“That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
My Notes
What Does John 12:38 Mean?
John quotes Isaiah 53:1 to explain why many didn't believe despite seeing Jesus' miracles: "Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?" Isaiah asked this question seven centuries before Christ, already anticipating that the Messiah's message would be widely rejected. The unbelief wasn't a surprise to God. It was prophesied.
The two questions address two dimensions: believing the report (accepting the message) and perceiving the arm of the Lord (recognizing God's power at work). Both failed. People didn't believe the words, and they didn't recognize the works. The verbal testimony and the visible evidence both fell on deaf ears and blind eyes. The failure was comprehensive.
John cites this prophecy not to excuse the unbelief but to explain its place in God's plan. The rejection of the Messiah was foreseen and incorporated into the divine purpose. The unbelief that seems like God's defeat is actually God's prediction. He knew they wouldn't believe. He said so seven hundred years in advance. The rejection serves the plan rather than defeating it.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Have you been discouraged by others' rejection of the gospel? How does knowing it was predicted change your perspective?
- 2.If both words and works failed to convince, what actually produces faith? What's missing beyond evidence and message?
- 3.God's plan incorporates human resistance. How does that change how you view the opposition you face?
- 4.Isaiah asked 'who hath believed?' seven centuries early. What does divine foreknowledge of rejection teach you about God's sovereignty over outcomes?
Devotional
"Who hath believed our report?" Isaiah asked this question seven hundred years before Jesus was born. The answer he anticipated was: almost nobody. The Messiah would come, perform miracles, preach truth, display God's arm—and the response would be widespread unbelief. God predicted the rejection before the rejected one was born.
Two failures are named: believing the report (accepting the message) and recognizing the arm (seeing God's power at work). The people had both—Jesus' teaching and Jesus' miracles. Words and works. Message and evidence. And they still didn't believe. The failure wasn't one-dimensional. It was comprehensive: deaf to the words and blind to the works simultaneously.
John's purpose in citing this prophecy is to show that the rejection of Jesus was part of the plan, not a deviation from it. God didn't lose control when the majority refused to believe. He predicted the refusal centuries in advance. The unbelief that looks like defeat is actually the fulfillment of prophecy. God's plan incorporates human resistance rather than being derailed by it.
If you've been discouraged by the world's unbelief—if you've shared the gospel and been rejected, if you've displayed God's work and been dismissed—Isaiah and John offer comfort: the rejection was predicted. Not caused by God, but foreseen by Him and woven into His purposes. The unbelief you encounter isn't evidence that the gospel isn't working. It's evidence that the prophecy is being fulfilled.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Therefore they could not believe,.... God had determined to leave them to the blindness and hardness of their hearts,…
The saying - The word of Isaiah, or that which Isaiah predicted. This occurs in Isa 53:1. Might be fulfilled - That the…
That the saying of Esaias - Or, Thus the word of Isaiah was fulfilled. So I think ἱνα (commonly rendered that) should…
We have here the honour done to our Lord Jesus by the Old Testament prophets, who foretold and lamented the infidelity…
That Or, in order that, indicating the Divine purpose. Comp. Joh 13:18; Joh 15:25; Joh 17:12; Joh 18:9; Joh 18:32; Joh…
Cross References
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