Believe About or Believe In?

Belief and unbelief among the Jews

37Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38This was to fulfil the word of Isaiah the prophet:

‘Lord, who has believed our message

and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’

39For 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.’

41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

42Yet 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; 43for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

44Then Jesus cried out, ‘Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46I 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. 48There 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. 49For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. 50I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.’