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Commentaries
English
John
  
5. Men harden themselves towards judgement
(John 12:37-50)
37Though He had done so many signs before them, yet they did not believe in him;38it was that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, "Lord, who has believed our report, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"39Therefore they could not believe, for Isaiah again said,40"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and turn for me to heal them."41Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke of him.


Jesus performed many signs of loving intent in Jerusalem. All who had ready wills became aware of his power and source. But the narrow-minded, locked in past views, failed to recognize Jesus, as he measured him by the standards of twisted logic and bigotry.
Many folk are full of their own peculiar thoughts and do not listen to God’s voice. The Holy Spirit speaks gently and calmly and requires the attention of the heart.
But the rebels, opposed to the Holy Spirit who speaks in the gospel, do not merely harden their own souls, but God in his justice and wrath withdraws the ability inborn in them to hear and behold and so hardens them. Consequently they are no longer able to be aware of their need. God is the agent of salvation and judgment.
We notice that some families, tribes and nations seem to live under God’s wrath. He ignores those who depart from him permanently, after his repeated attempts to bring them back to earnest guidance. God hardens those who disobey the voice of his Holy Spirit. All who tread upon his love deliberately and reject the influence of Christ, will fall into condemnation. God for the sake of his holiness must harden the disobedient gradually towards perdition.
The concept of God hardening those who oppose him is not a fanciful philosophy, but has to do with his glory. This Isaiah understood when he heard the Lord sending him not to rescue his people but to harden their hearts (Isaiah 6:1-13). Preaching about love is easier than warnings about God’s wrath and judgment. God’s love is mingled with holiness, truth and justice. No evil can stand in his presence, but will flee from the rays of his glory. Since Jesus is holy Love incarnate, his person separates people. John boldly asserts that the One seated on the throne, as seen by Isaiah, is Jesus, because God and His Son are one in holiness and glory.