In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 12:36-41[HCSB])

37 Even though He had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in Him. 38 But this was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet, who said: Lord, who has believed our message?

And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to?

39 This is why they were unable to believe, because Isaiah also said:

40 He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they would not see with their eyes or understand with their hearts, and be converted, and I would heal them.

41 Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke about Him.

Still, unbelief prevails. Why?

God has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts. And this is why predestination and the formality of Calvinism can be very hard to resist. It seems to make perfect sense.

Have you ever asked yourself why people don’t throw themselves into Jesus with complete abandon? Knowing what true believers discover about personal healing, and never wanting to go back to the old ways, it is difficult to comprehend why anyone would choose otherwise … or even want to resist the possibility of a better life.

So, ask yourself this: How might a hardened heart honor God and further His purpose?

One way is to show that victory can be, and has been, achieved over rebellion, hatred, self-indulgence, and the will of the unbeliever. In our hopelessness there is always hope in Jesus Christ as Savior. It is our choice.

The hardened heart in this instance from Isaiah, as explained in The Nelson Study Bible, is not an arbitrary thing, but more akin to hardening of the arteries: after many years of unhealthy behavior, and lack of medical attention: a physical heart attack is the inevitable consequence. Similarly, over time, with repeated rejection, the heart is hardened to a point that there are real spiritual consequences. This is not God’s fault, but the net result of unhealthy lifestyles. Again, choices … not predestination!

The best lesson to take away from John, as well as from the other Gospels & Letters, is that the New Testament, and even Jesus Himself, does not exist in a vacuum. God can do anything, anywhere, and anytime, if we open our hearts to Him!