Point of No Return
Opening Prayer
I bow before You, Gracious God, to make my gift of worship and praise.
Read John 12:37-50
[37] Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. [38] This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” [39] For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: [40] “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.” [41] Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him. [42] Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; [43] for they loved human praise more than praise from God. [44] Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. [45] The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. [46] I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. [47] “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. [48] There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. [49] For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. [50] I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What reason did Isaiah give to explain the people's unbelief?A “point of no return” is a point beyond which one is compelled to continue one’s chosen course of action, because turning back is either impossible or impractical. Summing up Jesus’ public ministry, John reports, “Even after Jesus had performed so many signs…they still would not believe in him” (37). The Isaiah quotation (38-40) serves as a solemn warning about a spiritual point of no return. These words are not to be interpreted as punitive but, rather, understood as God’s heartbroken plea to an unrepentant people. God has not given up on his people, but by repeatedly rejecting God’s grace, they have acted with fatal finality, to place themselves outside the circle of his love and mercy. The words and works of Jesus, which John has recorded in chapters 1-12, were intended to draw people to him. The response of the majority, however, was rejection. Jesus departed and “hid himself” (36). Yet, Jesus comes out of hiding to make one last impassioned appeal (44-47), even though he knows that many of his hearers have already crossed that spiritual point of no return.
Apply
Read Romans 6:1-4. God’s grace is amazing, abundant, freely available. Yet Paul warns against presuming on it.
Closing prayer
Giving God, keep me from presuming on Your amazing grace. Let my grateful acceptance of Your grace keep me humble and holy.
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