WEDNESDAY- 4^TH WEEK OF EASTER -B

I Reading: Acts 12:24-13:5: Set Barnabas and Saul apart.

Gospel: John 12:44-50: I, the light, have come into the world.

Jesus Rejected and Accepted as King, 12:37-50

This is a clear picture of Jesus’ being rejected and accepted as king.

1. The unbelievers (v.37-41)

a. They act illogically

1) They reject miraculous signs

2) They reject revelation

3) They reject the arm of the Lord

b. The results of unbelief:

A just, judicial rejection by God

1) Man is blinded

2) Man is hardened, deadened

3) Man is condemned to be lost

4) Man is condemned to remain unhealed

5) Man never sees the glory of the Lord

2 The silent believers (v.42-43)

a. They failed to confess Jesus

a. They fail, fearing personal loss

c. They fail, loving the praise of men more than God

3. The true believer (v.44-46)

a. Believes on God-through Jesus, the Mediator

b. Sees God-through Jesus, the Mediator

c. Is delivered from darkness-through Jesus the Light

4. The unbeliever-his judgement (v.47-50)

a. Judged not by Jesus: He came to save, not judge

b. Judged by the words of salvation: the very words he rejected will stand as a witness against him

1) Because Jesus’ words are God’s commandment

2) Because God’s word is life

3) Because the words of Jesus are the truth

Thought: A person is led to a juridical blindness and rejection by God through obstinate unbelief, constant sin and continued rejection.

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