faithful. The cross accomplished the judgment of the world and the defeat of Satan, so his power is permanently broken and his destiny fixed. His complete and utter annihilation awaits Christ’s return.

Yet even now this world is as dark as midnight. The devil knows his time is short. So, he blinds as many as yield to him and deafens so many more with noise upon noise upon noise.

Into that darkness and silence comes the Savior of the World, and we can believe! By faith we come to the light. It’s cold there in the shadows. If we trust in Jesus, then we no longer sit in doom and gloom. If we trust in Jesus, we no longer move in the shadows. Even in the Valley of the shadow of Death, the Lord our God is with us.

Believers believe the Son of God; unbelievers do not. Believers have eternal life; unbelievers perish. Believers are not condemned; unbelievers are. Believers love the light; unbelievers love darkness while hating the light.

Believers live by the truth – the light of the Truth!

You’ve come to the Word in John’s Gospel, seen the truth laid out bare, and found the warmth of His love. Today, those who believe are not hidden from His sight nor silent to their ears.

Do you believe?

*Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light… John 12:35-36a NKJV.