John 12:37-38

John 12:37-38

[37] But  though he  had done  so many  miracles  before  them,  yet they believed  not  on  him:  [38] That  the saying  of Esaias  the prophet  might be fulfilled,  which  he spake,  Lord,  who  hath believed  report?  and  to whom  hath the arm  of the Lord  been revealed? 

What does John 12:37-38 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The majority of the Jews did not believe on Jesus despite the many miracles that He performed that indicated His messiahship (cf. John 1:11). John again attributed Israel"s unbelief to God"s will, though he balanced that again with the Jew"s human responsibility in John 12:43. He viewed Isaiah 53:1 as predicting Israel"s rejection of her Messiah. The verse originally referred to the Gentiles" rejection of Israel, the servant of the Lord. However in another sense it predicted Israel"s rejection of the Servant of the Lord whom He would send. The report or message that the people had rejected was Jesus" teaching, and the evidence of the Lord"s arm or power was Jesus" miracles.
" John 12records the second major crisis in the ministry of our Lord as seen by John the apostle. The first occurred when many of His disciples would no longer walk with Him ( John 6:66), even though He is "the way" ( John 14:6). In this chapter, John tells us that many would not believe in Him ( John 12:37 ff), even though He is "the truth." The third crisis will come in John 19 : even though he is "the life," the leaders crucified Him." [1]