Whose eyes and hearts had God "blinded" and "hardened," and why?
John 12:38-41 refers to a time in the Old Testament when God announced to prophet
Isaiah (Isaiah 6:10) His decision to punish
Israel's continued rebellion and disobedience by sending them into exile.
Until His decision is carried out, He "blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their
hearts and turn, so that I should heal them” (John 12:40).
Who are the "rulers" and "Pharisees"
(John 12:42)?
"Rulers" were members of the
Sanhedrin,
the Jewish ruling council, which included many
Pharisees.
What had the Sanhedrin recently decided to do after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead?
Kill Jesus (John 11:53, see
Lazarus, Come Forth!).
To what extent did the believing rulers love "the
praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:43)?
Enough to kill God. Think about this for a second. These men
"believed" (John 12:42) that Jesus is the
Messiah. Yet they loved the praise of
men and feared being "put out of the synagogue"
(John 9:22, see
Opened Your Eyes) so much that they gave their silent consent to His murder.
How much easier is it for people who hold worldly power and position today to "confess"
(John 12:42) Jesus?
If it means losing that power and position, not much easier.
What words did Jesus have for such people?
"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is
himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him
the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His
Father’s, and of the holy angels." (Luke 9:25-26)