Bible Study is needed to become aware of what God has done for the sinner to become a Christian through His Son. A Christian must come to the realization of what is required of them as professing Christians, as well as becoming familiar with their benefits as being a Christian.  God holds each Christian responsible for knowing His Word.John 12:36 – While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed and did hide himself from them.  Jesus said He would be with them in person for only a short time, and they should take advantage of His presence while they had it.  Like like in a dark place, He would show them where to go, if they walked in His light they would become “children of light”, revealing the truth and pointing people to God.  As Christians, we are to be Jesus’ light bearers, letting His light shine through us. It is the duty of every Christian to believe the gospel light, to subscribe to the truths it discovers, for it is light to our eyes, and to follow its guidance, for it is a light to our feet. Jesus didn’t hide from the religious leaders or Jewish followers because He was afraid, most likely He hides Himself to spend time with His disciples to teach them more of their duties as followers of Him, and the truth of His Father’s instructions, and His coming as the Son of God.

John 12:37 – But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him.  It was so many and so great miracles Jesus performed before His audience, not in a corner or in a hidden place, but before them, they saw first hand the miracles and yet they did not believe He was who He claimed to be. Their unbelief is startling, however, Jesus’ predicted suffering and death did not fit the people’s idea of the Messiah. Even today,  past experiences with Jesus should bring about a right now faith; but rather than believing He will be there for His people, many turns from faith in Jesus to man-made idols or they will play god in their circumstances and situations rather than allowing the Lord fight, deliver or provide for them. Sadly, to say many will believe Satan quicker than they will believe the Lord and the truth of His Word.

John 12:38 – That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?  The fulfilling of the Scripture in this that the saying of Esaias might be fulfilled.  The more improbable any event is, the more does a divine foresight appear in the prediction of it. One would have thought the Jewish leaders would have accepted His coming as the Son of God since it had been foretold in the books of the prophets, but He was received with much opposition among the Jews, therefore their unbelief is called a “marvelous work”, and a “wonder”.  Many hear it, but few adhere to it and embrace it. The reason why men believe not the report of the gospel is that the arm o the Lord is not revealed to them, they saw Jesus’ miracles, but did not see the arm of the Lord revealed in them.  They could not believe, that is, they would not; they were obstinately resolved in their infidelity that is a moral impotency, like that of one that is accustomed to doing evil.

John 12:39 – Therefore they could not believe, because that Isaiah said again.  The consequences of repeated rejection is a loss of the capacity to believe.  Isaiah taught that some could not believe because God hardened their hearts after they repeatedly rejected the truth. As Christians, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us when we’re out of the line of God’s Word, but if we continue to lean towards being out of line with His Word, the Holy Spirit will no longer convict the Christian of their sin which is a sad case to be in.  God, Jesus nor the Holy Spirit will never go against our will if our desire is to practice sin, they will allow us to do so with the recompense of our disobedience.

John 12:40 – He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.  People in Jesus’ time like those in the time of Isaiah would not believe despite the evidence. As a result, God hardened their hearts. Does that mean God intentionally prevented these people from believing in Him? No, He simply confirmed their own choices.  After a lifetime of resisting God, they had become so set in their ways that they wouldn’t even try to understand Jesus’ message. The same goes for today, as Christians, we can give them the Word of God, but its the choice of the individual whether or not they want to accept its truths.  When a person’ heart has rejected the Word of God for so long, it’s going to take the Holy Spirit softening their hearts to receive the truths of God’s Word. It’s always the Holy Spirit that convicts the heart of people, but even then when their hearts are hardened the Holy Spirit is not going to break His way into their hearts.

John 12:41 – These things said, Isaiah, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.  John uses the words “His glory” to speak of the manifestation of God Himself.  John quotes Isaiah 6:9 as a prophecy o the people’s unbelief and their rejection of Jesus Christ. In that verse, Isaiah was talking about God Himself, therefore, in this passage, John is teaching that Jesus is God.  Many times people get confused when Jesus is mentioned as God. The Father is God, and Jesus is an extension of God which makes Him God as well. In one passage of Scripture, God called Jesus God (But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom – Hebrews 1:8). 

John 12:42 – Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.  Rulers refer to member’s of the council because the rulers did not confess Him, some claim that their faith was not genuine. The text, however, says that they believed in Him; a construction in Greek that typically indicates saving faith.  Moreover, the word “nevertheless” marks a stark contrast between these believers and the unbelief spoken of in verses 37-40. They were afraid to confess their belief in Jesus because they didn’t want to be put out of the synagogue. They wanted the synagogue more than they wanted Jesus, according to the Word of God, perfect love cast out fear;  in other words. genuine love for Jesus removes fear out of the heart and give one boldness to speak their faith in whom they believe.