Many Jews Still Didn’t Believe
Bible Study Guide
(Verses 37-38) Despite the overwhelming evidence of the man Jesus who was God in the flesh, many of the Jews were in part blinded from seeing who Christ really was. Jesus stood before His people day in and day out for three years and still many didn’t believe.
Even the religious leaders who understood the future coming of their Messiah and how He would arrive based on the Old Testament, had within them a heart of stone. They had eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear.
Why Were the Jews Blind to the Truth?
(Verses 39-41) A quarter of a century before the birth of Christ, Isaiah the prophet, through the grace of God spoke of the blindness of his people.
Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus and was a testimony to His glory to the Jews of his day but they wouldn’t believe. Isaiah pleaded with God in his desperation to get his people to believe, but they wouldn’t.
Everything that Isaiah spoke about Jesus had to be fulfilled. Why? Because God spoke of these things, thus they had to be fulfilled. And they were fulfilled.
We don’t always understand every action God takes in the course of history. Often, we are given a partial answer to the “why.” But we must continue to trust in Him.
Paul’s Letter to the Romans
If we examine the text of scripture and allow scripture to be interpreted by scripture, the Holy Spirit will unfold the meaning of God’s word for us.
In this case, Paul helps us understand why the Jews are blind to the truth of God’s word.
“I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,” (Romans 11:25)
Paul reveals what was once a mystery is now known. The Jews were blinded in part for their unbelief and rejection of God. This extended the gift of grace in the form of salvation through Jesus Christ to the gentiles.
Do not mistake this to mean that the gentiles replaced the Jews (Replacement Theology). By no means, and scripture supports this overwhelmingly. But many false teachers are leading people astray by teaching that Christians have replaced the Jews as God’s favored people.
In essence, we are living in the time of the gentiles until the full number of gentiles has come in (has been saved). Then the blindness will be removed from the eyes of the unbelieving Jews (the Remnant). Thus all Israel will be saved.
When Does the Time of the Gentiles End?
Scripture teaches that it will end at the end of the tribulation. The Jews that remain at this time, in their affliction, will watch their Messiah return a second time to judge and will come to believe and they will all be saved. And they will say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Still Many Believed
(Verses 42-43) The gospel of John records more confrontational circumstances between Jesus and the religious leaders than any other gospel.
But the Holy Spirit does a beautiful job through John to remind us that hearts are constantly being converted over to Christ. Even in the midst of confrontation and animosity, hearts are taking in the words coming from Jesus’ lips and they are becoming followers.
Isaiah also spoke of this.
“so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
(Isaiah 55:11)
Jesus is God
(Verses 44-46) God apart from Christ is not the God of the Bible. The Father and the Son are interlocking. Whatever you do for Christ you do for God. All that Jesus calls you to do, God is calling you to do.
Christ makes another reference to Him being the light. Those who believe in Him shall not live in darkness. They will reside in the light of His truth, protection, comfort and joy.
(Verses 47-50) Jesus makes a distinction between who He is in the current day. To the people of that day and the week of His death and resurrection, He is the humble servant offering mankind that gift of salvation. He is the perfect way back to the Father.
He also mentions that He will return, not as a humble servant offering grace, for that task (covenant) has been completed. He’ll be returning as judge for all those who rejected the gift for which He originally came in the flesh to offer.
He closes this passage with a wonderful reminder to us all that He and the Father are one.
In essence, this ends Jesus’ public ministry. Jesus and His disciples will become more reclusive as the hours tick down to His arrest.
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