The apostle John wrote about Jesus, “though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him. That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”, and in chapter twelve and verse thirty-nine of his book John shared “therefore they could not believe” where we read:
Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
The verse reads, “Therefore they could not believe, ...” John began with the word, “therefore” which means “then, wherefore, on this account and consequently” “they could not believe” or “the people were unable and incapable of trusting in, relying upon, clinging to and having confidence” in Jesus. John shared how the “fulfillment” of Isaiah's words prevented these people from “believing” in Jesus.
The verse goes on to say, “... because that Esaias said again,” John continued with the words, “because that Esaias” which means “since and on account that Isaiah whose name means Jehovah's help and was a famous Hebrew prophet who prophesied in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah” “said again” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed another time” the words in our next verse. John shared the reason the people could not “believe” as he presented Isaiah's words in our next verse.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how these “unbelieving people” were unable to “trust in and rely upon” Jesus since they lived according to the next words Isaiah prophesied. We shall discover those words in our next verse, but let us allow this verse to be sufficient to examine our own “belief” or “unbelief” in Jesus. If we “believe” in Jesus as our personal “Savior and Lord”, we obtain forgiveness for our sins and obtain a personal relationship with God. If we do not “believe” in Jesus as the Messiah and Christ of God, we remain in our sins, and they separate us from relating to God. Those who are wise “believe”, and those who refuse and reject Jesus “fulfill” the words of “Isaiah the prophet” spoken hundreds of years ago.
Next time John shares how Isaiah wrote, “He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their hearts”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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