During the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry – the week that He was put to death, He did extensive teaching in the city of Jerusalem. In addition, He did a number of miracles there. Yet, amazingly, some who were eyewitnesses to our Lord’s great signs remained unbelievers. In John 12:37 it is written, "But though he had done so many miracles [signs, NKJV] before them, yet they believed not on him." How could it be so? What was it that was missing?

The Miracles were not lacking in proof. First, the Bible shows that Jesus did genuine miracles or signs, not fakes. The word "miracle" indicates power. Second, the evidence provided by Jesus’ miracles was (and is) convincing to those that have an open mind. "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:30,31). If the written record of Jesus’ signs provides sufficient proof of His Deity, then surely His "live" demonstrations of power/miracles/signs provided genuine evidence to those who were eye-witnesses to the Master’s great deeds in the first century. The Jewish people’s rejection of Jesus, despite the miracles that He did before their eyes, reminds us of the unbelief of the Israelites in the wilderness regions between Egypt and the Land of Canaan. Though that generation of Israelites saw miracle after miracle from the mighty hand of Jehovah, "For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works" (Psalm 78:32).

The Miracles were not lacking in number. Look again at what John 12:37 says: "so many miracles." Earlier, when Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? For this man doeth many miracles" (John 11:47). There you have it: even the adversaries of Jesus admitted that He did many miracles. So, out goes the excuse or claim that Jesus’ miracles were too few in number.

The Message was not lacking. In speaking about the lack of belief in those that saw our Lord’s miracles, John quoted from Isaiah 53:1: "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 been revealed" (John 12:38). Notice the word "report." It has reference to the gospel message, as can be seen from the fact that in Romans 10 there is once again a quotation from Isaiah 53:1. Listen to Romans 10:16: "But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" What was the "report" that not all believed? Answer: "The gospel." When Jesus taught the gospel or good news, was that message in any way deficient? Of course not! The Lord’s truth could make men free from sin (John 8:32-34), and it is the gospel that is God’s power unto salvation (Romans 1:16). While it is true that many did, and do, fail to believe in the Lord Jesus and His message, it certainly is not due to any fault in the gospel’s message.

The Master was not lacking in any aspect. On one occasion Jesus asked the Jews, "Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?" (John 8:46, NKJV). Who in the first century could bring forth evidence that Jesus had done any type of wrong, and who could bring forth such proof today? Absolutely no one. Why? Because the Christ "did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" (1 Peter 2:22). Since Jesus did no sin, then He never violated the will or law of God (1 John 3:4). That means that He never failed to do what He needed to do, nor did He ever have an evil thought, speak an evil word, or do an evil deed. Couple these truths with the fact that the Christ was also the greatest teacher and communicator of all time: "Never man spake like this man" (John 7:46). It is obvious that the failure of some to believe in Jesus could not be correctly attributed to some failure on Jesus’ part. The Master has no shortcomings!

So, what was it that was missing when people failed to believe in Jesus, though they saw His powerful signs? As we have seen, (1) His miracles were not lacking in proof, (2) His miracles were not lacking in number, (3) His message was not lacking, and (4) the Master Himself was not lacking in any aspect. Just what could it be, then, that was lacking? From the Christ’s "Parable of the Sower," it is evident that what was really missing was "an honest and good heart" on the part of those who heard and observed our Lord (Luke 8:15).

Brothers and sisters, when you and I teach the truth in a caring fashion, like our Savior did, and yet despite this, people do not accept the gospel, then we must realize that we have not failed. When we act as faithful seed sowers (Mark 4:14), then we have done all that we can – we have done what the Lord expects of us. Those that choose to reject the gospel – they are the ones that have chosen the path of failure. Because we love the souls of men and want each person to be saved, it disappoints us when our teaching efforts do not result in a conversion. But, we must not allow our disappointment to cause us to doubt the power of the gospel or to waver in our commitment to spread it far and wide.

-- Roger D. Campbell