John 12:37

Τοσαῦτα … αὐτόν. The difficulty to be solved is first stated. “Although He had done so many signs before them, yet they did not believe on Him.” A larger number of miracles is implied than is narrated, John 7:31; John 11:47; John 21:25. The quality of the miracles is also alluded to once and again, John 3:2; John 9:32. They had not been done “in a corner,” but ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν, cf. ἐνώπιον John 20:30. Yet belief had not resulted. The cause of this unbelief was that the prediction of Isaiah 53:1 had to be fulfilled. Certainly this mode of statement conveys the impression that it was not the future event which caused the prediction but the prediction which caused the event. The form of expression might in some cases be retained although the natural order was perceived. The purpose of God was always in the foreground of the Jewish mind. The prophecy of Isaiah was relevant; the “arm of the Lord” signifying the power manifested in the miracles, and τῇ ἀκοῇ referring to the teaching of Jesus. In the time of Jesus as in that of Isaiah the significance of Divine teaching and Divine action was hidden from the multitude.