THIS PROPHETIC STATEMENT catches our eye: “Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.” (John 12:41) For Jesus-followers, it is clear that Jesus is not a good idea, a good way of life, or a good philosophy that towers above all others. All of these things are true of him, but above all he is a living person, who lives forevermore. We have seen him in the way that Isaiah saw him, “I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.” (Isa. 6:10) We have also seen him in the way that he said we would. “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:32)
Those who are not drawn to Jesus cannot see him in this way. “For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: “He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn” —and this to their very great and everlasting loss— “and I would heal them.” (John 39:40; Isa. 6:10) We might question why it is God’s will that they are ‘blinded’ and ‘deadened,’ and cannot understand. This is an issue of free will, and it is not that God deliberately and capriciously said “this one, but not that one.” Instead, it is a sin issue, and specifically, the willful choice to sin. Paul clarifies, “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” (Eph. 4:18-19)
Such people behold the shining beauty of sin, the glittering object of temptation, and reach out with unhesitant hand to grasp and make it for their own. It starts with some small thing, and innocence is slightly lacerated. Then there is another injury, and another, a deeper cut each time, slowly deadening the wounded cries of the conscience. James says, “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” (James 1:13-14)
The result is inevitable. “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:15) This is spiritual death, and this is precisely just compensation. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23) It’s never too late. If they would just repent, says Jesus, ‘turn, and I would heal them.’ Jesus’ many miracles were not enough for those with hardened hearts. They had neither ‘the eyes to see, or the ears to hear.’ John tells us that, “Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.” (John 12:37)
We get the clear impression from scripture that Paul had a different view of the value of miracles than most of those who are initially drawn to Jesus by them, even though Paul had both experienced and performed miracles himself. He places Jesus above the sign and wonder miracles that he performed, and instead points to the greatest miracle of all. “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor. 1:22-24) How sad it is that many who saw the miracles “even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.” (John 12:42)
So it is with those who only look up half-way. John warns, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16) Here, ‘they loved praise from men more than praise from God.’ Jesus says of such, “I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” (Matt. 6:2)
Isaiah’s question must be answered. “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isa. 53:1) He believed, and the Lord spoke; Isaish heard, and he responded. “Here am I. Send me!” (Isa. 6:8) Similarly, Samuel responded to the Lord’s voice. “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Sam. 3:10) Our own answer to Isaiah’s question is not found in a single act, but it begins there. It starts with the act of looking all the way up and seeing Jesus. It progresses by keeping our eyes upon him. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Heb. 12:2-3) Then, Paul says, we will “not conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but will be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12:2)
Q. Have I learned to keep looking for God in every moment and in every circumstance?
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