HOST: Ron House
SPONSOR: Start2Finish
Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so 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?” Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, “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.” Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.
It is hard to believe that, at this point in Jesus’ life, there were still those who remained unconvinced. Having seen all the wonderful works and authoritative teaching that saturated His days, how could so many still not believe. But we are reminded that it had always been known to God that this would be the case. Isaiah had prophesied long ago that many would not believe, and that God had allowed their disbelief for the carrying out of His will in the life of Jesus. What is truly amazing to me as I consider this passage is that, despite God’s knowledge of the hard-heartedness of men concerning His Son (both then and now), He provided Him as a sacrifice, even for those who would never believe. What amazing love and overwhelming mercy it required for God to allow His Son to be nailed to a cross, shed His blood, and die for the sins of a world that would largely reject Him. That kind of love and mercy is beyond me, but I am so thankful that God saw fit to offer us salvation through Christ!
Why do you think God was willing to allow Christ to die for those who would reject Him?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
