“But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.” John 12:37. John Calvin states in his Commentary regarding this verse: “John proceeds further, and shows that faith does not proceed from the ordinary faculties of men, but is an uncommon and extraordinary gift of God, and that this was anciently predicted concerning Christ, that very few would believe the Gospel.”
“This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT? AND TO WHOM HAS THE ARM OF THE LORD BEEN REVEALED?” John 12:38. John Calvin states in his Commentary regarding this phrase in this verse (“To whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?”): “In this second clause he assigns the reason why they are few; and that reason is, that men do not attain it by their own strength, and God does not illuminate all without distinction, but bestows the grace of his Holy Spirit on very few …”
“For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again,” John 12:39. John Calvin states in his Commentary regarding this verse: “But it ought to be observed, that the mere foreknowledge of God is not in itself the cause of events; though, in this passage, we ought to consider not so much the foreknowledge of God as his justice and vengeance. For God declares not what he beholds from heaven that men will do, but what He himself will do; and that is, that he will strike wicked men with giddiness and stupidity, and thus will take vengeance on their obstinate wickedness.”
“HE HAS BLINDED THEIR EYES AND HE HARDENED THEIR HEART, SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND PERCEIVE WITH THEIR HEART, AND BE CONVERTED AND I HEAL THEM.” John 12:40. John Calvin states in his Commentary regarding this verse: “It ought also to be observed, that sometimes the Lord, by himself, blinds the minds of men, by depriving them of judgment and understanding; sometimes by Satan and false prophets, when he maddens them by their impostures; sometimes. too by his ministers, when the doctrine of salvation is injurious and deadly to them. But provided that prophets labor faithfully in the work of instruction, and commit to the Lord the result of their labor, though they may not succeed to their wish, they ought not to give way or despond. Let them rather be satisfied with knowing that God approves of their labor, though it be useless to men’ and that even the savor of doctrine, which wicked men render deadly to themselves elves, is good and pleasant to God, as Paul testifies, (2 Corinthians 2:15.)”
“These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.” John 12: 41. I, Bill Hornbeck, think that John, the Gospel writer, wrote this verse, because he speculated that Isaiah’s vision in Isaiah Chapter 6 of God’s glory focused on the glory of God’s justice. These verses of John 12:37-41 speak of God’s justice and the glory of God’s justice, and we should recognize that God is glorified by His justice as well as by His lovingkindness and His righteousness. Jeremiah 9:23-24.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 