John 12:37-43

Failure in Judæ a. The many signs have failed to convince. The author explains this by the prediction in Isaiah 53:1, the arm of the Lord being interpreted of Messiah. And the ultimate cause is also dealt with in Isaiah 6:9 ff. The rule of God's working is that there comes a time when those who will not obey lose the power of doing so. The situation is similar to that foretold in the story of Isaiah's call. It was the Word of God, now incarnate in Jesus Christ, that appeared to the prophet. But disbelief was not universal, though fear made men keep silence.