Who Has Believed Our Report? - John 12:38

The apostle John wrote about Jesus, “though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him”, and in chapter twelve and verse thirty-eight of his book John shared how this fulfilled Isaiah's prophesy, “who has believed our report?” where we read:

That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

The verse reads, “That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, Lord, who has believed our report?” John began with the words, “that the saying” which means “so the utterance, declaration, proclamation and question” “of Esaias the prophet” or “belonging to Isaiah the man was moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman and solemnly declared to men what he received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation ” “might be fulfilled” which means “could be completed, consummated, carried out and accomplished”, “which he spoke” or “that Isaiah uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked”, “Lord” which refers to “One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”, “who has believed our report” which means “what person whether male or female has trusted in, relied upon, clung to and had confidence in our, Isaiah's, thing heard and instruction”? John shared how the people's unbelief in Jesus “fulfilled” the “prophet Isaiah's” words where he questioned what person “trusted in and relied upon” his “instruction” from God. (See Isaiah 53:1)

The verse continues, “and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” John added the words, “and to whom” which means “and toward what person whether male or female” “has the arm of the Lord” or “has the disclosure, manifestation and unveiling” “been revealed” which means “existed as laid open and made known”? John referred to the remainder of Isaiah's words in chapter fifty three and verse one as he added what person has perceived the “disclosure and unveiling” of God's direction.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how the people who did not believe in Jesus even though they observed His miracles actually “fulfilled” Isaiah the prophet's words concerning the “unbelief” of God's instruction. God “unveiled” His Son Jesus to the world, and He demonstrated through “miracles” that Jesus was the “chosen Messiah” of God. However, some people did not believe. Every person has or will have an opportunity to believe or not believe in Jesus Christ as their “Savior and Lord”, and those who are wise “trust in, rely upon and cling to” Him. Those who are unwise will continue to “fulfill” Isaiah's question as to “who” will believe his “report”.

Next time John shares, “therefore they could not believe”, 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".