Who Has Believed?
Scripture: John 12:37-41 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)
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?” 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.” 41 Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. (John 12:37-41 NLT)
People flocked to Jesus when he did miracles! For some reason, John saw the miracle of raising Lazarus from death as the “Mighty Miracle”, even though earlier in his ministry Jesus had raised a young boy from death in Nain, and a young girl from death in another Galilean town. Jesus’ miracles healed people, restored health, nourished the hungry, raised the dead, and changed the weather. They were spectacular demonstrations of God’s power that would knock your socks off!
Then John quotes what Isaiah said: ““LORD, who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?” When I read this it made me think that Isaiah was saying believing the message, and the revelation of God’s powerful arm are automatically linked. But when I read what John is saying here, I come to a different conclusion. The miracles revealed God’s powerful arm. But it seems clear that miracles were not sufficient to cause people to follow Jesus, even though they drew large crowds. It was belief in who Jesus is, and a desire to learn from him, and to obey and apply his teachings, that made people his followers.
In our generation, we’ve seen marvelous things in Christianity! We’ve seen huge evangelistic and healing crusades all around the world that have drawn many thousands together and have produced decisions for Christ and even notable healings for people’s bodies. But it’s the few from among the many who hear Jesus’ message, who are convicted of their need for heart and life change, and who become “disciples.”
The ones who hear and obey Jesus’ teachings are transformed and become transformers of others. Let’s be those who hear, believe, and change!
Prayer:
Father, Jesus said it’s those who hear and do that enter the Kingdom. Thanks for every miracle! But please let me and my friends be disciples of truth, not fans of miracles!