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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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GOSPEL OF JOHN Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert 15. Climax of
Unbelief 12:20–50 [17 - (Jn 12:20-50)] a) The
Greeks Seek Christ (20-22) (1) In John
12:20-22, we see God’s redemptive program unfold. As the Jewish nation was
rejecting the Messiah, God began to draw the Gentile nations. God had
foretold Israel that He would make them jealous to come back to Him through
the Gentile nations (Ro 10:19, 11:11, 14) (2) These Greeks (hellęnés,
non-Jew) were Proselytes, who forsook their pagan gods and converted to
Judaism (Ac 2:20; 6:5; 13:43). They were coming to the Feast to worship. It
was there they had heard of Jesus and were inquiring to see Jesus (21). b) Jesus’
Hour had Come (23-30) (1) In
response to the query of the Greeks, and in the third year of His earthly ministry,
Jesus stated that His “hour” had come. This was the “hour” that had prevented
Jesus from premature death at the hands of the Pharisees (2:4; 7:30; 8:20;
12:27; 13:1). The “hour” was a reference to Christ’s death, resurrection, and
exaltation. Jesus also described it as His glorification (cp. Jn 17:1). (2) An analogy of Jesus’ death was that of a
grain of wheat that died in the earth but produced fruit. The fruit of Jesus
death was eternal life for all who believed. (3) Jesus applied the same principle to His
true disciples who have believed on Christ and therefore died to this life in
the world. They possess eternal life. In addition they will serve and follow
Jesus and be honored by the Father. (4) It was at this time that Jesus revealed
that His soul was “troubled” (perfect passive of tarassō
- shaken stirred up; literally, “have been and continue to be troubled”; Jn
5:7; 11:33; Mt 2:3).Perhaps Jesus was troubled with the fact that his own
people did not receive Him (Jn 1:12). He may also have been troubled with the
thought of taking on the sin of the world and experiencing the wrath of God.
It was very likely that He did not want to be separated from the Father while
on the cross with man’s sins (Mt 27:46). (5) Yet, Jesus would not ask the Father to save
Him from “this hour,” because it was the very purpose for which He came.
Jesus came to save others but He would not save Himself (cp. Mt 27:42). (6) The Father responded to Jesus’ prayer with
an audible voice, even as He did on two other occasions (Mt 3:17; Mt 17:5; Jn
12:28). with and audible voice. The Father stated
that He had glorified Jesus (Baptism and Transfiguration) and will glorify
Him (Resurrection and Exaltation cp. Ph 2:9-11). Those without spiritual
discernment in the crowd thought it was thunder, while others thought angels
had spoken. But the purpose of the audible voice was to confirm the Messiahship of Jesus. c) Israel’s
Heart was Hardened (31-43) (1) One of
the results of Jesus’ glorification was to bring judgment for sin upon the
Devil and the world. The sin of the world was judged upon Christ on the cross
(Is 53:8,12; 2Co 5:21). But those who do not avail
themselves of the propitiation in Christ, will be
judged. Satan also was judged on the cross in the sense that he was defeated
(Jn 16:11), rendered powerless (He 2:14), and was awaiting his final
punishment (Mt 25:41). (2) Being lifted up on the cross, Jesus will
draw all men unto Himself. This does not mean that all men will be drawn to
Him because those who are drawn are saved (Jn 6:37, 44). Rather, Jesus will
draw men from all nations unto Himself. The Son’s deity is affirmed because
only God can draw men unto salvation. (3) The people responded to Jesus by referring
to the Messiah’s relationship to the Davidic Covenant (Ps 89:35-37). They did
not understand that the Christ had to come as a sacrificial lamb (1st
Advent, Is 53) before coming back as a ruling lion (2nd Advent, Re
19). This gives us insight into the thinking of the Jewish people in Jesus’
day. They were looking for the Messiah-Ruler who would deliver them from
Roman domination. They overlooked that the Messiah would be lifted up on the
cross and die for the sins of the people (Isa 53:5-6). (4) Jesus explained that the light of His earthly
ministry would soon be ending, not remaining forever. They needed to make up
their minds concerning Him and accept Him as Messiah. Then they would become
the sons of light. (5) But in fact, even though many had seen
Jesus’ miracles and signs, they did not believe in Him. John, under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit identified the climax of Jewish unbelief by
Isaiah’s words in Is 53:1; 6:10. His own people did not believe God’s
“report” from His word that the saving arm of God was revealed in Christ. (a) In v. 38,
John quotes Is. 53:1 and in v. 40 he quotes Is. 6:10 (see Rom. 10:16), both
of which stress the sovereign plan of God in His judicial hardening of Israel
(cf. Paul’s argument in Rom. 9–11). Although God predestined such judgment,
it was not apart from human responsibility and culpability (see 8:24). (The MacArthur Study Bible) (b) Isaiah...saw His glory and spoke of Him.
This is a reference to Isaiah 6:1 (see notes there). John unambiguously ties
Jesus to God or Yahweh of the OT (see note on 8:58). Therefore, since v. 41
refers to Jesus, it makes Him the author of the judicial hardening of Israel.
That fits His role as Judge (see 5:22, 23, 27, 30; 9:39). (The MacArthur Study Bible) (6) The
Pharisaical influence would not allow many to believe or at least to come out
publicly. They feared being put out of the synagogue the same as the man who
received his sight. Unfortunately, they desired the praise of men and not God
(Pr 29:25) d) Jesus
Declares Unity with the Father (44-50) (1) Believing
in Jesus was not putting faith in man but in God. Jesus is the visible
manifestation of the invisible God (He 1:1-3). Believing on Christ was the
same as believing on God because Christ was the Son of God making Him equal
with God. (2) Therefore when a person saw the Son, He was
seeing God the Father (Jn 14:9). (3) Jesus uses the metaphor of the Light of the
world. If they believe they will not remain in darkness as to God’s salvation
and God’s program with the Jewish people. (4) However, when a person rejects the Son,
they are also rejecting God the Father along with His message spoken through
Christ. Now Jesus is offering the light of eternal life through His death. e) Applications (1) The
believer must die to this world as seen in Christ’s death. (2) The world is still asking to see Jesus.
Will we show them? (3) Do we ever seek the approval of men rather
than God? (4) Since God has turned to the Gentiles, it is
our responsibility to evangelize the world and provoke Israel to return. |
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