Christmas Plan

³⁷Even though He had done so many signs (attesting miracles) right before them, yet they still did not believe and failed to trust Him—

³⁸This was to fulfill what Isaiah the prophet said: "Lord, who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm (the power) of the Lord been shown (unveiled, revealed)?"

³⁹Therefore they could not believe, for Isaiah said again,

⁴⁰"He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, to keep them from seeing with their eyes and understanding with their heart and being converted; otherwise, I [their God] would heal them."

⁴¹Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke about Him.

⁴²Nevertheless, even many of the leading men believed in Him [as Savior and Messiah], but because of the Pharisees they would not confess it, for fear that [if they acknowledged Him openly] they would be put out of the synagogue (excommunicated);

⁴³for they loved the approval of men more than the approval of God.

¹⁰"I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace (unmerited favor) and supplication. And they will look at Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him as one who weeps bitterly over a firstborn.