John 12:37 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,

NIV: Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

NASB: But though He had performed so many signs in their sight, they still were not believing in Him.

CSB: Even though he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him.

NLT: But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him.

KJV: But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

NKJV: But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him,

This verse echoes a theme many people resist: unbelief is mostly about what a person wants, not what a person knows. Jesus lambasted His religious critics for "refusing" to acknowledge the obvious conclusion of their own study (John 5:39–40). He pointed out that even seeing a miracle wouldn't convince those who ignored prior evidence (Luke 16:31). That message was confirmed when Jesus raised a man from death, and His enemies responded by plotting to assassinate both the miracle-worker and the restored man (John 11:53; 12:9–11)! In the prior conversation, Jesus was affirmed by an actual voice, from heaven, speaking audible words (John 12:28). Some of the people who heard it dismissed it as thunder (John 12:29).

In that same encounter, Jesus pointed out that His miracles—and other forms of testimony—were "for" the people (John 12:3). They were given by God specifically to point towards belief in Christ. Any person who claims they need "more evidence" to believe in Jesus is lying—either to themselves, or outright, to others. The proof we're given in nature (Psalm 19:1), experience (Romans 1:18–20), Scripture (John 20:30–31) and human testimony (Matthew 28:19) is more than enough. What stops people from responding to the gospel is not lack of knowledge. It's sinful stubbornness.

Some interpreters point to the following verses and claim that disbelief is not "their fault," since God is credited with blinding eyes and hardening hearts (John 12:39–40). As is often said, the problem is simply that people "could not" believe because they "would not" believe. This concept is connected by the upcoming reference to Isaiah (John 12:38–39). Scripture indicates that God can respond to willful stubbornness by "cutting off" a person (Proverbs 29:1). Those who resist God might find He hardens their hearts as judgment on their non-belief (Exodus 9:12).

John 12:27–43 represents the end of Jesus' public ministry in the gospel of John. After being approached by non-Jewish people who believed in God, Jesus seems agitated as He anticipates His impending death. A voice from heaven affirms His mission, but to most people it simply sounds like noise or thunder. What Jesus means as a reference to crucifixion is misinterpreted by many as a prediction that He'll be exalted: to be ''lifted up.'' The people struggle to understand His message, and Jesus will leave them after warning that their time is short. This confirms Old Testament prophecies and reiterates how far some people will go in order to defy evidence of God.

Jesus is treated to an honorary dinner at the home of Lazarus, whom He has recently raised from death. At this dinner, Lazarus' sister, Mary, anoints Jesus with expensive oil. Jesus then enters Jerusalem to great fanfare, stoking fears that His popularity will attract the anger of the Roman Empire. That anger even inspires a murder plot against Lazarus. After being approached by non-Jewish seekers, Jesus offers a final plea for people to understand His ministry. In effect, these are the last public words spoken by Jesus in the gospel of John.

In the prior chapter, Jesus spectacularly raised Lazarus from death in front of a crowd of witnesses. This inspired local religious leaders to commit to having Him killed. Here, after a celebratory dinner where Jesus is anointed with oil, He will fulfill prophecy by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, celebrated with shouts of ''Hosanna'' and a massive crowd. This leads to a group of curious non-Jews approaching Him. Christ then offers a final plea for belief in Him and His message. After this, His ministry will turn to preparing the disciples for His impending death and resurrection. The next several chapters of the gospel of John are almost entirely made up of his teachings to these men.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.