5/16/2007

Unbelief of the People

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

"Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"

39Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them."

41Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

-John 12:36b-43

Texts like this are why I believe strongly in compatibilism (a.k.a. Calvinism). Jesus did all these miracles, yet "they could not believe" (v39). There are some he reveals himself to, and others he hardens.

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