The Mystery of Faith, The Responsibility of Unbelief (John 12)
The Mystery of Faith, The Responsibility of Unbelief
John 12
Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. (John 12:37, NIV)
"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them." (John 12:40, NIV)
As for those who reject me and do not accept my words, they have a judge; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. (John 12:48, NIV)
1. A Space of Hope Hidden Within Unbelief
The editor of John's Gospel draws upon Isaiah's prophecy (verse 40) to explain the phenomenon of people who refuse to believe in Jesus despite witnessing countless miraculous signs. "The Lord has blinded their eyes." This passage declares that behind the human phenomena of faith and unbelief lies [[God's sovereignty]]—something beyond our comprehension. While this might sound like fatalism that renders humans powerless, it paradoxically opens up a space of hope.
If my faith is not entirely the product of my own decision or intellect, but rather the result of God's sovereign grace, then we who believe cannot be prideful. Our faith becomes not a source of boasting, but a reason for gratitude. At the same time, we are led to withdraw our hasty condemning gaze from those who do not yet believe. For within their unbelief, there may be God's providence at work in ways we cannot understand. This acknowledgment of God's absolute sovereignty contains [[the paradox of faith]]—bringing us down from the seat of judgment to a place of humility and compassion.
2. The Editor's Struggle, Honesty Before Truth
Yet the editor immediately records Jesus' words (verse 48) that seem to directly contradict the declaration in verse 40. The criterion for judgment is not God's sovereign choice, but whether individuals have accepted Jesus' words. This clearly emphasizes [[human responsibility]]. Which of these two passages should we hold onto?
Rather than viewing this as a logical contradiction to be resolved, we should see it as an expression of [[the editor's struggle]] and honesty before truth—the genuine experience of a person standing before divine reality. The editor does not force this tremendous tension, theologically called [[antinomy]], into a single systematic framework. He simply places both truths before us as they are, side by side. This is not a sign of theological immaturity, but rather a profound expression of humility—recognizing that human reason cannot fully comprehend God's mystery. Faith is like standing on a razor's edge, holding onto both truths simultaneously.
3. Crying Out to God from the Razor's Edge
Ultimately, we must "catch both rabbits." This mysterious tension invites us not into confusion, but into holy living. When Paul wrote, "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" (Phil. 2:12-13), he was already standing on this razor's edge.
God's sovereignty (verse 40) leads us to confess that the beginning and end of salvation rest entirely with Him, drawing us into worship and gratitude. Simultaneously, human responsibility (verse 48) comes to us as a solemn command to respond personally to His word each moment and live lives of obedience. These two seemingly incompatible truths, rather than destroying each other, hold each other up and create the dynamic balance of our faith. When we lean on God's sovereignty, we enjoy unshakeable assurance of salvation even in our weakness. When we stand before human responsibility, we overcome the temptation of license and never cease our holy struggle. On this precarious razor's edge, our reason may lose its way, but our souls finally confess: at the end of all understanding, only the name of the [[good God]], the [[God of mercy]] remains.