John 12:37-50
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?” e
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.” f
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.” [1]
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In this passage John first quotes Isaiah to characterize the unbelief of those who rejected Jesus, in spite of the signs that He had performed. But John also has criticism for those who believed but were afraid to be counted publicly among the believers. John states that “they loved human praise more than praise from God.”
Isn’t that the heart of the matter when it comes to reluctance in witnessing? We don’t want to be thought odd or uncool. We don’t want to jeopardize a relationship that we value. We don’t want to risk ridicule or rejection. And though we might not totally hide our faith, as did the leaders to which John refers, we do not take advantage of opportunities that the Spirit places before us.
And so I pray today for the faith and courage to do as Jesus says He does: To say what the Father has led me to say. I pray for discernment to be aware of opportunities, and also guidance in what to say and how to say it.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
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[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Jn 12:37–50). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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