Why People Still Reject Jesus
Wentzville | Adam Ingle
November 30, 2025
John 12:37-50
“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. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” John 12:37-50 ESV
People Still Reject Jesus Because…
#1: The Condition of Their Hearts
“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.” John 12:37–41
Condition A. Willful Unbelieving Heart
"they still would not believe in him" John 12:37
“If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” John 7:17
Condition B. Hardened Hearts
“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.” John 12:39–41
The Bible consistency warns that the spiritual heart of a person can harden and calcify.
“Today… do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 3:15
“The god of this age blinds unbelievers.” 2 Corinthians 4:4
Hardened necks are “broken beyond remedy”. Proverbs 29:1
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” Isaiah 55:6
People Still Reject Jesus Because…
#2: The Craving For Human Praise
“Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:42–43
“Whoever is ashamed of Me before men, I will be ashamed of before My Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:33
“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” Proverbs 29:25
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27
People Still Reject Jesus Because…
#3: The Choice to Ignore God’s Word
*These are Jesus’ last public words before the cross.
“And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”” John 12:44–50
Jesus says when you look at Him, you’re looking at God. Jesus isn’t from God; He is God.
“the image of the invisible God” Colossians 1:15
“the exact representation of His being” Hebrews 1:3
“He has made Him known” John 1:18
Rejecting Jesus IS REJECTING THE FATHER.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
“No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” 1 John 2:23
“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” John 12:47a
“There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” John 12:47b-50
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22
HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS
“His command leads to eternal life.” John 12:50