John 12:37

John 12:37 says, But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: We are told that though Jesus did many miracles before them, they didn't believe in Him.  We have records of many of the miracles that Jesus did, but we do not necessarily have a record of all. According to this verse, He had done many miracles that they had seen.  Even if we have seen God perform a miracle in our life, we have not seen anywhere near all the miracles He is performing in the world today.  Like the people in Jesus' day, even when people see a miracle today, many still do not believe. Verse thirty-eight adds, 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 be been revealed?  John cites this as the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:1, which says, "Lord, whom hath believed our report?  And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?  When God's people, who knew the Scriptures, didn't believe His word, then He removed Himself from them.  If we today, as His followers, don't believe His word, then we cease to be effective witnesses.  Again, John did not immediately that day see this as a fulfillment of prophecy as if he were checking off a list.  We today can fall into a thought pattern where we try to check off prophecies to determine when Christ is coming again. We cannot force world events determine the return of Christ, but we can put faith in His return. Verse thirty-nine continues, Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,  Verse forty states, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.  Verse forty-one adds, These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. John again cites Isaiah as saying God hardened their heart and blinded their eyes to Him.  Again, God has never stopped anyone from coming to salvation, but He does allow them to harden their hearts and turn a blind eye to Him.  Again, this is my belief about the Scriptures.  Man always has and always will have free will to accept or reject salvation.